Part 1: Ah Lian’s Anyhow Hentam (Wishy-Washy) Theology of Long Life.
Part 2: Joseph Prince teaches against Jesus about God’s will in Matthew 7:21-23
Very Important Announcement:
In a week or two,
a series of messages will be delivered
to the National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS),
the Alliance of Pentecostal & Charismatic Churches
of Singapore (APCCS),
and the Singapore Pastors and Leaders
by representatives of the New Team
about Joseph Prince, the wolf in sheepskin.
The first to kick off will be a message
by Rev Tan Cheng Huat:
Senior Pastor of True Way Presbyterian Church
English Congregation (2000 – 2013)
English Presbytery Moderator (2004 – 2006; 2011 – 2013),
Synod Moderator (Head of the Presbyterian
denomination in Singapore) (2007 – 2009).
Vice-President of the National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS) (2007-2009).
Important Announcement:
We apologise for several technical errors in the “voice over”,
especially in the repetition of some figures,
which we at this time could not resolve.
This article was also sent to the Alliance of Pentecostal & Charismatic Churches of Singapore (APCCS), for the attention of the Chairman, Rev Yang Tuck Yoong & Co Chairman, Rev Dominic Yeo (General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God of Singapore) and Council Members.
This article was also sent to Rev Dr Ngoei Foong Nghian, General Secretary, National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS) office, and for the attention of the Executive Committee Members.
Part 1: Ah Lian’s Anyhow Hentam (Wishy-Washy) Theology of Long Life.
In the sermon on 6 July 2025, Ah Lian said:
Please click here to view the video:
“And why is that possible?
Because Jesus, His life was cut short,
so that ours,
that we might have long life, good life.”
Hey Ah Lian, Ah,
Don’t anyhow say Leh!
Just show me where in the Bible does it say what you said:
“Because Jesus, His life was cut short,
so that ours,
that we might have long life, good life?”
When it comes to scriptures,
you like your boss, Ah Joe,
Anyhow Hentam (wild guess).
Another thing, Ah Lian,
can you tell me how many in New Creation Church
lived long lives to 110 or 120?
If no, what you talk big.
Part 2: Joseph Prince teaches against Jesus about doing God’s will in Matthew 7:21-23
In the sermon on 24 Aug 2025, Joseph Prince said:
Please click here to view the video:
“And then one of the onslaughts
against the gospel of grace is now, you know,
people coming out and saying things like,
well, not (didn’t) Jesus said
at the end of the Sermon on the Mount,
Jesus said,
“Not everyone who calls me Lord, Lord shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will come to me in that day and say to me, Lord, Lord, we cast out demons in Your name. We’ve done miracles in Your name. We prophesied in Your name. And then will I say unto them, I never knew you. Depart from me, you that work lawlessness.” (Matt 7:21-23)
There you go, Pastor Prince.
You can be a believer and lose your salvation.
How in the world do you get that from that passage?
Because all these people did the miracles of a believer.
No.
Number one,
let’s establish they’re putting their trust in their works.
Let’s look at the passage again, shall we?
“Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven.” (Matt 7:21)
Okay.
Who is the one that enters the kingdom of heaven?
The one who does the will of the Father.
Then he says,
“Not everyone who was,
many will say to me in that day.” (Matt 7:21)
What day is it?
When they stand before Him.
Right on the judgment day.
When they stand before Him, they will say,
“Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, done many wonders in Your name?” (Matt 7:22)
You see, Pastor Prince, they are Christians.
No.
They are non-Christians,
who practice exorcism in the name of God.
In that day, they will see Him on the throne,
and they will say,
“Oh, You are God.
We did this in Your name.”
We practice exorcism and casting out demons
in Your name.
Yah, and we will go into a certain trance
like the Greeks do,
and then we will speak Your oracles.
We prophesy in Your name.
Because they realize, they say Your name
because they realize He is God in that day.
And God has ordained that this man,
the one who loved You and died on the cross
for Your sins, will one day judge the world.
And He has committed all judgment to His Son.
So they realize He is God and then they say,
“Oh, He is God.
We did everything in Your name.”
And then what did He say?
At the end, and then I’ll declare to them,
Jesus says, “I never knew you!”
Hey, if He knew you once
and then you lost your salvation, let’s say, okay?
