Professors or Possessors
Matthew 7:21-23
These are some of the saddest, most solemn and most searching words to be found in the entire Word of
God. Jesus is talking about being self-deceived; of folks thinking they are saved, when in reality, they are
not.
-Jesus has just talked about false prophets or wolves in sheep's clothing. Now He talks about those who
make a false profession of faith.
-He has just talked about being deceived BY OTHERS; Now He talks about being deceived by a more
persuasive person – yourself.
-Self – deception is a serious problem because it eventually condemns men to hell.
Jesus is not talking about those in cults; not people who are intentional hypocrites; nor those who out –
and – out deny Christ. He is talking about religious folks; folks who are convinced they are on the road to
Heaven when they are really on the road to Hell.
-Some will even address Jesus as “Lord”, which was a common Jewish substitute title for Jehovah.
Therefore to address Jesus as “Lord, Lord,” was to publicly add a spirit of intense zeal to demonstrate
their strength of devotion and dedication to the Lord.
We must profess Christ as “Lord” if we are to be saved. To claim “I will trust Him as Savior, but not as
my Lord” would be an indication of the insincerity of our decision. He must be Lord! Romans 10:9
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him
from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
The problem of this profession in Matthew 7:21 is the lack of genuine sincerity. This profession about the
Lord Jesus Christ was nothing but empty words. Matt. 15:8
Mat 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Listen again to the warning of Jesus: “Not every one that says to me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter into the
Kingdom of heaven.” There will be some surprises in heaven at judgment time – 2 Cor. 13:5; 2 Peter
1:10; Matthew 15:8.
2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus
Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
2Pe 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall
never fall:
Mat 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
-John Newton, author of the song “Amazing Grace” said, “If I ever reach Heaven I expect to find three
wonders (or surprises) there: first, to meet some I had no thought to see there; second, to miss some I had
thought to meet there; and third, the greatest wonder of all, to find myself there.”
If there is anything that you and I need to be certain about, we need to be certain about our Soul's
Salvation. Don't assume just because someone says, “Lord, Lord,” that that person will be in Heaven.
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Let me tell you a true story that happened in California. There was an elderly lady in her 70s who went to
the grocery store to shop. When she walked outside she found four unknown males in her car. Well, this
was a pretty tough old grandma. She dropped her shopping bags, reached into her purse, pulled out a 38
Smith & Wesson, ran up to the door, got in a policeman's pose, pointing that gun at them and screamed at
the top of her voice, “I know how to use this gun and I'll use it if I have to. Now get out of this car!”
Well, these four men didn't say one word. Those doors popped open in a millisecond, and they ran like
mad. Before you could say “scat”! Those men were gone. Well, the lady put her gun back in her purse,
and picked up her shopping bags; went to bring them into the back seat of the car and got into the driver's
seat. But there was one problem. Her key would not fit the ignition. The reason why it would not fit is
because this was not her car. Her car was identical to this car, but it was parked five speaces further down.
Well, she reloaded her bags into her car and decided she had better drive to the police station.
Well, the sergeant that she told the story to nearly collapsed in laughter when he pointed to the other end
of the counter where four pale white males were reporting a carjacking by an elderly white woman.
Don't assume that just because someone joins the church or is baptized or teaches Sunday School or sings
in the choir or preaches behind a pulpit, don't assume they are saved - “for many will say to me in that
day, Lord, Lord”... but I will say to them, “I never knew you.”
-I Cor. 12:3 “No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.” Only when the Holy Spirit
dwells in your heart can you truly say, “Jesus is Lord of my life.” 2 Tim. 2:19 “The Lord knows those who
are His.”
Notice 7:21b “but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
-The evidence of salvation will be seen in CONDUCT as well as CONFESSION. The condition for going
to Heaven is doing the will of God. There is only one way in which a man's sincerity can be proved, and
that is by the practice of his life. There is only one proof of love, and that proof is obedience. There is no
point in saying that we love a person, and then do things that break that person's heart.
So often folks confess God with their lips and then deny Him with their lives.
-So what is “doing the will of God”? It is profound heart – obedience that is not only on the surface, but
permeates our entire inner being.
Eph. 6:6 God's will for us involves Profession, Production, and Performance.
Eph 6:6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
Several things are suggested in this passage:
I. An Appointment
The setting of these verses is the judgment, when every person will stand before the Lord to give a n
accounting of himself.
-Heb. 9:27 “It is appointed – ordained, reserved- unto man, once to die, and after this the judgment.”
