NOT EVERYONE GETS TO GO TO HEAVEN

Matthew 7.21-23

²¹Not 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. ²²Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? ²³And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Intro: You might not think it, but our world is very heavenly minded. That is a strange statement considering just how wretched and wicked our world is, but in a recent CNN poll, it was discovered that 81% of the people asked believed in a literal heaven where people lived with God after death. 81%! 61% of those polled said that they believed they would go to Heaven immediately when they died. Another 88% believed that they would see departed family and friends when they arrived in Heaven.

I find these numbers astonishing in light of the wickedness that fills our society, don't you? Of course, there is another side to this story. Of all those polled, 6% believed Heaven could be reached by doing good works. Another 57% believed that Heaven was available to all who place their faith in God and did good works and 34% believed that Heaven was for those who had faith in God alone. Now, here is where a problem begins to be seen. A full 63% of those who responded believed they were going to Heaven, but they cited the wrong reason for getting there. The other 34%, who believed that Heaven came to those who placed their faith in God, may be just as wrong as those who believe salvation comes s a result of works.

I want you to know today that not everyone goes to Heaven when they die! I know we want to believe they do, but the fact of the matter is, not everyone who thinks they are going to Heaven really is. In what is, without question, the most important area of any person's life, most people, are sincerely wrong concerning what they believe about salvation.

As Jesus drew near to the end of the Sermon on the Mount, He takes the time to remind men of the seriousness of their salvation. He wanted all who heard Him to be sure that they were genuinely converted. That is my desire for each of you this morning. I would like for us to spend a few minutes with these words of Jesus and notice some thoughts that come from this passage. I am going to preach this morning on the thought "Not Everyone Gets To Go To Heaven."

It is my prayer that you will allow the Spirit of God to speak to your hearts today. It may be that there are some here this morning who have never been truly saved. Perhaps this is the day when you will meet Jesus as your Savior. Maybe there are those who think they are saved, but in truth, you're not. I am praying that God will speak to your heart today! Perhaps there are those who know you have never been converted. There is no better time than right now to get that taken care of. Let's join Jesus as He teaches us the truth that "Not Everyone Gets To Go To Heaven."

1. A STARTLING COMMUNICATION (v. 21a)

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

1. Jesus makes one of the most amazing statements in all the Bible. He says that not everyone who claims Him as Lord will be saved! He is telling us that there will be some people who will think they are saved, but who, in fact, are still lost and headed to Hell!
2. Jesus makes it clear that not all who claim to know Him really know Him!
3. A simple profession of Jesus as Savior is not enough to save! A person may believe in the doctrines of the faith. They may be sincere and good. However, merely saying you know Jesus is not enough to save your soul. Belonging to the church, being a good person, doing religious things, etc, are all good, but none of them can save the soul! Salvation come only through the new birth, John 3:3, 7.

3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God

1. I think it is clear that Jesus is telling us that there will be some who will think they are saved and in reality they are deceived. Why would I believe this? Because the Bible has much to say about this matter.

1. "For many are called, but few are chosen.", Matt. 22:14.

14For many are called, but few are chosen.

1. The parable of the Wheat and the Tares, Matt. 13:24-30; 13:36-43

24Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. 

36Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. 37He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

1. Paul also knew that there would be some in the church who would be fooled by their profession. "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?", 2 Cor. 13:5
2. Simon Peter also mentioned this phenomenon, "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:", 2 Pet. 1:10.

1. Why is this such a major concern? Because without Jesus, there is no hope for salvation. There is hope for nothing but Hell fire! Sadly, there are too many in our day who base their "salvation experience" on what their mother or daddy told them happened. Too many are trusting a time when they had a strange experience. What we need to get firmly nailed down this morning is that there are many people who are trusting in some "fuzzy" experience to get them to Heaven. Friend, you had better be sure where your faith is today! Why? Your eternity depends on what you trust in! Remember, not everyone gets to go to Heaven!

II. A SIMPLE CONDITION (v. 21b) 

1. Here, Jesus simply explains how a person is saved. He says that people are saved by "doing the will of His Father." Does this mean that people are saved by works? Of course not! Eph. 2:8-9. If we are going to understand this verse, we are going to have to find out what the will of the Father is.

8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.

1. According to John 6:40, this is the will of God, "And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day."
2. So, the Bible makes it clear that salvation comes to those who see the Son and believe in Him. The bottom line? Salvation is by pure faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. If you can come to the place where you are trusting nothing but the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to save you from your sins, that is biblical salvation. It is stated as simply as possible in 

Romans 10:9-10, "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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

1. God has made salvation so easy to receive that He is able to invite anyone who thirsts to come to Him for salvation, John 7:37; Rev. 22:17. Salvation is simple, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved...", Acts 16:31.
2. What are you trusting for salvation?? It had better be in Jesus because not everyone gets to go to heaven!

1. A QUESTIONABLE COMPLAINT (v. 22) 

22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 

1. When these people hear the requirement for salvation, they begin to recount all the things they have done in life. They had done some pretty impressive stuff! They had preached the Word of God! They had cast out devils! They had done many wonderful works! And, they had done it all in the Name of Jesus!
2. You see, they were sincere! They were busy! They were doing good stuff in a good Name. They were making a difference. They were so busy working for the Lord that they never took the time to get to know Him personally!
3. These people trusted in their works to save them. They even call Him Lord, but they do not know Him! If this verse teaches us anything at all, it teaches us that salvation cannot be produced by works! My friends, you can do it all! You can work and give and visit and preach and teach and go to church and on and on and on, but the truth still remains. Salvation is by "faith through grace and that not of yourselves. Not of works lest any man should boast."
4. Do you hear these boasting? Notice that their whole claim to Heaven rests in what "they" have done! The focus is on them and not on the Lord. May I just remind you this morning, your salvation will never be about you? It will never be about what you have accomplished or what you may have done. Salvation is all about Jesus and what He did when He went to the cross and took the sins of the world on Himself at Calvary., 2 Cor. 5:21. Salvation is about Him! Salvation is about the One Who suffered, bled and died to accomplish what a million lifetimes of religious works can never do, Ill. Heb. 9:12-14; Heb. 9:25-28; Heb. 10:10-14! (Ill. The awful sufferings of the cross, Isa. 52:14; Isa. 53:4-11! Glory Hallelujah!
5. Because of all this, I am glad that I can tell you this morning, "It is done, and there is nothing for you to do, but accept Jesus and His plan for your salvation!" If you have received Him and His plan, then praise the Lord. If not, then you need to realize that not everyone gets to go to Heaven!

(Ill. One day, a king died. His servants spread the unbelievable news all over the palace. He had died in his bed of natural causes.

"Where has he gone?", asked one of the king's wisest counselors

"Why, to Heaven of course!", answered all the others.

"No", said the other gravely, "I served this king for many years and traveled with him to many places. He loved to travel and would go over the details of each journey. Every element was planned and anticipated. But I have never heard him say a word about traveling to Heaven. It is a journey for which I saw him make no preparation. I am quite sure he did not go to Heaven." What about you? Have you made the right preparations?)

1. A SHOCKING CONFESSION (v. 23a)

23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

1. As those people stood before the Lord, surely they were shocked at what they had already heard. Now they are about to hear something that will forever seal their destiny. He tells them, "I never knew you." They had claimed to be working in His name. They had claimed that they knew Him. They had professed a relationship, but Jesus tells the truth. He tells them that at no time in their lives had He ever known them!

(Of course, Jesus is God! He knows everything. He knew who they were and He knew their hearts. What He means here is that He had never known them in a personal relationship. These people had never been saved!)

1. There are those who feel that this passage is speaking to backsliders. Some feel that these people were once saved and now, for whatever reason, they are lost again. Of course, Jesus says that He "never" knew them. If He ever knew then He cannot say that He never knew them! These aren't backsliders! These people are just plain lost in their sins!

(Ill. By the way, I am convinced that many who appear to be "backsliders" in the church are really people who were never been saved in the first place, 1 John 2:19.)

1. The whole point of this verse is this, "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.", 2 Tim. 2:19. If Jesus ever knew you, He still does today. If not, then you might be in this crowd that gathers on that day and finds they have no future in Heaven. Not everyone gets to go to Heaven!
2. A SUDDEN CONDEMNATION (v. 23b) 

23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

1. These lost ones are ordered to leave the presence of the Lord! There is only one place in the universe where men can be free from the manifest presence of God and that is in the fires of Hell, 2 Thes. 1:8-9, "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;"!
2. My friends, we need to remember that there is a vast difference between Heaven and Hell!

1. Heaven is described as a place of endless bliss and eternal glory, Rev. 21:4; John 14:1-3.

4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  Rev. 21.4

1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14.1-3

1. On the other hand, Hell is described as:

1. Unquenchable Fire - Mark 9:43

43And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 

1. A place of memory and remorse - Luke 16:25; 27-28

25But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

1. A place of thirst - Luke 16:24-25

24And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

1. A place of misery and pain - Luke 16:24-26; Rev. 14:10-11.

10The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

E. A place of frustration and anger - Matt. 13:25; Matt. 24:51

1. A place of endless separation - Rev. 21:8; 2 Thes. 1:8-9

8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

8In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 

1. A place of undiluted divine wrath - (Ill. Hab. 3:2, There will be no mercy for those who go to Hell!)

(Ill. It is clear to see that there is no comparison between Heaven and Hell. Which one do you want to go to when you die?)

1. I think the saddest words in all the Bible will be these words recorded here, "I never knew you, depart from me." These are people who expected to hear the Lord welcoming them into Heaven. They were sincere. They thought they were saved. They knew all the catch words and the right things to say. They knew "Gospel speak". Why then will these people hear these words? Because they are basing their hope of salvation on their own works and goodness. Because they have failed to place their faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. They will go to Hell because they chose their way over God's way. I wonder, what will Jesus say to you? Remember, not everyone gets to go to Heaven!

Conclusion: 81% of Americans believe in the existence of a real literal Heaven. Almost that many expect to go there immediately when they die. Will they? Only if they have trusted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Unless they come to God through Jesus Christ, they will never be saved, John 14:6.

6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14.6

This morning, I want you to know that I do not have the ear of 81% of Americans. Where do you stand with the Lord Jesus? Do you think you are saved? Do you hope that you will do to Heaven when you die? What are you basing that hope on this morning? If there is the slightest doubt in your heart that you are saved, you need to come and get that things settled right now. Some of you are lost. You need to get out of your seat and make your way to Jesus right now. He is calling will you come?

I remind you again, not everyone gets to go to Heaven! Will you?