Expert: Roy Wallen - 12/23/2011

Question
"21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" -Matthew 7:21-23

Hello,

I have two questions regarding this passage.

1. Why exactly will the individuals in this verse not enter the kingdom? Where did they go wrong exactly?

2. What exactly is the will of the Father? I have heard two different explanations. One writer stated that the will of the father is for us to be reconciled to Him and to obey all of His commands. He went further and said the will of the Father is for us to be dead to ourselves completely and to be in complete submission to God. Another writer I read stated that the will of the Father was simply this: to believe. He used John 6:29 as support.

I would really appreciate your insight into this.

Thanks,
Tressa

Answer
Here are my responses:

1.  Jesus taught that only those who are born again can enter the kingdom of God (John 3:3).  The only way to be born again is to be born of the Spirit (John 3:5-7).  Our natural birth (by water, as in "my water broke") is what gives us life.  Our spiritual birth (by the Spirit) gives us eternal life.  Therefore, there are lots of people who call themselves "Christian" and are not reborn believers because they have not been born this second time.  These are the ones who Jesus will not acknowledge; in turn, they never acknowledged Him as Lord.

2.  When Jesus was asked by a lawyer how to inherit eternal life, He confirmed the answer that we are to love the Lord with all our hearts, soul, strength, and mind and our neighbors as ourselves (Luke 10:25-28).  This is the path to eternal life.  This also supports the first writer you cited.  See also Mark 12:30-31.
    The second writer you cite seems to be simplifying the result of salvation.  As I see it, John 6:29 is translated the "work of God" not the "will of God".  God does the work of salvation; there is nothing in us that would naturally be attracted to Him.  While believing is enough to be acknowledged by God, His will for us is to do much more.