I find it tragic that so many have a baseless false sense of security when it comes to eternal things.
Some people comfort themselves with the thought that they were baptised as infants, or come from Christian families.
In the time of Luther in the 15th century a piece of paper from the Roman church could give people a sense of security:
As soon as a coin in the coffer rings / the soul from purgatory springs. - Tetzel
In evangelical churches we find this puzzling, even comical, but what is the difference between this superstitious confidence and the mouthing of a "sinner's prayer" that someone in the front of a church told us to repeat after him.
The disturbing words of Jesus
Compare the idea that all a person needs to do is to make a confession, with something that Jesus said would happen at the end of the age:
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' (Matthew 7:21-23 ESV)
It’s not enough to confess Jesus as Lord.
When Paul in Romans 10:13 said that all that is needed is to call on the name of the Lord. He had more in mind than just mouthing off a verbal formula.
Look at the audience of Jesus' end time address:
These people had heard the message of Jesus, they confessed Him as Lord.
In other words, this passage is not talking about those in other religions, or those that are godless.
These are those that have a type of faith in Jesus. They know who He is and what He has done. Instead of an outright rejection of Jesus they seemed to have received Him, and might have even prayed a prayer of “receiving Jesus”
Listen to what Jesus says in another place :
In other words, this passage is not talking about those in other religions, or those that are godless.
These are those that have a type of faith in Jesus. They know who He is and what He has done. Instead of an outright rejection of Jesus they seemed to have received Him, and might have even prayed a prayer of “receiving Jesus”
Listen to what Jesus says in another place :
"The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?" (Luke 6:45-46)
A confession is meaningless.
The thing that God is looking for is a heart attitude. Now this heart attitude does overflow with a confession from the lips, but a confession without the heart attitude has no value.
In verse 21, Jesus talks about the need to do the will of the Father in heaven.
But it's self-evident that the first step in doing the will of the Father is submission to that will.
The Creator of everything has a universal right of authority over everything that He has created. To shake our fists at God and insist on our own ultimate lordship over our lives is not just foolish, but it's fundamentally wrong.
Our consciences bear witness that a supreme being could never be satisfied with empty rituals as a substitute for a right relationship.
Doing Christian “activities” is not enough
Now this is extraordinary!
You would think that a person that is in church, who is standing up every Sunday and prophesying, who is casting demons out of the possessed, and who does miracles in the church service and in the mission field would definitely have God's stamp of approval !
These days, in the minds of most Christians, being able to do these types of activities is a guarantee that a person is not only a Christian, but a very special Christian indeed!
But this text shows us that that isn’t the case.
Now if supernatural works are not enough to guarantee that we won’t hear the words “depart from me”, then it’s a “no brainer” that being involved in natural church activities is no basis for assurance.
A person might do something with a high profile, being a deacon or an elder or maybe someone who helps lead worship. Or he might serve in a low profile role. He might water the flowers, sweep the church, serve coffee - surely doing such humble service guarantees an affirmative nod from the King of Kings?
But here, like the miraculous works, is no foundation for security.
A person must be “known” by Christ
The thing that God is looking for is a heart attitude. Now this heart attitude does overflow with a confession from the lips, but a confession without the heart attitude has no value.
In verse 21, Jesus talks about the need to do the will of the Father in heaven.
But it's self-evident that the first step in doing the will of the Father is submission to that will.
The Creator of everything has a universal right of authority over everything that He has created. To shake our fists at God and insist on our own ultimate lordship over our lives is not just foolish, but it's fundamentally wrong.
Our consciences bear witness that a supreme being could never be satisfied with empty rituals as a substitute for a right relationship.
Doing Christian “activities” is not enough
Now this is extraordinary!
You would think that a person that is in church, who is standing up every Sunday and prophesying, who is casting demons out of the possessed, and who does miracles in the church service and in the mission field would definitely have God's stamp of approval !
These days, in the minds of most Christians, being able to do these types of activities is a guarantee that a person is not only a Christian, but a very special Christian indeed!
But this text shows us that that isn’t the case.
Now if supernatural works are not enough to guarantee that we won’t hear the words “depart from me”, then it’s a “no brainer” that being involved in natural church activities is no basis for assurance.
A person might do something with a high profile, being a deacon or an elder or maybe someone who helps lead worship. Or he might serve in a low profile role. He might water the flowers, sweep the church, serve coffee - surely doing such humble service guarantees an affirmative nod from the King of Kings?
But here, like the miraculous works, is no foundation for security.
A person must be “known” by Christ
At first brush this is a strange remark!
Jesus never knew these people! If He is God, how can He not know them? Doesn’t He know everyone?
In fact He knows them enough to know that they are workers of lawlessness (v 23).
What is meant here, is their use of the words “Lord,Lord”.
Jesus never knew them as those that had a right to call Him Lord.
In other words, they never repented and submitted to His Lordship. He never knew them as the servants that they professed to be.
People can pray impressive prayers, or confess biblical creeds. They might have been baptised as babies (or adults).
But the burning question is whether they have made the life-ending decision to give themselves to God. Have they decided to become a disciple and servant of Jesus?
Have they decided to place their trust - from a ritual, from their own righteousness - to Jesus Himself?
We should not change the Gospel into a placebo. The Gospel is true, eternal medicine.
Too often a new gospel is preached.
Too often a new gospel is preached.
One that is nothing more than motivational speak. Then an altar call is made, and people are led through a "sinner's prayer". Which makes them feel emotionally comforted for a season, but which offers no real value.
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