Have you ever noticed when you ask people about their eternal destiny to what lengths they will go to describe or defend their spiritual condition? Whether they identify as Christian or not the answers all fall into the same basic pattern. Answers like, "I am not a bad person," "I do treat people like I would want to be treated," "I attend church regularly, or whenever I can,” or “I am of ____ denomination," "I am a better person than I used to be,” or “God and I have an arrangement.” Many times, these responses are an attempt to avoid the question altogether or to hide the deadness of the soul in hopes of justifying their place in Heaven. In fairness, some of these responses are made from ignorance, but some are made in direct rebellion of God’s word.
Isaiah 64:6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind, our sins sweep us away.
Even in our best behavior, we are defective, deceptive and fall short of the righteousness of God (Rom 3:23) We are all so corrupt and polluted that even those among us who pass as righteous men are as filthy rags to be compared to waste to be cast away. If our best performances, though admirable, are depended upon for righteousness or given merit at the cost of God's glory, we will find ourselves deceived and even defiled. Our righteousness will not cover us when we stand before God. The efforts, fruit, and diligence of mankind, as well-intentioned, as they may be, will never produce in us the righteousness of God!!
James 1:20-25 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues in it-not forgetting what they have heard but doing it-they will be blessed in what they do.
These verses make clear that man’s appearance of zeal(busyness) in the things of God, for all the passion and knowledge does nothing to impress God or add to His kingdom. God's cause is only served when through the power (meekness and humility) of the Holy Spirit our efforts are led and directed (1 Pet 2:12). In our clamor to be seen and heard, we will be in the end found foolish and inadequate. Solomon said “Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard rather than the shout of a ruler of fools” Ecclesiastes 9:7 The self-sufficiency of man stands in direct opposition to the authority of God. Those who pretend to serve God through religious activities alone show they are neither acquainted with God or His cause. Even those that hear the word of God regularly must guard against the natural tendency of self-sufficiency.
Hearing brings with it the command of doing! The most frequent hearing of the word of God will not sanctify us unless we become doers of the word. We could hear a sermon daily from Jesus himself but if we do not use the application of His words it would never bring us to salvation or change. Hearers only are self-deceived. The Greek word paralogizomenoi means men's arguing amongst themselves in their sophistication. Sadly, man’s reasoning is many times self-serving, deceitful, and may even be false. Our selfish nature wants to shortcut the obligations laid out in the word of God, replacing them with our doctrines as being sufficient. This leads to lives that become barren of "good works." Self-deceit will, in the end, be found to be the most condemning sin next to the rejection of Jesus as Savior James 24:1 addresses those who do not use the mirror of the word properly: He who beholds himself, but once he walks away soon forget the image, describes someone who heard the word, but does not by application allow it to change his image. When the hearing fades, the convictions or revelations are forgotten. Self-justification returns and this merry go round style of Christianity continues. I do not want to lay all the blame on much of today's Americanized version of Christ, but many pastors spend too much of their time using carnal methods to "reach" a carnal world thus leaving the true seekers in their congregations hungry and starving on the vine, resulting in "carnal shallow feel-good" Christians. A sinless gospel always leads to a distorted image in the mirror. The absence of self-denial will never lead you to the Cross.
Matthew 7:16-23 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit, you will recognize them. "Not everyone who says to me, 'LORD, LORD,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one 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 drive out demons and, in your name, perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
Christ being the ultimate teacher gave a warning against all counterfeits. These carnal teachers and carnal prophets produce a false commission pretending to have clarity, direction, and divinely inspired call from God. Though parts of their doctrine may have the truth, they operate under false or selfish pretenses (position, power, or prestige). Then there are the false teachers who teach outright heresy and all things contrary to the truth found in Jesus Christ. Both types are equally dangerous because they each carry pseudo safety and fulfillment. One cloaked in the covering of proper doctrine, without the proper biblical application of doctrine and the other so cleverly concealed with false colors to deceive the unlearned in the word of truth. Each carries the venom of sending you to Hell with their poison.
