Who Will Be Raptured?

Yes I have prayed the Lord's prayer. But it is not my natural mode, Usually it comes from my heart directly.

For what it's worth the surprised people in Matthew 7 are the same ones Paul talked about in Romans 10. Tried to establish their own righteousness instead of turning to God for his.

I believe it's only faith or belief, but it can't just be a one time faith 30 years ago. It must be an active faith that you have until the end.

In the end, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, it all comes back to Jesus. We can't love the way He intends us to love without His love. We can't forgive the way He desires us to forgive without His forgiveness. We can't pray the way He desires to pray unless He works within our spirit. We can't live the way He desires us to live unless He lives within us.

As already stated, the very ones Jesus pointed out were the very ones who protested they did X and Y and Z all in the name of Jesus.

It is not about works or how many "good things" one performs - Paul tells us specifically all our very best is nothing more than filthy rags before God.

Belief in what Jesus accomplished is the key..... Belief in God, Belief in Jesus (as a good man, or teacher) is all worthless.

The belief or trust in what Jesus accomplished - He was sinless, He chose to do what no one could do. Through His grace, He GIFTS that justification/ Righteous to ALL who believe the scriptures that one is need of a savior and fully accepts that what Jesus accomplished was provided for them.

That is the start of eternal life (and once started it will never end - otherwise it would not be eternal).....

It seems some want to rob people of assurances- that additional conditions are added ......

That is not the Gospel ... The gospel to the Gentiles as laid out by Paul..... Is Belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ was done for the individual.

As someone already mentioned.... Christ died for all so therefore all should be saved (in fact there is one verse that specifically says Jesus is the Savior of All, especially for those who believe).
What that actually means, I cannot tell you for I do not understand it myself. But I am confident that I am saved not because of any actions or good deeds on my Part, but simply because I realized I needed a Savior and Believe that Jesus Christ is that Savior, for He accomplished everything for me.

When I get to heaven, I know I will not be approaching God's throne ready to brag about every good deed I may have accomplished.... I will be on my knees praising and thanking the Lamb of God who took away my sins. It is because of Jesus accomplished works that I boast in .....

kjs, you can find time to insult me, yet you can't address the scripture I brought up.

This is one of Jesus' sayings that is going to come back to bite you:

Matthew 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Ah, now I see ... You state I insulted you.....
Since I never mentioned you by name, never quoted you - I fail to see how any of my comments had the power to insult.

But I will apologize for any perceived insult that think came from me.....

The closest I came to insulting anyone was simply my suggestion/ advice that anyone who thinks they will approach God's throne bragging about how wonderful they were able to perform here on earth .... May need to reexamine the faith they claim to hold..... For that Faith must be in the finished work of Jesus Christ and that alone!

If you took that as an insult, maybe the Holy Spirit is trying to convict you of something...

Will not debate verses taken out of context and attempt make a doctrine out of them.....

But will say Jesus only gave two commands.... Love God and Love others as much as yourself.....

I will commit to this when I pray today, I will as the Holy Spirit to enlighten me if I have made an error in my understanding of how one approaches the throne of God?

Jim, I wasn't vague with my response about the will of the Father, which was given in response to what "I never knew you" was about. Why don't you comment on that post?