Heaven and Kingdom Citizens

Introduction: How does a person enter the Kingdom of _______________? Wouldn’t it be great if people just walked up to us and ask, “How can I get to heaven?” One time in Jesus’ ministry a rich man came to him and asked,

The Rich Young Ruler

“Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”(Mark 10:17)

Someone once said, “When I get to heaven I am not going to say, “How did that person get here?” No, I am going to ask, ‘How did ____ get here?” It is imperative that you know how to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. And it is important that you know how to direct others to get to heaven.

How do most people think they will get to heaven?

Do Good __________________. Lots of self-effort. Show __________________. Practice deeds. Recite __________________. Pray through beads. Attend __________________. Be a good _____________.

We want to turn our attention to what Jesus taught His disciples about entering the Kingdom of Heaven. Are you ready to receive the words of Jesus? Here is what Jesus said,

I. You don’t get to heaven through __________________ – 7:21

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Do people go to heaven simply by _______ Jesus “Lord, Lord?” No! People go to heaven not based upon anything they have done, but on everything that Jesus Christ has done for them.

The Gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Listen to these words from 1 Corinthians 15:3-4,

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,

Jesus did everything for us to make our ________ into heaven possible. It is not good enough to say the words, “Lord, Lord.” No, we must do the will of the Father, and get this – the will of the Father is that each one of us place our full trust (faith) in His Son, Jesus Christ. We read this in John 6:40,

And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 8:31 - 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,

Quote from Dr. John MacArthur -

Some people are under the impression that we get to heaven by simply stating we are Christians. This is NOT true. In Ephesians 2:8-9, we read,

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.

God’s will is that you _______ that you are a sinner, believe that Jesus took your sin to the cross, and forever receive Him into your life to be your Savior and Lord. The master controller of your whole life

II. You don’t get to heaven through __________________ – 7:22

22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’

There is a coming ________ day. All the unsaved throughout time will stand before a holy God, and they will face judgment. According to Revelation 20:11-15, the dead, small and great will stand before God at the Great White Throne Judgment. Books will be opened – these books will have recorded everything every person has ever done – they will be judged according to their works, by the things written in the books. Each one will be judged by the things they have done. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire.

Did you hear in those verses how a person gets into heaven? Their name must be written in the Book of ______. It is NOT motion in ministry (works) that get anyone into heaven. Motion in ministry is the by-product of having your name written in the Book of Life.

Tony Evans writes, “Someone can call Jesus, Lord, Lord, and have a ministry that appears to be ________. Nevertheless, a lack of good fruit will expose them.”

Simply saying _______ are not enough. Anyone can say Jesus is lord. But do you possess that truth in your heart and life? Do you have a relationship with Jesus Christ that is real?

III. You get to heaven through JESUS CHRIST ____________ – 7:23

23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

_________ will never get into heaven. They may have shouted from the rooftops that they know the Lord, and they may have been involved in all kinds of ministries that brought them to the spotlight. But Jesus Christ will say to them,

“I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.”

Wow! Apparently, these people Jesus is speaking about were calling Him Lord, but at the same time, they were practicing __________. How can you do this? You are an impostor.

I find it amazing today the number of people who claim that Jesus is ___, but they create a lord in their own _____. They make Jesus according to mindset. It is easy for people to convince themselves that their behavior is all right.

1 John 1:9 and James 2:18-19

Conclusion:

1. Not everyone who __________________ they will be in heaven will be in heaven.

2. God’s people carry out God’s __________________ His will is revealed in Scripture.

3. Doing __________________ for God doesn’t guarantee that someone is in Christ. Business is not the sign of being a believer.

4. There is a coming __________________

5. Some will in fact be __________________ away from Jesus Christ into the lake of fire.

6. Make sure that you have __________________ Jesus Christ as your savior and lord.