A person is “saved” based on their confession, and maintaining faith in Jesus, Romans 10:9.
Ro 10:9 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.
However, they are given the Kingdom attributes of righteousness, joy, and peace in the Holy Spirit (Rm 14:17) based on their behavior, (doing the Father’s will) upon their “striving” to enter the Kingdom of God, Matthew 25:33-46.
So we have to have faith so God can enable us to do the works necessary to enter the kingdom of God and attain joy and peace in the Holy Spirit.
Ro 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
God’s grace can enable a Christian to be saved through “fire” or through obedience.
Most of us are saved through fire.
The differences in the words used in these verses are important.
The words “saved” and “Heaven” suggest two different things.
First – Being “saved” means that the person must be saved from something. It suggests a condition.
In the Bible, the word “saved” means to be saved from God’s wrath which is revealed against ungodliness, Romans 1:18.
Ro 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.
God’s grace teaches sinful people how to deny ungodliness, Titus 2:11-12.
Tit 2:11 ¶ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
The word “saved”, or the concept of “being saved” only implies a permanent condition if the person never sins after Jesus has, at the time of the individual’s conversion, initially forgiven their sins.
If they sin or behave in an ungodly manner (Rm 1:18) after they come to Christ they are not saved from God’s wrath, they will have to experience it to a limited degree.
That is what the Bible addresses in Heb 10:26.
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries, (devour that which “opposes” Strong’s #5227).
As God’s judgment is prescribed for believers it is meant for correction and not for condemnation, 1 Cor 11:32.
Christian judgment is designed by God to teach us how to deny ungodliness.
Second – The kingdom of Heaven is where God is King, and where His will is done, Mt 6:10.
Matthew 6:10: Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
The word “heaven” refers to a “place” where God’s will is done.
The word “Earth” refers to a place where God’s will is done in response to prayer.
The word “saved” (from God’s wrath, Rm 1:18) is not a place, it refers to the condition of a person who behaves in a certain way.
On earth, and among God’s people we are told to pray for His will to be done.
The people who do Jesus will enter the kingdom of God spiritually while they live on earth.
The place where God rules can be called “His Kingdom”, and it is defined in Rm 14:17.
Ro 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Christians are told to pray for God’s Kingdom to come to earth.
God has given the Earth to man, Ps 115:16.
Ps 115:16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
Being a part of God (Dan 2:45), Jesus came to tell us how to gain entry into the Kingdom of God while we are on earth, where the possibility of “God’s will” being done is not a certainty.
After His physical death, Jesus went back to the condition He existed in before He came to earth, Jn 17:5.
John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
Jesus wants people to obey Him, but sometimes they don’t.
Lu 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Matt 7:21 ¶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.
Matt 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Where did Jesus send these disobedient and deluded people?
He sent them into “fire” where their behavior could be changed.
They must maintain their faith in the “fire”.
Matt 25:41 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:
The “fire” prepared for the eternal beings called fallen angels burns forever, Matt 25:41.
That is why it is called “Everlasting fire”.
Mankind can go into and come out of the place/condition where fallen angels live during this earthly lifetime.
Misguided people will often quote Matthew 7:23 when they try and say that Jesus rejects certain people.
This is only if people refuse to put their faith in Him.
In the case where they call Jesus “Lord,” He sends them into Hellfire for correction, Matt 7:23, Matt 25:41, and Luke 13:27.
Mt 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Mt 25:41 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:
Lu 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
However, Jesus himself said “I will reject no one who comes to me, John 6:37.
Jn 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
When Jesus said “I never knew you” in Mt 7:23, that was not the correct translation, or the entire conversation, as Luke 13:25 shows.
Lu 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
Lu 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
The literal meaning is “I don’t “recognize” where you are coming from”. He told these people to depart from Him and sent them into the figurative “fire” instead of the peace and joy of the kingdom.
As the gospel of Matthew recorded this situation He went into another aspect of the conversation is seen in Matt 25:41.
