The Bible Files.

"Investigating Biblical Truths"

Matthew 7:21-23 says, “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name. But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.”

Have you ever read this scripture and wondered how it is possible to seemingly do all of these “good” things, and still not enter the Kingdom of Heaven? That’s a great question. Romans 10:13 tells us, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Taken out of context, these verses can seem contradictory. The key difference is in the posture of the heart. In Matthew 7, Jesus warns against a shallow profession of faith, where people use Jesus’ name but don’t truly belong to him. Romans 10 gives the assurance that all who sincerely call on Jesus in faith will be saved. In the correct context, these scriptures actually compliment one another. Ephesians 2:8-9 states, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” The only way to enter into heaven is by accepting the finished work of Jesus and being cleansed in his blood. There aren’t enough “good” things we can do to earn eternity in heaven. As Christians, we are called to true intimacy and oneness with the Father. But how do we do that?

A few weeks ago, I went to a high school football game. While in the red-zone, the Center had a bad snap that cost the team a big play. Do you know what makes a good athlete? They are consistent at doing the basics very well. A winning football team is usually comprised of an offensive line that blocks well, receivers who know their routes, a defense that is consistent at wrapping up on tackles, a kicker who hits the extra points, etc. Consistency isn’t flashy or glamorous. There is a well known quote that says, “Successful people don’t do extraordinary things; they do ordinary things extraordinarily well.” For athletes, it is the hours spent practicing the fundamentals that make all the difference. The same is true for the believer.

Have you ever been around someone that seems to have a deep relationship with the Lord? I would be willing to bet that they are consistent at two things: reading the Bible and praying. You might be thinking, “that seems really simple.” That’s because it is. (Yes, there is more to being a follower of Jesus than just those two things. However, if you are consistent and genuine in those two things, you will grow to intimately know the Father). The Book of John tells us that Jesus IS the Word. To know Jesus is to know the Word. If you have ever dated someone, you know what it is like to seek them out and pursue them. The Book of Jeremiah tells us that we will seek and find the Lord when we seek him with all of our heart. Much like a relationship with another person, you get to know the Lord by spending time with him. He reveals his character to us in his Word.

My pastor recently told us, “your schedule is like a budget for your time.” If you do not intentionally set aside time in your schedule for studying and prayer, you are treating them as an option. We have all scrolled our Bible app 5 minutes before bed and mumbled a half-hearted prayer as we drifted to sleep (myself included). Don’t make that your routine. Our pastor encourages our church to carve out time to read and pray, but to also be intentional with that time. Make a plan ahead of time for what you are going to pray about and what portion of the Bible you will read. Again, it seems simple because it is! Make it a priority to know Him. Your relationship with the Lord is built on consistent and devoted fellowship.

I once saw a clip of a minister teaching about the thief on the cross. The thief asked Jesus to remember him when he entered into his kingdom, and Jesus said in Luke 23:43, “For sure, I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” The minister gave the analogy of the thief entering into heaven and the angel asking him how he got there. The minister imagines the thief answering, “The man on the middle cross said I could come.” That is the only answer. He knew Jesus. When I stand before the Lord one day, I pray that Jesus acknowledges me before the Father. I want to know him and be known by him. I pray that you do too. Grace and peace ✌🏼