Matthew 7:21 question

[friend of]

(Mat 7:21) Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

What is the will of the Father in heaven?

(John 6:29) Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.

Question: If doing the will of the Father is to believe on Jesus, then why is Jesus telling people, who call Him Lord, to depart? Wouldn't this indicate that they believed in Jesus if they're calling Him Lord? What is the will of the Father in heaven if not faith in the gospel? Is it evangelism? Thoughts?

 

[thelord's_pearl]

the will of the Father in heaven is to follow Him, take up your cross and follow Him. He didn't die on the cross for nothing by the way so that you'll be the same person as you were before. He died on the cross so that you'll repent and follow Him. He said, 'depart from Me, you who do iniquity. God bless

 

[Bible Highlighter]

(Mat 7:21) Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

What is the will of the Father in heaven?

(John 6:29) Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.

Question: If doing the will of the Father is to believe on Jesus, then why is Jesus telling people, who call Him Lord, to depart? Wouldn't this indicate that they believed in Jesus if they're calling Him Lord? What is the will of the Father in heaven if not faith in the gospel? Is it evangelism? Thoughts?

What is the will of God that they did not do?

1 Thessalonians 4:3 (KJB) says,
”For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:”

1 Thessalonians 4:3 (Berean Standard Bible) says,
”For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality;”

They did not live holy and do what Jesus said.

Matthew 7:26-27 (Which is the context) says,

26 “And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not,
shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew,
and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”

So if we are not doing what Jesus says, we are not going to make it into the Kingdom.
Unfortunately, like in the parable of the sower, the person (Which can be a Christian) will hear the word of the kingdom and when they don’t understand it, the devil will quickly come and snatch God’s words out of their heart (so they don’t have a chance to believe them because they rejected it). Whatever a verse or passage a Christian rejects in the Bible, it will not remain in them and the devil will snatch out to make sure they don’t believe it.

 

[thelord's_pearl]

Depart from Me, you who "practise" iniquity/you evildoers!

 

[Robert Gwin]

(Mat 7:21) Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

What is the will of the Father in heaven?

(John 6:29) Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.

Question: If doing the will of the Father is to believe on Jesus, then why is Jesus telling people, who call Him Lord, to depart? Wouldn't this indicate that they believed in Jesus if they're calling Him Lord? What is the will of the Father in heaven if not faith in the gospel? Is it evangelism? Thoughts?

Very good question Friend. And the great part is you noticed why they were rejected. You are quite correct that they believed in Jesus, in fact they were exemplary in their belief in him. You know many people who believe in Jesus, yet do almost nothing for him, in fact many do not even go to church. So the very relevant question is the one you asked. It is not an easy thing to answer, because there is so much involved. The primary thing was given to us by Jesus when he was asked point blank what was the greatest law, Jesus replied: (Matthew 22:37-40) . . .He said to him: “‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 The second, like it, is this: ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments the whole Law hangs, and the Prophets.”
Everything we as Christians are commanded to do is based upon those two commandments Friend. The assignment Jesus gave to his disciples that were gathered together at his departure was this: Matthew 28:19-20 Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.”

That is the main thing we have to do, yet there is so many more requirements but the starting point of entering that Kingdom is coming to know Jehovah and Jesus Jn 17:3. It is progressive from there sir, as we have to know all that Jesus commanded to be able to teach others those things.

 

[MatthewG]

(Mat 7:21) Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

What is the will of the Father in heaven?

Matthew is talking to his disciples (and crowd?) about him on the mount of Olives.

True and False Prophets


15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

Jesus tells his disciples to watch out for false prophets. To be aware and alert. Of what? False prophets which are known as Pretended foreteller or religious impostor.

Jesus tells them, these come to you in sheep's clothing (they pretend and manipulate by putting on a mask not giving the truth), because they inwardly in their mind, heart, will, emotion are like ferocious wolves. Have you ever seen a wolf before? Let alone a wolf that is wild that hunts in packs, and gang up on animals to kill, and spread between the pack. Horrible tragic night to run up on something like that.

Jesus goes on in verse 16 to say By their fruits you will recognize them. Do people pice grape from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?

There will be somethings a person may have to discern when it comes to a person who try to harm, or manipulate others, for greed, gain, to murder. There is a big difference between the mind of Christ, and the mind of us Human beings. Where the Spirit is describe to help with self-control, patience, faithfulness, gentleness, kindness, goodness, love, forgiveness, which our Flesh, desires to be mean, or to do anything to harm other people in mental, or physical way, even in our own minds thinking bad thoughts about people.

