Oh. my mistake.
The man calling Lord Lord believed in his heart that he was working for the Lord, that is why he called it to the attention of Christ. But Christ called all those works inequity
Regarding Matthew 7, a little bit of context might help. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
"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!'" (Matt 7:15-23)
Again, Jesus is not condemning good deeds per sec. In verse 15, He warns about those with false or evil hearts. Such a one cannot bear good fruits all the time. Other sections of the NT also bear this out - a person cannot do good if they are of evil mind. In verse 23, again, Jesus is speaking of "I never knew you" to those who practice lawlessness - not those who practice good deeds. He, as He does quite often, charges the hypocriticals to beware - God knows what is at their heart.
Nowhere does Matthew 7 talk about a man who does good deeds from his heart. That is you reading your theology into what is not there. I ask you to read it with open mind. Matt 7:21 is bracketed by those who practice evil in their hearts. Good deeds of love from the heart ARE pleasing to God...THAT IS the will of God!
but the bible tells me that unsaved man can never please God and that all his works are wood , hay and stubble. So an unsaved fireman that rushes into a building to save a child might be a hero to men, but if he is unsaved to God that very act is a sin.
But you are presuming to know WHO the unsaved are! How do we know today who will be destined for eternal life? God will save whom He will. Those who think they stand firmly, beware lest they fall! As to the "unsaved" fireman, I doubt that God would treat that as sin...Selfless sacrifice is not against the will of God - recall what Christ did on the cross? Selflsess sacrifice? It might not mean much regarding that fireman's eternal destiny (not knowing anything about him), but I wouldn't say that that act is sinful.
Salvation is a work of the Holy Spirit that brings a man to repentance and faith. When that happens men will testify to the change brought about by the work of the Holy Spirit and they will profess Christ as Lord and Savior. The profess is an outward sign of an inward change, much like baptism
True. But what is your definition of a "saved" person?
I think scripture tells us how to know if a man is saved and it definitely tells us that we have an assurance of our own salvation. Think of what Christ told us. He said that we can know a tree by its fruit, we are all called to be fruit inspectors. We are commanded not to be unequally yoked, that implies that we can know the saved abet not perfectly. I can not judge perfectly if another is saved, but I surely know who is not.
All that refers to the present. We can have an idea if we are saved today. But five years from now? Who knows what kind of fruit we will bring forth? Do you know of people who fell away? Before they fell away, do you think they were heading for eternal heaven? We just don't know what the future has in store for us. Also, we are wounded creatures. We cannot know perfectly where we stand before God, even today. I think it is better to approach the Lord in humble confidence that He will save us, rather than an expectation that He will save us.
I am not saying, God is .He says ALL our righteousness is as filthy rags. ALL of our self serving carnal works. That is me and it is you, it is every man .
What about when I abide in Christ? My works are no longer only my own, but the Spirit's, as well. Thus, my deeds of love prompted by the Spirit are meritorious for my salvation. They are no longer self serving works. "In the flesh" refers to those works WITHOUT Christ.
a man s current spiritual condition is clearly evident in his life.
For the most part. But we humans often have a way of fooling ourselves, don't you think? To know our spiritual state, we should ask the Spirit to reveal it to us. Just because we volunteer for this, or do that doesn't mean we are producing good fruits. We really have to look at our motives behind the acts.
Agape...is God loving through us, not us loving to earn brownie points.
Of course. Anyone who thinks that love is earning brownie points doesn't understand what love is. Love is Christ on the Cross. Look at a crucifix. Stare at it. Think of the unconditional love that that Man had to give His life for people who wouldn't even CARE. That is love. Love is selfless. It is totally about giving for the other. Anyone who starts to think about earning anything has left the realm of love. Do you think Christ was thinking about what He was 'earning' while dying? What about Mary when she saw her Son dying? Without love, you won't be saved. LOVE, not brownie points... Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it in the name of the Lord.
I would say the love is a fruit of our salvation not its roots. It does not make our salvation "effective" but it does make it evident.
I would say you can't love without faith, and faith without love is not worthy of God. Faith is not the root, God is the root. When the Scriptures talk about love, do they mention the Spirit or faith as the catalyst? Whether it is faith or love, it is a gift from the Lord. First comes faith, then comes love. But love doesn't come from faith. If it did, then "all faith, enough to move mountains" would be sufficient to provide saving love - but Paul says it doesn't.
Regards
But He did good works. Jesus said he NEVER KNEW him. NOT THAT HE KNEW HIM AND THEN HE SINNED. But that he had never known him INSPITE of all those good works done in the name of the Lord. Can an unsaved man do any pleasing act to God?
There is a direct connection between the 2 verses
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, lord, have we not in thy name prophesied? and in thy name cast out demons? and in thy name done many mighty things?
Mat 7:23 and then I will acknowledge to them, that -- I never knew you, depart from me ye who are working lawlessness.
If he was performing God pleasing works, and by your reckoning that works are a part of salvation, surely God would have known him. But He NEVER KNEW HIM
I believe the sentence points to the sin being what the man believed were "good works" worthy off salvation. But even if you want to deny that the things Christ was calling "lawlessness" were the things like casting out demons in His name, it does not change the fact that the mans works did not help him even get the Lords attention, let alone help in salvation
But you are presuming to know WHO the unsaved are! How do we know today who will be destined for eternal life? God will save whom He will.