He cannot say, I never knew you.
He’s not a liar.
These people were never saved. Alright?
And then, why is it that we don’t bother
to find out the very first statement.
He says,
“Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven. But He who does the will of my Father in heaven.” (Matt 7:21)
It behooves us to find out
what is the will of the Father in heaven. Amen.
Because only He who does the will of the Father in heaven
can go to heaven.
I mean, He’s not going to leave this, you know,
vague and ambiguous.
I mean, it’s the way to heaven.
So what is the will of the Father?
Not everyone who says to me, right?
But He who does the will of my Father in heaven.
So let’s see, Jesus Himself answered this.
John 6 verse 40.
“And this is the will of Him who sent me. That everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life and I will raise Him up at the last day.”
Have you done that?
Have you put your trust in Him?
Have you believed in Him alone?
Not your works.
And you, my friend, you are a joined heir.
If you have done the will of the Father, that is what?
Believe on Jesus Christ.
The biggest shock with the greatest consequence
and the deepest regret
is in hearing Christ say those terrifying words,
“I never knew you!”
Joseph Prince said:
Please click here to view the video:
“At the end, and then I’ll declare to them,
Jesus says, “I never knew you!”
Hey, if He knew you once
and then you lost your salvation, let’s say, okay?
He cannot say, I never knew you.
He’s not a liar.
These people were never saved. Alright?”
Hey Joe, why can’t Christ say,
“I never knew you”
to many (not every) of your flock?
This is because you have deceived them
that they are sheep when they are goats.
You have raised them as goats
by telling them they are saved just by justification
when they aren’t.
And you didn’t go on to teach them
that to have saving faith,
they must practice sanctification by obeying God
and doing His will
– that sanctification is the proof of their justification.
Hey Joe, because of your false grace teachings,
you have deceived them
that obeying God is not their priority
as you falsely taught them,
and that obeying God (sanctification)
is not essential for salvation;
it is legalism.
So, isn’t it obvious to you that on that day,
Christ will say to many of your flock,
“I never knew you”
all because they, thinking they are sheep,
have been raised by you as goats all the while.
What is worse is that many who started out as sheep
would have been destructively transformed by you into goats.
The same goes for many churchgoers
in every church of every nation in every age
who call themselves Christians,
but they really aren’t,
as they are largely living their own lives
without sincerely and honestly obeying Father God.
Why can’t God say,
“I never knew you!”
“Yes, you claim you have experienced my grace
– but that was the false grace that was taught
by Joseph Prince.”
“Yes, you said you believe in me
– but that was the counterfeit Jesus
that was preached by Joseph Prince.”
“I never knew you!”
depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’” (NASB)
Matthew 7:23 NASB
23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”
“I never knew you.
Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’” (NLT)
Matthew 7:23 NLT
23 “But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’”
On the day of judgement, Joseph Prince may say,
“But Jesus, I taught the marvellous grace theology
to your people, and I told them to focus on you
as the Saviour of their soul.
I frequently mentioned and shouted the name of Christ
in my sermons.”
Christ may say to Joseph Prince,
“You are a worker of lawlessness.
Instead of teaching people to obey my laws
and my commandments,
you taught them the opposite, not to obey them
by the excuse that all my laws and commandments
are no longer relevant to them.
That makes you a lawless person.
I never knew you; depart from Me,
you who practice lawlessness.”
Those who are refused entrance to God’s kingdom
are described as being lawless or practicing lawlessness:
Matthew 7:23 NASB
23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”
Matthew 7:23 NLT
23 “But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’”
The word “lawlessness”
is translated from the Greek word ‘anomia’,
which denotes the condition of being without law.
Jesus is referring to those who confessed Him as Lord
and yet lived as though He never gave them a law to obey.
Now, if you are someone like Joseph Prince,
who lives in such a way
that God has not given you a law to obey,
then you are not a Christian.
And on that day, when you come to Jesus, and say
“Lord, Lord,”
He will say,
“depart from me, I never knew you,
you workers of lawlessness.”
A Christianity without laws and commands from God
is false faith.
But horrifyingly, that’s the key doctrine
that Joseph Prince is teaching
– that all of God’s moral laws have been abrogated.
He is raising a church of lawlessness that is headed for hell.
