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(A) Know Who Enters Heaven  

Matthew 7:21-23 - Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. [22] Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ [23] Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’  NIV

1. Who goes to heaven? (see v21)
2. Who goes to hell? (see v23)
3. Who decides who goes to heaven or hell? (see v23)
4. ESV Study Bible "The kingdom community must guard against not only false prophets (vv. 15–20) but also false disciples. 'Lord, Lord'. An oral confession of Jesus as Lord does not always indicate a repentant heart."  
5. CSB Study Bible "True disciples affirm Jesus’s lordship, submit to his authority, and obey his commands.  Jesus insisted that a person is confirmed as a true disciple not by prophecy, exorcism, or working miracles but by living a transformed life made possible by God.  The disobedient lifestyles of lawbreakers are inconsistent with genuine discipleship. Jesus’s words, I never knew you, show that these were never truly disciples." 
6. MacArthur Bible Commentary "The faith that says but does not do is really barren unbelief (cf. v. 20). Jesus is not suggesting that works merit salvation but that true faith will not fail to produce the fruit of good works. This point is also precisely the point of James 1:22-25; 2:26." 

7. Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged) - "If vv.15–20 deal with false prophets, vv.21–23 deal with false followers. ... Already here Jesus is implicitly claiming to be more than a mere teacher, since his name becomes the focus of kingdom activity; and he alone decrees who does or does not enter the kingdom (vv.22–23). ... The determinative factor regarding who enters the kingdom is obedience to the Father’s will (v.19; Cf. 12:50). ... “That day” is the Day of Judgment (Cf. 25:31–46; 2Th 1:7–10; 2Ti 1:12; 4:8). The false claimants have prophesied in Jesus’ name and by that name exorcised demons and performed miracles. There is no reason to judge their claims false; rather, their claims are insufficient. ... Verse 23 presupposes an implicit Christology of the highest order. Jesus himself not only decides who enters the kingdom on the last day but also who will be banished from his presence. That he never knew these false claimants shows how close to spiritual reality one may come while knowing nothing of its fundamental reality (e.g., Judas Iscariot; cf. Heb 3:14; 1Jn 2:19)." 

 
(B) Examine Yourselves  

2 Corinthians 13:5  Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.  NLT

1. What are we commanded to do?
2. 1st John and other parts of the New Testament have many indicators to tell who is a real Christian. The following verses will help you "Test yourselves". 
3. For each of the following verses what is the mark of genuine faith?

(1) Living a Life of Growing Obedience - 1 John 2:3-4 - And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. [4] If someone claims, "I know God," but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth.  NLT

(2) Not Loving the Word - 1 John 2:15 - Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.  NIV

1. What insight does James 4:4 add to 1 John 2:15? - James 4:4  You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.  NIV
2. What insight does Matthew 22:37 add? - Matthew 22:37  Jesus replied:  ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’   NIV

(3) Active Part of a body of believers - 1 John 2:19 - These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us.  NLT

1. What are the three commands in Hebrews 10:24-25? - Hebrews 10:24-25  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, [25] not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  NIV

(4) Living God's Way, Loving believers - 1 John 3:10 - So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously [living the way God requires] and does not love other believers does not belong to God.  NLT

1. What insight does Hebrews 6:10 add? - Hebrews 6:10  For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.  NLT
2. What insight does 1 John 3:17 add? - 1 John 3:17  If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?  NLT

(5) 1 John 5:13 - I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.  NIV

1. “I write these things” include all 5 of the above 1st John tests. 
2. What insight does Romans 3:25 add? - Romans 3:25  For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. NLT
3.  
4. The next Bible Study is all about what we need to believe. 

Which of these tests is the hardest for you?

Proof of salvation - three quotes from a John MacArthur sermon. 

1. "The proof of conversion is not a past event, or a past prayer, or past experience. It’s a present righteousness. Ah, it’s not perfection, but it’s direction. 
2. It’s what you do with the Jesus’ words that gives evidence of your spiritual condition. ... What is the evidence of true conversion? What is the evidence of true repentance?  It is a life of obedience, submission to the lordship of Christ. It’s not a profession. It’s not empty words. It’s obedience. ...
3. If you love the truth and you love to obey the truth, even though you fall short, those are the evidences of true conversion."  From John MacArthur’s sermon LINK  https://www.gty.org/sermons/80-338/foundations-of-grace-part-2-the-lordship-of-christ 

   1. Which quote means the most to you?

So, based on the fruit mentioned above are you a real Christian? 

The next key will show how one becomes a real follower of Jesus.

(C) 2% of your Day  

1. Since Jesus says "but only the one who does the will of my Father" will you commit to spending at least 2% of your day learning God's word so that you can do his will AND help others to become followers of Jesus?  
   1. What do those who seek God with all their heart experience? 2 Chronicles 15:12,14-15 Then they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul. [14] They shouted out their oath of loyalty to the LORD with trumpets blaring and rams' horns sounding. [15] All in Judah were happy about this covenant, for they had entered into it with all their heart. They earnestly sought after God, and they found him. And the LORD gave them rest from their enemies on every side.  NLT
      1. Are you willing to tell God this? 
      2. What will your life be 10 years from now if you don't. 
      3. What will your life be 10 years from now if you do?  
2. 2% of 24 hours is 30 minutes. You have a much better chance of spending this daily time with Jesus if you do it before your Social Media, Youtube, TV, hobbies.  
3. If you can't commit to 2% what can you commit to?  
4. Who do you know that needs to know this study?  

Memorize the Verse for Life 

How to Memorize for life 

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