Every single person who considers themself a christian, feels concern when they read Mt.7:21-23. Most of you who responded to my last question seem to think that it is referring to someone other than themself. If someone calling Jesus lord and doing good works in His name (the name of Jesus) doesn't describe christians, than what does? Maybe you're right and He is not referring to you because you are a true christian whatever that means. Consider another possibility. Jesus made it crystal clear to His followers that His ministry was coming to an end and that it would be carried on by the Holy Spirit from here on out. Do christians only pay lip service to the Holy Spirit while emphasizing Jesus and the bible?
2007-04-02 23:43:10 · 5 answers · asked by single eye 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Matt 7:21-23 are troubling verses.
I suppose part of it is trying to do good things "in our own strength" without being called to those good things ... and also if our motives are strongly for the approval of men.
Perhaps the people hearing those condemning words had not repented of their sins, but were still prideful.
Many poeple accept Jesus as Savior, but not as Lord. I suppose the verses could apply to those who accept Jesus as Lord, but don't realize that they also need a Savior.
2007-04-02 23:53:02 · answer #1 · answered by lda 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Matthew 7:21-23 refers to false Christians, of which there are millions. The devil can work miracles, and quite often he uses those who call themselves Christians to do so. Christianity is a relationship with Jesus Christ that comes from the heart of a person, that is from his soul. Mumbling a few words and then claiming to be saved does not make it so. A heart transformation must occur. Good works of themselves has nothing to do with anything. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).
Concerning the ministry of Jesus Christ, his earthly ministry has never ceased, for as the Holy Spirit is present then so is he. Jesus said where two or more are gathered in my name, then I am there in the midst of them. Jesus is co-equal to the Father and the Holy Spirit; therefore, he always agrees and acts in unison with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and where the Holy spirit is, there he is also. This is why Jesus is God. He can never be separated from his status as the Son of God, nor can he be separated from the Trinity. The members of the Trinity always act as one; thus, the Trinity is God.
Jesus is the focal point of the Bible and of the Trinity. the person and work of Jesus Christ is the gospel. The Holy Spirit is the witness of Christ. Without the Holy Spirit we would have no knowledge of Jesus. Jesus considered the witness of the Holy Spirit so important that he said that blaspheming the Holy Spirit was an unforgivable sin.
2007-04-03 07:05:05 · answer #2 · answered by Preacher 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The key to Matthew 7:21-23 is found in verse 15. "Beware of false teachers...." and then Jesus goes on to describe how you will know a false teacher. They are people who come in among the Christian (the sheep in the Scripture), but there lives are not being lived according to God's word. They continue to produce bad fruit. They may say they are Christians, and might even try to do miracles in Jesus's name. But they have never turned from living sinful lives. It is for that - not turning from sin - that Jesus condemns them in verse 21-23.
He then shows how to avoid the Matt 7:21-23 problem. He tells the story of the two houses. The one that survives begins with a good foundation, and then builds on it. To avoid Matt 7:21-23, you have to being by hearing the word of God and then you actually have to ACT on it - do what it says.
When you read the scripture in its context, it is not a difficult concept to understand.
2007-04-03 07:22:48 · answer #3 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I did not catch you frist question, but Jesus turns His attention in this last section, not to atheists or agnostics, but to "religious" people, who have been deluded into a false sense of security and think that they are guaranteed a place in heaven when they are really on the highway to gehenna, the Lake of fire! This is the most horrible of all deceptions. Jesus Himself has already said there will be few who enter the small gate and the narrow way. Most people think they are going to heaven. How does one explain what Jesus is saying in this verse? How could such a deception occur?
2007-04-03 06:51:21 · answer #4 · answered by Lorene 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I think Christians pay lip service to Jesus as well.
2007-04-03 06:46:52 · answer #5 · answered by Praetorian 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