SOTM 38-Lord, Lord

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.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. 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?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’” (Matthew 7:21-23). Judgment DayJesus has spoken about the narrow, difficult way. (See the parallel passage in Luke 13:23-27.)Immediately afterward, he warns about false prophets.Now his tone becomes even more serious (vv.21-23). Up to this point, Jesus has revealed himself as Prophet and Teacher. Now he also reveals himself as Judge.Justin Martyr: “Let those who are not found living as he taught, be understood not to be Christians, even though they profess with the lips the teachings of Christ. For it is not those who make a profession, but those who do the works who shall be saved, according to His words: ‘Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven.’” First Apology 16Hermas: “The man who has the Lord embedded in his heart can also be lord of every one of these commandments. But for those who have the Lord only on their lips—but with hearts that are hard and far from the Lord—the commandments are hard and difficult. Therefore, you who are empty and fickle in your faith need to implant the Lord in your hearts, and you will know that there is nothing easier, sweeter, and more manageable than these commandments.” The Shepherd, bk. 2, commandment 12.4RepetitionSaying the Lord's name does not save once and for all, especially if we do not respect his wishes and follow his will in our lives.The words "Lord, Lord" hark back to the wayward prophets and people of Israel in Jeremiah's time (Jer 6:14; 7:4; 23:25). Check out the 2016 series here.Miracles?“Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not do the things I say?” (Luke 6:46). Unless we're doing the things Jesus commands, nothing else matters—even miracles.Yet even though Jesus put forth the sober truth in the clearest language possible, hundreds millions of Christians today still interpret miracles as a sign of with God’s approval. They stake their confidence and very salvation on miraculous experience—either their own or their leaders’.I never knew you?This knowledge isn't intellectual, but relational.1 Cor 8:3 tells us that those who love God are "known" by him.Cyril of Alexandria: “There may be some who, in the beginning, believed rightly and diligently labored at virtue. They may have even worked miracles and prophesied and cast out demons. And yet later they are found turning aside to evil, to self-assertive deception and desire. Of these Jesus remarks that he ‘never knew them.’” Fragment 88, Ancient Christian Commentary Series, vol. IA, 156.Chrysostom: “You ask, ‘How does me punish someone he does not even know?’ It is because here Jesus says, ‘I do not know you’ in a different sense. He says it in the sense of ‘I deny you and refuse to have anything to do with you.’ … You ask again, ‘How is it possible that they will be denied if they have shown prophetic powers, worked miracles, and cast out demons?’ More than likely, it is because they changed afterwards and became wicked. Therefore, their former virtue did not benefit them. For it is not enough that we begin well. We must also end well!” Homilies on Hebrews 24.7-8.Yet many modern Christians seize on these words and exclaim, “See, these people were never saved.” Nonsense! Jesus doesn't say that he'll reject them because they were never saved, but because they practiced lawlessness.LawlessnessJesus rebukes the miracle-workers—whether these are genuine or counterfeit is irrelevant—as “you who practice lawlessness.”They lived their lives as though there were no laws for disciples of Christ!“The alarming reality is that this describes most professing Christians today. When they read the Sermon on the Mount, they view it simply a collection of ideals to think about.” – David Bercot“Lawlessness” isn’t so much violation of Torah as failure to reflect the heart of the Torah: justice and mercy in our interactions, doctrine, and personal character. (See Matt 23:23.) It's living as though we were somehow above the requirement of obedience.Next: Sand