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“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7.21-23).

The kingdom of heaven is a place of great blessings, a desirable place to which many aspire. However, not everyone will be allowed to go there. As a popular song says, “Everybody talkin’ about heaven ain’t a’goin’ there!” Jesus limited those who enter the kingdom to those who do the will of the Father. He specifically excluded those who merely “talk the talk” and do not “walk the walk.” Today’s devotional will take a look at several other New Testament passages which teach that only the obedient will be saved.

“For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified.” (Romans 2.12-13). Paul wrote of others who “…profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.” (Titus 1.16).

Perhaps one of the better known passages comes from the pen of James: “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,' but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith, and I have works.' Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.' And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2.14-26).

From this concept of obedience comes the extended phrase “obey the gospel.” It is this action of man (as distinguished from works of merit) that separates him from the ranks of the unsaved. Again, it is not words that save, it is obedience to the gospel. God will take “...vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 1.8).

Words alone cannot save any more than faith alone can save. The believer must demonstrate his/her faith by actions of obedience in order to find a place with the redeemed and to enter the Kingdsom of Heaven. Or, as John put it, “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3.18).

Questions:

1. According to Jesus in Matthew 7.21 who will enter the kingdom of heaven?

2. According to Romans 2.12-13, who will be justified regarding the law?

3. According to James 2, what is the status of “faith without works”? Is it alive or dead? Can faith without works save? Can faith with works save?

4. According to Paul in 2 Thessalonians 1.8, who will be punished in the final day?

"Voice of Inspiration" from Andy Castro

I See Dead People (Updated Version)