“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matthew 7:21-23, NKJV).
This is a blanket condemnation by the Lord to all those who have done things ostensibly in His name, but not according to His will. I can think of many examples throughout history, and in the present, from the Crusades, to the Inquisition, to the bombing of abortion clinics. These were actions done under His banner, but were as far from His expressed will as it is possible to be. As such, each is a reproach to His name, and serves to undermine His witness in the world.
These acts of rebellion are not merely misinterpretations of His revealed purposes, but conscious, willful and inexcusable lawlessness. The guilty are banished from His Presence forever.
Revealed here is a huge difference between professing Christ as Lord, and submitting to Him as Lord. It is easy to call Jesus, "Lord, Lord", but unless the declaration is accompanied by actual submission, it serves to increase condemnation. Better to be openly rebellious than hypocritically subservient. There will be a multitude of transgressors on Judgment Day who will claim that their deeds were righteous, but were, in reality, the very opposite. Some expositors indicate that there is surprise on the part of the plaintiffs as they attempt to defend themselves, but I disagree. It is more likely, in my view, that their attempted self-justification is pridefully habitual; arrogantly insisting that the Lord agree with their own performance self-appraisal.
What is surprising is the nature of their sinful works. As the last days approach, I suspect these rebels will manifest overtly supernatural activities, like channelers and occultists today, who claim miraculous healing or communications with the dead, or who speak forth so-called profound truths. As the end of this age draws nearer, these will intensify "…according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10, NKJV).
Yet to a less theatrical degree, these acts of hypocritical rebellion, of delusional righteousness, occur on a daily basis here and now. There are professing Christians who vociferously name the name of Christ, yet live exactly as those who do not know Him. They proclaim relationship with Him, but ultimately Christ will say to them, if they remain unrepentant, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ These are those who harbor sin in their hearts, who are "…undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful…" (Romans 1:32, NKJV).
It is easy for some to think that they are exempt from the various lists of evil in Scripture. Some undoubtedly believe that because they are innocent of really egregious and conspicuous wrong-doing, like murder or theft or adultery, that they are therefore immune to these statements by Jesus. But there is a real and present danger in being confident in that regard, because it says that they have ignored all the rest of what the Lord outlines in these very chapters. It is intent as much as action that constitutes evil. Looking with lust equates to adultery, being angry without cause equates to murder, unforgiveness equates to rebellion. It is impossible, after studying this Mountain Discourse, to hide behind being innocent of merely the outward act.
I am always uncomfortable around someone who is convinced that they are righteous, for two reasons. The first, is that they are almost always judgmental of me in some way, whether they voice the criticism or not. And secondly, because it is proof of their own immeasurable pride. This in turn renders them unteachable and unrepentant and without mercy. Merciless people are scary.
Anyone who attempts even a cursory study of the Bible, must believe that any declaration of self-righteousness is delusional. How can someone who truly believes what the Bible says about their own sinfulness be unforgiving of others? How can someone who believes what the Bible says about each and every human being's helplessness in the face of sin be unmerciful? How can someone who believes what the Bible says about God's absolute holiness and righteousness and justice place themselves in His judgment seat to judge someone else's heart? The answer to these questions is that someone who believes what the Bible teaches can have no confidence in their own moral standing, their own flesh, as Scripture terms it. In fact, a true believer has the opposite conviction; that he or she is inherently unrighteous.
No amount of professions of faith, prophesying the Word, exorcisms, or even supernatural wonders can take the place of simple faith in, and submission to, the Lord Jesus. And that faith and submission looks like something, a precious amalgam of humility, sweet reasonableness, lovingkindness, mercy, generosity, agape love, faithfulness and forgiveness.
On that last day, when the books are opened, and the living and dead are judged according to their works, only those who are in Christ will gain entrance into the kingdom of heaven. Only those who have humbly surrendered all delusions of self-righteous, and gratefully accept "…that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;" (Philippians 3:9, NKJV).
Anyone and everyone else will be commanded by the Lord to '…depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
If you are paying attention, and are relying on anything about yourself, or are convinced of your own inherent right-standing before God because of anything that you have accomplished or do ritually, or because of the things you are innocent of doing, then this should send a bone-deep shock of fear into your heart.
