One of the first things Jesus taught when he began his ministry was:
Matthew 4:17
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
He didn't teach that we should repent after we have been saved but that by repenting you can obtain the forgiveness of God through the atonement of Jesus Christ that will allow you to gain entrance into the kingdom of heaven.
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.
A very misunderstood verse in the Bible is:
Ephesians 2:8-9
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.
It is true that our works do not save us. But this does not mean that Jesus does not require a work at our hand. Verse eight tells us that we are saved by the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. It is only in and through His grace that we are saved. But the verse also mentions that we must receive this grace through faith if we are to be saved. The Apostle James tells us that works are a part of faith:
James 2:14-24
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Faith without works is dead says the Apostle of Jesus Christ. A true faith includes good works. Jesus requires that through faith we can receive the mercy. It isn't the works that save us. We could do all things in faith with all manner of good works and it would avail us nothing without the mercy of Jesus Christ. Thus we become unprofitable servants. The works don't save us but they are required of us. Thus verse 8 tells us that we are not saved by works and nobody can boast that they are saved by their works. Faith doesn't save us either even though it is through faith that we can obtain grace. The grace is the only thing that saves us. But this does not mean that God cannot require that we have faith which includes good works before he will grant his saving grace. Thus Matthew 7:21 above holds true that only he who does the will of our father in heaven will be saved into the kingdom of heaven.
For the very next verse in Ephesians says:
Ephesians 2:10
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
We shall all receive the salvation of resurrection from the dead and become immortal whether we are just or unjust. This is a gift without requirements given by the Lord.
Acts 24:15
15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
Those who will inherit the kingdom of heaven will resurrect in the morning of the first resurrection or the resurrection of the just. Those who are unjust will resurrect in the second resurrection after the millennium.
Revelation 20:6
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
John 5:29
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
But to inherit the kingdom of heaven, a work is required of us. We must exercise faith unto repentance. Those who repent in this life and come unto Jesus will be saved in his kingdom. Those who reject him and continue in their wickedness will be sent to another kingdom. But there is hope for all of us. Jesus died that we might have the chance to repent of our sins and come unto him. So we should take heed to what he first began to teach:
Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
and to exercise faith unto repentance which includes doing good to your neighbor.
You left out Matthew Chap 25.
Did you do that on purpose?
Or have you never heard of it yet?
Sure, I can include Matthew 25.
Matthew 25:31-46
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Doing the will of the Lord is the exercise of Faith in him as James 2 tells us. Those who find the Lords mercy are those who are doers of the word and not hearers only.
James 1:22
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
In Matthew 25 we also have the parable of the Talents.
Matthew 25:
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This parable is a likening of the callings, talents, and gifts that the Lord gives each one of us. Do we use our time and talents to bring others to the Lord? Have we been faithful unto the performing of good works? On this we will be judged.
Matthew 16:27
27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Revelation 22:12
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
But our works do not save us but only fulfill the requirement of the Lord before he will grant us his mercy unto salvation. In this we are unprofitable servants. But in the parable of the Talents the unprofitable servant was he who did not fulfill the requirement of he Lord. He buried his talent and did not do the works of faith. If this servant did all that he could have done, without the Lord, he would still have been unprofitable in regard to salvation. But with the Lord, he could obtain the kingdom if he fulfilled the requirement of the Lord if the Lord grants him the mercy he needs. The servants who are profitable in doing the will of the Lord are unprofitable to save themselves. It is only in and through the grace of the Lord that we are saved. But they were profitable in fulfilling the will of the Lord.
Luke 17:10
10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
So there you have Matthew 25 quoted.
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.