17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

Jesus says here, likewise, every good tree bears good fruit.

What does good mean here? Let's take a look at Thayers; With this, Jesus is stating that a person can be told by their fruits, by what their mindset is, do they follow after the things that are good, by the leading of the Holy Spirt that is with-in you.

What about bad? What does it mean? To hurt others, by hatred that can lead to a hard heart towards God. That is what Jesus means when saying a bad tree bears bad fruit. This would be because of a person being mostly of the flesh more than the spirit, and decides to go and do harmful things towards others, through whatever means they decide and choose to go down.

G18 (Thayer)​

ἀγαθός

agathos

Thayer Definition:

1) of good constitution or nature

2) useful, salutary

3) good, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy

4) excellent, distinguished

5) upright, honourable

ponēros

pon-ay-ros'

From a derivative of G4192; hurtful, that is, evil (properly in effect or influence, and thus differing from G2556, which refers rather to essential character, as well as from G4550, which indicates degeneracy from original virtue); figuratively calamitous; also (passively) ill, that is, diseased; but especially (morally) culpable, that is, derelict, vicious, facinorous; neuter (singular) mischief, malice, or (plural) guilt; masculine (singular) the devil, or (plural) sinners: - bad, evil, grievous, harm, lewd, malicious, wicked (-ness). See also G4191.

x
x

18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Jesus says here to his disciples and the (crowd?) on the Mount, A good tree cannot bear fruit - meaning a person who is a believer in Him - will not bear bad fruit. And a Bad tree cannot bear good fruit - meaning a person who may not be a believer - has a different mindset on things instead of focusing on God and seeking him out.

As we can see Jesus gives a good description about people who come in pretending, to fool you, and they can be in a wolf pack with others. To be careful, and to seek out through life, which person is doing good to you, and make note of those who are against you (would pray for their enemies).

Earlier in the book of Matthew, John the Baptist talks about how the axe was laid at the root of the tree (Matthew 3:10), Jesus goes on to say in Verse 19: Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Saying that those trees that do not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Thinking about this is that sometimes as Christians, we might have some bad branches in us, and perhaps God will cut them off us us sometime, and their is a burn or a loss when going into that fire, just a thought. Perhaps a hateful person is learning to let go and forgive, to have more patience, or something along those lines.

There is a good amount of difference between the mind of Christ, and the mind of us by our fleshly understanding. To look towards God and to seek his way, and to love God living by faith in the GOspel of Christ, becoming born again, and simply believing and seek him out in their lives because he desires for them to have a good life though there is suffering.

Verse 20 Jesus said, you shall know them by their fruit.

True and False Disciples


21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

This is talking about what was mention previously - in the verses 21-23 when you read them you can see that those people who come to say Lord Lord, did we not do this or do that for you and miracles? - they trusted in themselves and what they did to please God - they did not believe on the Son and thank Him for what he did, such as bowing and taking off the crown. Jesus plainly tells them away from me you evildoers, I also think about the People who tried to get the Galatians to subvert back and go back to going under the law.

The Wise and Foolish Builders


24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”


28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Just more wisdom from Christ.

(John 6:29) Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.

Question: If doing the will of the Father is to believe on Jesus, then why is Jesus telling people, who call Him Lord, to depart? Wouldn't this indicate that they believed in Jesus if they're calling Him Lord? What is the will of the Father in heaven if not faith in the gospel? Is it evangelism? Thoughts?

Would also suggest checking out by reading 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, that also mentions more about God's will like do not back evil, for evil, pray always, test all things.

 

[MatthewG]

studying the Bible takes time but well worth doing, and doing so by going verse by verse in the Gospels taking notes on the things you see, and also comparing scripture with scripture is also beneficial and the use of history.

Thank you for encouraging me to go through it again as it does help , friend of.

 

[sheariah07]

(Mat 7:21) Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

What is the will of the Father in heaven?

(John 6:29) Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.

Question: If doing the will of the Father is to believe on Jesus, then why is Jesus telling people, who call Him Lord, to depart? Wouldn't this indicate that they believed in Jesus if they're calling Him Lord? What is the will of the Father in heaven if not faith in the gospel? Is it evangelism? Thoughts?

