21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” Matthew 7:21-23
This section of scripture is packed with truths. Today I’m going to focus on the truth revealed in verse 21.
Focus Verse
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
Truth Point:
Not everyone enters heaven. There will be some who even call Jesus “Lord” who will not enter. Universalism (the belief everyone is going to heaven) is not true regardless of how any of us feel about that…
More Scriptures: We cannot say Jesus didn’t warn us…
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. (Matthew 25:31-32)
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:41-46)
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49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:49-50)
Hell is a reality for keyword “many”. But there is hope in Christ. What we cannot do, Jesus can do. What we cannot do, God can do – God saves people – and it is his desire for you to be saved. God sent his only Son, Jesus. Jesus taught us the way, for he is the way, and his life was cut short for a purpose. He suffered on a wooden cross, paying the penalty for our sins. Look to the cross. Better yet, look at Jesus. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16). Jesus died that day and was placed in a tomb, and the Bible shows us that on the 3rd day he rose from the dead. He visited his disciples numerous times prior to ascending into the clouds in front of several witnesses. Its been recorded by the Apostle Paul (former persecutor of the church) that as many as 500 witnessed the risen Jesus, (see 1 Corinthians 15:3-8). Believe in Jesus, believe in his word, believe in his way. Put your faith in God today through Jesus Christ, the only one who saves.
The Will of God
You can make this a great study by digging in and reading it’s surrounding context.
Ephesians 5:17 ESV
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
John 6:38-40 ESV
For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
Psalm 143:10 ESV
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!
Galatians 1:4 ESV
Who [Jesus] gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
John 5:30 ESV
“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.
Romans 12:1-2
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
John 9:31 ESV
We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 ESV
For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;
Hebrews 13:20-21 ESV
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