One who has made a confession of Christ as Lord
must prove it with his actual submission
to His revealed laws.
Can a person truly be a loyal subject to a king,
and yet ignore his laws and commands
and also live contrary to them?
But Joseph Prince has done something far worse.
He ‘deletes’ all the moral commandments and the laws of God
from the scriptures
by asserting that they belonged to the Old Covenant,
and hence are no longer relevant or applicable
to New Covenant believers.
Joseph Prince has deceived people
that life can be lived without God’s commands and moral laws.
However, on the day of judgement,
they will hear those horrifying words of Christ,
“Depart from Me,
you who practice lawlessness” (Matt 7:23).
It is better to be shocked now than be shocked
on the day of judgement.
So, are we hearing the warnings of Jesus right now?
Are we heeding His warning?
The only way to avoid being thrown into hell
is to repent right now of the Pseudo-grace doctrine
and the lawless grace that you have embraced
from Joseph Prince
and be determined to follow the teachings of Christ
– the teaching that an obedient lifestyle
to God’s will and His laws
is the evidence of true faith.
People will be barred from entering God’s Kingdom
not because they didn’t say the sinner’s prayer (justification)
but because they didn’t do the will of the Father (sanctification).” (Matt 7:21)
Can one declare that Jesus is Lord in Romans 10:9
and not obey Him and do His will?
Obviously not!
Some tried to in Matthew 7:21-23
and all they got was to be barred from heaven.
No matter how often one may loudly declare that Christ is Lord,
obedience by doing His will is the final concrete proof.
What Matthew 7:21-23 clearly underscores
is that justification-only doctrine
of calling Christ “Lord, Lord”
will never save,
unless it is undergirded by sanctification
of obeying and doing the Father’s will.
The cruciality of obedience is again stressed
in the final and concluding passage
in the Sermon on the Mount,
Matthew 7:24-27:
24 Anyone who hears and obeys these teachings of mine is like a wise person who built a house on solid rock. 25 Rain poured down, rivers flooded, and winds beat against that house. But it was built on solid rock, and so it did not fall. 26 Anyone who hears my teachings and doesn’t obey them is like a foolish person who built a house on sand. 27 Rain poured down, rivers flooded, and the winds blew and beat against that house. Finally, it fell with a crash.
Believers who do not only hear
but also obey the words of Jesus
are set on a firm foundation.
But churchgoers who merely hear
but do not obey will be completely destroyed.
The mark of genuine faith and true conversion
is indeed, obedience to do the will of the Lord Jesus
and Father God.
Joseph Prince said:
Please click here to view the video:
“You see, Pastor Prince, they are Christians.
No.
They are non-Christians,
who practice exorcism in the name of God.
In that day, they will see Him on the throne,
and they will say,
“Oh, You are God.
We did this in Your name.”
We practice exorcism and casting out demons
in Your name.
Yeah, and we will go into a certain trance
like the Greeks do,
and then we will speak Your oracles.
We prophesy in Your name.
Because they realize, they say Your name
because they realize He is God in that day.
… So they realize He is God and then they say,
“Oh, He is God. We did everything in Your name.”
This is a typical trick by Joseph Prince.
When a text in scriptures contradicts his grace doctrine,
he resorts to saying that that text is speaking to unbelievers.
He did it to the first chapter of 1 John,
when he said that confessing of sins in 1 John 1:9
is not for believers but unbelievers
because 1 John chapter 1 was written to unbelievers.
Now he is doing the same thing to Matthew 7:22.
Joseph Prince has reduced all whom Christ will banish to hell
in Matthew 7:21-23 as unbelievers,
who will be forced to say
they cast out demons and they prophesy in Jesus’ name
even though they did it, presumably,
through their powers or the powers of their gods.
Joseph Prince is implying that these unbelievers
call Jesus “Lord, Lord” on that day of judgement
because they are forced into a corner and have no choice.
But the passage doesn’t imply that these people are panicking
and they are forced to confess Jesus as Lord.
The passage strongly suggests that these people
were self-deluded they were believers.
They were expecting to be admitted to heaven,
but they were shocked that they were going to hell.
This is not just my view but the view of many commentators,
including Martyn Lloyd Jones and John Stott.