It becomes clear that the separation of the sheep from the goats, which is illustrated in Matthew 25:32-46, refers to the people departing from Jesus’ presence in Luke 13:27.
Being sent into “fire” does not mean that the goats are rejected forever.
Jesus separates or makes a distinction between the sheep and goats within His flock (Ez:34:17).
After the judgment or evaluation of their behavior the “sheep” go into the recompense that their obedient behavior has brought about.
They progress in the Spiritual kingdom attributes and experience more Joy etc, Rm 14:17.
The goats go into the purifying fire.
The day or time of the Lord is a time of judgment or recompense, 2 Peter 3:7.
Which is what is happening in the situation we are reading about.
The separation of the sheep and goats is what is called the Day or Time of the Lord.
Recompense can take two forms, approval or disapproval, Romans 3:4.
Jesus judges the sheep and goats (His flock or people, Ezekiel 34:17 and 20) and some enter the kingdom and some enter the fire, 1 Corinthians 3:15.
The Goats on His left are not rejected by Jesus, they are simply going to be saved through fire.
When talking of the subject in Matthew 5:22-26 it is seen that if a Christian wrongs His brother (corresponding to Jesus’ explanation of the sheep and goats) they go into the fire and do not come out until they have made things right.
The Day of the Lord is not the Second Coming; the two terms refer to two distinct concepts.
The “Day” is a time of visitation consisting of the approval or discipline that Christians receive as they are being conformed to the image of Christ.
The Second Coming is the arrival of Christ in the life of the believer.
After the life of the believer is changed through the “presence” of Christ they become a new creature and the growth process begins.
The time or “day” of this evaluation can involve the application of a rod (judgment), or it can involve the gentleness and approval of the Lord resulting in a reward.
This is what it means to be “saved, as through fire”, 1 Cor 13:15.
To say that Jesus “never knew them is not scriptural”, and this conclusion is not supported by Joh 5:37.
The concept of Jesus rejecting someone who comes to Him in sincerity is a true lie from Hell.
The Christians who infer that Jesus will reject people who come to Him may be believers, but they are unlearned and do not understand the Bible or the Love of God, no matter how condemning and confident they may appear to be.
Jn 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
Most people are being “saved through fire”, meaning that God is purifying them as silver is purified when heated.
This is clear since we don’t see many people behaving like Jesus.
1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
The “everlasting fire” or “Hellfire” only destroys a person if they can never come out of it, as is the case after physical death, Mt 10:28.
Mt 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
During this earthly life, we can go into it and come out of it.
Mt 5:26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
When Jesus said “Depart from Me I never knew you” (Matt 7:23) He is speaking of people who confess Him as Lord but don’t do what he says.
Lu 13:27 (RSV) But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!’
The kingdom of God is righteousness etc. (Rm 14:17) and a sinful Christian will not progress in that kingdom even if they think they should.
Romans 14:17 KJV — For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
This is seen through the example of people who thought they followed the Lord but were cast into Hellfire for discipline in Matt 25:41.
Mt 25:41 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:
Jesus is saving people who are easily beset by sinfulness, Heb 12:1.
Heb 12:1 ¶ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
So if people confess Jesus’ name and then read the verse which says “Depart from me”, it could be misconstrued to mean that Jesus will not accept sinful people.
This is incorrect.
It simply means that if a sin becomes “willful” Jesus sends them into discipline, 1 Cor 11:32 and Heb 10:26.
They will be saved of course, as long as they put their faith in Jesus, however, they will be saved through fire.
1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened (by the symbolic fire of the demonic, who dwell in unescapable Hell) of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries (that which opposes Strong’s #5227).
The personality characteristics of the Christian that oppose the truth will be devoured. The corrected Christian will come out of the “fire” purified.
Isa 1:25 And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:
The Demonic cannot escape Hell, as it is their dwelling place.
Mankind can escape Hell during this earthly lifetime.
1 John 1:9 says that we have to confess our sins to be forgiven.
1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 Jn 1:9 does not say that we must not sin to be forgiven or acceptable to Jesus.
