QUESTION: Gentleman…I Am seriously having a problem with these texts… I tried looking at a couple of commentaries often, they suggest that we are saved by works… I looked at the Greek as well… Help!
By HVT
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
RESPONSE: I don’t see how salvation by works surfaces in this text unless if scripture is gang-raped by religious preconceived doctrinal conclusions.
The context of Mathew 7:21-23 starts from verse 15 to verse 27 and reading from that passage there is nothing like works as functional in one’s salvation. I personally do not see any need of an educated layman consulting commentaries unless that individual has conclusions he/she wants to agitate or actually affirm.
The simple literally approach to the passage will demonstrate how dangerous it is when people without difficulty always complicate simplicity to ignite unnecessary and unproductive activity.
THEY ARE NOT WHAT THEY DO
Here it is:
In verse 15 false prophets are false are not qualified to be false die to WHAT they teach but based on WHO they are. It is because of WHO they are that we don’t have to look at WHAT they DO {since false prophets can as well do all right and all good} but wait for their FRUITS…
Every lazy Bible reader will notice that there is a clear distinction between works and fruits {Galatians 5:19= Works and 5:22= Fruit} and both Jesus and his couth disciples sensitively apply each accordingly.
Fruits are the result of WHO we are not WHAT we do…that is why leaves however many or even beautiful they might be, they never define a tree…it is the fruit that defines the tree (Mathew 7:16-19).
And so false prophets are not disqualified from falsehood based on how good, successful and institutionally established and recognized (Mathew 7:22), these are but leaves…false prophets are identified by the fruits they bear (Mathew 7:20).
THE IDENTITY FACTOR
What we have in Mathew 7:21-23 is not a matter that we should confuse with whether the gossip of righteousness by works is justified.
If we did then this would be what I call BEE (Biblical Electric Engineering) where Bible readers and some hired theologians connect Bible verses out of their biblical naturality and context to make their own light as opposed to the very light this verse actually exude.
First and foremost in Mathew 7:22 we are told that those who will see the kingdom of heaven are those WHO DO THE WILL OF GOD…now the primarily logical questions to ask are two:
- Do we do the will of God or the will of God or exercised in us?
- Is the will of God a standard law as stipulated in the Decalogue (Exodus 20 for instance) or circumstantially something bigger?
How one answers the above questions explains how they even got to the place they are.
Because sincerely if the law is the will of God then the guys in verse 22 did his will.
How come they are considered evildoers in verse 23 yet they did MIGHTY WORKS?
The thing is, Mathew 7:15-27 is about IDENTITY and not about one’s works. It is about WHO we are and in WHOM (Mathew 7:24-27) we are.
The gospel of salvation by grace through faith is one founded on TECHNICAL KNOW WHO (John 10:26-29) and TECHNICAL KNOW-HOW (Luke 18:11-12).
The question that Mathew 7:15-27 asks is one: WHO ARE YOU AND IN WHOM ARE YOU?
I leave that to you to answer.
God bless you I invoke TRUTH, WISDOM, and FAITH (2Tim 2:7)
Priest M.I.T WHITE (+256-775 822833 for further inquiries)
iTiS Well of Worship Fellowship (John 4:24)
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