Grace Evangelical Society

P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202
  • About
    • Home
    • Beliefs
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
  • Resources
    • Grace in Focus Blog
    • Grace in Focus International Blogs
    • Grace in Focus Radio
    • Grace in Focus Magazine
    • Free eBooks
    • Journal of the GES
    • Book Reviews
    • Partners in Grace Newsletter
    • Audio Messages
    • Videos
    • Email Subscription
    • Bookstore
    • Online Tracts
  • Store
    • Main Page
    • On Sale
    • Return Policy
    • Your Cart
    • Your Account
  • Events
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Free Grace Church and Bible Study Tracker
    • Free Grace Jobs
    • Ministry Links
  • Donate
    • One Time Donation
    • Monthly Donation
    • Your Account
  • Search
Home
→
Blog
→
What Is the Will of the Father Regarding Kingdom Entrance? — Matthew 7:21

What Is the Will of the Father Regarding Kingdom Entrance? — Matthew 7:21

March 21, 2018 by Bob Wilkin in Blog

I recently received this email question:

How do you interpret Matthew 7:21? This has always been a stumbling block for me.

If I had a nickel for every time I’d been asked about Matt 7:21-23, I’d have a lot of nickels.

The will of the Father is to believe in His Son. That should be obvious, right?

The Lord Jesus said that the Father sent Him to proclaim the message of everlasting life for all who believe in Him (John 5:24). To believe in Jesus is to believe in the Father who sent Him.

John 6:39-40 clearly shows that it is the will of the Father that we believe in His Son for everlasting life.

Matthew 21:31 also uses this expression. Jesus tells a parable about two sons. One of two is said to have done “the will of his father.” He had been told by his father to work in the vineyard. Initially he had said he would not do it. But then “he regretted it and went.” While we might see that as saying that the will of the father is to obey the ten commandments or all of the commands of the Old Testament, that is not how Jesus intended the parable to be understood. When Jesus explained the parable, He indicated that when the Jewish religious leaders heard John the Baptist, “you did not believe him, but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterwards relent and believe him” (Matt 21:32). Notice the three-fold reference to believing the testimony of John. Of course, John the Baptist called people to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:7, 29, 35; 3:36; Acts 19:4).

In Matthew 12:50 Jesus indicated that His true kin are those who do the will of His Father. We know from John’s Gospel that to be a child of God one must believe in Jesus (John 1:12-13). The Lord Jesus specifically excludes works as a means of being born again (John 6:28-29). See also Eph 2:8-9.

Here is a suggestion. If you have a question about a verse or passage, go to our website, www.faithalone.org, and click on the magnifying glass. You can search. By doing that I found this article by me, one which is a transcript of me questioning Zane Hodges, and a short video by me too.

Here is a key to handling any passage which seems to contradict the free gift of everlasting life by faith in Christ, apart from works: Realize that whatever it means, it does not and cannot contradict the simple truth of John 3:16. Stand on the truth of John 3:16; 5:24, 39-40; 6:35, 37, 39, 47; 11:25-27; Acts 16:31; Rom 4:4-5; Gal 3:6-14; Eph 2:8-9; Rev 22:17.

The will of the Father in terms of entering Jesus’ kingdom is that we believe in His Son.

Subscribe by Email

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
Bob_W

by Bob Wilkin

Bob Wilkin (ThM, PhD, Dallas Theological Seminary) is the Founder and Executive Director of Grace Evangelical Society and co-host of Grace in Focus Radio. He lives in Highland Village, TX with his wife, Sharon. His latest books are Faith Alone in One Hundred Verses and Turn and Live: The Power of Repentance.

If you wish to ask a question about a given blog, email us your question at ges@faithalone.org.

Cart

Recently Added

January 31, 2023

Romans–Part 02–Theme

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Kathryn Wright, and Ken Yates continue their short introductory study of Romans. What is the theme and the...
January 31, 2023

What Does the Bible Say about Doctrine? 

I remember the DTS chapel service. A Professor from Liberty University (then Liberty Baptist College) spoke. He was discussing how doctrine can divide. “If you...
January 30, 2023

Romans–Part 01–Introduction

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today and all this week, Ken Yates and Kathryn Wright are looking at the New Testament book of Romans....

Grace in Focus Radio

All Episodes

Listen to Stitcher

Listen on Spotify

Grace In Focus Magazine

Grace In Focus is sent to subscribers in the United States free of charge.

Subscribe for Free

The primary source of Grace Evangelical Society's funding is through charitable contributions. GES uses all contributions and proceeds from the sales of our resources to further the gospel of grace in the United States and abroad.

Donate

Bookstore Specials

  • Grace in Eclipse: A Study in Eternal Rewards (Second Edition) $15.00 $8.00
  • Grudem Against Grace: A Defense of Free Grace Theology $15.00 $10.00
  • Confident in Christ, 2nd Edition $22.00 $5.00
  • Inerrancy for Dummies $7.95 $5.00
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Hardcover) $13.95 $5.00
Grace Evangelical Society

(940) 270-8827 / ges@faithalone.org

4851 S I-35E Suite 203, Corinth, TX 76210
P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube