="mailmandan, post: 3739317, member: 193497"]It's actually you who misses the whole point of this scripture. Although these many people in Matthew 7:22 were not devoid of works of any kind, they were still claiming to have accomplished some incredible signs, wonders and wonderful works. Reminds me of Benny Hinn. The problem was, their confidence was in these works and not in Christ alone for salvation (sound familiar?) which demonstrates these works were not produced out of authentic faith. Jesus NEVER knew them (John 17:3) which means they were NEVER saved.
They did all their "works" in Christ's name, they were just not the "works" God foreordained for His people to walk in. they were the "righteous" works of man.
The key point is they "THOUGHT" they were saved just like Eve, they told everyone they were saved, they gave the Christ all the credit for all their deeds. This is why the Christ said it in the first place. "Many will say to me in that day" (Jesus, don't you know who we are? Don't you know all the great TV shows we did to spread all our wonderful works, all in your name. Don't you see the handsome man we created and placed your name on?
The Christ doesn't want all your religious works, He wants your respect and obedience. I can understand how these scriptures sting you.
There are false prophets who prophecy in the name of Jesus and even make false prophecies and also, Satan may grant the power to one of his agents to cast out demons from another of his agents in order to gain attention and loyalty from an audience for his own evil agenda. False teachers and false prophets have long demonstrated supernatural power granted by Satan, including the power to control the demonic realm. The enemy can easily use this deception to win an audience for his claims.
Also, in Matthew 10:1, we also see that Jesus gave His 12 disciples power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. This would include Judas Iscariot, yet Jesus referred to Judas Iscariot as an unbelieving, unclean devil who would betray Him! (John 6:64-71; 13:10-11). Apparently, Judas believed that Jesus' name has the power to cast out demons but did not truly believe in His name (John 1:12) and become a child of God, but instead was the son of perdition (John 17:12).
Just more deflection. The Christ rejected them because they claimed to be His children, but they refused to do as He said. He rejected the Mainstream Preachers of His time for the same thing. Same religion, different century.
Do you attend church? In Hebrews 10:24-25, we read - And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. I attend church weekly and I also attend a weekly small group Bible study. I love to fellowship with other believers.
What about you?
Going to a church that "transgresses the Commandments of God by their man made religious traditions" is not going to save me. And the Christ said I should "Come out of her" so given I am not my own, and He directs my footsteps, I stay away from the religious franchises you espouse. We have 15 people in the church I attend weekly, not that this would matter to you anyway. You must deflect from the scriptures I post and try to stay away from the valid questions and points the scriptures make regarding your preaching. It's old hat, but good for me as it keeps me in remembrance of why I need to "put on" the whole armor of God.
There is nothing wrong with feeding and clothing the poor or donating to missions or counceling folks on drug use and on marriage, helping the addicted etc.. and doing this in Christ's name. These are all good works and are fall in line with the second great commandment of loving our neighbor as ourself (Matthew 22:39). Good works glorify God (Matthew 5:16) and are good and profitable to men (Titus 3:8) and they show that our faith is alive (James 2:14-20).
All your "wonderful works" that you brag about here will not save you if you are rejecting God's Commandments. That is the whole purpose of Matthew 7:22,23, to begin with. "DEpart from Me, you who "work iniquity".
Doing good works is following God's path. Ephesians 2:10 - For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto/for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. From the mindset of believing that salvation is obtained by works as an unregenerate Roman Catholic several years ago, I saw it as what these many people accomplished in Matthew 7:22 as not good enough and somehow I had to top that if I expected to be saved. In your case, you see it as they were not doing all the right works on God's path and you confidently (and self righteously) seem to believe that you qualify for heaven under those terms. Either way it's salvation by works. Difference in style, but same in substance.
But you are simply telling another falsehood in defense of your man made religion. The Christ didn't say these were rejected because they weren't "good enough" as you falsely preach. He didn't know them because they had "Works" like you, but they were not the "Works of God". They, like you, were simply convinced, as was Eve, that they are already immortal, already saved and that God's instructions make you blind. It's literally the oldest deception in the World, but still is effective for those more interested in a social club, than in seeking the God of the Bible. What a shock when the are resurrected and see that the Bible was right after all, and all their righteous works meant nothing because they had His Sayings, but didn't believe them. But you can't blame the Christ, He has certainly told you.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him,
If they hear not Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded,
though one rose from the dead.
I find my Sabbath rest in Christ and not by following the law of Moses. In Hebrews 4:9, we read - So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. Here the Sabbath rest is the perpetual rest to be enjoyed uninterruptedly by believers in their fellowship with Jesus Christ, in contrast to keeping the weekly seventh day Sabbath under the law. Sabbath keeping with all it's rules and regulations, was part of a covenant with Israel (Exodus 16:23, 29; 31:12-18; 35:1-3; Leviticus 19:30; 23:2-3, 32; Numbers 15:32-36; 28:1-10; 29:39-40; I Chronicles. 23:30-31; II Chronicles 31:2-4; Isaiah 1:13; Amos 8:5; Nehemiah 10:31) that is not binding on Christians under the new covenant.
Ya, that's what all those "MANY" Christians were convinced of in Matt. 7. Too bad they refused to accept the Word of God's definition of "iniquity".
*Colossians 2:16 - Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day 17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.
Yes, I agree with Paul and I will not let you or the Catholic church judge me in regards to obeying the Word which became Flesh. After all, they are all about HIM.
Like Paul said.
1 Cor. 5:
6 Your glorying
is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven
leaveneth the whole lump?
7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened
bread of sincerity and truth.