Expert: Onaga Thomas - 9/7/2011

Question
what is your thoughts on Matt 7:21-23?  With these verses in mind what is your thoughts on the will of God and how these people didn't do it? Thank you very much for your time.

Answer
Thankyou for your question Joah, I apologize for getting back to you a little late



 My thoughts on Matt 7:21-23 center around false believers.  I believe that is why Jesus said that not everyone who "says" to me Lord, Lord.....just because you may know who Jesus is does put you into a relationship with him.  Rather Jesus says those who "do" the will of the Father gain entrance into the kingdom of heaven.  In verse 22, those who "say" the name of the Lord try to tell the Lord what they have done for him, all good acts "have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  They based what they have done in the "Lord's name" as their requirement to have that relationship with Jesus, like we know Jesus because we did all these things in His name. In verse 23 Jesus tells those who "say" his name that He never knew them (they did all those works supposedly for Him and in His name) and he NEVER knew them...never have a relationship of them, never had knowledge of them.  And Jesus says they worked iniquity........since they did not do the will of the Father, and said they know Jesus and did works in His name, they actually worked inquity (sin) because they were outside the will of God.  The will of the Father is revealed in His Word, me must work under the authority of His revealed will to be acceptable unto Him.  These verses show that man can do many things "in the name of the Lord" and "say" they know Jesus, but if those works or that belief system is outside the Lord Word (His revealed will)they are invalid and the works of iniquity.


I pray this has helped Josh, and thankyou for the question, it allowed me to go back and study that text and ponder on that key issue, have a blessed day.

Onaga Thomas