Matthew 7:21
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
God requires that we do his will before he grants the grace to enter his kingdom.
James 2:20
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Par of having a true faith is having good works which is the will of God.
Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
The faith and works do not save us. It is the grace of God that is the saving power behind salvation. However, God has required that we we walk in faith and has let us know that faith without works is dead. God is telling us that we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works and that we should walk in them but they are not the saving force. They are required before God will grant his grace but they are not the part of the equation that saves. It is the grace of God that does the saving. Does this mean that we should forsake good works? NO!!! We should walk in them and we are created unto good works. God requires that we do good works even though they are not the saving power. Only after we walk in good works will the Lord grant his saving grace which alone has the power to grant us salvation in his kingdom.
Again read Matthew 7:21
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
God requires that we do his will before he grants the grace to enter his kingdom.
James 2:20
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Par of having a true faith is having good works which is the will of God.
Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
The faith and works do not save us. It is the grace of God that is the saving power behind salvation. However, God has required that we we walk in faith and has let us know that faith without works is dead. God is telling us that we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works and that we should walk in them but they are not the saving force. They are required before God will grant his grace but they are not the part of the equation that saves. It is the grace of God that does the saving. Does this mean that we should forsake good works? NO!!! We should walk in them and we are created unto good works. God requires that we do good works even though they are not the saving power. Only after we walk in good works will the Lord grant his saving grace which alone has the power to grant us salvation in his kingdom.
Again read Matthew 7:21
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.