Not Everyone That Calls Jesus Lord Will Be Saved

Many Christians believe this: That everyone who calls or claims Jesus as their Lord is saved. Period. Anyone who 'confesses', no matter what.
I'm telling you Not Everyone That Calls Jesus Their Lord Will Be Saved. Did I really say that? Well, no I didn't. Jesus did! Here are His words, "Not every one that says to Me Lord, Lord (or calls me their Lord) will enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:21-23).
These are perhaps the most frightening Scriptures in the Bible. Jesus is clearly speaking to people who called Him their Lord. These were people who actually performed miracles in His Name, who literally cast out devils in His Name, and who did other wonderful things in and His Name. THESE WERE CHRISTIANS He was addressing, not non-believers! How do I know? A nonbeliever does not have the power to cast out demons because a nonbeliever isn't filled with the Holy Spirit! And you have to be filled with the Holy Spirit to cast out demons because you have no power in and of yourself. It is by the Holy Spirit demons flee not by any human power. Therefore, the people being addressed were Christians and if these Christians were filled with the Holy Spirit how can they not be saved? Let's examine it.

There are a few important things to note! Carefully re-read and absorb Matthew 7:21-23 again. (above)
1. You cannot enter heaven unless you obey him (highlighted above) AND you have to do the will of the Father (again, highlighted above). "Why do you call me lord lord and do not the things I ask?" - those being addressed are DISOBEDIENT- not doing what He asked.
2.) If you work/practice/purposely with intent continue to commit iniquity (sin) He will not allow you into heaven. "Many will say to me on that day, have we not prophesied in thy name and done many great things? I will answer and say, Depart from me, I don't know you, you workers of iniquity" (sin). The word "workers" implies intent. - those being addressed are purposely being DISOBEDIENT- they are, with intent, purposely and continually working sin in their lives.
3.) "If you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15) This is an admonition. Bottom line, -don't be DISOBEDIENT- don't continue to sin!

It is obvious then, that to enter heaven as a "saved" Christian, there are conditions the Christian must meet other than just saying 'Jesus is my Lord and Savior'. According to the scriptures, those conditions are: You cannot work (continually and purposely practice) iniquity/sin (verse 23), and you have to do the will of the Father (verse 21). To give you an example of inequity, I'll quote the Merriam Webster dictionary. Watch closely at the wording! "The definition of an iniquity is a sin or wrong-doing. An example of an iniquity is someone running into another person with their car on purpose." Notice, ON PURPOSE!! In other words, willful intent. Sadly, there are many Christians who have made an altar call, verbally accepted Jesus as their Lord, but have no intention of changing their habits of sin. They make no effort to allow the Holy Spirit to do His work. Why? Because unfortunately, they love their sin more than the commitment they made (John 3:19). As examples, these would be those which purposely remain in an adulterous relationship KNOWING God condemns that behavior, those who conduct themselves unseemly in a same-sex partnership, those who practice the occult, drunkards, idol worshippers, etc. Read it in Revelation 22:15. None have any inheritance in the Kingdom of God. Open your mind. You cannot HABITUALLY PRACTICE SIN, CONTINUE TO PURPOSELY IGNORE YOUR SINNING, WILLFULLY IGNORE WHAT GOD SAYS TO PLEASURE YOUR FLESH and expect God to open the gates of heaven to you! Christians are flesh like anyone else and yes we fail, we can fall, we can slip, and yes we do occasionally sin BUT WE NO LONGER MAKE A HABIT OF IT. We submit and strive to obey with the help of the Holy Spirit. If we do slip, we immediately ask for forgiveness and are forgiven. Too many Christians believe once they are saved, salvation is a sure thing. NOT SO! (Matthew 7:21-23). Look at the picture in this blog. THAT WAS ME! I was imprisoned by a vice I could not stop or control but I wanted to. After years of trying to do it on my own, I finally in desperation turned to Jesus with a similar prayer like that in the picture. Once I did, my sin was lifted, my desire ceased. JESUS HEALED ME! It takes submission and sincerity and if you have those HE WILL ANSWER! He will heal.

Many religious people and churchgoers will not make it! They will be shocked and dumbfounded when the Lord rejected them "Many are called, few are chosen" (Matthew 24:14). As with those in the Bible example who had spent their lives teaching in Jesus' name and doing many charitable deeds in Jesus' name, they were rejected. How could this happen? What went wrong? They were so sincere and now they're are being told they cannot enter into Heaven. Despite trying to blame the Lord, they will be cast into the Lake of Fire forever. Perhaps the deadliest of all who say Lord Lord are those who have never rested completely in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Jesus plainly tells us why the religious group in Matthew 7:21-23 were not allowed into Heaven, and if you have ears to hear and eyes to see, then please listen to the Holy Scriptures being taught today. "If you love me, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS" -- OBEY-do what He asks. In the case of Matthew 7:21-23, those who call Jesus “Lord” are those who don’t do what God commands. It's very simple actually. Remember what Jesus says about those who follow after Him? Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me (daily deny sin) For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him, the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. (Luke 9:23-26, NKJV)

You can call Him your Lord all you want. You can have the gift of prophesy or work great miracles, but unless and until you OBEY HIS WILL you cannot and will not enter heaven when you die. Jesus said, "IF YOU LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS" -- or in other words, OBEY HIM! Many people will attempt to enter through the pearly gates of Heaven but will be refused. Most religious people die with an expectation of God letting them into Heaven, but it doesn't work that way. It really doesn't! You have to enter into Heaven God's way, which is through the door - Jesus Christ, who spoke in John 10:7 "I AM the door of the sheep." He also said in John 10:1, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. Did you understand that? Anyone who attempts to enter into Heaven by human effort (works, sacraments, goodness, religious devotion, etc.) is a THIEF and a ROBBER (because you're trying to get into Heaven without going through the door (Jesus). John 10:9, “I am the door: by Me, if any man enters in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” Jesus was asked if few people are going to Heaven. Jesus replied that MANY will seek to enter into Heaven, but only a few will be allowed. This Scripture passage should frighten MANY people.

Those who follow Jesus must “deny Himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). Those the Lord says He “never knew,” that Jesus calls “workers of iniquity,” are those that were never saved OR HE WOULD HAVE LET THEM IN! They never had a true relationship with the Lord because they never denied themselves (they kept sinning day in and day out), never took up their cross, never followed Christ even though God gifted them with His Spirit when they came to Him to be born again. They only claimed to know Christ! And the most interesting part of Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:21-23 is that these individuals prophesied, cast out demons, and did other wonderful works in Jesus’ name. They did works consistent with someone who has the Holy Spirit’s presence and power in their lives. And yet, despite all their spiritual giftedness, and the work of the Spirit in prophecy, demon possession, and other works, these individuals were never saved. Now THAT my friends is scary! It's time to get right with the Lord. Time is short. If you are struggling to give up some destructive sin in your life, there is still time to repent and turn back to the Lord by asking forgiveness and petitioning the Holy Spirit to work in you to overcome desires that are harming you and your relationship with God. Do it today. You won't be sorry.
Until next time,
-Pat-