'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 in heaven.
Many will say to Me in that day,
.. "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name?
.... and in Thy name have cast out devils?
...... and in Thy name done many wonderful works?"
And then will I profess unto them,
.. "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
(Mat 7:21-23)
'Jesus answered and said unto them,
This is the work of God,
that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.'
(John 6:29)
'And this is the will of Him that sent Me,
that every one which seeth the Son,
and believeth on Him,
may have everlasting life:
and I will raise him up at the last day.
(John 6:39-40)
Hello there,
* The word 'will' in the verses from Matthew (above), is the Greek word, 'thelema', and it is important to take note of it's meaning, for it means the desire rather than the resolve. It is the Father's 'will' or 'desire' that mankind should believe on Him Whom He hath sent.
* It doesn't matter how many works a man does, how seemingly miraculous, or in whose name; if he has unbelief in His heart then he is not doing the will of the Father.
* It is important also to know: - Who is speaking? and, To Whom? Isn't it? At what time? What is actually being said (or the words used) ? What comes before, and what comes after (the context) ? Who is speaking? To whom? At what time? With what intent? - [e.g., What is the Kingdom being referred to? and the day spoken of in the words, 'in that day'?]
* The term, 'The Kingdom of Heaven', is only used in Matthew's gospel, isn't it? In the other gospels the term used is, 'The Kingdom of God'. Why has Matthew been divinely guided to retained the words, 'The Kingdom of Heaven'? It is sometimes used of the Messiah's kingdom on earth, and sometimes of the heavenly sovereignty over the earth. This sovereignty comes from Heaven, because the King is to come from there.(John 18:36). It was to this end He was born, and is the first subject of His ministry. The kingdom was rejected (Matthew 4:17 & Ch.), as was it's further proclamation during the days of 'The Acts of The Apostles' (Acts 3:19-26). So the earthly realisation of this kingdom has been postponed and is now in abeyance until the King shall be sent from heaven (Acts 3:20). The 'secrets' of this Kingdom (Matthew 13:11) pertained to the postponement of it's earthly realisation, on account of it's being rejected.
In Christ Jesus
Chris