Let me tell you of a vision that God showed to a sister in Crist some years ago. It may help.
She was in front of God's throne during the Judgement. Before her there was another person that was judged by God. Both of them had in their hands a sheet of paper that had written on them their debts, that is things they have done to be judged. The sister knew the other person that was judged. When she was thinking of one of the other person's fault and judged him/her in her mind, the same debt/fault appeared in her sheet too. So she thought it is better not to think and judge the other person's fault so that it wouldn't appear in her sheet too and not be judged for it as well.
Conclusion? If you are strict to people then God will be strict to you as well.
Matthew 7:21 to 23 gives us the correct understanding of salvation. And please take note of these three things concerning salvation: Number one, it is not what we say. Number 2, it is not what we do. And number 3, it is who He knows!
So first of all, in Matthew 7:21, Jesus says that it is "Not what we say." Jesus says, "Not everyone that says to me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father, which is in heaven." So there will be many that will call on Him but are void of His Spirit. They will not enter in.
Secondly in Matthew 7:22, it is "Not what we do." Jesus says many will say to me, (and this is what they did): we prophesied in your name, we cast out demons, and did works of miracles. That is what they did, and they were right in proclaiming that. However, they did these things on their own, apart from God working in their lives.
Notice what Jesus tells them in the next verse ( Matthew 7:23). It's who He knows. Jesus says, "Then I will profess to them, I never knew you." You see, it is who He knows. A person is saved not because they know the Lord. A person is saved because the Lord knows them.
Over the last several years, I have been coming to know the Lord that already knew me. He already knows me! He calls me by name and I am one of His sheep. I respond to His voice.
Paul said the same thing in Galatians 4:9. He says, "But now after you have known God, but rather, you are known by God, how do you turn again to the beggarly elements?" You see, Paul corrected himself in Galatians 4:9. Now that you have come to know God, or rather, that God has come to know you, how can you go back out into the world?
I belong to Him. I claim Him as my Lord and Savior, but I am one of His sheep. He knows me. I'm not sure if He's proud of that, but He knows me. So it is not based on me knowing Him. It doesn't matter how much I think I know Him. If He doesn't know me, it means nothing!
Let me tell you of a vision that God showed to a sister in Crist some years ago. It may help.
She was in front of God's throne during the Judgement. Before her there was another person that was judged by God. Both of them had in their hands a sheet of paper that had written on them their debts, that is things they have done to be judged. The sister knew the other person that was judged. When she was thinking of one of the other person's fault and judged him/her in her mind, the same debt/fault appeared in her sheet too. So she thought it is better not to think and judge the other person's fault so that it wouldn't appear in her sheet too and not be judged for it as well.
Conclusion? If you are strict to people then God will be strict to you as well.
GBU
Matthew 7:21 to 23 gives us the correct understanding of salvation. And please take note of these three things concerning salvation: Number one, it is not what we say. Number 2, it is not what we do. And number 3, it is who He knows!
So first of all, in Matthew 7:21, Jesus says that it is "Not what we say." Jesus says, "Not everyone that says to me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father, which is in heaven." So there will be many that will call on Him but are void of His Spirit. They will not enter in.
Secondly in Matthew 7:22, it is "Not what we do." Jesus says many will say to me, (and this is what they did): we prophesied in your name, we cast out demons, and did works of miracles. That is what they did, and they were right in proclaiming that. However, they did these things on their own, apart from God working in their lives.
Notice what Jesus tells them in the next verse ( Matthew 7:23). It's who He knows. Jesus says, "Then I will profess to them, I never knew you." You see, it is who He knows. A person is saved not because they know the Lord. A person is saved because the Lord knows them.
Over the last several years, I have been coming to know the Lord that already knew me. He already knows me! He calls me by name and I am one of His sheep. I respond to His voice.
Paul said the same thing in Galatians 4:9. He says, "But now after you have known God, but rather, you are known by God, how do you turn again to the beggarly elements?" You see, Paul corrected himself in Galatians 4:9. Now that you have come to know God, or rather, that God has come to know you, how can you go back out into the world?
I belong to Him. I claim Him as my Lord and Savior, but I am one of His sheep. He knows me. I'm not sure if He's proud of that, but He knows me. So it is not based on me knowing Him. It doesn't matter how much I think I know Him. If He doesn't know me, it means nothing!
Hope this helps!
This comment thread is locked. Please enter a new comment below to start a new comment thread.
Note: Comment threads older than 2 months are automatically locked.
Do you have a Bible comment or question?
Please Sign In or Register to post comments...
Report Comment
Which best represents the problem with the comment?