True and False Disciples - Matthew 7:21-23
True and False Disciples
21 “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. 22 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?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Reflection: Jesus again today gives us challenging words to think about. He says just because we call out his name and do works that would reflect His name does not mean we know him. We know Judas was with Jesus and maybe even experienced the power of doing things in Jesus' name, but in the end did not really know Him or confess Him as Lord. The bible says even demons believe in One God and tremble at His name but are not saved. (James 2:19).
We know in the Old Testament God used Balaam's donkey to prophecy, and in the New Testament when Simon the Sorcerer saw the miracles the disciples were doing he wanted to buy the power to do them. Peter rebuked him and told him he had no part in the ministry because his heart was not right with God. (Acts 8:13ff)
So what does this mean for us? Obviously there are many call on God's name authentically and do the works of Him who sent them in the power of the Holy Spirit. But this passage reminds us that only God know the human heart, and outward demonstrations of piety are never a guarantee of an inward transformation of the heart. It reminds us to avoid manipulation to get people to do something externally to prove they are a Christian. This creates a situation where a person thinks it is by what they do that they become a Christian.
The beauty of the Christian message is that Christ comes to us and saves us and makes a relationship with God possible. When we trust in Christ by faith, we are given the Holy Spirit, as a gift which transforms us from the inside out. The Holy Spirit reminds us that we know Christ and are known by Him. The Holy Spirit gives us at least one spiritual gift to help build the body of Christ. Some are given gifts of healing, others prophesying, others teaching and preaching.
But the important thing is that our obedience flows out a relationship with Christ (see John 15). And the works we do flow out of the same obedience and reliance on the Holy Spirit for all we do.
Jesus we thank you for calling us to follow you by Your gift of grace, as we hear your voice through the power of the Holy Spirit, may we do the works you call us to do and show that we really know you. Amen.
21 “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. 22 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?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Reflection: Jesus again today gives us challenging words to think about. He says just because we call out his name and do works that would reflect His name does not mean we know him. We know Judas was with Jesus and maybe even experienced the power of doing things in Jesus' name, but in the end did not really know Him or confess Him as Lord. The bible says even demons believe in One God and tremble at His name but are not saved. (James 2:19).
We know in the Old Testament God used Balaam's donkey to prophecy, and in the New Testament when Simon the Sorcerer saw the miracles the disciples were doing he wanted to buy the power to do them. Peter rebuked him and told him he had no part in the ministry because his heart was not right with God. (Acts 8:13ff)
So what does this mean for us? Obviously there are many call on God's name authentically and do the works of Him who sent them in the power of the Holy Spirit. But this passage reminds us that only God know the human heart, and outward demonstrations of piety are never a guarantee of an inward transformation of the heart. It reminds us to avoid manipulation to get people to do something externally to prove they are a Christian. This creates a situation where a person thinks it is by what they do that they become a Christian.
The beauty of the Christian message is that Christ comes to us and saves us and makes a relationship with God possible. When we trust in Christ by faith, we are given the Holy Spirit, as a gift which transforms us from the inside out. The Holy Spirit reminds us that we know Christ and are known by Him. The Holy Spirit gives us at least one spiritual gift to help build the body of Christ. Some are given gifts of healing, others prophesying, others teaching and preaching.
But the important thing is that our obedience flows out a relationship with Christ (see John 15). And the works we do flow out of the same obedience and reliance on the Holy Spirit for all we do.
Jesus we thank you for calling us to follow you by Your gift of grace, as we hear your voice through the power of the Holy Spirit, may we do the works you call us to do and show that we really know you. Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment