The Will of the Father

ONLY THOSE WHO DO THE WILL OF THE FATHER WILL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN – Jesus Christ, Matthew 7:21

God has a variety of desires and diverse wills for different people. He has a will for married people, for single, and for children. He has intents for various situations and circumstances. Which ordinance is Jesus talking about here in Matthew 7:21? If God has so many different wills, what are we to make of this? Are we to assume that He means His entire body of decrees that are found in the Bible?

Some people assume and assert, rather than demonstrate, that Jesus is talking about all of God’s moral law and commandments. They reckon that the reason Jesus is relegating a man to hell, when He says "depart from Me" in Matthew 7:23, is because this man didn't obey, he wasn't obedient... he didn’t perform all God’s will.

But why should they assume in this manner?


No One Could Be Saved

The Bible is clear that salvation is "the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:9). If Jesus is talking about obedience, then we are all lost. There would be no hope at all, for the only objective standard with a holy God – if obedience was the condition of heaven – would be perfection. The last time I checked, no one even comes close. To be honest, that would not be a gospel… That's not good news. That's very bad news. That's why salvation has to be a gift received apart from works. That’s why if we are to be saved, it must only be apart from our effort. Our efforts don’t measure up to a holy God (Romans 3:23).


The Bible Would Contradict Itself

Too, if Jesus is talking about obedience as the will of God to be saved, then the Bible contradicts itself. The Bible is very clear that salvation is by grace (Romans 4:16; Ephesians 2:8). And further, it makes clear: "And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace" (Romans 11:6). Jesus can't be talking about obedience if we believe the Bible is the word of God. God doesn't contradict Himself. If salvation is by grace, it could not be by obedience. These are mutually exclusive terms.


The Will of the Father Concerns Kingdom Entrance

What will is Jesus then talking about if it’s not obedience He is addressing?

Well... What is the context of this passage in Matthew 7? What is the subject matter being discussed?

Is it not, "Kingdom Entrance"?

Yes, Jesus is talking about kingdom entrance. Only those who do the will of God concerning kingdom entrance will enter the kingdom of heaven.

Ok, we can work with this. This can be our starting point. Let’s run with it.

Does God have a specific will with regard to kingdom entrance? Why yes, yes, He does, as a matter of fact.

According to Jesus, the will of God for man to enter the kingdom of heaven is to be born again (John 3:3, 5). "Unless one is born again" he shall not enter the kingdom of God, He says. In this passage of John 3 where Jesus’s command is found, how is one born again? According to Jesus: Anyone who simply by believes in Him is born again, possessing eternal life that can never be lost (John 3:16).

Christ gives eternal life as an act of grace. It is a free gift. Everything and anyone born anywhere is always given life for free. There are no exceptions to this. Being born, receiving life, is always a gift… It is always free.

Oh. So God has a will for mankind with respect to entering His kingdom, and that is to be born again by grace through faith in Jesus, receiving the life of the age to come as a free gift? Yes! God’s will for lost humanity it to be born into His family by believing in Jesus.

Jesus said: "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:40).

Invitation

Reader: are you attempting to work for something God already paid the price for with the death of His precious Son? Are you laboring for something God wants to give you as a free gift of His grace?

Receive now the gift of God, eternal life, by simply believing the testimony of Jesus, the Son of God:

"Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever believes in Me has eternal life." (John 6:47)

Let him who thirsts come! Whoever desires, let him take the water of life for free! (Revelation 22:17).

And go tell the world about the will of your Father in heaven!