 |
 |
||||
ave you ever wondered how many people in church are not Christians?
Jesus’ next statement makes it clear there are some who are not
Christians. Some of them simply come to church and leave. Others are
helping with organizational activities, evangelism, the women’s
ministry, teaching, and some are even preaching. It is not uncommon at
Bible institutes, Bible colleges and seminaries to discover men and women
putting their faith in Jesus for the first time in their lives. These
men and women were active in their churches. They helped others find
Jesus as their Savior, but never really understood the meaning of “believe
in Jesus.” They were considered by others to be very spiritual
or they would not have gone to a Christian Bible institute, college or
seminary. Yet, they did not know Jesus! Just imagine how many will be
surprised they ended up in hell.
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’ (NASB) Matthew 7:21-23 Lord, Lord! Some years ago I noticed a passage
in 1 Corinthians that describes the mark of a true Christian. Now when
I listen to a person’s testimony, I wait to hear him/her say that
Jesus is Lord of his/her life or he/she desires to submit to or obey
Jesus. Here is the verse,
Therefore I make known to you, that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. (NASB) 1 Corinthians 12:3 This makes sense because the Holy Spirit only lives inside true Christians.
When the Holy Spirit starts living in us, He starts leading us (Galatians
5:25), teaching us (1 Corinthians 2:13), and helping us to pray (Romans
8:26). Scripture also says He gives us spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians
12:7-11) and fills us when we submit to Him (Eph. 5:18). In short, He
lives inside us if we are real Christians.
However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. (NASB) Romans 8:9 Only true Christians can say, “Lord, Lord!” and mean it
with all their hearts. They can mean it because the Holy Spirit is living
in them.
This is not possible for non-Christians since the Holy
Spirit does not live within them. They can sing the Christian songs,
read the Bible, pray, even teach the Word of God, but Jesus will never
be Lord in their lives. That requires the Holy Spirit.
Entrance into the kingdom of heaven is only for Christians
who mean the words, “Jesus is my Lord.” How can we know if “Jesus
is my Lord?” Jesus answers this question with, “he who does
the will of My Father who is in heaven.” |
|||||
|
|||||
| Sermon on the Mount | |||||
