Mt 7:21 Does this mean we must have works also?

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TabinRivCA

Well-known member
Oct 23, 2018
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#1
Not every one that said to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.

What do you think the message is here? 'He/she that does the will of my Father' means what?, if we don't need works. Jesus is saying this btw.
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
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#2
Not every one that said to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.

What do you think the message is here? 'He/she that does the will of my Father' means what?, if we don't need works. Jesus is saying this btw.
Works are the evidence of Salvation, but not the source or cause of it.

Ephesians 2
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
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#3
Not every one that said to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.

What do you think the message is here? 'He/she that does the will of my Father' means what?, if we don't need works. Jesus is saying this btw.
Doesn't the question become then what is meant by the will of the Father? You have to finish the entire passage. The reply of the many was that they had done works. And if you look at the caliber of their works they would put most Christians today to shame. And Jesus never says they are lying about their works. He sends them away because they had no relationship with Him.
Works are not a reliable affirmation of faith. Rather, the fruit that evidences salvation is the work of the Spirit that produces in us love, peace, joy, etc. These are the result of true salvation and eternal life which according to John 17:3 is knowing the one true God and Jesus Christ Whom He sent.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
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#4
Doesn't the question become then what is meant by the will of the Father? You have to finish the entire passage. The reply of the many was that they had done works. And if you look at the caliber of their works they would put most Christians today to shame. And Jesus never says they are lying about their works. He sends them away because they had no relationship with Him.
Works are not a reliable affirmation of faith. Rather, the fruit that evidences salvation is the work of the Spirit that produces in us love, peace, joy, etc. These are the result of true salvation and eternal life which according to John 17:3 is knowing the one true God and Jesus Christ Whom He sent.

John 17:2-3~ You granted Him authority over all people, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him. Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom You have sent.:)
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
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#6

John 17:2-3~ You granted Him authority over all people, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him. Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom You have sent.:)
Wow...2 pictures in 1 day. Woo hoo!
 

Evmur

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Feb 28, 2021
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christianchat.com
#9
Not every one that said to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.

What do you think the message is here? 'He/she that does the will of my Father' means what?, if we don't need works. Jesus is saying this btw.
"what must we do to do the works of God?"
"... this is the work of God, believe in Him whom God hath sent."
 

Evmur

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2021
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London
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#11
Not every one that said to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.

What do you think the message is here? 'He/she that does the will of my Father' means what?, if we don't need works. Jesus is saying this btw.
I always think of Bartimeus who when Jesus granted him his sight He said "Go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole" and Bartimeus followed Him in the way.

That's how it is, have you ever freed a bird caught in a trap? a greenhouse or something? if you manage to catch them you can take him out and let him fly out of your hands FREE, what joy to see him mount up on wings of delight.

That's how God does ... wherever we fly we won't get away from Him.
 

TabinRivCA

Well-known member
Oct 23, 2018
13,225
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#15
"what must we do to do the works of God?"
"... this is the work of God, believe in Him whom God hath sent."
That says it, do you have the Scripture for that?
 

TabinRivCA

Well-known member
Oct 23, 2018
13,225
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#17
Thanks for all your responses, I see it in a different light now. It scared me at first, lol😊🙏👍 God bless you!
 

Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
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#18
Not every one that said to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.

What do you think the message is here? 'He/she that does the will of my Father' means what?, if we don't need works. Jesus is saying this btw.
All you need do is read the verse in context to see that their belief in justification by works is what doomed these people..

(Matthew 7:21-23) "¶ 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. {22} 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? {23} And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

These people will be trying to justify their place in eternity by their Works..

What is the will of My Father.. To believe Jesus and to trust in the Atonement Jesus secured for my salvation on the cross..
 
L

Locoponydirtman

Guest
#19
I know some dad jokes if you think that might help.
Yes. Dad jokes are great.
But what would really help; that i would open this forum and read a thread in which no one is trying to add to or take away from the Gospel and salvation.
 
Nov 26, 2021
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India
#20
Good question.

Well, it would be helpful if we have a verse declaring what the Will of God is. 1 Thess 4:3 is one such: "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:" So the Will of God is our sanctification, that we abstain from all immorality. My opinion is that those mentioned did not do this, i.e. they lived in immorality and didn't do God's Will.

So, how did they work miracles? Well, the Lord Himself never says they worked miracles, but rather they claimed to do it. Maybe like those mentioned in Acts 19, they attempted to do it, but never did it successfully: "13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” 14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?”

Now, these seven sons of Scaeva never gave their life to the Lord, nor did His Will. They merely saw that Christians were doing mighty works in the Name of Our Lord Jesus (also kinda like Simon Magus in Acts 8:19-20), and attempted to copy them. But the Lord of course knew their heart, and so was never pleased with them.

That's my understanding. God Bless.