Need All Three

Matthew 7:21-23  “Not every one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say tome, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.’


Most of seem to think that if we profess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord we are in. Others think we must profess he is Lord with our mouths and act in His Name. Jesus surprises us perhaps with this clear admonition that not all who profess his name and even not all who act in his name will enter the kingdom of heaven. The passage just before this speaks of bearing good fruit. I guess what Jesus is getting at is that I can have correct theology and be a hateful person bearing none of the good fruit that comes with redemption. 


I have more than one friend who were alcoholics.  I'm thinking of some whose sobriety has lasted more than two decades. I can see one in particular who is sober but has never dealt with the personality issues which oppress him. You might call him what some call a dry drunk. Others show the positive effects of real life change that their higher power has helped them to achieve. They bear good fruit. 


It scares me that I could accept the theology of Jesus redemption and yet not mature in faith to produce good fruit. I constantly seek to allow God to change me. I want the fruit of the spirit to hang abundantly from me and available to be picked and nourish all those around me. Yes I want to act in Jesus Name, and yes I want to hold sound theology, but I dare not be a barren tree or one that bears bad fruit.