"he
that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven", in Matthew 7, is talking about a saved person that
"bringeth forth good fruit", so "he
that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" is what we see a person
do that is already
saved.
16 "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither
can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
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."
...
Same with;
1 John 5:9-13, ". . . If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
He
that believeth (the saved hath) on the Son of God hath the witness in himself:
he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
And this is the record, that
God hath given to us (the saved) eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that
hath (the saved) the Son
hath (the saved) life;
and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
These things have I written unto
you (the saved) that believe on the name of the Son of God;
that ye may know that ye (the saved) have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. . . ."
The one that "thinks" that when they "doeth" or "believeth", they can be saved, is trying to "do" works of the flesh and that is not the WAY of SALVATION (without Conviction of
sin, Repentance, Regeneration, or God).
To "believe" can be done in the flesh without Conviction of
sin, Repentance, Regeneration, or God and is not
a Way of Salvation.
"Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well:
the devils also believe, and tremble."
James 2:19.
...
"Suffice it to say that if election is conditional, then your salvation is not by grace, but is by works."
Ephesians 2:,1, 8; "And you
hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;"
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God:"
notes from
Scofield Bible, no less:
"
Election is,
(1) The sovereign act of God whereby certain are
chosen from among mankind for Himself (John 15:19).
(2) The sovereign act of God whereby certain elect persons are
chosen for distinctive service for Him (Luke 6:13; Acts 9:15: I Corinthians 1:27, 28).
"In both Testaments, the Hebrew and Greek words are rendered
'elect,' 'election,' 'choose,' 'chosen.' In all cases they mean, simply,
'chosen,' or,
'to choose'; and are used of
both human and divine choices.
"In the latter uses
election is:
(a)
corporate, as of the nation of Israel, or the church (Isaiah 45:4; Ephesians 1:4); and
(b)
individual (I Peter 1:2).
Election is according to the foreknowledge of God (I Peter 1:2), and wholly of grace, apart from human merit (Romans 9:11; 11:5, 6).
Election proceeds from divine volition (John 15.16).
"The divine order is foreknowledge,
election, predestination. That foreknowledge determines the
election or choice is clear from I Peter 1:2, and predestination is bringing to pass the
election.
'
Election looks back to foreknowledge; predestination looks forward to destiny.' But Scripture nowhere declares what it is in the divine foreknowledge which determines divine
election and predestination. The foreknown are
elected, and the elect are predestinated, and this election is certain to every believer by the mere fact that he believes (I Thessalonians 1:4, 5)."
Adding to this splendid explanation, we note the
foreordination has the same effect as
election, and is the same in meaning, but it concerns events as well as people.
Predestination is explained in the notes above.
Calling means the bringing to manifestation that (or those) which has (or have) been elected and predestinated.
Election is
not "Hard-shellism." The belief commonly referred to as "Hard-shellism" says that God elects and saves
without the gospel. Therefore, consistently, those who hold to this belief do not propagate missions or evangelism.
But
election takes in the
means (gospel) by which the elect are called (II Thessalonians 2:13-14). This passage includes the whole scope of God's purpose in
election:
(1)
chosen.
(2)
Chosen from the beginning.
(3)
Chosen to salvation.
(4) To be sanctified (separated or made fit for the Master's use) by means of the Spirit and belief in the Word of God (the gospel).
(5) It is to be realized by faith - "belief in the truth," through the enabling power of the Spirit.
(6) The elect are called "by our gospel." (See also Romans 10:8-24.)
...
1. Is the sinner free,
as far as God is concerned, to choose for himself? The answer is "yes."
2. If the sinner is finally lost, is it his own fault or God's? The answer is, it is his own fault.
3. Is the sinner a free
moral agent? Yes, if by moral we mean decisions on issues among men. Man's relationship to man is moral, and he can, in a limited way at least, make decisions in that realm.
4. Is the sinner a free
spiritual agent? That is, can he make decisions that concern his relationship to God (Who is Spirit)? Not in himself. His will is bound by
a nature that is opposed to God, and he cannot will (in his limited spiritually dead flesh) to do God's will (Who is Spirit).