Recognition that certain behavior is a sin is what is required.
God said in Ho 5:15 I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offense, and seek my face: in their affliction, they will seek me early.
Ps 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Jer 3:13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.
After the initial confession, the power to deny ungodliness or sin is granted by God and is referred to as “grace” in Titus 2:11-13.
1Pe 5:10 ¶ But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.
This ability is given to the person after they first recognize that the behavior they are involved in is indeed a sin.
This is the point of the misunderstood so-called rapture theory. If a Christian commits willful sin they are given over to delusion, 2 Thess 2:11.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
(KJV)
2Th 2:12 (ASV) that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
The delusion sent by God due to their willful sin allows God to judge them and bring correction which teaches them to deny ungodly behavior.
This is the case concerning Christians who call Jesus Lord but do not do what He says.
Worldly people who confess Christ but think that some sin is permissible and not offensive to God are the people that Jesus tells to depart from “Him” in Matt 7:23.
Mt 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
These people will remain in the fire so to speak until they pay the uttermost farthing or settle things with God.
I have shown that the “rapture” theory is inaccurate because “the sleep” mentioned in 1 Thess 4:13 occurs during this lifetime and not after death, 1 Thess 5:6.
Building on that theme, the tens of thousands of Saints that come along with the Lord to judge the world in Jude verses 14 and 15 are seen to be referring to the truth that they are Christians who preach the word.
The Lord’s Second Coming is when His followers are born again and become believers, through the Holy Spirit. His followers or disciples then judge the world by speaking bible verses to them, Psalm 149:9.
Ps 149:9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honor have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.
This is the Lord coming into the lives of people and using them to preach the Gospel.
The coming of the Holy Spirit is found in the following verses –
John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
The Second Coming of the Lord is found in the following verses –
Jude 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
15 ¶ To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
Ps 149:9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honor have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.
John 16:8 and Jude 1:14 speak of the same thing.
The Lord comes to earth for the Second time for salvation (Heb 9:28) through the Holy Spirit.
This is why Heb 9:28 says that Jesus appears the Second time to those who look for Him.
Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Unbelievers will not see the Second Appearance of Jesus unless they repent of their unbelief.
Now the Bible does say that every eye will see Him in Rev 1:7.
Re 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (KJV)
Revelation 1:7 does not speak of seeing the Second Coming which pertains to “salvation” (Heb 9:28).
Rev 1:7 is speaking about seeing “The Day of the Lord” or the judgment of God.
He comes into the hearts of His followers and His disciples then preach the Gospel, and in this way, they judge the unbelievers.
The Second Coming of the Lord and the Coming of the Holy Spirit are the same things.
The Second Coming of the Lord is through the Holy Spirit.
The belief that the Lord comes back physically leads to so much unnecessary delusion.
First – The Bible very clearly says that the Second Coming of Jesus occurs when a person repents in Acts 3:20.
Ac 3:20 And he shall send Jesus Christ …..
Second – Jesus said on the cross “It is finished”, This makes anything not found in the Bible an addition to scripture. Equally serious is “taking away” or ignoring what is in the bible.
If a person relies on the bible then Acts 3:20 ends the question of when will the Second Coming occur.
In Acts 2:38 and 3:19 Peter answers the question “What shall we do”, asked by the people who crucified Jesus. In both cases, He tells them to “repent” from their unbelief and believe in Jesus.
He describes God’s response to their “repentance from unbelief” in the two verses. He says they will receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost in 2:38 and that Jesus will be sent to them in 3:19-20.
Ac 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Ac 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
In these verses, we learn that when people repent from unbelief God forgives our previous sins (Rm 3:25) and that He sends Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit to the individual.
Peter addresses the same question in two ways – He said to repent and God will send the Holy Spirit.
Then He said repent and God will send Jesus.
Once they do this they become one of the many people that Enoch saw accompanying the Lord in Jude verses 14-15.