The Tragedy of False Belief

Open: college student who believes she will receive a passing grade. She doesn’t go to class very often, skims the reading assignments, hands in papers that are poorly written and late. But she still entertains the belief that she will pass. She continues to hold that belief even after the final exam. She is shocked when she sees the F when her term grades are posted.

Transition: Her friends may be shocked because they saw her on campus and she talked like everything was fine. Her parents will be shocked because when they asked for progress updates they were told it’s all good! She was fooling those around her until the truth came out.

The window for false hope in a college class is fairly short - only about 16 weeks and then reality will hit. In life, the final judgment may be 50 - 75 years in the future and it is easier to pretend that you are going to end up fine! This is the real tragedy - that men and women are living life right now under the false delusion that they belong to Christ.

Today’s passage will close out the Sermon on the Mount series of messages, and Jesus gives another serious and somber warning. This warning is not directed to false teachers, but to False Believers. Let’s look at this text together and then apply God’s truth our hearts.

READ TEXT: Matthew 7:21-29

False believers do exist - It is possible for a lost person to think that he or she is saved. (Matt 7:21-22)

Explanation: Jesus teaches on the reality of false belief. He knows there are people who think they are citizens of His Kingdom who are still lost and undone in their sin. Jesus knows that they will be shocked when the truth is revealed.

Illustrate: “reality shows” that bring on guests and then reveal some hidden truth. A wife is introduced to her husband’s 16 year-old daughter she did not know about

Argument: Our lack of knowledge about the truth does not change the truth. We need to be aware of our own spiritual reality. Jesus said that many are living as false believers, so we should give careful consideration to our own spiritual status.

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Why is this necessary? Because F.B.s share common ground with genuine believers

They consider Jesus to be God’s Son and are reverent in their Jesus talk

They read their Bibles, may have Scripture memorized, attend church and participate in ministry events

They have been christened, confirmed, and baptized and, when asked, will respond in the affirmative as to being a Christian.

The staggering and shocking thing is that F.B.s do their ministry in the Name of Jesus. When face to face with the Judge, these people will plead their case by telling Jesus that they ministered in His own Name!

The Day of Judgment will reveal the Truth (Matt. 7:23)

Explanation: Do not overlook the phrase in that day. This refers to the Day of Judgment when all will give an account and the truth will be revealed. Those who are part of the many will no longer blend in with the family of faith. BTW: this many is the same many in Matt 7:13 who enter in at the broad gate leading to destruction. As they live out their lives in the present, they are fooling others and even themselves, but they WILL NOT be able to fool the Judge. Nor will they be able to overturn His judgment by pleading credit for their acts of service performed in His Name.

Hebrews 4:12–13 KJV 1900

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Argument: There are some things in life that we can avoid. Some adults will never voluntarily go to the dentist; Some will never eat broccoli or brussell sprouts or sushi. But make no mistake, we will all stand before Christ and give an account of our lives

Application: Are you prepared for Judgment Day? You will not be able to skip this meeting, and the Judge WILL pass judgment accurately and with finality. In a sermon on this passage, John MacArthur talked about the tragedy of Buddhists, atheists, Hindus, and Muslims dying and going to hell. Then he said it is even more tragic when members of Christian churches wind up in hell because of being self-deceived and complacent in a false understanding of the true Gospel. These are the ones who have “a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (2 Timothy 3:5)

Building your life on the Foundation of Jesus is the ONLY wise decision (Matt. 7:24-27)

Explanation: So how does one prepare for the Judgment? Jesus gives the answer when He declares the importance of moving beyond professing and being involved in religious activity. He addresses the need to go beyond hearing His words to doing them.

Question: what is the difference in the doing the words of Jesus in v. 24 from the doing ministry in His Name in v. 22? Those who did things in Jesus’ Name in v. 22 were told to depart from Him. And then Jesus adds these words: “ye that work iniquity.”

Answer: Those who are turned away at the judgment and cast into hell are not regenerate. Whatever outward forms of godliness may be present, and regardless of ‘decisions’ or baptisms, these are still living in the flesh and are continuing in iniquity.

Argument: Jesus finishes His Sermon on the Mount with the well-known illustration of the contrast between the wise and foolish builders. The wise man builds his house on the rock while the foolish man builds his house on the sand. When the storm came (and the storms WILL COME!) the wise man’s house remained standing while the foolish man’s house was totally destroyed and washed away.

Jesus’ final illustration focuses on the importance of the foundation. Foundations are incredibly important, but they are largely unseen. The visible structures can be identical, but their futures are dependent upon their respective foundations.

Illustrate: Hurricane Michael made landfall as a Category 5 storm in 2018 in Mexico Beach in the panhandle region of Florida. One house on the beach was left standing in the midst of destruction. It was built 6 months before the storm and the owner had it designed to survive. The foundation was incredibly strong - way beyond code.

Application: Jesus clearly reveals there are only two (2) choices in life. We are either one of the many who enter through the broad gate that leads to destruction (Matt 7:13) or we are of the few who enter life through the narrow gate (Matt. 7:14). Building your life on the foundation of Christ is the ONLY way for a person to enter the narrow gate, but being IN Christ does lead to eternal life!

Conclusion: You CAN know if you are IN Christ and belong to Him.

1 John 5:13 KJV 1900

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

This message is not intended to manipulate anyone, nor am I trying to get anyone to doubt his or her salvation. It is, however, intended to be true to the words of Jesus and He is the One who said Many are in the category of false believers.

If the Holy Spirit is convicting you that you are still outside of Christ, I encourage you to repent of your sins and accept His gift of salvation. Do not let your pride keep you from entering in at the Narrow Gate