Commenting on the people who say “Lord, Lord” in V22,
John Stott wrote (italics):
“…This is an accurate and orthodox confession
of Jesus Christ… is fervent,
for it is not a cold or formal ‘Lord’
but an enthusiastic “Lord, Lord,”
as if the speaker wishes to draw attention
to the strength and zeal of his devotion.”
Not only did these folks call Jesus “Lord,”
they called Him “Lord, Lord”
with feeling and with emphasis.
That is the implication of the double vocative, “Lord, Lord.”
They didn’t lower their voices and mumble when they said it.
They would have strongly asserted that Jesus was their Lord.
And yet, as the passage goes on to show,
they were heading for major destruction
because their profession was superficial and false.
Jesus is addressing His warning to those
who call Him “Lord,”
and not to those who do not.
If you were to ask these folks,
“Are you a Christian, a follower of Jesus?”
they would have responded,
“Oh, yes! Amen! Jesus is Lord!”
But they were sadly deceived.
By addressing Jesus as “Lord, Lord,”
shows they ‘understood’ the Lordship of Christ
and knew quite a fair bit about Christianity.
By referring to prophecy, exorcism, or casting out demons,
and miracles (Matt 7:22)
only reflect “they were part of the church”
who have a fair understanding of such Christian ministries.
By invoking “in your name” three times
by the authority they had performed such ministries
only indicate they were people
who were associated with Christianity.
A clear-cut unbeliever certainly wouldn’t have understood
the Lordship of Christ,
be in the know of prophecy, exorcism and miracles,
and the significance of invoking the name of Christ.
Hence, Matthew 7:22 refers to false believers,
that is self-deluded believers,
who probably did prophesy, cast out demons and did miracles,
but who has one vital link missing for saving faith
– their obedience to the Father.
It could also refer to false prophets
who could even perform miracles,
and they may even be self-deluded they are true prophets.
This is not surprising as Jesus Himself said,
“For false Christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matt 24:24).
In my opinion, it is unlikely
that these false believers and false prophets are lying
that they did prophesy, cast out demons and do miracles.
On the day of judgement as they stand before Christ,
they would certainly be aware that if they lied,
Christ as the divine judge would straightaway
be in the know of it.
What is clear is that these people were surprised and shocked
that Jesus barred them from entering the kingdom.
They were shocked
that they wouldn’t inherit the kingdom of God,
and they would be rejected by Jesus on the day of judgement.
They were false believers
because their life isn’t marked by obedience to Christ
and doing the will of the Father.
Next, I have this question to ask Joseph Prince
– would clear-cut unbelievers who have been living like devils
suddenly panicked, and be forced to say on judgement day,
such things as;
I prophesy, I drive out demons, I perform miracles?
Joseph Prince, have you seriously done some thinking
before spewing out such nonsense?
You are supposed to be a world-renowned Bible teacher,
so please act like one!
They would be fools if they did that
– I prophesy, I drive out demons, I perform miracles.
That would have made their case even worse,
as they know for a fact that Jesus would know they are lying.
Why would unbelievers have anything to do
with those Christian ministries such as prophesying,
driving out demons and performing miracles?
Most unbelievers may not even have heard or known
about what it means to prophesy
or have the guts to drive our demons
or even the audacity to perform miracles.
Joseph Prince, let me help you think through things
if you haven’t done that!
Don’t you think it would have made more sense
if they were to plead with Jesus
to be given another chance?
In pleading for another chance,
they are likely to say things like,
“Oh Jesus, please give me another chance
to receive you as my Saviour,
whom my friends have been telling me,
but I was too stubborn to accept.”
What this reveals is the simplistic mind
and the flawed logic of Joseph Prince.
This is unimaginable for a world-renowned speaker!
Joseph Prince seems to write off the idea that this passage
is referring to a false Christian
who would sincerely confess Jesus as Lord,
and yet inwardly, is a mere professor of faith (Matt 7:21).
This is also referring to one who has been deceived
by Joseph Prince that confessing Christ as “Lord, Lord”
in a sinner’s prayer is enough for saving faith
when it isn’t.
What this shows is that claiming
that you have faith is not enough.
The demons know more about God than us
and have more faith to believe He is the real God
than us.
But their faith and belief in God are not evidenced
by the works of obedience and submission to God (Jas 2:19).
