Access Denied

Access Denied!

Matt.7:21-23

You might not consider it, but this world is very heavenly minded, considering just how wretched and wicked the world is, so in a recent Christian-Website poll, it was discovered that 93% of the people asked believed in a literal heaven. 93%! 53% Believe Good works can earn a place in Heaven. Another 34% “Born-again Christians” believed that good works can earn a place in Heaven.

The scripture teaches us this morning that not everyone goes to Heaven when they die! I know we want to believe they do, but the fact of the matter is, that Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.

In what is, without question, the most important area of any person's life, most people, are sincerely wrong concerning what they know, accept, and believe about salvation.

Now all through The Sermon on the Mount, in chapter 5, 6, and 7 the Lord has been setting forth the heavenly standards of His Kingdom. As the anointed Messiah, the Christ, the King, He has divine principles which He himself demonstrates and now demands of those who desire to enter the Kingdom per se. Having counseled on the Picture of Kingdom Life (5:1-16), The Precepts Of Kingdom Life (5:17-48), The Practice of Kingdom Life (6:1-7:12), as the Lord draws near the end of His ‘Sermon on the Mount’ he reminds us of the seriousness of our salvation, the Lord says, now let Me caution you of one other thing, stop kidding yourself, are you truly a true member of the Kingdom of heaven? The Proof of Kingdom Life (7:13-29)

It is my fervent prayer that you will allow the Spirit of God to speak to your hearts today. It may be that there are some here this morning that have never been truly saved. Perhaps this is the day when you will come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior of your soul! Maybe there are those who think they are safe, saved, and secure but in reality, you're lonely, lost, and locked out. I am praying that God would impress upon your heart today! Perhaps there are those who know you have never been converted. There is no better time than right now to get to know Him. Let's join Jesus as He teaches us the truth and raises the question: “What in Hell do you want?”

I. THE TRUTH v.21

Jesus unveils one of the most HEARTBREAKING REALITIES in the entire Bible. He says that not everyone who calls Him Lord can claim Him as Lord! He is telling us that there will be some people who will think they are saved and en-route to Heaven, but who, in fact, are still lost and headed to straight Hell!

Jesus makes it clear that not all who profess Him possess Him! You may Acknowledge Him, but you have not been acquired by Him. You know Him, but He doesn’t know you!

A false profession of Jesus as Lord won’t save! A person may believe in the doctrines of the faith. They may seem sanctimonious and sincere. However, fictitiously saying you know Jesus won’t save your soul. Belonging to the church, being a first-class Christian, doing religious stuff, etc, are all honorable, but none of that can save the soul! Salvation comes: “…Except a man be born again…” Jn.3:3; “Examine yourselves, whether ye been in the faith…” 2Cor.13:5a; “Wherefore…make your calling and election sure…” 2Pt.1:10

I believe it is clear that Jesus is telling us that there will be some who will suppose they have been delivered and in reality they are deceived and depraved… SAD STATE v.21a (cf. Ps.51:5; Rm.6:23a)

Here v.21b, Jesus offers a SOVEREIGN SOLUTION for our right of entry into the Realm, Rule, and Reign of God, He says that we are given eternal life by “…doing the will of My Father which is in heaven” Does this mean that folk are saved by works? Of course not! Eph. 2:8-9. If we are going to understand content and context of this verse, we are going to have to find out what the determination and desire of the Father is? (cf.Jn.6:39-40) The Will of God Is not Boastful Talk but a Believing Walk. Believing Jesus Is Who He Said He is, Believing Jesus Will Do What He Said He Would (cf. Jn.3:16; 2Pt.3:19c; Rm.6:23b).

So, the Bible makes it clear that salvation comes to those who “see” (experience, connect) “the Son and believe (commit, entrust) in Him.” Commitment result’s in contrition of heart, confession, compassion, conviction, and compliance to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. You must come to the place where you trust nothing but the Birth, Life, Death, Burial, Resurrection, Ascension, and Return of Jesus Christ to save you from your sins, this is biblical salvation. “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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Rm.10:9-10; “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved...” Acts 16:31; “…I am the way, the truth, and the life…” Jn.14:6; “…And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”Rev.22:17