you're checking the Bible and looking things up.

What's bothering you?

Well, at the meeting yesterday,

I said that by working for the Lord,

we can enter the kingdom of heaven,

but Brother Zhang started questioning me

and said my knowledge was partial.

Is that so?

There's a biblical basis for all I said,

so why did he question me?

Yeah!

That's how Paul pursued.

It's right there in the Bible.

All believers in the Lord try to follow Paul's example.

Right!

There shouldn't be a problem with that!

So, I'm getting materials together to refute him.

I need to have a talk with him today.

Hey, but …

Brother Zhang is intelligent and insightful,

and he has preached for many years.

If he has such a different opinion,

he must have a basis for it.

Do you think we should discuss it with Brother Zhang?

Discuss it?

We shouldn't.

We have the Bible backing up our view.

Don't worry.

Just look at your attitude!

Not at all like someone who seeks the truth!

I'd say, for all the years of working and preaching,

you haven't grown in life,

but you've sure grown a temper!

Hey, what's this?

Be careful!

Hey!

Where did you get this transaction record?

It's not a … Look at it!

Oh my!

1992, 1995 … (Yeah!)

Oh! This is your list of merits, isn't it?

Hey! That's it!

Every single line and item in here

is testimony to my labor and work for the Lord.

Not this again.

Back then,

when I preached and built churches, (Alright!)

I walked so many roads and climbed mountains—(Stop!)

Steep?

Yeah, there were very steep mountains!

I've crossed peaks and scaled cliffs to preach the gospel and shepherd churches,

and been arrested by the CCP … (Hey! Hey! Hey!)

Enough!

I've heard your glorious story so many times my ears are still ringing!

So what?

This is proof I'll get into the kingdom of heaven and be rewarded!

That's not something most people have!

Yeah! Coming!

Oh, it's Brother Zhang! (Sister Song.)

You're home … (Come in, come in. Yes.)

Brother Zhang.

Brother Li.

Your timing is perfect.

I was just planning to go see you today.

Really?

Brother Li, your color looks a bit off.

Oh? (You didn't sleep well?)

Not at all.

First thing in the morning he's organizing his notes.

Organizing his notes?

Let's sit. (Brother Zhang, sit.)

Organizing what notes?

Well, at yesterday's meeting,

you seemed to have different opinions than me

about whether labor and work for the Lord can get us into the kingdom of heaven.

I came home,

checked through the Bible, and thought about it,

and I still don't agree with your views.

It's good that you're here.

We should discuss this.

OK then,

we should always seek the truth and fellowship when there's a problem.

That's right!

Thanks be to the Lord!

Here, have some water. (Thanks.)

Brother Zhang, the apostle Paul said,

That proves that through labor and work,

people can enter the kingdom of heaven.

But you say people who work and suffer won't necessarily get into the kingdom of heaven.

If you say that,

it doesn't fit with what's in the Bible!

Right? (Yes!)

People who believe in the Lord all approve of Paul and try to follow his example.

The pastors and elders also say

we can enter the kingdom of heaven through labor and work.

Brother Zhang,

why do you have doubts about that viewpoint?

Exactly!

Well, first let me ask you a question.

Is Paul the Lord, or is the Lord Jesus the Lord?

Of course the Lord Jesus! (Right!)

Then since you admit the Lord Jesus is the Lord,

why do you base your belief in the Lord on Paul's words instead of the Lord Jesus' words?

Do Paul's words speak for the Lord Jesus?

I'm afraid they don't.

Right.

Then who can enter the kingdom of heaven?

The Lord said those who do God's will can enter the kingdom of heaven.

The Lord Jesus didn't say labor and work could get us into the kingdom of heaven.

So, Paul's words obviously conflict with the Lord Jesus' words.

What?

You're saying Paul's words conflict with the Lord Jesus' words?

Yes.

I don't understand that.

If people forsake, expend, suffer, and work for the Lord,

are they not doing God's will? (Right!)

Brother Li,

you say laboring and working for the Lord is doing God's will,

but did the Lord Jesus say that?

Did the Holy Spirit say those words?

Apparently not.

Right. (They didn't?)

Now, Paul thought labor and work for the Lord

allows people to enter the kingdom of heaven to gain rewards,

but is that what the Lord Jesus meant?

Does he represent the Lord Jesus?

So, based on what you're saying,

we're wrong to use Paul's words to pursue entry into the kingdom?

Pursuing based on that shouldn't be wrong. (Exactly!)

Well, let's look at what the Lord Jesus said about the issue.

If working for the Lord is doing God's will,

and can get you into the kingdom of heaven,

aren't those who prophesy, cast out devils, and do wonderful works

all laboring and working?

Why did the Lord call them those that work iniquity?

Yeah! Oh, yeah.

You see, they were just like the Jewish Pharisees of the time.

The Pharisees preached and worked all over the land,

but they didn't practice God's word or obey His commandments.

They had no fear of God.

When the Lord Jesus appeared and worked,

they didn't recognize that He was God appearing and working.

To protect their own status,

they resisted and condemned the Lord Jesus.

What does this prove?

It proves that laboring and working for the Lord in no way represent doing God's will!

So that means,

the work of prophesying in the Lord's name and doing God's will

are two very different things! (Right!)

Oh my!

We really need to take the time to seek the truth

and find out what God's will is in this matter!

Definitely.

Brother Zhang, I'm not denying your fellowship,

but you never told me what doing God's will actually is.

Do you mean to say that none of our labor and work counts as doing God's will?

What exactly is doing God's will?

Based on what the Lord said, here's what I understand:

Doing God's will means sincerely repenting to God.

It means being able to practice the Lord's word and absolute obedience.

It's doing everything out of love for God, to repay God's love,

and living out a meaningful life.

If someone preaches and works only to gain blessing

and enter the kingdom of heaven,

do they love the Lord?

Is that really doing God's will?

That kind of labor and work is impure.

It's attempting to trade with God.

That's right.

Someone like that is only trying to gain blessings from the Lord.

It's nothing more than an exchange. (Right.)

They're not obedient to the Lord.

Hey, Mingdao,

what Brother Zhang is saying makes sense.