WHO WILL ENTER THE KINGDOM? Matthew 7:21-23

“Enter by the narrow gate “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (Matthew 7:13-14, ESV) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:21-23, ESV)

The kingdom of heaven is synonymous with the kingdom of God From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17, ESV) Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:14-15, ESV) The kingdom of heaven is synonymous with the kingdom of God

Focused in Jesus Christ Manifested in the Heart And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  (Matthew 28:18-20, ESV) Focused in Jesus Christ Manifested in the Heart Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”  (Luke 17:20-21, ESV)

The kingdom of heaven is spiritual in nature Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” (John 18:36, ESV) The kingdom of heaven is spiritual in nature

Inaugurated on Pentecost And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.” (Mark 9:1, ESV) He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, (Colossians 1:13, ESV) Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. (1 Corinthians 15:24-25, ESV) Inaugurated on Pentecost Accumulated by being added to it Culminated at Jesus’ return

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. (Matthew 25:31-34, ESV)

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:10-11, ESV)

Who will enter this future heavenly home? “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21, ESV)

Who will enter this future heavenly home? Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.  (John 12:42-43, ESV) You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.  (James 2:24, ESV) KEY WORD HERE IS “NOT”

Who will enter this future heavenly home? So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32, ESV) Believers were told to “ABIDE” in the word CAN’T ACCEPT/THINK THAT BELIEF ALONE WILL SAVE

Who will enter this future heavenly home? NOT EVERYONE WHO DOES GOOD WORKS he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:5-7, ESV) One is saved by grace, not by works

Who will enter this future heavenly home? NOT EVERYONE WHO DOES GOOD WORKS At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. (Acts 10:1-2, ESV) he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’  (Acts 11:14, ESV) Works didn’t save Corneilus

Who will enter this future heavenly home? NOT EVERYONE WHO DOES GOOD WORKS One can be very religious, actively good, and lost. One cannot think that what pleases us, pleases God

Who will enter this future heavenly home? THE ONE WHO DOES THE FATHER’S WILL, WILL ENTER Is this legalism? NO! So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”  (Luke 17:10, ESV)

Who will enter this future heavenly home? THE ONE WHO DOES THE FATHER’S WILL, WILL ENTER Grace does not preclude obedience And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, (Hebrews 5:9, ESV)

Who will enter this future heavenly home? THE ONE WHO DOES THE FATHER’S WILL, WILL ENTER Grace does not preclude obedience and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,  (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9, ESV)

Who will enter this future heavenly home? THE ONE WHO DOES THE FATHER’S WILL, WILL ENTER What is the Father’s will? testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.  (Acts 20:21, ESV) Acts 20:21- faith and repentance

Who will enter this future heavenly home? THE ONE WHO DOES THE FATHER’S WILL, WILL ENTER What is the Father’s will? Acts 20:21- faith and repentance Romans 10:10 Confessing Jesus as Lord For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.  (Romans 10:10, ESV)

Who will enter this future heavenly home? THE ONE WHO DOES THE FATHER’S WILL, WILL ENTER What is the Father’s will? Acts 20:21- faith and repentance Romans 10:10 Confessing Jesus as Lord Acts 2:38- baptism into Jesus for remission And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38, ESV)

Who will enter this future heavenly home? THE ONE WHO DOES THE FATHER’S WILL, WILL ENTER What is the Father’s will? Acts 20:21- faith and repentance Romans 10:10 Confessing Jesus as Lord Acts 2:38- baptism into Jesus for remission Revelation 2:10- live faithful unto death …Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:10, ESV)