Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’
2007-04-25 03:08:52 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm glad others know that this means we can't be with Jesus unless we know Him as a friend, Savior and brother. So many people think they can work their way to heaven without ever knowing Jesus personally.
2007-04-25 03:33:50 · update #1
The religious zealots of Jesus' time are the very ones who pushed to have him crucified.
being 'religious' is not what Jesus wants from you... He doesnt want you to be obligated to certain days of worship... He doesnt want you to think that 'works' brings you to heaven... it is Faith alone... and He wants a personal relationship with you.... if you are born again in Christ, you have repented from what you once were, removing the sin in your life and replaced it with His Forgiveness.
If we havent given 'all' of us to Jesus.... then the acts we do 'in his name' are nothing.... with Christ, it is an all or nothing relationship!
Good question!
2007-04-25 03:20:55 · answer #1 · answered by livinintheword † 6 · 8⤊ 0⤋
These words of Jesus have sobering implications. They indicate that many devout people are failing to ‘do the will of the Father.’ How, then, can one gain true salvation? First Timothy 2:3, 4 answers: “[God’s] will is that all sorts of men should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth.”—Compare Colossians 1:9, 10.
Such knowledge is critical to gaining salvation. When a Roman jailer asked the apostle Paul and his companion, Silas, “What must I do to get saved?” they replied: “Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will get saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:30, 31) Did that mean that all the jailer and his family needed to do was to have a certain feeling in their hearts? No, for one thing, they could not truly “believe on the Lord Jesus” unless they had some understanding of who Jesus was, what he did, and what he taught.
For example, Jesus taught the establishment of a heavenly government—“the kingdom of God.” (Luke 4:43) He also set forth principles on Christian morality and behavior. (Matthew, chapters 5-7) He outlined the position his disciples would take when it came to political matters. (John 15:19) He established a global teaching program and commissioned his followers to share in it. (Matthew 24:14; Acts 1:8) Yes, to ‘believe on Jesus’ meant understanding many things! No wonder, then, that Paul and Silas “spoke the word of Jehovah to [the jailer] together with all those in his house” before these new believers were baptized.—Acts 16:32, 33.
2007-04-25 03:19:45 · answer #2 · answered by sxanthop 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
So we are not forgiven? Accepting Christ as your savior is not enough to get into heaven? I have read numerous quotes from scripture saying that acceptance of Christ as your savior and asking his forgiveness was all that was necessary. Is this a contradiction?
2007-04-25 03:38:24 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It means good works is not enough.
Ephesians 2
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Those who trust their works to get them into heaven have not trusted Christ.
2007-04-25 03:22:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means that many on earth claim to be Christians but really are not. This is very common in the world today. So though many profess Christ here on earth He knows their heart. They are unbelievers putting on a facade. I know many of these at my church. Peace out.............
2007-04-25 03:15:08 · answer #5 · answered by powerliftingrules 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We will be found hearing,believing and obeying God.
Lots of people say they do the works of God but are liars.
If you don't love your brother that you do see how can you love God whom you cannot see?If you read that scripture right it reads.....Many will say to me in that day......They said they did it,that doesn't mean they did do it.
2007-04-25 03:26:14 · answer #6 · answered by jackiedj8952 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God knows your heart. If He isn't in it, you never knew Him. So if you are a empty carcass without the filling of the Holy Spirit and never accept Christ as your Saviour, this is what He is referring to.
2007-04-25 03:16:51 · answer #7 · answered by Mulereiner 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
This is a severe and damning indictment of those who by their words appear so holy and righteous but their hearts and actions say differently, God knows well the secrets of our hearts and cannot be fooled as we can be fooled.
This is why all this holier than thou stuff is so dangerous and akin to the first sin of self pride.
2007-04-25 03:16:36 · answer #8 · answered by Sentinel 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
example- Sylvia Brown, she tells people to call to Jesus for help, but she is not a believer, and does not accept Christ as her savior.
2007-04-25 03:23:29 · answer #9 · answered by northville 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It's a loop hole in Gods law.
2007-04-25 03:13:30 · answer #10 · answered by father of 4 husband of 1 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