Not everyone will enter the Kingdom of Heaven

“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

What does that mean? It means just because you said a prayer of salvation one time but it didnt change your heart towards sin then you may not have actually made the decision to make Christ Lord of your life.

Romans 10:9 says “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,you will be saved.”

Do you see the double edged sword there? It isnt just a belief that God raised Jesus from the dead. Even the demons believe that. But it is also making Him Lord of your life.

Our works dont save us because we could never be perfect enough to get into heaven. Only Jesus held that perfection which is why He is was the only suitable sacrifice. Our works are evidence of our salvation. And I want you to actually think about what He willingly went through for us to get that salvation. Then think about what He told people during His time on earth “you are forgiven, now sin no more.”

That didnt mean He expected us to never sin again. He knew we would. It means we are to view sin differently and not be living comfortably in it. It means once we are truly saved then there is a heart change that starts happening and sin is no longer something you are comfortable living in.

Are you comfortable in your sin? Do you think ” it’s ok. I’m forgiven anyway so Im not going to worry about sinning.”?

“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
Romans 6:1-4

There are so many verses on this change and how necessary it is. Another one that comes to mind:

“And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”
Mark 2:22

Don’t be decieved. Just because the world stands with you on your actions and opinions does not mean God does. So, which hill are you really willing to die on?

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11:29

“Learn from me.” – Jesus

Stand on the hill He died on not the one that the world applauds. Learn His ways from His one Holy word (bible) not the ever changing ways of the world. Invite the Spirit in to reveal the sin He wants to remove from you instead of continuing to be deceived inside a world of sin. The world may change your mind but He will change your heart!

The work of saving grace

“Grace and faith are congruous, and will draw together in the same chariot, but grace and merit are contrary the one to the other and pull opposite ways, and therefore God has not chosen to yoke them together.” (Spurgeon)

We are not made righteous by our works but counted righteous through our faith. Our faith is manifested through the grace freely given to us by God. Our salvation is through our faith of the death and resurrection of Christ as grace given to us for forgiveness of our sins. It is this faith that counts us as righteous. It is this faith that begins our actual changing to righteousness. And it is this faith that makes us fully righteous at our own ressurection.

Works is not faith but faith without works is dead. (James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.) May sound contradictory but think of it this way; true faith brings about change. It is not change that brings forgiveness but forgiveness that brings change. It is not our good works that saves us but because we are saved we want to do better and be obedient.

“All true believers, like Abraham, obey. Obedience is faith in action. You are to walk in the steps of the faith of father Abraham. His faith did not sit still, it took steps; and you must take these steps also by obeying God because you believe him. That faith which has no works with it is a dead faith, and will justify no one.” (Spurgeon)

Obedience to God’s word is faith that God’s word is true. Being forgiven for falling short of God’s word is where our faith in grace steps in. That is where our joy comes from. Grace!! It is not the obedience or the works that saves us. Therefore, falling short of perfect obedience and works does not condemn us. Faith in the grace and love of our Father and His mercy through Christ brings out our love for Him that changes our lives!