I am presuming nothing, only stating that God expects us to be fruit inspectors. Implicate in the command to preach the gospel is that it goes to unsaved men, the order not to be unequally yoked implies some judgment on our friends, future spouses and business partners. Why do you think He would tell us those things if He did not intend for us to make some judgments on the spiritual condition of others? Our decision is not "binding on God" but we are look at others with an eye to their eternal state
Those who think they stand firmly, beware lest they fall! As to the "unsaved" fireman, I doubt that God would treat that as sin...Selfless sacrifice is not against the will of God - recall what Christ did on the cross? Selflsess sacrifice? It might not mean much regarding that fireman's eternal destiny (not knowing anything about him), but I wouldn't say that that act is sinful.
You may doubt it if you like, but the bible is clear that the unsaved can do nothing pleasing to God. He said "WHAT IS NOT OF FAITH IS SIN" God called it sin not me.
Rom 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because [he eateth] not of faith: for whatsoever [is] not of faith is sin.
Hbr 11:6 But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
So as men we may see the act of the fireman as selfless and good, if it was preformed without faith to God it is a sin (a failure to seek and rely on him )
True. But what is your definition of a "saved" person?
The one found in the Bible
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
All that refers to the present. We can have an idea if we are saved today. But five years from now? Who knows what kind of fruit we will bring forth? Do you know of people who fell away? Before they fell away, do you think they were heading for eternal heaven? We just don't know what the future has in store for us. Also, we are wounded creatures. We cannot know perfectly where we stand before God, even today. I think it is better to approach the Lord in humble confidence that He will save us, rather than an expectation that He will save us.
I expect God to be faithful to His word. We are saved by grace and mercy not our worth. Just as we can not save ourselves neither can we "keep" ourselves. To believe that we can dismisses the true Savior and turns to self dependance and self worth. I did not deserve to be saved on the day that God saved me, I do not deserve to be saved today nor will I deserve it tomorrow. I am saved soley by Gods mercy and grace, I am kept solely by Gods mercy and grace. I could not earn it nor can I keep it. HE is the author and finisher of my faith
( The doctrine of the preservation of the Saints (that is that the saved can not fall away is clearly taught in these passages, John 10:28,29; Romans 11:29; Phil 1:6; 1 Peter 1:5. It, moreover, follows from a consideration of (1) the immutability of the divine decrees (Jeremiah 31:3; Matthew 24:22-24; Acts 13:48; Romans 8:30); (2) the provisions of the covenant of grace (Jeremiah 32:40; John 10:29; 17:2-6); (3) the atonement and intercession of Christ (Isaiah 53:6,11; Matthew 20:28; 1 Peter 2:24; John 11:42; 17:11,15,20; Romans 8:34); and (4) the indwelling of the Holy Ghost (John 14:16; 2co 1:21,22; 5:5; Ephesians 1:14; 1 John 3:9).
1 Samuel 2:9; Nehemiah 9:16-19; Psalm 31:23, 32:7,23,28-33, 38, 84:5-7, 89:30-33, 94:14, 97:10, 121:7, 125:1; Proverbs 2:8; Isaiah 40:30, 54:4-10; Jeremiah 32:38-42; Matthew 18:6, 12-14, 24:22-24; Luke 1:74, 22:32; John 3:36, 4:13, 5:24, 6:37-40, 51, 8:31, 10:4, 8, 27-29, 17:11, 15; Romans 6:1-4, 7:24-8:4, 28-39, 11:29, 14:14; 1 Corinthians 1:4-9, 3:15, 10:13; 2 Corinthians 1:22, 5:5; Ephesians 1:11-14, 4:30; Philippians 1:6; Colossians 3:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 3:3-5; 2 Timothy 1:12, 4:18; Hebrews 3:14, 7:25, 10:14, 36-39, 13:5; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 2 Peter 3:8; 1 John 2:19, 3:9, 5:4, 13, 18; Jude 1, 24.)
http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/topic/perseverance.html
What about when I abide in Christ? My works are no longer only my own, but the Spirit's, as well. Thus, my deeds of love prompted by the Spirit are meritorious for my salvation. They are no longer self serving works. "In the flesh" refers to those works WITHOUT Christ.
Agreed, those works were ordained for you before the foundation of the world( Eph 2) . They are Gods works in you and so they are pleasing to him . The works are indeed worthy before God and will be a part of one of the crown he gives you that you will toss at His feet acknowledging that HE not you deserve the glory for them
I would say you can't love without faith, and faith without love is not worthy of God. Faith is not the root, God is the root. When the Scriptures talk about love, do they mention the Spirit or faith as the catalyst? Whether it is faith or love, it is a gift from the Lord. First comes faith, then comes love. But love doesn't come from faith. If it did, then "all faith, enough to move mountains" would be sufficient to provide saving love - but Paul says it doesn't.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
That is the indwelling Holy Spirit . He is loving through us. If you do not have faith in Christ as your Saviour then you do not have the indwelling Holy Spirit, so there is no divine love there,only carnal love .
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
1Jo 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God,,/B> and knoweth God.
1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, [see that ye] love one another with a pure heart fervently:
2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.