Following Jesus 55
How are people today like Judas Iscariot? Especially people who claim to be followers of Jesus? I draw your attention to one of the most fearful texts of Scripture: Matthew 7:21-23. The text reads:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’(Matthew 7:21-23 ESV)
People like Judas Iscariot are people pretending to be a followers of Jesus, but truly are not. Vs. 21.
What they will say. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,” vs. 21a. The text that this dialogue occurs during a scene of future judgment.
Jesus indicates that talk is cheap. While people may say that Jesus is their Lord, their actions speak resoundingly louder than their words.
What they failed to do. “…but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Vs. 21b. These individuals did not carry out the will of God. Jesus’ own words in Scripture indicate the importance of obedience as an indication of a true follower of Jesus.
John 14:15. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
John 14:21. “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them."
John 14:23. “Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”
John 15:10. “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love.”
1 John 2:3. “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.”
1 John 5:3. “In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,”
2 John 1:6. “And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.”
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