"Many Will Say . . ."

 

Matthew 7:21-23 "Not every one that saith unto ME, LORD, LORD, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of MY FATHER which is in Heaven. Many will say to ME in that day, LORD, LORD, have we not prophesied in THY name ? and in THY name have cast out devils ? and in THY name done many wonderful works ? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from ME, ye that work iniquity."

     In this concluding chapter of the LORD's Sermon on the Mount, JESUS warns of false prophets and false professors. HE describes unsound teachers and solemnly exhorts hypocritical hearers of the WORD to be doers also (James 1:22-25 pictured above). Oh, how these admonitions are needed today as well ! Only those who have traveled the narrow way will gain entrance through the strait gate (vv.13-14). The LORD clearly declared that HE is "the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE" (John 14:6). In every dispensation, false teachers have invented religions that substitute man's works for biblical salvation, which is only by grace through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). In the end, all will finally realize that only those who have been washed in the blood of the LAMB are worthy to be known and accepted of GOD the FATHER. All others will be without excuse (Romans 1:20) and cast into everlasting darkness and eternal torment in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:15).

     Our text for today reveals the sad truth that people who seem very religious and even those who supposedly work miracles in the name of CHRIST can be utterly lost and without hope. Never lose sight of the fact that what is believed in the heart, not what is done outwardly before men, is what determines whether or not one truly belongs to GOD. Some of the rotten fruit of unbelief can be easily discerned (vv.15-16), but sometimes it is disguised by deceptive demonstrations of allegedly divine power. GOD's WORD warns of "signs and lying wonders" (2nd.Thessalonians 2:9; 2nd.Corinthians 11:13-15 pictured above) - works that appear to come from the LORD but are not. Only sound doctrine determines what is truly of GOD, not one's personal experience or the external displays of others. DWC

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

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