Brothers and sisters, God has given us many passages of what his will is. It’s the opposite of what we humans always do.

Evangelism is what most people do because of the Matthew 28 passage. But if you will notice, many unbelievers are turned off by us Christians because of our “Holier than thou” attitude. We fight over what is right and what is wrong. We set standards as hypocrites do. That’s why the religious Pharisees are called Hypocrites. Likewise, most Christians nowadays are hypocrites. With their mouth they praise God, but their hearts are far from him. That’s why not all who call him Lord, Lord shall enter his kingdom, but only those who truly do his will.

The will of the Father is to love him and our neighbors, and we can only do this by turning away from all wickedness. We are naturally evil people and we can't obey God by loving him and others except we repent.

The will of God is to “believe” Jesus, and belief or faith is dead without actions/works. Faith is only perfected in works.

Heb 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Noah's faith in God that he would destroy the world made him create an ark. He could have said he believed but not do anything, but his faith is dead.

Here's where Jesus more clearly said that those who truly believe him are those who obey him and not merely saying “I believe”

Luke 6:46
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

The bible is just full of the will of God that's why it is summarized into two: Love God and love your neighbors, and that is doing his will.

It is twofold: Do not do what you don't want others to do to you and do unto others what you want to be done to you.

He details how we could do it all over the bible but is mostly overlooked.
*In Mark 10, a man asked Jesus what shall he do to inherit eternal life. Jesus said you know the commandments, referring to the 10 commandments, and the man said that he observed all of it (all the “thou shalt not” meaning he did not do evil to his neighbor).
Then Jesus loved him and told him that he yet LACKS one thing. Sell all you have and give to the poor, take up your cross and follow me (this part is the “thou shalt do” good to your neighbors).

*Feed the hungry, sell all thou hast and give alms and do not let your right hand know what your left hand did, not like the hypocrites who announce everything for a show. (Matthew 5-7) Lend without expecting back so that your Father in heaven will reward you. Give within your capacity and not with what you don't have. That goes with being content with our wages, (do not covet) because he will never leave thee nor forsake thee.

In the book of Acts, the believers are full of “acts” of faith. Those who repented and believed the gospel sold their houses and distributed them to those who needed them. No one counted anything as their own but shared everything. They gave to the widows. They gave alms to the saints who are poor in Jerusalem. The widows are taken care of their relatives.

All this and much more is inside the bible. But this is also the reason that the anger of the Lord was kindled for the Israelites because they did the opposite (like what we all normally do as humans).

The will of man:
Lend and expect to be paid back.

The will of God:
Lend without expecting a return

The will of man:
Earn more to help others. Ask for increase of salary to sustain us. Save money in case of emergency. Buy beautiful clothes.

The will of God:
Be content with your wages for he will never leave you nor forsake you. Give from what you have and not what you don’t have. Do not worry about what you will eat and drink and the clothes to wear.

This fits very well in fulfilling God’s will when Jesus said in Matthew 25:34-41,41-42,42-46
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

-------------------------
(please see continuation)

 

[sheariah07]

(continuation)
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee ? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee ?
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. [46] And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Because God said in Deuteronomy that the poor shall not cease from the land, therefore he commands us to help the poor. He promises to repay us not only in this world but in the world to come. This is why he gave many parables about stewardship. The time will come when he will give an account of what we did to his goods entrusted to us.

Ecclesiastes 5:10
He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. (that’s why we are commanded to be content with our wages because wanting more is greed and is against God’s will)

Jesus also said to sell all that we have because this is part of emptying ourselves of our idols. Usually what we have are our idols. Anything that is dear to us that we cannot let go of are idols.

In Joshua, the Israelites was defeated by their enemy because they have taken an idol with them. God said he cannot help them except they destroy the idol. We will also find this in the book of Kings and Chronicles where God wants the Israelites to destroy all their idols because they’re hindering them from being delivered.

Joshua 7:12
Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.

Turn away from wickedness:
James 1:26-27
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. [27] Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

*Briddle our tongue because the tongue is a sword that can kill a soul (thou shalt not murder). Every idle word that you say you shall be judged. All the cursings, fits of rage, answering parents disrespectfully (obey your parents), hurting other’s feelings by our words are all against the will of God. Whoever does not make anyone stumble with his tongue is able to fulfil the law.

*Do not repay evil with evil but with good. Do good to everyone that you may be the children of God who is good to the just and evil. If anyone takes something from you, do not ask it back. If anyone does evil to you, forgive as our Father forgave us. Anyone who does not forgive will also not be forgiven.

Jesus said to cut off our body parts that make us sin than for our whole body to be cast into hell. but we are all sinners so we would need to die in order for us not to sin. Jesus was implying that we have to die in order to obey him. That’s what he means when he said we have to die daily, carry our cross daily, and follow him. Our self being crucified with Christ so that we may live the life of Christ. Whoever seeks to save his life shall lose it, whoever losses his life shall save it.

Luke 6:49
But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Believing in God is to do his will. That’s why he said that will be judged according to our works. Our works will reflect if we really believed in him.

Psalm 62:12
Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.

He died in our place so that we can count ourselves dead to sin without having to physically die so that we might live righteously by putting on Christ. I am crucified (dead to sin), and Christ lives in me (the righteous one). It's an exchange of life. Dying to self. Whoever loses his life shall save it.

There are just too much bible verses but I’m attaching only few of these as images. I hope you read them all to prove what is the will of God.

 

[Patrick1966]

(Mat 7:21) Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

What is the will of the Father in heaven?

(John 6:29) Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.

Question: If doing the will of the Father is to believe on Jesus, then why is Jesus telling people, who call Him Lord, to depart? Wouldn't this indicate that they believed in Jesus if they're calling Him Lord? What is the will of the Father in heaven if not faith in the gospel? Is it evangelism? Thoughts?

That's a great question. My guess is that there are believers that live lives of egregious sin and Jesus sends them to the dry cleaner, so to speak.

 

[Patrick1966]

Depart from Me, you who "practise" iniquity/you evildoers!

My guess is that they are believers that engaged in extreme sin and never were remorseful, let alone repentant. A mafia assassin might be an example.

 

[Patrick1966]

Jesus also said to sell all that we have...

I don't believe that applies to Christians with children to raise.

 

[MatthewG]

(continuation)
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee ? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee ?
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. [46] And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Because God said in Deuteronomy that the poor shall not cease from the land, therefore he commands us to help the poor. He promises to repay us not only in this world but in the world to come. This is why he gave many parables about stewardship. The time will come when he will give an account of what we did to his goods entrusted to us.

Ecclesiastes 5:10
He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. (that’s why we are commanded to be content with our wages because wanting more is greed and is against God’s will)

Jesus also said to sell all that we have because this is part of emptying ourselves of our idols. Usually what we have are our idols. Anything that is dear to us that we cannot let go of are idols.

In Joshua, the Israelites was defeated by their enemy because they have taken an idol with them. God said he cannot help them except they destroy the idol. We will also find this in the book of Kings and Chronicles where God wants the Israelites to destroy all their idols because they’re hindering them from being delivered.

Joshua 7:12
Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.

Turn away from wickedness:
James 1:26-27
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. [27] Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

*Briddle our tongue because the tongue is a sword that can kill a soul (thou shalt not murder). Every idle word that you say you shall be judged. All the cursings, fits of rage, answering parents disrespectfully (obey your parents), hurting other’s feelings by our words are all against the will of God. Whoever does not make anyone stumble with his tongue is able to fulfil the law.

*Do not repay evil with evil but with good. Do good to everyone that you may be the children of God who is good to the just and evil. If anyone takes something from you, do not ask it back. If anyone does evil to you, forgive as our Father forgave us. Anyone who does not forgive will also not be forgiven.

Jesus said to cut off our body parts that make us sin than for our whole body to be cast into hell. but we are all sinners so we would need to die in order for us not to sin. Jesus was implying that we have to die in order to obey him. That’s what he means when he said we have to die daily, carry our cross daily, and follow him. Our self being crucified with Christ so that we may live the life of Christ. Whoever seeks to save his life shall lose it, whoever losses his life shall save it.

Luke 6:49
But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Believing in God is to do his will. That’s why he said that will be judged according to our works. Our works will reflect if we really believed in him.

Psalm 62:12
Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.

He died in our place so that we can count ourselves dead to sin without having to physically die so that we might live righteously by putting on Christ. I am crucified (dead to sin), and Christ lives in me (the righteous one). It's an exchange of life. Dying to self. Whoever loses his life shall save it.

