The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 7 Part 10 Those Who Do The Father's Will Enter Heaven

So far in Matthew chapter 7, Jesus has given some litmus tests to help us determine whether we are truly born again or not.

These tests are part of the grace of God seeking to make sure our profession of faith is real.

In the context of Matthew's gospel, Jesus wanted all His disciples to see that self righteous people like the Pharisees, are self deceived.

They wear an outer garb of religion such as praying publicly, fasting with disfigured faces, or giving tithes with great fanfare.

Inwardly, their hearts were full of sin and depravity.

Thus, Jesus' spiritual litmus tests addresses spiritual blindness of those who are self deceived, such that they may fully repent and trust Christ for salvation.

Do not lose sight of God's salvation intention. 

He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentant faith in Christ (See 1 Timothy 2:1-6; 3 Peter 3:9).

He wants each person to be regenerated by His Spirit that they become adopted children in the family of God.

Jesus' first test reflects the Pharisees vile habit of rushing to judge others that they believed were not on the same spiritual level.

They judged people with a harsh, condemning spirit.

We must examine ourselves to see if we are guilty of judging other people harshly or rushing to judgment.

If we are guilty of this sin then we must confess and forsake it and receive cleansing from the Father (See 1 John 1:7-9).

Jesus' second test involved two gates, two roads to travel on and two diametrically opposed destinations.

We are born with a sin nature and enter the wide gate to start life traveling on the broad road that leads to destruction

Merciful God has provided a second gate, one that is "straight" meaning that each individual can respond by repentance and faith when they hear the gospel of Christ.

God's Spirit will do a mighty, saving work in their heart and set them on the narrow way of a new life lived for God's glory.

Jesus' third test involved two kinds of trees, two kinds of fruit and two opposite outcomes.

We must examine our lives to see what kind of fruit is evident in our lives in order to determine if we are a good tree (Saved) or a corrupt tree (Unsaved).

Not all who claim to know Christ shall be admitted into the kingdom of heaven.

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. 

Next, Jesus gave a plain, understandable declaration about genuine saving faith and a false profession of faith.

Today there are multitudes of people who profess to be Christians but Jesus said not every single person who calls Him Lord will be admitted into Christ's kingdom.

Who qualifies for admission into the kingdom of God?

Jesus told us with simple words: Those who do the heavenly Father's will are those who will enter the glorious kingdom.

King David, the sweet Psalmist of Israel asked the same question.

David said those who can abide with God and worship in His presence are upright men.

Psalm 15:1-5  A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2  He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3  He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. 4  In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 5  He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.  

David asked the LORD who will abide in His holy temple and dwell in His holy hill.

Guided by the Spirit of God, David tells us what kind of person will dwell close with Jehovah in His tabernacle. 

David's description of an upright man correlates with Jesus stating that only those who do the Father's will shall gain admission to His kingdom.

Those who do the Father's will are those who walk uprightly, avoiding sinful influences and depraved circumstances.

An upright man or woman will do righteousness, meaning that they are happy and willing to obey God's commandments.

Thus, they love God and serve Him first, and they love others as themselves. 

They speak truth based upon God's Word and are not liars or gossips.

They do not spread malicious talk or unfounded rumors about their neighbors.

Those who walk uprightly before God and men do no evil to their neighbors nor do they treat them with disrespect.

Rather, those who are privileged to draw close to Jehovah in His tabernacle are those who turn away from wicked people and seek out those who fear the LORD.

The upright man will keep his word to those whom he made a promise or commitment even if it means he loses money or time keeping it.

The upright man does not lend money to a neighbor in need and charge him exorbitant interest.

He will never take advantage of the fatherless, the poor or the widows in accord with God's law. 

David gave us the example of an upright man as one who does the Father's will and this is exactly what Jesus taught when He said not every person who professes faith in Christ will enter heaven's gate.

Those who do the Father's will are rightly related to God through faith in Christ.

Mark 3:35  For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother. 

Jesus spoke to a different group of people and taught the same thing as we see in Matthew's gospel.

Those who shall enter the kingdom of God are those who do the Father's will as revealed in scripture.

Those who do the Father's will are rightly related to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Doing the Father's will leads to living the life of blessing, joy and happiness. 

Psalm 1:1-3  Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 

The Psalmist describes those who do the Father's will and people who are blessed.

They do not keep company with ungodly people, nor do they go to places where sinners gather.

The blessed man or woman who does the Father's will is not haughty, arrogant or always condemning others.

Those who do the will of the Father find great delight in obeying His law and studying it daily.

The impact of the Word of God stored in our heart is that we are compared to a fruit producing tree planted near a stream of good water.

Our leaves will not wither, meaning we maintain spiritual vitality and and God will use us to advance His kingdom purposes.

All who do the Father's will discover an abundant life of happiness, blessing and joy in serving the Lord.

We have here the conclusion of Jesus' long and excellent sermon, the purpose of which is to show the absolute necessity of obedience to the commands of Christ.

We are saved by grace not by works so that we can do the good works the Father has for us.

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

A profession of faith lacks spiritual life if there is no obedience to Christ's commands or no evidence of a life being  transformed by the work of God's Spirit and the preaching of His Word.

We are saved by grace not by works, but a profession of faith without any works  means we lack evidence of a transformed life. 

James calls this a dead faith a lifeless profession of faith and this is what Jesus wanted us to see. 

We must be born again, born from above by the working of god's Spirit so that we have spiritual life in us and are enabled to serve God and keep His commands (See James 2:14-26).

Jesus' admonition that not all who profess faith in Him shall enter God's kingdom is connected to two gates, two roads and two eternal destinations.

His words are also connected with two kinds of trees.

Either we are a good tree producing good fruit (born again) or we are a corrupt tree producing corrupt fruit (spiritually dead).

My hope and prayer for all the people in numerous countries around the world who read this blog, is that they might be saved.

If you are born again and a child of God, then I praise God with you and encourage you along with myself, to keep following hard after God until He calls us home.

If you do not yet know the Lord Jesus Christ through repentances of sin and calling upon Jesus for salvation, then I pray that this day, this moment might be the day of your conversion to Christ.

Let us pray for one another that the Lord will strengthen us through His Word and the ministry of His Spirit.

Let us pray that the Lord will give us opportunities to share the gospel of Christ with people who do not know Him, that they might be saved and enter the straight gate and walk on the narrow way that leads to eternal life.

Bob