Great Expectations

[B-A-C]

Matt 7:21; [COLOR=red]"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. [/COLOR]
Matt 7:22; [COLOR=red]"Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' [/COLOR]
Matt 7:23; [COLOR=red]"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.' [/COLOR]

It seems the expectation of the people above was... that they were saved and would enter into the kingdom of heaven. Why did they expect this to happen? Because they cast out demons and did miracles?
Why does Jesus say they didn't qualify? Because they practiced lawlessness.

Matt 25:9; [COLOR=red]"But the prudent answered, 'No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.' [/COLOR]
Matt 25:10; [COLOR=red]"And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. [/COLOR]
Matt 25:11; [COLOR=red]"Later the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, lord, open up for us.' [/COLOR]
Matt 25:12; [COLOR=red]"But he answered, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you.' [/COLOR]
Matt 25:13; [COLOR=red]"Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour. [/COLOR]

Another place where the expectation was to "let in". Yet these people ran out of oil. They were virgins.
the thought here is that they were spotless and blameless... yet, they ran out of oil. They is a lot of debate
about what the oil is, (most often you hear the Holy Spirit) but whatever it is, some people "ran out".
They were supposed to get it from "the dealers" and "buy some". But again we see, the expectation was that the door would be open for them.

Matt 25:23; [COLOR=red]"His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' [/COLOR]
Matt 25:24; [COLOR=red]"And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. [/COLOR]
Matt 25:25; [COLOR=red]'And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.' [/COLOR]
Matt 25:26; [COLOR=red]"But his master answered and said to him, 'You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. [/COLOR]
Matt 25:27; [COLOR=red]'Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. [/COLOR]
Matt 25:28; [COLOR=red]'Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.' [/COLOR]
Matt 25:29; [COLOR=red]"For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. [/COLOR]
Matt 25:30; [COLOR=red]"Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [/COLOR]

Another well known parable. Two of the servants are told "well done". It seems the expectation of the third servant was the same. He expected to be told "well done". Yet he is called "wicked and lazy". It seems the master Himself had some expectations of what the servant would do. In the end this third servant is thrown into the outer darkness, where "there is weeping and gnashing of teeth". It doesn't sound like a pleasant
place to spend eternity.

This is by no means an exhaustive list. I can find a few more places where people had similar expectations.
Ananias and Sapphira, Five of seven churches in Revelation, the wicked servant that was partying and drinking and treating the other servants badly while the master was away.

Yet in all of these cases, the expectation is... Jesus will accept them into the kingdom of heaven.
Yet they are all disappointed. Why?

Were these expectations any different from yours? What are you doing differently than these people?
Was it that Jesus never accepted them in the first place? Or was it simply that they didn't do the things that Jesus "expected" them to do after He accepted them?

 

[D_Martin]

here is your answer


Luk 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
Luk 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Luk 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luk 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
Luk 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.


those who think themselves righteous are the blind, that think they are entitled forgiveness and to be in the Kingdom of God. one must understand that Jesus is the Justifier, and through Him is the only justification. hence their expectations are worthless to God, its God's expectations that count in His court.

 

[B-A-C]

those who think themselves righteous are the blind, that think they are entitled forgiveness and to be in the Kingdom of God. one must understand that Jesus is the Justifier, and through Him is the only justification. hence their expectations are worthless to God, its God's expectations that count in His court.

You may be right, but if so... is there anything we can do to align our expectations with God's expectations?

Or is this just God picks who He picks and we can do nothing about it?

 

[Br. Bear]

[COLOR=#663300]He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?[/COLOR] Micah 6:8

[COLOR=#000066]Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.[/COLOR] James 4:10

[COLOR=#006633]Justice and judgment are the habitation of Thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before Thy face.[/COLOR] Psalm 89:14

 

[Curtis]

Matt 7:21; [COLOR=red]"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. [/COLOR]
Matt 7:22; [COLOR=red]"Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' [/COLOR]
Matt 7:23; [COLOR=red]"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.' [/COLOR]

It seems the expectation of the people above was... that they were saved and would enter into the kingdom of heaven. Why did they expect this to happen? Because they cast out demons and did miracles?
Why does Jesus say they didn't qualify? Because they practiced lawlessness.

Man's only "work" is to believe. (John 6:29)
God's "work" is to do what man is believing him to do"

These people were not believing what God himself could only do, they themselves were doing only what God can do.
Which is why they said, "Lord did not WE..........."

The Bible does NOT say, these signs shall follow them that do these things, it says these sighs shall follow them that "believe" (Mark 16:17)

Lawlessness (iniquity) is not operating within the spiritual laws that God has set up.

 

[B-A-C]

Man's only "work" is to believe. (John 6:29)

..and yet... even the demons believe. ( James 2:19; )
I will also say that none of my Bibles have the word "only" in John 6:29;

 

[Curtis]

..and yet... even the demons believe. ( James 2:19; )
I will also say that none of my Bibles have the word "only" in John 6:29;

Maybe, these people in matt 7 had faith, and works combined, and yet they still were doing iniquity. If that is the case then we are all in deep trouble. The truth is, "faith" works by love. (Gal 5:6) God alone is love, and if he is not the one performing our faith then we are no different to them.

 

[B-A-C]

If that is the case then we are all in deep trouble.

It doesn't simply say they were "doing" iniquity. It says they were "practicing" it. Doing it over and over again.

 

[Curtis]

It doesn't simply say they were "doing" iniquity. It says they were "practicing" it. Doing it over and over again.

Practing, doing iniquity the same thing. If you are practing you are doing.

 

[B-A-C]

I disagree (what else is new).
Making a mistake sometimes is NOT the same thing as willfully purposefully going out and deciding to sin everyday.

If I hit my thumb with a hammer and say a few ummm "pleasant" words. That is a sin, but I didn't plan on doing it.
I didn't do it the day before, and I won't do it the day after. In fact I probably won't do it again for the rest of the year.

If I'm in homosexual relationship, or adultery, or fornication.... I know it.
I did it every day last week, and I'll do it every day next week. If I'm having affair with my friends wife, I did it several times
before, and I'm planning on doing it several times again. If I'm living with my girlfriend/boyfriend, I could quit.
I could move back in with mom and dad or a friend, but no I "choose" to keep on living in this sin. I'm planning on it.

There is a huge difference between an accidental sin "in the spur of the moment". And the lifestyle of sin.
I've been looking at pornography for 20 years, and I'll keep on looking at it for 20 more. If you do this, you are "practicing sin". Premeditated, willful sin.

Rom 6:16; Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?

Heb 10:26; For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27; but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.

Practicing.. is not something you do once or twice a year. Practicing is something you.. well.. practice as often as possible.

1 Jn 2:29; If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.
1 Jn 3:4; Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.
1 Jn 3:7; Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;
1 Jn 3:8; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.
1 Jn 3:9; No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Rom 1:32; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

Matt 7:23; [COLOR=red]"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'[/COLOR]

Gal 5:21; envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

[At Peace]

Maybe, these people in matt 7 had faith, and works combined, and yet they still were doing iniquity. If that is the case then we are all in deep trouble. The truth is, "faith" works by love. (Gal 5:6) God alone is love, and if he is not the one performing our faith then we are no different to them.

What iniquity manifests love?
What sin manifests faith?