Not Everyone

Not Everyone

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” 
                                                                                                               Matthew 7:21-23.
There are many people proclaiming themselves to be Christians, to call Jesus Lord that will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Yet at least one thief will.
The gospel of Luke records this happening during the crucifixion,
“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?  
We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’” 
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” 
                                                                                                                    Luke 23:39-43.
This man did what all who call themselves Christians are asked to do. He believed that Jesus was innocent of the crimes he was being crucified for. He believed Jesus was the Son of God. He confessed his sins.
Upon doing this Jesus said, ““I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Many in our churches today have not done this. They speak “church speak” they know the liturgy, they know when to say hallelujah, when to pray, what to pray and how to conduct themselves in church and around church people. They may even read the bible every day. They may have even gone on mission trips or are pastors, evangelist or other officials in the church Yet they have not made a commitment to Christ.
The Apostle Paul writes,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                                      Ephesians 2:8,9,
Grace may be a free gift from God but it is costly. It cost Christ his life.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his book  The Cost of Discipleship wrote
“Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: 'Ye were bought at a price', and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.” 
                                                                                 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 
Sadly today may in the Media and in many Churches have what Bonhoeffer calls cheap grace he writes,
“Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”
                             Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
If you who are reading this consider yourself a Christian please consider the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
When you became a Christian did you recognize Christ’s death on the cross was a sacrifice for you? Did you repent of your sins? Did you confess your sins directly to God?
Do you recognize Jesus is the one and only Son of God?
Is your life with God one of knocking on heavens door daily, Reading the Bible, praying and praising God as often as you can?
Please ask yourself am I really a Christian? If so, how can I draw closer to Christ.
Please think about it.