"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven. Matthew 7:21
It is not enough to believe in Christ intellectually, even to be quite orthodox in creed. It is not enough to seem to honor Christ before men, praying to Him and ascribing power to Him. It is a sad thing that Jesus tells us here — that some who have thus seemed to be His friends on earth, and who have publicly confessed Him — shall fail at last to get into Heaven!
Such a word from our Lord's lips cannot but startle us. We stop and ask, "Are we sure that we shall be admitted to Heaven? Why are these confessors of Christ kept out? What are the conditions of entrance?" To these questions, the answer is so plain that there is no possibility of mistake if we read the Lord's words with honest care. He tells us that those alone shall enter Heaven — who on earth do the will of the Father. No confession, therefore, is true — which is not confirmed and verified by a life of obedience and holiness. "Simply to your cross I cling" is but half of the gospel. No one is really clinging to the cross — who is not at the same time faithfully following Christ and doing whatever He commands. No one can enter into Heaven, into whose heart Heaven has not first entered on this earth. We shall do God's will in Heaven — if we do it here on earth.
Some people have the impression that salvation sets them free from the law; it does as a ground of salvation — but it does not as a rule of duty. We pray, "May Your will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven;" if the prayer is sincere — it must draw our own lives with it in loving obedience and acquiescence to the divine will. Our confessions of Christ — must be confirmed by the earnest doing of the Father's will. All other confession is only an empty mockery!
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J.R. Miller (1840 - 1912)
Prolific author and pastor of Presbyterian churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois, Rev. James Russell Miller served the USCC as a field agent in the Army of the Potomac and Army of the Cumberland.J.R. Miller began contributing articles to religious papers while at Allegheny Seminary. This continued while he was at the First United, Bethany, and New Broadway churches. In 1875, Miller took over from Henry C. McCook, D.D. when the latter discontinued his weekly articles in The Presbyterian, which was published in Philadelphia. J.R. Miller D.D.'s lasting fame is through his over 50 books. Many are still in publication.
James Russell Miller (March 20, 1840 - July 2, 1912) was a popular Christian author, Editorial Superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication, and pastor of several churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois.
In 1857, James entered Beaver Academy and in 1862 he progressed to Westminster College, Pennsylvania, which he graduated in June, 1862. Then in the autumn of that year he entered the theological seminary of the United Presbyterian Church at Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Mr. Miller resumed his interrupted studies at the Allegheny Theological Seminary in the fall of 1865 and completed them in the spring of 1867. That summer he accepted a call from the First United Presbyterian Church of New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. He was ordained and installed on September 11, 1867.
J.R. Miller began contributing articles to religious papers while at Allegheny Seminary. This continued while he was at the First United, Bethany, and New Broadway churches. In 1875, Miller took over from Henry C. McCook, D.D. when the latter discontinued his weekly articles in The Presbyterian, which was published in Philadelphia.
Five years later, in 1880, Dr. Miller became assistant to the Editorial Secretary at the The Presbyterian Board of Publication, also in Philadelphia.