There are just too much bible verses but I’m attaching only few of these as images. I hope you read them all to prove what is the will of God.

Thank you for the read.

 

[sheariah07]

I don't believe that applies to Christians with children to raise.

God also told us that whoever does not provide for his own have denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. We really should provide by working while being content with our wages and that's where God's miracle in provision will work. All his commandments are working side by side and they're not contradictory to each other. Selling all we have means giving up everything we are holding onto. We are by nature materialistic people. People who have children most probably have seen this in their children when they don't want to share their toys.

 

[Johann]

(Mat 7:21) Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

What is the will of the Father in heaven?

(John 6:29) Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.

Question: If doing the will of the Father is to believe on Jesus, then why is Jesus telling people, who call Him Lord, to depart? Wouldn't this indicate that they believed in Jesus if they're calling Him Lord? What is the will of the Father in heaven if not faith in the gospel? Is it evangelism? Thoughts?

Context
A Tree and its Fruit
…20So then, by their fruit you will recognize them. 21Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’…
Matthew 25:10
But while they were on their way to buy it, the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.

Matthew 25:11
Later the other virgins arrived and said, 'Lord, lord, open the door for us!'

Luke 6:46
Why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' but not do what I say?





Matthew 25:11,12
Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us…



Luke 6:46
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?



Matthew 18:3
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 19:24
And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Matthew 21:31
Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.



Matthew 12:50
For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Matthew 21:29-31
He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went…

Mark 3:35
For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.



Will

God's, submission to
The Result of Inward Law
Psalm 40:8

Prayer Essential to
Psalm 143:10
Matthew 6:10

Establishes a Divine Relationship
Matthew 12:50

Christ the Perfect Example of
Matthew 26:42
John 5:30

Tends to Spiritual Knowledge
John 7:17
Acts 21:14
Romans 12:2

Whole-hearted Required
Ephesians 6:6
Hebrews 13:21

The Rule of Every-day Life
James 4:15
1 John 2:17

Remember, two camps, those in Christ, out of Christ
Those sealed with the Holy Spirit, not sealed.

 

[mailmandan]

(Mat 7:21) Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

What is the will of the Father in heaven?

(John 6:29) Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.

Question: If doing the will of the Father is to believe on Jesus, then why is Jesus telling people, who call Him Lord, to depart? Wouldn't this indicate that they believed in Jesus if they're calling Him Lord? What is the will of the Father in heaven if not faith in the gospel? Is it evangelism? Thoughts?

In regards to Matthew 7:21-23, (I will never forget, prior to my conversion several years ago while still attending the Roman Catholic church) I read Matthew 7:22 and was astonished! I remember thinking to myself, these many people accomplished all of that, "prophesied in His name, cast out demons, and did many wonderful works" but that still was not "good enough?" Then I thought to myself at that time, how am I going to "top that" and be "good enough?" Such is the mindset of the natural man who believes that obtaining salvation is based on the merit of works.

Matthew 7:21 - Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

*John 6:40 - For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.

It's one thing to believe "mental assent" in the existence and in historical facts about Jesus Christ, yet it's another thing to believe in/have faith exclusively in Jesus Christ for salvation. It's one thing to believe that the death, burial and resurrection of Christ "happened" yet it's another thing to trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ as the ALL-sufficient means of our salvation. (Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4) Either we are trusting 100% in Jesus Christ for salvation or else we are 100% lost.

These many people (unbelievers) in Matthew 7:22 had the wrong foundation. They were trusting in their works to save them and NOT IN CHRIST ALONE. Jesus NEVER knew them which means they were NEVER saved. Their hearts were not right with God, so their "attempted external obedience" (apart from the blood of Christ and the righteousness of God which is by faith (Romans 3:24-25; Philippians 3:9) was stained with sin. Seeking salvation by works is not the will of the Father. (Romans 4:5-6; 11:6; Ephesians 2:8,9)

John 17:3 - And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. The term "know" implies intimate, experiential knowledge, through a relationship with Him, not merely theoretical knowledge. These many people were not true converts.

*Without faith it's impossible to please God no matter how many 'alleged' wonderful works that these many people set out to conjure up through the flesh in a vain effort to obtain salvation based on works. This is why Jesus referred to these many people as "workers of iniquity." God does not see the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus in unbelievers, but He see's all of their sins which remain and have not been washed away by the blood of Christ.