HEAVEN IS NOT FOR EVERYONE

Matthew 7:21-23

Introduction: I want to open with some statistical data from a poll held by CNN. When you hear the results it may sound strange when you consider the wickedness of this world in which we live. In a recent CNN poll, it was discovered that 81% of the people in America actually believe in a heaven where people live with God after death. 61% of those polled said that they believed they would go to Heaven immediately when they died. 57% believed that Heaven was available to all who place their faith in God. 88%of those who believe in heaven, also believe they will see departed family and friends when they arrived in Heaven.

I was surprised by the numbers because it seems like Satan’s influence has dominated our world and we have left from the traditional belief’s and value; and have accepted demonic illusions as truth.

  1. STARTLING COMMUNICATION (vs. 21a)

“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.”

  1. Calling Without Converting: Jesus says, “Every body calling my name will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” This statement seems to contradict Roman 10:13 that says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” In Matthew 7:15-20, Jesus says that a tree is known by the fruit it bears. A good tree will produce good fruit. A bad tree will produce bad fruit. The objective of the text was to clarify the belief and behavior go hand in hand.
  1. There some people whose calling and conviction don’t go hand in hand. They claim to be saved but they are convicted by the sins. If your words do not match your walk, your claim is corrupted by your conduct. To proclaim to be something that you are not is hypocritical.
  2. The problem with many people is religion ahead of relationship. They have placed more emphasis on their religion than on their relationship. Religion is design to support the relationship; but religion will never supersede the relationship.
  1. Profession Without Possession: Jesus makes it clear that not all who profess Him possess Him! Jesus says, “Not everyone…” He does not condemn or condone everyone. Some people who are calling on His name are genuine saints. Some people are guilty sinners.
  1. We can profess Him and not possess Him. You can believe in Jesus Christ. You can understand the doctrine of faith and the process of confessing sin. You may even know the plan of salvation. That does not mean that you have been convicted in your heart, soul, and mind to point of repenting of your sins and receiving salvation.
  2. Belonging to the church, being a good person, doing religious things, etc, are all good, but none of them can save the soul! To be saved, you must be born again according toJohn 3:3, 7.
  3. The point that Jesus is trying to make is that every body is not saved. Don’t you deceive yourself thinking that because you know of Him that you know Him. Just because you call His name does not mean you confessed in faith. The Bible says…
  • "For many are called, but few are chosen.", Matt. 22:14.
  • Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" 2 Cor. 13:5
  • Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:", 2 Pet. 1:10.
  1. SIMPLE CONDITION (vs. 21b)

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.”

  1. The Will of God: Jesus says we are saved by "doing the will of His Father." So what is the Father’s will?
  1. According to John 6:40, this is the will of God, "And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day."
  2. The will of God is for all to be saved and none be lost. When we confess Jesus Christ with our mouth and believe in our heart, we are doing the will of God by receiving Jesus as our Savior.
  1. The Works of God: God worked out our salvation for us. We could not save ourselves, so God provided a sacrifice for us. Now all we have to do to be saved is obey the instructions in Romans 10:9-10; that says "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
  2. The Way To God: God keeps it simple. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved..."(Acts 16:31). That’s simple!
  1. STUNNED CHARACTERS (vs. 22)

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

  1. The Defense of the Stunned: Jesus those who thought they were saved based it on works. We prophesied in they name… That’s a work. We cast out devils… That’s a work. We did many wonderful works… All works! We are not saved by works, we are saved by grace through faith. You can do works in the name of Jesus, but works in His name still want save you.
  2. The Devotion of the Stunned: They were serious about their work. They were devoted to the work. They did their best in the name of Jesus. They were leading people to Christ. They felt they were making a difference. They were so busy working for the Lord that they never took the time to confess the Lord and get to know Him personally.
  1. Some people are going to go to hell through the Church. We are so busy doing church work (at the local church), but we never become member of the church, which is the body of Christ.
  1. The Delusion of the Stunned: Their focus was not their labor not on the Lord. Their whole claim rests in what "they" had done! Salvation will never be about you did. Salvation is all about Jesus and what He did on the cross at Calvary. The cross accomplished more than a million lifetimes of works.
  1. SHOCKING CONFESSION (vs. 23a)

“And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

  1. Saviors Confession: What was more shocking was the final statement that Jesus makes on this subject. He tells those who were not saved, "I never knew you." You may have been working in my name, but I don’t know you. This has to be he saddest statement in all the Bible. For Jesus to tell us that He never knew us. He did not say I don’t know you anymore, but I never you from the beginning.
  1. Jesus is God! He knows everything. He knew who they were and He knew their hearts. What He means here is that He had never known them in a personal relationship. He knows who are saved and who is not.
  2. This text is not directed towards backsliders. Many of the people we call backsliders were never saved. 1 John 2:19 says, “They went out from us but they were not of us; if they had been of us they would still be with us:but they went out from us so that it might be made clear that they were not of us” 2 Timothy 2:19 says, “The Lord knoweth them that are his.”
  1. Sad Condemnation: Those whom the Lord does not know will be instructed to leave the presence of the Lord. Jesus says, “depart from me.” There is only one place in the universe where man cannot be in the manifested presence of God and that is in the lake of fires (which we call Hell). 2 Thes. 1:8-9, "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;"

Conclusion: The sad fact is everybody is not going to heaven. Heaven is not for everyone. Heaven is only for those who confess with their mouth AND believe in their hearts. If you want go to heaven you must make preparation. I heard a story the other day, about a famous King who died. The question was asked, “Where do you think the King has gone?” Someone said, “I’m sure the King has gone to heaven. One of the kings closes aid who traveled with him all around the world said, I don’t think the King went heaven. When the King decided to go to England, he made preparations before he left. When the King decided to go Russia, he made preparations before he left. When the King decided to go to the United States he made preparation before he left. I went with the King to England, Russia, and the United States. I was responsible for making sure that all of the necessary arrangements were made. I knew of every place the King planned to go before he left. I don’t remember the King planning to go to heaven, so I don’t believe he’s gone to heaven.

Some of us here today have not preparation to go to heaven. There is no need to plan to go if you have not made preparation. Is there anybody here today who plans to go to heaven? Are you preparing to go? Heaven is not for everybody, but only for those who have been saved!