Can workers of iniquity enter into the kingdom of heaven?
No.
Who are the
workers of iniquity?
Mat.7.21 Not everyone that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he
that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many
will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever hears these sayings
of mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And everyone that hears these sayings of mine, and does them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was
the fall of it.
These many "believers", working works of the Holy Spirit, prophesing, casting out devils, and doing many wonderful works (miracles) in the
name of Jesus; and therefore must be baptized in the Holy Spirit, and fully believing that they are already saved; will be astounded and horrified to find that they are rejected, on that day of judgement; for although they seem to have successful ministries with signs and wonders, they have not been living according to the teachings of Jesus.
Remember that
the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. Once God has called, and has given gifts of the Holy Spirit, He does not change His mind and take them back.
Rom.11.29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
Do not be numbered with these many who are called, but will not be chosen: rather be found among the
few who will be chosen.
Mat.20.16b
for many be called, but few chosen.
Mat.22.14 For many
are called, but few are chosen.
In Matthew 22, the Lord is speaking of this, after he had told the story of the wedding, at which a man
actually got into the wedding, but, without any wedding garments: he was tied hand and foot, and thrown into outer darkness. (see study on 'wedding garments').
Not so many years ago, many "believers" debated the question, 'Once saved, always saved?' None understanding that salvation is of hope: and that none of them were even saved as yet. (see study on 'How are we saved?').
What is iniquity?
In the Old testament, Iniquity was translated; avown:
meaning, perversity, or self willed and headstrong, wrongful indulgence of self.
In the New testament, Matthew, in Mt.7.23; 13.41; 23.28; 24.12, used the word, anomia: meaning, illegality, or unlawfullness.
Luke,
in Lu.13.27; Ac.1.18; 8.23; 1Cor.13.6; 2Ti.2.19; and James, in Ja.3.6, used the word, adikia: meaning, injustice, or unjust.
Luke, in Lu.Ro.6.19;
2Th.2.7; Tit.2.14, and the writer of Hebrews, in Heb.1.9, used the word anomia.
Peter, in 2Pt.2.16, used paranomia; meaning, transgression of law.
New testament iniquity is unjustness, unlawfulness or illegallity.
What law are the workers of iniquity breaking? It can not be the old testament Levitical ceremonial, and social laws of ordinances of Israel; as they were abolished on the cross. (see
study on 'law and commandments').
The workers of iniquity are breaking the law of faith.
Gal.2.16 Knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ,
even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Ro.3.20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God
which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe (Gk.pisteuo: to have faith [living faith]):
for there is no difference. 23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness:
that he might be just, and the justifier of him that believes (has living
faith) in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? No: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith
without the deeds of the law.
As justification comes by faith;
then the unjustified workers of iniquity (adikia), must be breaking the law of faith.
Ro.1.17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith:
as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
What is the law of faith?
Gal.5.6b but faith
which works by love.
Faith works by love.
(Gk: agape: Godly love).
Jn.14.15 If you love me, keep my commandments.
1Jn.5.3a For this
is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.
To
love God, is to obey God.
To obey God, is the work of faith.
Then faith works by obeying God. (see study on 'Faith toward God' in 'First Principles').
Ro.5.19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one, shall many be made righteous.
Ja.2.20 But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered up Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 See you how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect. 23 And the
scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed (pisteuo: had faith in) God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 You see then how that by works
a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works,
when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Righteousness
is being leagally right with God; so unrighteousness, illegality, and unlawfullness (anomia), is also breaking the law
of faith.
Ro.4.13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through
the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Gal.3.8
And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying,
In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith (living faith) are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Ph.3.9 And be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.
Eph.3.8 For by grace are you saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
The works written of here are works of the law.
Do not be deceived,
Faith must have works (works of faith), to be living faith.
Understand that the Word of God is a two
edged sword, and cannot be understood, except both edges are taken into consideration. (see study on 'two edged sword')
So, the many "believers", who do not obey
God, and therefore do not love God, will have dead or blind faith, will be unjustified, unlawful, and will take pleasure in unrighteousness: until the day they stand before the judgement seat of Christ.
2Thes.2.7 For the mystery of
iniquity does already work: only he who now lets will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness
of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness
in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for
this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God has from the beginning chosen
you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.
Many
are called, few are chosen.