Law or Relationship?

 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness” (Mt. 7:21-23). 


In this description of judgment day, Jesus teaches that merely calling Him “Lord” and doing good work while invoking His name is not good enough to get into heaven. Jesus even describes these people as “practicing lawlessness”. The point is well taken that while those found displeasing in the passage are doing good works, those works may not constitute a fulfillment of the will of God. However, the standard that is present in these verses is to be known by Jesus. What does this mean?


Even if the works accomplished by these lawless people are according to the will of God, it is possible to “follow the rules” without having a relationship with Jesus that recognizes His authority. Paul tells the Romans that “he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter...” (Rom. 2:29). 


Deeper than just following the rules, our relationship with God must become our identity! “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God… you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out ‘Abba, Father’” (Rom. 8:14-15).


To be truly pleasing to God, our religion cannot just be about what we do (following the rules), it must be who we are!


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