Notice that Jesus said to these people that were supposedly "doing good works". - He never knew them. Jesus knows His sheep.
Works do not save a person nor do they "keep one saved". Jesus Himself is the Savior. We do not save ourselves.
Believers "do the will of the Father" by believing in Christ's work of grace through faith alone - not by what they do or don't do.
Matthew 7:21-23 (NASB)
[SUP]21 [/SUP] "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.
[SUP]22 [/SUP] "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'
[SUP]23 [/SUP] "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'
Lawlessness is seeking to replace God and His activity in Christ with our own activity - no matter how good it appears to be on the outside and "works" are included in this truth.
When we start to live conscious of the Lord as our righteousness, we will begin to manifest outwardly His life of righteousness that is already in us.
From the inside out, genuine good works, obedience, holiness and love will flow unabated out of an authentic relationship with our loving heavenly Father. His life will manifest to a hurt and dying world that needs to see the love and grace our loving Father and Lord have for them.
We are "living epistles" read by all men.
There is a prescribed order of victory in the New Covenant. Until the believer sees his death on the cross with Jesus, he cannot experience Christ as his life as a new man in Christ. - the new creation.
Do you know what hypocrisy mean? You talk about genuine good works, OBEDIENCE, holiness, love but do you practice these things? Do you really obey Jesus whom you call your Lord? If He is your Lord then you should be His servant. Why then do you make Him do all the work as if it's the other way around? Can you answer and explain to me in all honesty your view on this? It's ok if you don't want to respond, i'll understand.
Jesus was seeking for GENUINE obedience in the passage below but the man turned and walked away.
Matthew 19:16-26 The Rich Young Man Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” “Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
New International Version 1984 John 6:66-67 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. “YOU DO NOT WANT TO LEAVE TO, DO YOU?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
IF YOU HAVE GENUINE LOVE FOR GOD YOU WOULD OBEY HIS COMMANDS(1john 3:16-18 & 5:1-3)AND TEACH OTHERS TO DO THE SAME(mat 28:19-20).
HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS TO THE DISOBEDIENT...
Acts 5:1-11 Ananias and Sapphira Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.” When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” Peter said to her, “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
ARE YOU ONE OF THOSE WHO HAVE A GENUINE LOVE AND OBEDIENCE?
1 John 3:18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
