True... true.
But I'm going to let the Lord decide who that is.
He also said, "The tree is known by his fruit"... and I can only judge the fruit but not the heart for only God knows the heart. I'm sure that there are many who look good on the outside and are still rotten on the inside... maybe even friends of ours. We just don't know.
It's not at all complicated Ken.
You went further back than I had in mind, but interestingly there seems to be some discrepancy with your statement and the verse you referred to.
I'm not going to dwell on it, since the verses I mentioned makes a particular point, I had in mind for making my earlier comment.
I think pointing out the conflict might be helpful though.
Who will know, by the fruit the tree produces? That's us right?
So if we are supposed to know, since the Lord wants us to know, and shows us how we can... is there not a contradiction to say, "But I'm going to let the Lord decide who that is"?
The point I was making, is similarly, just as simple.
It's a good thing, at least to the Christian, to help someone get out of addictions to vice - including porn. Great!
It's a good thing to free someone of demon possession. What a joy to be freed from 7 demons!
So why did Jesus say, (Matthew 7:22, 23)
22 Many will say to me in that day: ‘Lord, Lord,
did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’
23 And then I will declare to them: ‘I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!’
But those are good things, aren't they? So why was Jesus not rejoicing?
Jesus did not leave us scratching our head in wonderment.
Not complicated at all, but quite simple.
(Matthew 7:24, 26)
24 “Therefore,
everyone who hears these sayings of mine and does them will be like a discreet man who built his house on the rock. ...
26 Furthermore,
everyone hearing these sayings of mine and not doing them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
What is the use of hearing Jesus, and not obeying him?
Is that not the point of Jesus' words? There is no question.
He said, (Matthew 7:21) “
Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of the heavens,
but only the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will.
It's not the one saying. It's not the one doing... at least something. I mean, we could do anything right?
It is specifically the
doing of Gods will that matters with Jesus, and his father, isn't it. The scriptures tell us why too, don't they.
1 Timothy 2:3, 4; John 14:23, 24
To give an example...
I'm not sure if you have heard about the "March for Christ", or "
March for Jesus".
I don't know about you, but I have never read in the Bible Jesus saying, 'Gather up as many people as possible, and March for me."
I won't get into who are many of those engaged in the march, and what they do, or don't do otherwise, but everyone has a good time and goes home thinking what good work they did that day for Christ.
What is Jesus saying? We read Mathew 7:21-25.
We understand what's important to Jesus.
Is it not the case that people begged off from following Christ, and why? Because what Jesus was commanding them to do, required sacrifice, and work, that many felt would take too much from them?
We remember the rich ruler.
I hope you see my point. Sorry to be so long.
People will continue to smoke their cigars, tell a few obscene jokes, and cuss their neighbor, watch their immoral movies, and claim they love the Lord... and yet, the very things Jesus asks of them - actually no... commands - they are not willing to do. They opt for other things - other 'good' works.
Of course Jesus is the judge, and we leave that to him, but he did tell us to look at the fruit, and know what kind of tree we are really looking at.
That's all I was doing.
