My sermon notes for Sunday morning, May 16th. Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. They are provided to help you follow the sermon as you listen each week. The church provides a live stream of the service each Sunday at 10:45 on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/firstbaptistavonpark/ We also provide the services through YouTube on our website by Sunday afternoon at www.fbcap.net
Matthew 7:21-23
INTRO THOUGHTS:
- Last section (vv. 15-20) – False prophets. Here (vv. 21-23)- False disciples.
- False Claims/False Professions result in a false life.
- What we say is not always who we really are.
- Jesus is calling for a decision and commitment
- Proper acknowledgement of the Lordship of Christ
- Believing, Trusting, Living
- LEARNING TO LIVE AS A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST.
- Disciple – A saved person learning to live under the Lordship of Christ.
LIVING AS A TRUE DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST
Words Are Not Enough- v. 21
21 “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.
They say Lord, Lord with their mind and lips, but not with their mind, lips and heart.
This is not a pagan or open heretic… this is a religious person.
We have been taught, encouraged, and even trained to GET PEOPLE TO SAY/PROFESS what they believe.
- I believe in Jesus
- I want to go to heaven when I die
- I know that I am a sinner
- If I profess these things… I can be saved.
- Once I get saved not even the devil cannot take it away.
- The recommitting our life to Christ after years of disobedience… is this really our salvation?
Yet, they will not enter the kingdom of heaven (Obviously, just belief is not enough)
1 Corinthians 6:9–11 – [9] Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, [10] nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. [11] And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (ESV)
Galatians 5:19–21 – [19] Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, [20] idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, [21] envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)
but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven
The issue goes beyond our words. The issue is whether or not someone has true saving faith. REMEMBER, TRUE FAITH WILL BE MANIFESTED BY A CHANGED LIFE (FRUITS AND WORKS).
James 2:14–26 – [14] What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? [15] If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, [16] and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? [17] So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
[18] But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. [19] You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! [20] Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? [21] Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? [22] You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; [23] and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. [24] You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. [25] And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? [26] For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. (ESV)
Religious Activity Is Not Enough – v. 22
22 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?’
There is a False Proclamation
- Lord, Lord
There is a False Ministry – Religious involvement/activity done in Jesus’ name
- Prophesy, Cast out demons, mighty works
Spiritual achievement and influence are not the basis of true conversion.
- Judas was a great example!!!!!
Being Known By Christ Is Enough – v. 23
23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.
I never knew you
Matthew 25:31–46 – [31] “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. [32] Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. [33] And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. [34] Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. [35] For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, [36] I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ [37] Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? [38] And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? [39] And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ [40] And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
[41] “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. [42] For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, [43] I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ [44] Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ [45] Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ [46] And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (ESV)
To be known by Christ. This is true saving faith. Having a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with Christ.
- John 10:27–29 – [27] My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. [28] I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. [29] My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. (ESV)
Christ Knows me…I know Christ.
- It involves our Mind and Heart.
- Agree with the facts. The facts apply to me.
- The key issues is our sin before a holy God. The Cross was for the penalty and price of sin. I must acknowledge my sin before a Holy God.
REPENTANCE AND FAITH is turning from our sin and turning to Christ as Savior and Lord.
- To be converted is to have experience both. THE TWO GO TOGETHER.
- Faith – Is trusting in Christ to forgive us of our sin. Forsaking All I Trust Him.
- Repentance – Sorrow over sin, a renouncing of it, & a sincere commitment to forsake it, and walk in obedience with Christ (Wayne Grudem)