What is the Will of the Father?
In Matthew 7:21-23 we find our Lord saying that not everyone who claims Christ are actually His. He contrasts them with those “who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” But what is the will of the Father? Committed Christian seeks to answers this question over at Against the Current:
This passage ought to produce in professing Christians a desire to examine oneself to see whether they are in the faith (2 Cor 13:5). This passage speaks to the possibility that some professing Christians are self-deceived regarding their salvation. The people who will say, “Lord, Lord” believe that they have a close relationship with God. There are several passages in the Bible that a name is spoken twice by someone to indicate a close (perceived) relationship. There is the instance when God spoke from the burning bush, “Moses, Moses” (Exo 3:4). Jesus with Martha, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41). Also, most notably when Jesus was hanging on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me” (Matt 27:46)?
Those that Jesus spoke about who will be saying, “Lord, Lord”, outwardly look like true believers. They performed miracles, cast out demons, and even prophesied in His name. However, the Lord Jesus calls them “workers of lawlessness”. They did not truly know the Lord. Where did they go wrong? I believe that the answer is contained in Jesus statement, “but the one who does the will of my heavenly Father who is in heaven” will enter the kingdom of heaven. What is the will of the Father? To produce works of righteousness that flow out of love which originates from true repentance and faith in Jesus Christ alone?
Some may be asking, “What is true faith?” The Heidelberg Catechism puts it well in response to Question 21, “What is true faith?”, by saying, “True faith is not only a certain knowledge, whereby I hold for truth all that God has revealed to us in his word, but also an assured confidence, which the Holy Ghost works by the gospel in my heart; that not only to others, but to me also, remission of sin, everlasting righteousness and salvation, are freely given by God, merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ's merits.”
You can read the rest of the post here.
--The Catechizer
Labels: Doctrine of Salvation
posted by The Catechizer and The Deacon | 5:52 AM
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