5:00 am Prayer/Devotion
AM - Gym (Cardio 30 min/ Weights - Lower Body)
Studying -
Matthew 7:21 A little more in depth - A statement was made that if you don't do Jesus work, you won't enter in heaven. For a babe in Christ or someone who doesn't study, you could take that statement and then add a condition into entering heaven.
Romans 10:9-10 - Gives the condition to enter into heaven.
Romans 10:9-10
New Living Translation (NLT)
9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.
Saved from what ?? Saved from going to Hell.
ADR - my thoughts:
I understand what the preacher was saying. By reading Matthew 7:15-23; Jesus was talking about false prophets. Jesus was teaching others in that day how to identify false prophets. If these false prophets are not doing the work of Christ, they will not enter heaven. Jesus was saying, just because you see these prophets come in my name, prophesying, performing exorcism and showing you miracles, doesn't mean they are my disciples.
I could bring this up to modern day, just because you profess you are a Christian doesn't mean you are a true disciple. Are you doing the works of Christ? What are the works of Christ?
To me, its funny when people call themselves a Christian but don't study God's word. How can you do the works of Christ if you don't know what it is? How can do what God commands if you never study his Word to even know His expectations?
I believe when someone has ABC (Accept, Believe and Confess) Romans 10:9-10; then they are saved. They have invited Jesus to come into their life. I believe immediately, that the Holy Spirit comes and indwell in them and seal them to the day of redemption.
Now, its time to work. Which means, its time to grow. That's great that you are saved from hell, so I would imagine you would be feeling pretty grateful. God said, if you love me, you will keep my commandments. Its time to learn what those are and Grow in Christ.
Another note: regarding what the preacher said. His statement went along with making his point of having the proper motivation to do Christ work. If I was told that I won't enter heaven in less I do Christ work, that's a pretty good motivation.
Perhaps, my summary on this would be, you say you are a follower of Christ but you are not doing the work of Christ, then the real question is..Have you really accepted what Jesus did on the Cross? Do you love Christ? If so, why aren't you keeping his commandments?
A disciple is a follower of Christ. Those above statements should challenge any Christian and make you do a self-examination of your life (your actions).
NKJ: Matthew 21: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is heaven.
Note: Commentary
Matthew 7:21-23 By referring to Himself as Lord and depicting Himself as the ultimate Judge of humanity, Jesus asserted His deity. True disciples affirm Jesus' lordship, submit to His authority, and obey His commands. Jesus insisted that a person is confirmed as a true disciple not by prophecy, exorcism, or working miracles but by living a transformed life made possible by God. The disobedient lifestyles of evildoers are inconsistent with genuine discipleship. Jesus' words, I never knew you, show that these were never truly disciples.
When Reading this scriptures in Context of surrounding scriptures, you must start with Matthew 7:15-23
I went back and read the entire Ch 7 of Matthew.
Do Not Judge Others
7 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.
3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.
6 “Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.
Effective Prayer
7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.
The Golden Rule
12 “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.
The Narrow Gate
13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.
The Tree and Its Fruit
15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
True Disciples
21 “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. 22 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.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’
Building on a Solid Foundation
24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.
REFERENCE SCRIPTURES
MATTHEW 25:11-12; HOS. 8:2; LUKE 6:46; 13:25; ACTS 19:13; ROM. 2:13; JAMES 1:22
Matthew 25:11-12
New Living Translation (NLT)
11 Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’
12 “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’
Add parallel
Hosea 8:2
New Living Translation (NLT)
2 Now Israel pleads with me,
‘Help us, for you are our God!’
Add parallel
Luke 6:46
New Living Translation (NLT)
Building on a Solid Foundation
46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?
Add parallel
Luke 13:25
New Living Translation (NLT)
25 When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’
Add parallel
Acts 19:13
New Living Translation (NLT)
13 A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!”
Add parallel
Romans 2:13
New Living Translation (NLT)
13 For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight.
Add parallel
James 1:22
New Living Translation (NLT)
22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
