Isaiah 4:1
“And in that day
seven women shall take hold of one Man, saying,
We will eat our own bread,
and wear our own apparel:
only let us be called by Thy name,
to take away our reproach.”
The seven women are the churches.
Their “own bread” are their own man-made doctrines.
Their “own apparel” are their own works and unlawful ways, garments spotted with sin (iniquity/sin).
The Man is the Lord Jesus Christ.
They are asking to be called by His name; Christians in order to take away their reproach; their defilement; their uncleanness, their unrepentant sins.
Matthew 7:21-24
“Not 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. Many 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? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock…”
Who else but Christians would verbally profess Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Master, and believe on Him for their salvation? Who else would claim to do wonderful works by His Holy Spirit?
Jesus is letting us know it takes more than a one time profession of faith and it takes more than just obeying some of GOD the FATHER’s commandments. Jesus is letting us know that partial obedience is disobedience. Jesus didn’t leave us wondering why these people will be rejected; Isaiah 4:1 prophecied it would happen and in these parables in Matthew 7:23 & Luke 13:27 gives clarity that we must continue in full obedience. They may have done part of GOD’s will but it wasn’t by HIS Holy Spirit because they were practicing unrepentant sinning and only the obedient have the Holy Spirit.
Acts 5:32
“And we are His witnesses of these things;
and so is also the Holy Ghost,
whom GOD hath given to them that obey HIM.”
Hebrews 5:9
And being made perfect,
He became the author of eternal salvation
unto all them that obey Him;
2John 1:8-9
“Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but THAT WE RECEIVE A FULL REWARD. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not GOD. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the FATHER and the Son.”
This isn’t a paradox because daily confession, repentance, asking forgiveness of new sins and resisting sin is full obedience to GOD’s everlasting covenant in Jesus’ blood; even if we make mistakes every day. This is covenant keeping as instructed by Jesus Christ in the Lord’s Prayer. This is righteousness by faith in what GOD commanded us to do. Cain made up his own way to justification and the forgiveness of his past sins. GOD rejected Cain and his offerings but the LORD patiently, mercifully and lovingly explained why HE did and how he could reverse GOD’s rejection and become accepted, which means cleansed and forgiven.
Jesus says:
Revelation 16:15
“Behold, I come as a thief.
Blessed is he that watcheth,
and keepeth his garments,
lest he walk naked,
and they see his shame.”
(Nakedness means unforgiven sins)
(Shame means defiled, unclean)
Revelation 3:4
“Thou hast a few names even in Sardis
which have not defiled their garments;
and they shall walk with Me in white:
for they are worthy.”
Revelation 3:10-11
“Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, THAT NO MAN TAKE THY CROWN.”
James 1:12
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation:
for when he is tried,
he shall receive THE CROWN OF LIFE,
which the Lord hath promised
to them that love Him.”
2John 1:6
“And this is love,
that we walk after HIS commandments.
This is the commandment,
That, as ye have heard from the beginning,
ye should walk in it.”
John 14:15
“If ye love Me,
keep My commandments.”