Post by Cindy on Mar 3, 2022 9:24:17 GMT -5
I think the scariest verses in the Bible are when Jesus says this: ““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 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 perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21–23) Those are scary to me because Jesus is talking about people who consider themselves to be Christian. In fact they're sure they're saved. We can know that because of the way they say, "Lord, Lord". Yet Jesus says He doesn't know them and therefore they will go to Hell even though they've done all that stuff in His Name! I heard on one of MacArthur's sermons that the word "many" in the above verse links it back to the one in this verse: ““Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13–14)
It also reminds me of this verse: ““For many are called, but few are chosen.”” (Matthew 22:14) Another time Jesus said it this way: “Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’” (Luke 13:23–27)
It just shows how close someone can be to being saved and yet still be lost and on their way to hell. In fact it reminds me of the Pharisees who were super religious and yet still going to Hell. They figured, like many do today that as long as they went to church (synagogue) and did all the rituals, that they'd go to Heaven, but it doesn't work that way. You can't earn your way to heaven. In Matthew 13:24–30 Jesus tells a parable that also goes with these. He says that Satan has sowed fake Christians into the Church, to infiltrate it and turn some people away from Christ. When asked if these "weeds" should be put out, Jesus says no, because they look so much like real Christians that you may accidentally put out someone who is really saved. He explains that He knows who is really saved and who isn't and He will have His angels separate out the false ones. Let me leave you with this parable and we can examine ourselves like the Bible says, and be sure we are in the faith:
“Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ “ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ “ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ”” (Matthew 13:24–30)
“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5)
It also reminds me of this verse: ““For many are called, but few are chosen.”” (Matthew 22:14) Another time Jesus said it this way: “Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’” (Luke 13:23–27)
It just shows how close someone can be to being saved and yet still be lost and on their way to hell. In fact it reminds me of the Pharisees who were super religious and yet still going to Hell. They figured, like many do today that as long as they went to church (synagogue) and did all the rituals, that they'd go to Heaven, but it doesn't work that way. You can't earn your way to heaven. In Matthew 13:24–30 Jesus tells a parable that also goes with these. He says that Satan has sowed fake Christians into the Church, to infiltrate it and turn some people away from Christ. When asked if these "weeds" should be put out, Jesus says no, because they look so much like real Christians that you may accidentally put out someone who is really saved. He explains that He knows who is really saved and who isn't and He will have His angels separate out the false ones. Let me leave you with this parable and we can examine ourselves like the Bible says, and be sure we are in the faith:
“Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ “ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ “ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ”” (Matthew 13:24–30)
“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5)