Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!ukma!seismo!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: goguenm@chopin.udel.edu (Matthew L Goguen) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Message-ID: Date: 27 Mar 91 04:19:45 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of Delaware Lines: 27 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article gdsimpson@amherst.bitnet writes: > > How do Protestants interpret Matthew 7:21 where Jesus says "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"? > Doesn't this verse say that Jesus believed in good works as a means of > salvation rather than faith alone, or there another way to read this? > > -Gilberto Simpson > No, think about who God claims to be: All knowing, All powerful, All present. God can see through those who claim to believe but did not follow after God but their own desires instead. Many people say that good works is a requirement for salvation. So did the Judiasiers back in Paul's day. Paul basically responded that good works were a evidence not a proof. Christ also mentions those who enter heaven and didn't know they were going there. God, sees all not just what you and I a forced to see because of our finite capibilitites. (I'm an Engineer not an English major, please forgive the bad spelling.) A brother in Christ, Matthew L. Goguen Disclaimer: This is my understanding according to the teaching and leading of the Holy Spirit. Being human I may misunderstand Him.