"Will only few be saved?"

When teaching in the towns and villages as he made his way to Jerusalem, Jesus was asked if only few would be saved.  Jesus responded by saying; "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough."  (Lk. 13:24)  In Matthew's account of the Sermon on the Mount, the parallel of this passage reads; "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many.  How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.  And those who find it are few."  (Mt. 7:13-14) 

The assumption seems to have always been, those who pass through the broad gate are destined for damnation.  For that to be true, than only few will be saved; and those fortunate few will become so through their own capabilities because they were "strong enough."  Contrarily, we have salvation only because Christ won it for us, not through any merit of our own.  As Paul teaches, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast."  (Eph. 2: 8-9) 

In a later passage Paul also discusses how some will be saved, but through the fire.  "The work of each will come to light, for the day will disclose it.  It will be revealed with fire, and the fire [itself] will test the quality of each one's work.  If someone's work is burnt up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire."  (1 Cor. 3:13,15)  To paraphrase Mark 9: 43-48, Jesus said if your hand, foot, or eye causes you to sin then cut them off, or pluck it out.  It is better to enter life maimed, crippled, or with one eye, than to be cast into Gahanna whole.  This doesn't just apply to minor sins.  Paul also expresses the same perspective concerning a grave mortal sin.  When addressing how incest was to be dealt with Paul says, "You are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord."  (1 Cor. 5:5)

When considering all of these passages it seems clear that there will indeed be few that fulfill Christ's call to holiness (entering through the narrow gate), while most will fall short of that ideal but will still be saved through some sort of destructive process that makes them fit for eternal life (entering through the broad gate).

The answer to my question posed on the "Rebirth and the Eucharist" blog is; No!  This does not mean only those who accomplish conformity to the holy standard of not sinning will be saved.

What then does Jesus mean by only few will find the road that leads to life?  For my answer!