[SIZE=9pt]Let’s begin with Matthew 7 (Amp)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]22 Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name?[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]23 And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]24 So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]will be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]25 And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house; [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]26 And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does NOT do them [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]will be like a stupid (foolish) man who built his house upon the sand.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]27 And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house, [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]and it fell—and great and complete was the fall of it.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]So, those who do the will of Father God will enter the kingdom of heaven.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]And those who are wise will obey the words of Jesus, and their lives will not end in destruction.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Yes, this Matthew 7 passage teaches that eternal life is CONDITIONAL.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]It is the will of God that you keep (obey) His commandments[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Matthew 19:17 • “But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Hebrews 5:9 • “He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]1 John 2:3-5 [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]• “[/SIZE]Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.
[SIZE=9pt]He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word … By this we know that we are in Him.”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]1 John 3:10 • “[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him.”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Scripture has several famous verses like this one[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]John 3:16 (Amp) • “For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]It has been pointed out that the Greek word for “believes” here is in the continuous tense![/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]So, this continuous believing agrees with about 10 NT passages that affirm [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]… one must endure in his faith until the end of his life to be given eternal life![/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Yes, John 3:16 agrees with Matthew 7 that eternal life is CONDITIONAL.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Do all “believers” inherit eternal life?[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Only true believers belong in God’s special “elect” group.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]A true believer really appreciates what Jesus has done for him/her.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]And the truly appreciative believer truly loves Jesus.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]The one who truly loves Jesus has a personal relationship with Him.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]John 10:27-28 • “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]John 17:3 • “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]and (know) Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]These verses obviously agree with the “I never knew you” in Matthew 7:23.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Is anything hindering you from experiencing this? … pride? stubbornness?[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]True believers have enormous appreciation and love for Jesus, resulting in obedience[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]The one who truly loves Jesus will really try to keep (obey) His commandments.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Matthew 22:37-38 • “You shall love the [/SIZE]Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.”
[SIZE=9pt]John 14:15 • “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
John 14:21 • “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.”
John 14:23 • “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word”
John 15:14 • “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]1 John 5:2-3 • “… [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]2 John 1:6 [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]• “[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]This is love, that we walk according to His commandments.”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Obedient believers practice righteousness, which leads them to holiness[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Romans 6:16-19 • “you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]whether (slaves) of sin leading to death, or (slaves) of obedience leading to righteousness[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]… so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Acts 10:35 • “whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.” [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Ephesians 5:8-10 [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]• “Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.”
1 Timothy 6:11 [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]• “But you, O man of God, flee these things (sins) and pursue righteousness”
2 Timothy 3:16 [/SIZE]• “All Scripture… is profitable for … instruction in righteousness”
1 Peter 2:24 • “we, having died to sins, might live for (the practicing of) righteousness”
1 John 2:29 • “you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.”
1 John 3:7 • “let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous”
[SIZE=9pt]1 John 3:10 • “I[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]n this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]True love for Jesus is the critical link between belief and obedience.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]22 Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name?[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]23 And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]24 So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]will be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]25 And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house; [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]26 And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does NOT do them [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]will be like a stupid (foolish) man who built his house upon the sand.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]27 And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house, [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]and it fell—and great and complete was the fall of it.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]So, those who do the will of Father God will enter the kingdom of heaven.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]And those who are wise will obey the words of Jesus, and their lives will not end in destruction.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Yes, this Matthew 7 passage teaches that eternal life is CONDITIONAL.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]It is the will of God that you keep (obey) His commandments[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Matthew 19:17 • “But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Hebrews 5:9 • “He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]1 John 2:3-5 [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]• “[/SIZE]Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.
[SIZE=9pt]He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word … By this we know that we are in Him.”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]1 John 3:10 • “[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him.”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Scripture has several famous verses like this one[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]John 3:16 (Amp) • “For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]It has been pointed out that the Greek word for “believes” here is in the continuous tense![/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]So, this continuous believing agrees with about 10 NT passages that affirm [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]… one must endure in his faith until the end of his life to be given eternal life![/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Yes, John 3:16 agrees with Matthew 7 that eternal life is CONDITIONAL.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Do all “believers” inherit eternal life?[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Only true believers belong in God’s special “elect” group.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]A true believer really appreciates what Jesus has done for him/her.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]And the truly appreciative believer truly loves Jesus.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]The one who truly loves Jesus has a personal relationship with Him.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]John 10:27-28 • “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]John 17:3 • “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]and (know) Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]These verses obviously agree with the “I never knew you” in Matthew 7:23.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Is anything hindering you from experiencing this? … pride? stubbornness?[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]True believers have enormous appreciation and love for Jesus, resulting in obedience[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]The one who truly loves Jesus will really try to keep (obey) His commandments.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Matthew 22:37-38 • “You shall love the [/SIZE]Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.”
[SIZE=9pt]John 14:15 • “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
John 14:21 • “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.”
John 14:23 • “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word”
John 15:14 • “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]1 John 5:2-3 • “… [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]2 John 1:6 [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]• “[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]This is love, that we walk according to His commandments.”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Obedient believers practice righteousness, which leads them to holiness[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Romans 6:16-19 • “you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]whether (slaves) of sin leading to death, or (slaves) of obedience leading to righteousness[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]… so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Acts 10:35 • “whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.” [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Ephesians 5:8-10 [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]• “Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.”
1 Timothy 6:11 [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]• “But you, O man of God, flee these things (sins) and pursue righteousness”
2 Timothy 3:16 [/SIZE]• “All Scripture… is profitable for … instruction in righteousness”
1 Peter 2:24 • “we, having died to sins, might live for (the practicing of) righteousness”
1 John 2:29 • “you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.”
1 John 3:7 • “let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous”
[SIZE=9pt]1 John 3:10 • “I[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]n this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]True love for Jesus is the critical link between belief and obedience.[/SIZE]