Further Instructions from the Mount - Pt 14

 

[Jesus said] “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).

 

In our reading today Jesus is speaking on the subject of true faith versus false professions, using the technique of contrast and comparison. Remember earlier in this chapter He describes two paths on which people walk through life, the broad road that leads to eternal destruction and the narrow path that leads to eternal life (vv. 13-14). In these verses He introduces the concept of the “many” and the “few” that He will return to.

 

Also, earlier in this chapter He again contrasts the two types of people by using imagery well known to those in an agrarian culture—sheep/wolves, grapes/figs, thorn bushes/thistles, good trees/bad trees, and good fruit/bad fruit (vv. 15-18). Having established the idea of dichotomy in the minds of His hearers, He goes on to apply these truths to the spiritual state of all those listening to Him. Jesus presents the two types of people who will come to Him on “that day,” meaning the last day, the day of judgment, the great day fixed by God and unknown to angels and men and which will be terrible to some and joyful to others. All will be seeking to enter the kingdom of heaven, but some will be turned away and will react in utter confusion and disappointment as what they thought was their “ticket” to heaven turns out to be worthless.

 

Some of these people are those who prophesied in the name of Jesus, meaning either foretelling things to come or preaching the Word in His name. Some may have even performed miraculous acts such as driving out demons and perhaps healings and other miracles, but all to no avail. Their works were done for their own glory, not His, and were nothing more than “filthy rags” (cf. Isaiah 64:6). In contrast, those who will enter heaven will not do so based on their miraculous achievements and accomplishments or works of any sort. They will have eternal life solely based on God’s sovereign gift of grace through the work of Jesus on the cross resulting in their faith in Him.

 

That naturally leads us to question who are these unfortunate people and how can they do miracles unless they are doing them by God’s power? We know several things about them from the text. First, we know there are many of them, because it is many who are on the broad road to eternal death, as compared to the relative few who have found the narrow path to eternal life. Second, they claim the name of Christ. These are not Muslims, Buddhists, or atheists. These are those who would gladly say, “I am a Christian.” They work their works in Jesus’ name. They pray and heal in Jesus’ name. They preach and teach in Jesus’ name. They build huge churches and ministries in Jesus’ name. They claim a relationship with Him. But they are none of His. In fact, He sends them away, not with commendation for their good works in His name, but by disowning their every deed and word. He “never” knew them, nor did they ever truly know Him.

 

Further, they weren’t Christians who lost their salvation. They were never part of the elect of God, chosen before the foundation of the world (cf. Ephesians 1:4), set apart and sanctified by the Spirit (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:21), and justified by faith (cf. Ephesians 2:8-9). The ones Christ puts away from Himself with harsh words of condemnation, calling them doers of evil, were never chosen of God and thus never came to Him in faith, despite their outward good works and miracles.

 

So, how do we know? That answer is simple. After a lengthy discussion the Apostle Paul says:

 

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:8–13 ESV).

 

It is a heart matter, not a behavior. Look into your heart!