All right, Matthew 7, verses 21 to 23. Solemn words from Jesus. He says, Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, cast out demons in your name, and done many wonders in your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you, depart from me, you who practice lawlessness. You join me in prayer. Heavenly Father, you know who especially needs to hear this message this morning. I pray for your saving work in the hearts of people, and may you be glorified in how you work in people's lives and in our lives and in this congregation. And we pray and ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. The title of my message this morning is The Greatest Tragedy. I want you to think about some tragic situations that result from rejection. Imagine that you desperately need a job, and you go in for an interview, and then you get notice that you did not get the job. Gentlemen, have you ever asked some lady's hand in marriage, and she said no? Or worse than that, imagine getting ready for your wedding day and your fiancé doesn't even show up. Rejection can be difficult indeed. But you know, the greatest tragic rejection that anyone can ever experience is found in my text of Scripture this morning. where many people who think they're Christians are going to stand at the final judgment and hear Jesus say, I never knew you, depart from me. As Jesus closes His Sermon on the Mount, He gives four different appeals and warnings to His listeners so that they will take heed to the sermon and not perish. First he warned them in verses 13 to 14 that few will find eternal life. You need to strive to make sure you have eternal life. In verses 15 to 20 he warns of false prophets. Many false prophets out there will tell you there's a different way to eternal life. the way of works, the way of religious rituals. And in my text today, Jesus warns of self-deception. People who think that they're Christian because of this or because of that, but when in fact, they are not truly saved. A 1998 Harris poll of over 1,000 adults found that 64% believe that they will go to heaven. A 2020 American Worldview poll found that that number had gone down to 54% who believe they would experience heaven when they die. But both polls found the same result that only 2% acknowledged they would probably go to hell. And so there's a lot of folks who think they're going to heaven, very few that say they're going to hell, but yet as we see in this text of scripture, it's not going to be the way a lot of people think. In fact, Psychologists recognize the human tendency to see ourselves through a bias, self-enhancing lens leading to inflated self-assessments. For example, we tend to think we're smarter than we really are. We tend to think we're better drivers than we really are. We tend to think that we're more generous than we really are. As a result, We have this human tendency also to think, well, surely I'm going to heaven. I'm a good person. I try to keep the Ten Commandments. But Jesus warns that many instead will hear those words, I never knew you. Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness. Now, God does not want this tragic outcome to happen to you. He loves you, He cares for you, and I care for you. And so I'm going to preach this message as faithfully as I know how to make it clear that we all should do what Peter said, make your calling and election sure. So first of all, note from Scripture in this text The day of judgment is coming. In verse 22, Jesus says, In that day. And He refers to the final judgment. In Revelation chapter 20 and verse 11, we read of the great white throne judgment where multitudes will stand before Jesus Christ and face judgment. Now we know from other scriptures that Judgment Day is an appointed day. In Acts 17, verse 31, the Apostle Paul says that God has appointed a day in which He will judge the world by that man, Jesus. We don't know when Judgment Day will take place, but we do know it will take place after Jesus returns. But it is also an inescapable day. You cannot escape the judgment of God. Hebrews 9.27 says, It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this, the judgment. Notice how the author links death and the judgment that is to come. Just as you cannot escape death, you cannot escape standing before the judgment of God. You know, you can exercise and you can eat right and you can take vitamins and you can do all things that you can do to try to Prolong your life, but you cannot avoid death and even so you cannot escape the judgment of God There's an oriental less Legend about a servant who came to his master in Samara and he said Oh master I was down at the marketplace and I met death and And he frightened me. Oh, master, let me flee from death. Lend me your horse that I can go to Baghdad. Well, sometime later that day, the master was down at the marketplace and he also met up with old death. And he said, oh, death, why did you frighten my servant the way you did? And death said, I didn't realize I frightened him. I was just surprised to see him because I have an appointment with him tonight in Baghdad. Oh, he met his destiny, which is death. So you need to take heed to the warning that death is coming, perhaps at a time you do not expect. And once death takes place, your eternal destiny is sealed, so you need to make sure that you will be among those who enter into eternal life in heaven. Well, the rest of my message will see how you can know, whether you will or not, and how you can clear up any misconceptions you have about who will go to heaven. But I want you to see, secondly this morning, who will be your judge. You know, when people and their attorneys line up outside the courtroom to go in, one of the big questions is, who is the judge that I will face? You