This thought is concluded in Matt 7:21 which lays out the indispensable necessity of strict obedience to the commands of Christ. Matthew shows with clarity that an outward profession of religion, however remarkable, will not bring one to Heaven unless there is a corresponding inward conversion by the Spirit. It is not enough to say "Lord, Lord," claiming Him as master, while still clinging to self-sufficiency and selfish motives. This is not to say that we are not to continually cry out “Lord, Lord,” when we pray, but we are not to rest in our mere confessions relying on this to be godly or holding to them for our righteousness. For there is no power in mere confessions without the belief that transformation by the Spirit is the intent and pursuit. (called faith) 2 Tim 3:1-5 If we do not comply with submission to the will of God, we mock Christ in calling Him Lord. This type of self-serving heart will always remind God of their good intentions. (v22)
They prophesied in His name: prophesied but were not sent by or in submission to God. A man may be a preacher, teacher, may have the gifts of ministry, and an external call to it (even with some success) and yet in his heart be a wicked man. He may help others to Heaven and yet fall short himself.
In His name, they cast out demons: Judas cast out demons, and yet was the son of perdition. (their behavior is likely to lead them to failure and disaster) A man may cast out demons, yet be under the influence of one himself,
In His name did many wonderful works: Only grace can bring a man to Heaven without the wonderful works, on the other hand, wonderful works will never bring a man to Heaven without Grace.
Unfortunately, many in the church are under both false teachers and false doctrines, or maybe just self-sufficient, self-initiated doctrines. Many think they will go to Heaven because of a position of leadership, a good repour with their Pastors, charitable acts in their community, etc. (generally good folks). But let us take heed of resting in external privileges or performances lest we deceive ourselves and perish holding in one hand the truth and in the other self-sufficient reliance. Jesus reply to these people was abrupt and decisive: "Depart from me, I never knew you!" He was saying "I was the master, but I never owned you as my servant, not even when you prophesied." Those who go no further with Christ than an external profession will neither be owned nor accepted by Him on that day. I believe many will spend eternity forever separated from God, after passing so close to the gates of Heaven.
Phil 3:3-14 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh though I have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God based on faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Paul describes in these verses the inward and outward evidence of a true Christian, one that is truly being transformed in heart and deed. 1.) They worship in Spirit as opposed to religious ordinances. 2.) They rejoice in their relationship with Christ and their consuming interest in Him alone. 3.) they have no confidence in the flesh, relying only on the everlasting foundation of Jesus and His sacrifice for us on the cross. In verse 4 Paul denounces all fleshly confidences, in which he of all men had many. He was not just a proselyte, but a native stock of Israel from the tribe of Benjamin. He was a chief Pharisee, but a second-generation Pharisee taught at the feet of Gamaliel, the most respected teacher of that day. He had zeal, confidence, and a clear vision for the beliefs of Israel and His God. But after that day in Acts 26: 13-14, this became his conclusion. “I count all these things lost (waste) for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesu Christ my Lord:” only His knowledge and the knowledge of Him shall my righteousness be justified. Isaiah 53:11
We have read what Paul had renounced now to a glimpse at what he has laid hold of and resolved to achieve. He had his heart solely on Christ and His righteousness. He desired to win Christ much as a runner wins the race and receives the prize awarded for his efforts. He desired to be found in Him (v9), safe in Him, and to be found righteous when he stood face to face with Christ. Desiring to know Him (v10), the knowledge here is completely believing in Him and experiential knowledge of the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings and the transforming power in them. Paul was as ambitious in being sanctified as he was in being justified (an essential trait of Christianity which today is sadly overlooked for the most part) Finally, he desired to be conformed to Christ's image and to be made comparable to Him. Paul demonstrates his focus on doing everything and in suffering anything that he might attain the resurrection. In his humility he often declared himself to be in a state of imperfection and trial. Paul summarizes his feelings (v14), "I press on towards the mark, for the prize of the high calling of Jesus Christ." We are also to run as not to just participate, but as to win, lest we are disqualified. 1 Cor 9:27 The mark Paul is talking of is two-fold: one being Heaven as our home, and secondly to live a life of dying to self daily so that Christ might be glorified to those around us. For those that claim Christ as their savior, this too should be their highest priority and focus.
These people who sought the Lord’s redemption because of their wondrous works were soundly rejected because they were workers of iniquity. Men can obtain a great name for themselves from their piety, and yet be workers of iniquity. Men or women with secret haunts of self-righteousness kept hidden under a cloak of an outward profession of faith, will find their ruin with all the other hypocrites. There is no substitute for a purely devoted pursuit of God. There is no substitute for allowing the Holy Spirit to bring about a transformed life in Christ.
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6
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