In the same way,
a false Christian is one who calls Jesus “Lord, Lord,”
and he believes he could be saved by justification,
but have no works of obedience to show for (sanctification).
In other words, Joseph Prince’s justification-only salvation
is a false gospel that doesn’t save.
The true gospel is one in which our justification
is proven by our sanctification
(through obedience in doing the Father’s will).
Next, in trying to prove his case,
Joseph Prince makes a wild leap to John 6:40
in order to interpret Matthew 7:21.
John 6:40 NIV
40 “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
Joseph Prince says the will of the Father
is just to believe in Jesus, and that’s it.
Of course, I fully agree with the truth
that is contained in John 6:40
– that God’s will or the Father’s will
is for everyone to believe in His Son, Jesus Christ
to obtain eternal life.
But is it right for Joseph Prince
to ignore the context of Matthew 7:21-23
and jump straight into a different book,
written by a different author
about a different issue
in John chapter 6 (Jn 6:40)?
One must note that they are two different authors
with two different contexts.
Joseph Prince, you mean to tell me
that you, as the world-renowned preacher
doesn’t even know you can’t do such a thing in exegesis,
or at least not as the first step
that you should take in Bible exegesis?
You mean you don’t even know that is terrible hermeneutics?
You’d better wake up from your flimsy hermeneutics
and live up to your name
of a so-called world-renowned teacher.
Joseph Prince is showing utter disrespect to Matthew
as he didn’t allow Matthew to say what he wanted to.
He is implying that Matthew isn’t a good writer
or communicator,
and so he needs the help of John to try and explain it for him
what he really means.
So, Joseph Prince has to seek the help of John
to help Matthew express what he means.
Joseph Prince doesn’t even know that in proper exegesis,
we must first look at the larger context of Matthew 7:21-23,
which is the Sermon on the Mount
that Matthew 7:21-23 is located,
and allow Matthew to say what he says in context.
The truth is, Joseph Prince probably knows it,
but he cannot afford to do a proper exegesis,
as that would blow his cover about his false grace doctrine.
He isn’t interested in doing a proper and accurate exegesis
of the text at all
as his real motive is just to protect his grace theology
and prevent its falsity from being exposed.
Joseph Prince, by jumping straight to John 6:40
and reading that into Matthew 7:21,
is interpreting Matthew 7:21 right out of its context.
He loves to criticise others
for taking passages out of their context.
But in this case, and many other cases too,
as I have already pointed out to you before,
it is he who has taken this passage right out of its context.
Can you blame me for calling him a hypocrite
– guilty of habitually committing the same flaw
what he is frequently accusing others of?
Let’s now talk about the larger context of Matthew 7:21-23.
The bigger context of the passage in Matthew 7:21-23
is the Sermon on the Mount,
that Matthew 7:21-23 is located,
which Jesus gave,
which began in Matthew chapter 5.
Jesus, in that sermon, begins by first talking
about the beatitudes in Matthew chapter 5.
Jesus says,
“Blessed are the poor in spirit…
Blessed are those who mourn…
Blessed are the meek…
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…
Blessed are the pure in heart…
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 5:3-10)
In Matthew 5:17-20,
Jesus goes on to talk about the kind of righteousness (sanctification)
which must surpass that of the Pharisees
in order to enter the kingdom of heaven
or the kingdom of God. (Matt 5:20)
So clearly, at the outset of the Sermon on the Mount
that Matthew 7:21-23 is a part,
what Jesus is focussing on is:
whether one can enter the kingdom of God or not;
whether one will have eternal life or suffer eternal death;
whether one will go to heaven or hell
– based not just on one’s confession of faith (justification)
but on how one lives out his righteousness (sanctification)
– in relation to the beatitudes that one should embody in
Matthew 5:3-10,
and the righteousness
that must surpass that of the Pharisees on Matthew 5:20.
In the second half of Matthew chapter 5
to the end of chapter 6,
Jesus then goes on to give many concrete examples
about the kind of righteousness
that must surpass that of the Pharisees,
that He expects believers to live out.
Jesus gives some specifics
that you are not to be angry with your brother without a cause
or to insult your brother or to call your brother a fool (Matt 5:21-22).
Then Jesus begins to talk about lust.
Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matt 5:27-28).
Jesus begins to talk about divorces and remarriage.
And He says if you divorce your wife
and marry another woman except for fornication,
then you commit adultery with her (Matt 5:31-32).
Then Jesus goes on and talks about
loving your enemies (Matt 5:43-44),
giving to the needy (Matt 6:1-4),
the Lord’s prayer (Matt 6:9-13),
fasting (Matt 6:16-18),
and laying up treasures in heaven
rather than treasures on earth (Matt 6:19-21).
In chapter 6, Jesus ends and caps it with the call
for us to seek first God’s Kingdom.
Matthew 6:33 NLT
33 “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
Then, as we begin to get towards
the end of the Sermon of the Mount,
we get closer to the words that Joseph Prince
has deliberately misinterpreted:
Matthew 7:21 NASB
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
In the context,
what is the will of the Father?
One should be able to see by now
that the context of the Father’s will in Matthew 7:21
has to do with the teachings
that Jesus has been giving on the Sermon on the Mount.
This means that by obeying the teachings of Jesus
in the Sermon on the Mount,
they are doing the Father’s will
– as obeying Jesus is equated to obeying the Father.
It has nothing to do with John 6:40
that Joseph Prince has tried to hoodwink the people with.
In other words, everything that Jesus taught,
including the Sermon on the Mount,
represents the will of God.
“The will of my Father”
refers to God’s will as Jesus has revealed it
in the Sermon on the Mount.
“The will of my Father”
indicates the character
and the conduct of the kingdom of God
in the Sermon on the Mount.
In context, God’s will refers to
holiness or holy living
as exemplified in what is contained
in the Sermon on the Mount,
for example, the beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12,
that will gain us the kingdom of heaven in Matthew 5:10,
and the inner and true righteousness
that surpasses that of the Pharisees in Matthew 5:20,
that obeys not just the letter of the law
but also the spirit of it in Matthew 5:21-30.
That’s where Joseph Prince has totally gone out of context
by saying God’s will is just believing in Jesus
by saying the sinner’s prayer.
And then to make it even clearer,
Jesus, in the conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount,
goes on…
Matthew 7:24 NASB
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
Now, in the context, what are these words
that Jesus is speaking of in Matthew 7:24?
These words that Jesus is speaking of in Matthew 7:24
is the teaching He has been giving on His Sermon on the Mount
that started from Matthew 5:1 to Matthew 7:23.
Then Jesus goes on to say in Matthew 7:24-27,
Matthew 7:24-27 GNT
24 “So then, anyone who hears these words of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, and the wind blew hard against that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on rock. 26 “But anyone who hears these words of mine and does not obey them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, the wind blew hard against that house, and it fell. And what a terrible fall that was!”
Jesus is saying that those who hear these words of mine
from Matthew 5:1 to Matthew 7:23,
and act on them or obey them
– obey what?
– obey what Jesus has been teaching
in the Sermon on the Mount
– which is equated to doing the Father’s will
as Jesus will not say or teach anything
that is not in accordance with what the Father has told Him to.
If they obey and not just hear,
they will not be destroyed by the flood of God’s judgement.
But those who hear these words of mine and don’t obey
will be destroyed by the flood of God’s judgement.
Next, Joseph Prince, by saying that Matthew 7:21
ought to be interpreted in the light of John 6:40,
is giving the false impression that John 6:40
is the only passage that Matthew 7:21
should be interpreted by.
The NKJV translates John 6:40 as
“the will of Him,”
which is also equated to the
‘Father’s will’
or ‘the will of God’
or ‘God’s will’.
What Joseph Prince has hidden from you
are many passages in the New Testament,
besides John 6:40, that contain the words,
‘the will of God’ or ‘God’s will’,
which is definitely equated to ‘the Father’s will’.
Let me first list them:
John 6:40 NIV
40 “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
John 6:40 NKJV
40 “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
1 John 2:15-17 NIV
15 “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”
Hebrews 10:36 NIV
36 “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”
Mark 3:31-34
31 “Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” 33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. 34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 NIV
3 “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:30-32 NIV
30 “I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 31 Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, 32 so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed.
Ephesians 1:1 NIV
1 “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
16 “Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Peter 2:15 NIV
15 “For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.”