know, that can make a lot of difference. as to the outcome of your case. And so you need to know something about the judge that you are going to face on judgment day. And regardless of what you have heard, Saint Peter is not going to be the one who decides whether you go into heaven or not. Furthermore, even God the Father is not going to be your judge. Jesus Christ said in John 5.22, The Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment unto the Son. Again, in Acts 17 31, it says that God will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he has ordained, speaking of Jesus. Then Paul goes on to say that God has given assurance that Jesus will be the judge by raising him from the dead. And so, Jesus is the one that has the divine prerogative to determine who will enter into heaven and who will not. Now, what does this fact mean for us today? Well, since Jesus will be your judge, you better make sure you have a right relationship with Jesus. And furthermore, after Jesus said what He did about being the judge in John chapter 5, He said in verse 23 that all should honor the Son. God appointed Jesus to be the judge that all should honor Jesus. You know, when you go to court, You are to honor the judge, aren't you? When he enters the courtroom, don't you stay seated. Don't you be disrespectful in the courtroom. If you speak to the judge, you say, you're honor. And even so, you better give honor to Jesus Christ. Don't you take his name in vain. Don't you dishonor him and fail to worship him. So Jesus is going to be your judge. And since Jesus is going to be your judge, your judgment will be just. Again, in Acts 17 31, it says that He will judge the world in righteousness. Have you ever been misjudged? You know, we all have, haven't we? Sometimes prosecutors. misjudge people. Sometimes members of the jury are conflicted as to whether this person is guilty or not guilty, but I can tell you this, that Jesus will make no mistakes, that his judgment will be absolutely just. You can fool me or the deacons or your mama into believing that you are a Christian, but Jesus is the one who knows whether you are or not. Revelation 1.14 says that He has eyes as flames of fire. He knows your deepest most thoughts. He knows your heart. He knows every sin you have committed. He knows whether you have truly repented and believed or not. Jesus Christ will be absolutely just in His judgment. And His judgment will be final. There is no higher court. Once He pronounces your judgment, it will be your sentence one way or the other forever. So you better make sure that you're right with God before you die because there are no second chances. There is no appeal. But I want you to understand not only who the judge will be, but also what will be the criterion of judgment. The final test is not what you think or what I think, but what God says. And we have a wrong criterion mentioned in this text, and also the right criterion of judgment. Notice first the false criteria of judgment. Two are mentioned in this text. One is profession does not prove salvation. Jesus says in verse 21, not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. Now Romans 10, 9 says that we must profess our faith in Jesus if you're saved. But profession alone does not assure salvation. In this text, they say, Lord, Lord, to Him very fervently. Three times they talk about acting in the name of Jesus. And so they clearly make a profession, but Jesus says, I never knew you. Folks, talk is cheap if that's all you are. You need to make sure that you have more than just a profession. Just saying you're a Christian doesn't make it so. Abraham Lincoln insisted on facts when a case was presented to him. One time a committee set forth their case of public concern, and yet their case was built largely on supposings, hypotheticals. And so Lincoln asked them, I want to ask you a question. If you were to say that a sheep has that the tail of a sheep is a leg, how many legs would the sheep have? And they said, five. And he said, well, that's what I thought you would say. Just because you say the tail is a leg doesn't make it so. A sheep has only four legs. And again, just calling yourself a Christian doesn't necessarily mean it is so. So the test is not words. Anyone can learn a religious vocabulary. Anybody can learn the right words to say. The second false criterion is religious words. In verse 22, Jesus says, Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, cast out demons in your name, and done many wonders in your name? You do not have to be born again to imitate the works of a Christian just because you've even done many. Religious works does not mean that you're going to heaven. After all, we're not saved by our works, are we? Titus 3, 5 says, it's not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to his mercy, he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 2, 9 says that salvation is a gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. Many people seem to think that the final judgment will be based on a heavenly scale, that if I've got more good works than bad works, then I'm going to heaven, but Jesus makes it clear that works alone certainly do not prove that you are a Christian. The apostle Paul warned that in the last days that there will be many who have a form of godliness but deny the power of it. Some believe they are saved because they go to church, listen to sermons, sing songs, and take communion. Some serve in the church. Why, some even become preachers, and we read about them right here in verse 22, and yet preachers aren't necessarily saved. So such works do not make a Christian or prove that you are a Christian. So notice some of the examples that Jesus gives in verse 22. Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? To prophesy means to stand and speak for God. Surely we're saved. Surely a preacher is saved. And yet Jesus makes it clear that just because you speak The name of Jesus, just because you preach, just because you can quote some scripture, doesn't mean that you are saved. And then he says, we've cast out demons. Well, just because you even cast out demons or appear to do so, doesn't make it so that you're a Christian. I'll give you examples. You remember Acts chapter 19, the sons of Sceva? They weren't Christians, they were Jews, but they weren't Christians, and yet they were known to cast out demons. Do you remember that Judas Iscariot was among the disciples who cast out demons? And then we have modern examples, some Catholic priests or exorcists, and they seemed to evidently be able to cast out some demons. You have some evangelists like Benny Hinn who says that he cast out demons. And yet Jesus says, even if you say you cast out demons, it doesn't make you a Christian. And then He says, we've done many wonders in your name. The word wonders is... Elsewhere translated miracles, it refers to a manifestation of supernatural power. Even if an evangelist or a Christian seems to do miracles, that doesn't mean that they're saved. And you know why? Because first of all, the devil is the great counterfeit. And the Bible warns that in the last days He will empower false prophets to do miracles. He will empower the Antichrist himself to do great miracles. And then furthermore, sometimes it's nothing more than slight of hand trickery that they are engaging in. Sometimes you see evangelists on TV where it looks like they're healing people and doing amazing things. I don't know how many of you remember Peter Poffoff in the 1980s. He would have people come up and he would seemingly, amazingly know what their name is, know where they live, know what their condition was that they seek healing for. And it turns out some investigator was able to capture the audio transmission to his earpiece where his wife was giving him that information based on prayer cards that were turned in at the beginning of the service. His ministry ended up becoming bankrupt after this was exposed. Don't be deceived. And now with advances in artificial intelligence, you sure shouldn't trust a video that you see of something miraculous that happened because AI can make something appear that's not real. So Jesus makes it clear that some religious leaders are hypocrites just acting the part of a Christian creature, yet acting the part of a Christian doesn't make you one any more than an actor becomes the person that they are portraying. So what is the true criterion? How can we know that I am among those who are truly saved. Well, in the last of verse 21, Jesus says that a true believer is he who does the will of my Father in heaven. The word does is present tense, which in the Greek language refers to habitual action. And so, daily, regular obedience to the will of God is the far better sign of a true Christian. And what is the will of God? Well, the starting place for doing the will of God, according to 1 Timothy 2.4, is that you be saved, that you be converted, that you be born again. Jesus said in John chapter 3, you must be born again. Well, how are we born again? Well, it starts with repentance. Changing your mind about sin and deciding to live a life of obedience to God. Jesus said, unless you repent, you will perish. And then you must believe and trust in Jesus as your Savior. John 6, 29, Jesus says, this is the work of God that you believe in Him whom God has sent. Have you taken those initial steps of obedience? You're not saved unless you do the will of God, and that's the starting place. But then you obey God about confessing your faith and following Him in baptism doing His will each and every day. James 2.7 says, Faith without works is dead. Good works will follow salvation. A changed life will follow salvation. So take a good look at your life. Do you seek to know God's will and do God's will on a regular basis? Right here in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught us and essentially commanded us to be peacemakers. To not hate, but to love. To not commit adultery, but be faithful to our spouses. To pray and not worry. To give generously. Is your faith just a creed that you recite or a life that you live in obedience to God. When you're born again, you have a new nature. You're indwelt by the Holy Spirit. You have a new power to live obediently to God each and every day. And I'll say this, if you're a Christian only on Sunday and not the other days of the week, you're probably not a Christian at all. Make sure that you habitually Obey and live by the will of God. And notice why you need to make sure that you live this kind of life. Why you should heed this warning of Jesus. Because if not, Jesus declares what your punishment will be. In verse 23 we see that Christ says, Then I will declare to them." And that word, declare, means to confess publicly. Christ will openly announce their doom at the final judgment. And what will the punishment be? In verse 23, Christ says, Depart from me. There you are at the judgment a final determination of whether you go to heaven or not. And Jesus says, depart from me. And that word depart refers to separation. You will be forever separated from heaven, forever separated from Christ, forever separated from everyone, truly. You realize that Jesus called hell a place of outer darkness. Somebody says, well, I'm going to go to hell because that's where all my friends are. Well, they may be in hell with you, but you won't see them. You won't be with them. You won't be able to enjoy their company. And so Jesus declares their punishment, but He also explains their punishment. His