who will enter the kingdom? matthew 7:21-23 “enter by the narrow gate. for the gate is wide and...

WHO WILL ENTER THE KINGDOM?

Matthew 7:21-23

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the

way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (Matthew 7:13-14, ESV)

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of

my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name,

and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers

of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:21-23, ESV)

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

(Matthew 4:17, ESV)

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee,

proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of

God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

(Mark 1:14-15, ESV)

The kingdom of heaven is

synonymous with the kingdom of

God

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been

given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,baptizing

them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching

them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with

you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20, ESV)

Focused in Jesus Christ

Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is

not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom

of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:20-21, ESV)

Manifested in the Heart

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would

have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But

my kingdom is not from the world.” (John 18:36, ESV)

The kingdom of heaven is spiritual in

nature

Inaugurated on Pentecost

Accumulated by being

added to it

Culminated at Jesus’ return

And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste

death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.” (Mark 9:1, ESV)

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom

of his beloved Son, (Colossians 1:13, ESV)

Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after

destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all

his enemies under his feet. (1 Corinthians 15:24-25, ESV)

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with

him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate

people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from

the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the

left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed

by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the

foundation of the world. (Matthew 25:31-34, ESV)

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to

confirm your calling and election, for if you practice

these qualities you will never fall. For in this way

there will be richly provided for you an

entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and

Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:10-11, ESV)

Who will enter this future heavenly home?

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the

kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my

Father who is in heaven.(Matthew 7:21, ESV)


You see that a person is justified by works and

not by faith alone. (James 2:24, ESV)

KEY WORD HERE IS “NOT”

Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. (John 12:42-43, ESV)


Believers were told to “ABIDE” in the

word

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32, ESV)

CAN’T ACCEPT/THINK THAT BELIEF ALONE WILL SAVE


One is saved by

grace, not by works

he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:5-7, ESV)

NOT EVERYONE WHO DOES GOOD WORKS


Works didn’t save Corneilus

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. (Acts 10:1-2, ESV)


he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ (Acts 11:14, ESV)


One can be very religious,

actively good, and lost.


One cannot think that

what pleases us,

pleases God


Is this legalism?

THE ONE WHO DOES THE FATHER’S WILL, WILL ENTER

NO!

So you also, when you have done all that you were

commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”

(Luke 17:10, ESV)


Grace does not preclude obedience


And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal

salvation to all who obey him, (Hebrews 5:9, ESV)


Grace does not preclude obedience


and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his

mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the

punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

(2 Thessalonians 1:7-9, ESV)


What is the Father’s will?


testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

(Acts 20:21, ESV)

Acts 20:21- faith and repentance




Acts 20:21- faith and repentanceRomans 10:10 Confessing Jesus as Lord

For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

(Romans 10:10, ESV)




Acts 20:21- faith and repentanceRomans 10:10 Confessing Jesus as LordActs 2:38- baptism into Jesus for remission

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the

forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38, ESV)




Acts 20:21- faith and repentanceRomans 10:10 Confessing Jesus as LordActs 2:38- baptism into Jesus for remissionRevelation 2:10- live faithful unto death

…Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:10, ESV)

who will enter the kingdom? matthew 7:21-23 “enter by the narrow gate. for the gate is wide and...

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