ARE MANY SAVED?

“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” (Matt. 7:21-23).

A Question Often Asked After the conversation with the rich young ruler: “When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?” (Matt. 19:25). “Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,  Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” (Lk. 13:23, 24).

I. THE CHARGE

“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.”

Where Are Your Thoughts Today? “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts” (Psa. 10:4). “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts” (Psa. 139:23).

Where Does Your Faith Lay? “My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house” (Num. 12:7). “Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?” (Prov. 20:6).

Are You Doing The Will of God? “Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee” (Isa. 26:8).

“One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple” (Psa. 27:4).

“If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” (Jn. 7:17). “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Matt. 12:50).

“But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you” (Jer. 7:23).

II. THE CONFESSION

“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?”

That Day “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10). “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27).

The Proclamation of Many (1) There is recognition. “Lord, Lord,” identifies them as people who believed in Jesus. The demons believe in Christ: “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble” (Jas. 2:19).

Pilate Believed in Christ Purity “When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it” (Matt. 27:24).

(2) There Is Reverance They are prophesying, casting out devils, and performing many wonderful works in HIS (Jesus) name.

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction” (2 Pet. 2:1).

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 Jn. 4:1).

III. THE PROFESSION

“And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity”

1. Identity Problem They thought they knew Christ, but the Lord says He does not know them! Our identity with Christ is based upon three factors: (1) Forsaking, (2) following, (3) Doctrine.

Forsake “And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life” (Matt. 19:29).

Follow “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matt. 16:24).

Doctrine “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matt. 24:35). “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (Jn. 12:48).

“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you” (Rom. 6:17).

(2) Incredible Statement “depart from me!” “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God” (Heb. 3:12).

(3) Identifiable Condemnation “Ye that work of iniquity!” “Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood” (Psa. 7:14).

“Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts” (Psa. 28:3).

“And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there” (Eccl. 3:16).