declaration of judgment is just, and he explains why. First of all, because they had no personal relationship with Christ. Again, in verse 23, Jesus says, I never knew you. And that word, know, there, refers to the knowledge of a personal relationship. For example, it says that Adam knew his wife Eve. He entered into a marital, personal relationship with his wife. In Amos 3, verse 2, God says to Israel, You only have I known of all families of the earth. It's not that God didn't know about the other nations, it's that God entered into a chosen, loving relationship with Israel, unlike all other nations. Jesus said, My sheep hear My voice, and I know them. And so until you enter into a personal relationship with Jesus, you are not saved. And if you never enter into a personal relationship with Jesus, you are lost. And so have you come to know Jesus in a personal way? You know, I grew up in a denomination that didn't talk like that. They didn't talk about a personal relationship with Jesus. But in a Baptist church, you will. In a lot of evangelical churches, you will. Because that's what Jesus says. And so, You have to have a personal faith relationship with Jesus to be truly saved. And then also, they will be condemned to eternal separation from God because of a life of lawlessness. He says in the last of verse 23, Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness. What is lawlessness? Lawlessness is an unwillingness to yield to authority, especially divine authority. You know, God is a creator. He's the one that sets the rules. He's the one that gives the commands. And if you're not willing to submit even to the authority of God, how in the world can you think that you're going to heaven someday? practicing lawlessness. Now we all fail, we all sin, but the general trend of the life of the true believer is to seek God's will and habitually do God's will, but the unbeliever does not desire to do God's will and does not habitually live by the will of God. And by the way, the Bible says that in the last days, lawlessness will become an increasing reality. And we're seeing it right before our eyes. The true believer not only acknowledges the Lordship of Jesus, but submits to the Lordship of Jesus. Again, verse 21 says, He who does the will of God. That's the one that's truly saved. And so, do you generally seek to do God's will over your own will? That's the test. A Christian is a follower of Jesus, who prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, not my will, but your will be done, even though it meant a cross. It was Jesus who says, if you're going to follow me, you've got to deny yourself and take up your cross, living in regular obedience to God. And so one main truth is that we need to make sure that we're saved. And let me tell you this, your sin nature will fight to retain control over your life. Just as Maduro fought to maintain control over Venezuela, your sin nature and your self-centeredness will try to fight off this call to repent and believe in Jesus and surrender your life to Jesus as Lord. That's why Jesus said in Luke 13, 24, strive to enter the narrow gate. Many of you remember your conversion. You remember the struggle that you went through until you finally submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and put your faith in Him. And let me tell you this, there's no one that deserves your allegiance any more than Jesus. He's the one that went to that cross and died for your sins. He's the one that rose from the dead and ascended and is seated at the right hand of God. He deserves your absolute obedience. And so, though many tragically are going to stand at the final judgment and learn that they were not truly saved, may you not be among them. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 13, 5, examine yourselves whether you are in the faith. The book of Revelation says that at the judgment, the books will be opened, the books of our works and our sins, and the Lamb's book of life will be opened. And everyone whose name is not written in that book of life will be cast into eternity, separated from God. And I ask you, would you be afraid to look into that book to see if your name is there? Well, I hope not. But you know, I have some good news for you. I've spoken to you about the judgment. to determine whether or not you go into heaven or not. The good news is this. Jesus said in John 5 24, Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in him who has sent me has everlasting life and shall not come into judgment, but is passed from death into life. The good news is, the moment you repent and believe in Jesus, you pass from death to life. At that very moment, you stand forgiven, right with God, and you will never stand before God to determine whether you go to heaven, because it's already settled. Your sins were put on Jesus, and He bore your sins. And so it's already settled. Is your eternity settled this morning? Well, you know, it may be that some true believers will doubt their salvation this morning who shouldn't be doubting their salvation, and I'm sorry for that, but I must do what Jesus does here and say, listen, you better make sure. You better make sure. because your eternity is at stake. This morning, do God's will, and if He's calling upon you to be saved, surrender to the Lord this morning, and you won't regret it. Would you bow with me in prayer? Heavenly Father, I thank You for these words of Jesus, solemn as they are, and I pray, Lord, that Your saving grace will be extended Lord, anyone here this morning, anyone that hears this video or the audio, Lord, who needs to be saved, work by your Spirit to bring them to Christ. We'll give you all the praise and the glory, and we ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.