I am well aware of your dilemma and your objection is in order. None other than the Lord Himself gives the wording in this Parable of the Virgins. The points I made stand. Even if half of them are valid the case is made. So my answer is twofold:
First, we need to define the Kingdom of Heaven. Now, I will not discuss at length that the "Kingdom was at hand" when John started to announce Jesus. I will not discuss at length the "Kingdom in you" and the Kingdom is come when Jesus cast out demons with the finger of God, and the Kingdom that is the Church (Rev.1:7). The Parable of the Virgins speaks of a Wedding Feast that only occurs when Christ returns, and so the Kingdom it explains is that Kingdom that Christ sets up on earth after Armageddon. It is that Kingdom that Daniel predicted when the Gentile Government is crushed (Chapter 2), and that Kingdom that follows the demise of the Beast. It is that Kingdom that our Lord prayed for in Matthew 6:10 that was still to come.
The definition of a Kingdom is an area or sphere where a certain king resides and enforces his rules or laws. The Kingdom OF Heaven is that Kingdom that proceeds out OF Heaven, to earth, where Jesus, King of the Jews and King of kings, will RESIDE and ENFORCE the rul of law that is presently in heaven. I am aware that contemporary Christianity thinks that somehow it is the Kingdom IN Heaven. But the overwhelming proof of scripture is that Jesus Christ will return to earth and set up His Kingdom here. Both Old Testament prophets, and New testify to this. The gospel of Matthew reveals this Kingdom in the most detail. You will, if you study the grammar of Matthew, soon realize that the rebirth needed to be eligible to SEE this Kingdom (Jn.3:3), is, in Matthew, TAKEN FOR ALREADY GRANTED. The terms, "my Father", "your Father" and "our Father" can only be true if the disciples were BORN of this Father. Added to this, our Lord clearly said that He spoke in Parables so Israel would NOT understand the mysteries of the Kingdom. Matthew and its Parables are for the Church ONLY.
If this be so, then the act of rebirth, effected by FAITH (Jn.1:12-13), and for having God's Life (Jn.3:15-16) is a QUALIFICATION, or matter of ELIGIBILITY for this Kingdom. In other words, the processes wrought by FAITH, sins atoned for, rebirth, eternal life, sonship to God, justification, sanctification and reconciliation ARE FOR THE GOAL OF PARTICIPATING IN THE KINGDOM. And every mention of participating in, entering, or inheriting this Kingdom is TIED TO WORKS. Check for yourself. Why is this so? It is because the Gentile government of this earth from dam to Joshua, and Nebuchadnezzar to the beast is permeated with UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. And when Christ sets up His Kingdom on earth, the name and reputation of God is attached to this Kingdom, and our Lord CANNOT allow this Kingdom, which carries His Father's Name - to have bad rulers. Thus, every Christian, after receiving the wonderful benefits that FAITH brings, must undergo a rigorous TRAINING in utter righteousness and utter obedience to Christ. Those who aspire to be co-kings with Christ in the next age, must be transformed from self-seekers to those who ONLY seek the will of God. So the bottom line for entering, or inheriting the Kingdom of Heaven ON EARTH, is OBEDIENCE motivated by a LOVE-RELATIONSHIP with Jesus.
Participating in the Kingdom of Heaven is a REWARD FOR WORKS OF OBEDIENCE. Check every mention of this Kingdom and see for yourself.
This brings us to your example of Matthew 7:21-23. Here again are my observations. I propose them because you are quite able to judge for yourself. A detective only produces his observations to the District Attorney or Public Prosecutor, and it is they who decide. I observe the following in Matthew 7:21-23
- The so-called "Sermon on the Mount" is one long discourse that covers Chapter 5, 6 and 7 of Matthew
- If so, Jesus only taught His DISCIPLES. The grammar of Matthew 5:1-2 shows that although many heard Jesus, His teaching was only for His disciples. The "them" of verse 2 is, by all rules of grammar, only applicable to the disciples of verse 1
- This is further strengthened by the use of "our Father", "YOUR Father" and "My Father".
- The Law is NOT removed for Israel, but a higher standard is taught for the DISCIPLE of Jesus
- So when we come to Chapter 7:21 our Lord is still ONLY TEACHING disciples
- Verse 21 gives the time of this judgement - "in that day". The "day" is that day when men make claim to entering, or inheriting the kingdom defined above.
- As stated above, only those who have been BORN of the Father are eligible for this Kingdom. So this judgement is ONLY for DISCIPLE. This we see in Romans 14:10 and 2nd Corinthians 5:10
- Those facing the judgment KNOW and RECOGNIZE Jesus. The call Him "LORD! LORD!
- Those facing judgment testify to many wonderful works during their lifetime IN HIS NAME. That is, they were well informed of Jesus in their lifetimes
- Those facing Judgement cast out demons. According to Mark 16:17 this a a SIGN that a man is a Christian
- Those facing judgement had the power of God because even our Lord Jesus cast out demons "by the finger of God"
- Those facing judgment must belong to Christ's side for Christ Himself said that Satan would never cast out demons as it would destroy his kingdom
- Those facing judgment are not judged by their FAITH. The requirement is "Did you do the WILL of my Father"
- Those facing judgment offer their WORKS "in Jesus' Name, and Christ, the judge, agrees that WORKS are required. He even continues in verse 24 with this same requirement
- Those facing judgment FAIL because they did WORKS OF INIQUITY
- Those facing judgment FAIL because they had no intimate relationship with Christ.
Before I say why they are accused of INIQUITY, let us agree that SIXTEEN PROOFS all show that these were (i) disciples of Jesus, (ii) Christians and were (iii) sons of God. You are the judge. Even if only eight are valid, that is massive overwhelming proof that the Lord was judging Christians. So why is doing all these wondrous works INIQUITY??? The accusation by our Lord, the Judge, is NOT that the works where INIQUITOUS. He says that the MEN judged were WORKERS OF INIQUITY. And the reason is given. The WORKS are not called into question BUT WHETHER THEY DID THE WILL OF THE FATHER!!!
But you will immediately say; "Is not doing miracles and casting out demons the will of God?" YES! BUT WHEN HE COMMANDS IT! Did not our Lord Jesus command us disciples to preach the gospel in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the earth (Act.1:8)? Paul took this command to heart and we take up the narrative in
Acts 16:6-7.
6 "Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not."
Why? Because the WILL OF GOD was that they go to Macedonia! If Paul had ignored the Holy Spirit, he would have fulfilled Acts 1:8, BUT HE WOULD HAVE BEEN A WORKER OF INIQUITY. It was not the works that would of made Paul a rebel. It was the refusal of the Father's WILL.
As a detective, I propose to you, for your consideration, that those of Matthew 7:21-23 were (i) Disciples, (ii) sons of God, (iii) had the Baptism of the Holy Spirit for power, (iv) knew who the Lord was, and (v) did works that only a Christian can do. I also propose that they had no working relationship with Jesus. The word rendered "knew" in verse 23 in the Greek, does not mean that our Lord did not have "intellectual knowledge" of them. It means that He had no INTIMATE knowledge of them. This Greek word is first ever used in the New Testament to show that Joseph had no sexual relations with Mary until after Jesus was born (Matt.1:25). It means intimate experimental and experiential knowledge. These Christians did the works because they could. They had no intimate loving relationship with Christ, their Head. They were loose cannons.
They are refused ENTRY into the Kingdom. At no time are they removed from their status of being disciples. They were just LOUSY DISCIPLES and Christ cannot afford loose cannons in His Kingdom on earth.
LOL
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