1 Peter 3:17 NIV
17 “For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”
1 Peter 4:2 NIV
2 “As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.”
1 Peter 4:19 NIV
19 “So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”
Ephesians 6:6 NIV
6 “Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.”
As you have seen, since many verses contain
‘the will of God’
or ‘God’s will’
which is also referring to the
‘Father’s will’,
why is Joseph Prince only picking John 6:40
as the only one
that could be used to interpret Matthew 7:21?
Joseph Prince, let me ask you
– are you saying that whenever ‘the will of God’ appears,
it has to be interpreted only as ‘believing in Christ’?
He will be a fool
if he answers ‘yes’ to this question.
The many passages have indicated that
‘The will of God’
or ‘God’s will’
or the ‘Father’s will’
refer to many different aspects,
and it is not just confined to ‘believing in Christ’.
For example, Ephesians 1:1 says
it is the will of God that Paul was called to be an apostle.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
16 “Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Peter 2:15 NIV
15 “For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.”
So ‘God’s will’
or ‘the Father’s will’
is not just confined to ‘believing in Christ’
– which Joseph Prince is craftily implying.
Furthermore, Joseph Prince gives the impression
that John 6:40 is the only text
that could be used to interpret Matthew 7:21.
If that is not the case,
why is he not surfacing some of the above passages
as they have an equal claim as John 6:40
to be used to interpret Matthew 7:21?
Joseph Prince, you seem to be unrepentant
in using your deceptive half-truth strategy
to deceive the people.
You surface only John 6:40,
while ‘hiding’ all the other passages
that can be equally relevant.
You are doing that just to shore up your false grace theology.
In fact, passages like 1 John 2:15-17
would fit much better
in the context of Matthew 7:21
than John 6:40:
1 John 2:15-17 NIV
15 “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”
1 John 2:15-17 is about warning believers
who love the world
and don’t do the will of God,
will not have eternal life;
and only those who don’t love the world
and do the will of God
will live forever.
This is rather similar to Matthew 7:21-23
that those who merely call Jesus “Lord, Lord”
and don’t do the will of the Father
will not enter the kingdom of God,
and only those who do His will
will enter into the kingdom.
Hebrews 10:36 is also a better candidate
than John 6:40
that should be used to interpret Matthew 7:21.
Hebrews 10:36 NIV
36 “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”
The word ‘promised’ has to do with salvation,
not rewards.
“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised” (Heb 10:36).
“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” (Matt 7:21 NIV).
If one compares Hebrews 10:36 and Matthew 7:21,
it becomes crystal clear that doing the will of God or obedience
is essential for salvation and to enter God’s kingdom.
Scripture interprets scripture;
Hebrews 10:36 interprets Matthew 7:21.
Last, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, is also a possible passage
that could be used to interpret Matthew 7:21,
instead of John 6:40.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 NIV
3 “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.”
1 Thessalonians 4:3, which talks about God’s will for us
to be sanctified,
could be considered relevant to Matthew 7:21,
which has the same theme that we are also to be sanctified
(not just justified)
by doing the Father’s will.
Finally, going by the overall context
of the Sermon on the Mount
and the immediate context of Matthew 7:13-27,
Joseph Prince, by wrongly interpreting John 6:40
to be just a mere confession of faith (justification)
wouldn’t fit at all,
because that’s just what the entire sermon
and Matthew 7:13-27 was trying to bring across
– that a mere confession of faith (justification),
not evidenced by doing the Father’s will (sanctification),
will not qualify one to enter the kingdom.
Our justification by calling Him “Lord, Lord,”
no matter how sincere, is not enough for saving faith,
unless it is evidenced by sanctification
in keeping ourselves holy and not be polluted by sin
as indicated in 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8,
and in the doing of the Father’s will
as reflected in Matthew 7:21.
By now, you ought to be convinced
that Joseph Prince’s so-called exegesis of Matthew 7:21
is so sloppy and unprofessional,
that is totally unacceptable for a world-renowned speaker.
But what is horrendous
is that Joseph Prince is trying to use John 6:40
to interpret Matthew 7:21,
is a backdoor approach
of trying to promote his justification-only, only-believe
and without the sanctification
of obeying the Father’s will gospel
which is a false gospel
that will only lead people to hell.
Rev George Ong