The expression “face the music” is said to have originated in Japan. According to the story, one man in
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the imperial orchestra couldn't play a note. Being a man of great influence and wealth, he had demanded
that he be given a place in the group because he wanted to “perform” before the Emperor. The conductor
agreed to let him sit in the second row of the orchestra, even though he couldn't read music. He was given
a flute, and when a concert would begin, he'd raise his instrument, pucker his lips, and move his fingers.
He would go through all the motions of playing, but he never made a sound. This deception continued for
two years.
Then a new conductor took over. He told the orchestra that he wanted to audition each player personally.
One by one they performed in his presence. Then came the flutist's turn. He was frantic with worry, so he
pretended to be sick. However, the doctor who was ordered to examine him declared that he was perfectly
well. The conductor insisted that the man appear and demonstrate his skill. Shamefacedly, he had to
confess that he was a fake. He was unable to face the music.
-In the spiritual realm, many professing believer goes through the motions, but they are only pretenders.
Someday, they will be called upon to stand before the Judge of Heaven and earth and their deception will
be revealed. No one will be able to hide in the crowd. Many will face the music one day when they stand
before the Lord.
-Every person must face God – no exceptions; no escapes; no exemptions. You and I will stand before
Him.
One of America's best – known theologians tells the story of how he was talking to his five – year-old son,
and he asked him two questions. First of all, he said, “Are you sure that when you die you will go to
heaven?” The little boy said, “Yes, Daddy, I am.” He then asked him the second question. “If you were to
die tonight and God said to you, “Why should I let you into my Heaven?” What would you answer?” His
little boy didn't hesitate. He said immediately, “Because I'm dead.”
Well, all of us are going to be dead if Jesus tarries. Just because you've died doesn't mean you are going to
Heaven, unless you know the Lord personally.
II. The Astonishment – 7:22-23
The word “many” indicates that the crowd of false professors will be a large crowd. “Many” will be guilty
of false profession. There will be surprises in Heaven at judgment time.
Notice what these folks say to Jesus as they stand before Him. They address Jesus as “Lord, Lord.” That
is a polite and courteous way of addressing Him, but Jesus was not their Lord on earth.
-But when Jesus said in 7:23 that He “never knew” them, they became defensive and argued with Him
about their salvation. They believed they DESERVED to go to Heaven, but that was part of the problem.
No one deserves to go to heaven, but because of His grace and mercy we have eternal life. They think so
highly of themselves as to argue with Christ the Judge about their merits.
-Notice how confident they are! They flatter themselves that they should be saved because of their
Performances. They are firmly convinced that Heaven is theirs. They complain to the Judge when He says
“depart from me” because they are convinced the Judge is unfair. They are ignorant of their own spiritual
condition.
They even give what they thought was evidence of their salvation:
1.Their words
We have prophesied or preached. Is it possible for a man to preach the Gospel and still be unsaved?
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That's what Jesus said. In my own ministry I have seen two men who were preachers who were later
saved.
2.Their works
They claimed to have cast out demons and done many wonderful or powerful works; mighty miracles.
And I think of Judas who cast out demons, but he was not redeemed.
3.Their warrant
“In Thy Name” Three times they say that they ministered “in thy name.” All these things, as good as they
were, did not save them.
III. The Announcement - 7-23
Not every one that calls me Lord, Lord shall enter the kingdom of heaven...depart from me YOU THAT
WORK INIQUITY, I never knew you.
Notice the word “profess.” It indicates an open announcement of doom of those who are guilty of a false
profession.
-What humiliation will take place at the judgment. Sinners who have walked in the praise and honor
of men shall have their doom, their guilt, and their sin publicly announced and declared. They will be told
of their sins and others will hear their doom.
“Depart from me! Go Away!” They rejected God, Now, God rejects them. What a terrible thing to be
rejected by God. What a terrible thing to have God say He doesn't want you in His presence. But the
unsaved have no grounds for complaint, for in rejecting Christ as their Savior and Lord, they have said
they do not want God in their presence. They will get what they want for eternity.
Notice that God labels all their mighty deeds as iniquity. When a person is not saved, he is seen by God in
all his sinfulness. God sees the heart, and if the blood of Jesus has not cleansed the heart, what He sees
will be nothing but iniquity.
IV. The Anguish – 7:23
Jesus is a loving, merciful, compassionate Judge. He will have no delight or pleasure in saying to anyone,
“Depart from me. I never knew you.” It will break His heart to see one person bound hand and foot and
cast into the Lake of Fire. There, in outer darkness, will be constant torment, screaming, pain, pleading for
relief, but none will come.
-Ezekiel 18:30-32
Eze 18:30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn
yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
Eze 18:31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new
spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Eze 18:32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.