No Third Option (Part 2) Matthew 7:21-29
Sermon on the Mount • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Sermon
Sermon
Key Passage
Key Passage
“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!’
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,
because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Vision/Mission
Vision/Mission
Vision: We exist to reach the world for Jesus, one person at a time
Mission: We do this by creating Biblical disciples in relational environments
As we shared last week, we have two purposes to meet together as a church.
The two are connected.
We exist to reach the world for Jesus
We want to expand the borders of the Kingdom. There are places that are not surrendered to Jesus and those places need to be reached with the light and truth of Jesus.
This is done through His church.
We will expand the borders when we deepen the roots.
We don’t simply go out on evangelistic tours, trying to get people saved.
We grow deeper as disciples.
This brings depth to the Kingdom.
The Kingdom of Heaven expands best through the growth, maturity and sanctification of its people.
What this looks like here is that we are preaching the Word
We want to have a Biblical foundation in everything we do.
We want to connect the unconnected.
When we are in relationship, it gives us the opportunity to grow.
God gave us the church for our growth and sanctification. It is His plan and purpose for us.
We must engage it as He intended.
As we grow, the light of His Gospel grows from within us into the world around us.
We change. As a result, every relationship and interaction is changed because a disciple that is following Jesus, being changed by Jesus and looking to grow the Kingdom is now in that relationship.
With that Biblical foundation in mind, let us move on to our passage for today.
Introduction
Introduction
Illustration: Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms (1521)
Illustration: Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms (1521)
In 1521, Martin Luther was summoned before the most powerful men in Europe at the Diet of Worms. He had been writing and preaching that salvation is by faith in Christ alone, not by works or by paying indulgences. His words had shaken the foundations of the medieval church.
Now he stood on trial before Emperor Charles V and church leaders. On the table before him were his writings. The demand was simple: “Recant. Deny what you have written.”
Luther knew what was at stake. If he recanted, he could walk free, keep his life, and live in peace. If he refused, he faced excommunication, imprisonment, or death.
For two days he wrestled with the decision. Then, with the world watching, Luther spoke the words that echo through history:
“Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason … my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no other. God help me. Amen.”
There was no middle ground. He could not half-recant. He could not build partly on the sand of compromise and partly on the rock of truth. It was one or the other.
As we talked about last week, there is no middle ground.
Jesus concludes the sermon with four either/or’s
Either you enter through the narrow gate or the wide gate
This highlights our destination in life
Where are we going?
Either you follow truth or false prophets
As we are on this journey of life, who will we listen to?
What is our source of truth?
False prophets are deceivers. They look like truth, but they do not follow the truth. Their paths lead to destruction.
Today, we will bring all four of these either/or scenarios together, because they fit very nicely with one another.
Jesus has articulated the separation of His Kingdom with the kingdoms of this world.
You are salt in an unsalted world
You are light in darkness
You have heard it said, but I say
Do not pray like the hypocrites, pray like this
As we will see, every decision of our lives will boil down to the path we choose.
Which road will I take?
I think all of us here today say, “I want to choose the right road”
Not many people say, “I’m intentionally choosing the wrong road.”
But we live in a world of deception and we have an enemy who seeks to destroy us.
So, Jesus is telling this to us because He doesn’t want us to be deceived. He doesn’t want anyone to feel like they are on the right path when they are on the wrong path.
Jesus is speaking the truth about His Kingdom. The reality about the Kingdom is that for our time, the Kingdom is at war.
We have an enemy.
That enemy will distract us.
Will we choose to follow Jesus? Or will we choose to follow our own path? Either/or
Sermon
Sermon
Jesus warns of two deceptions in discipleship.
Both of these are things that are very easy to see and even fall into the trap of believing they are authentic.
Before we fully dive into our passage, I want you to see something. This is an important piece of information for us to process as we interpret our passage.
“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!’
This passage is set up in a way that identifies the nature of Jesus.
When we read this passage, it is laid out in a way that it appears there are people trying to defend their discipleship before Jesus.
And when we see that Jesus says, “On that day...” it is a pretty clear indicator of a day that is to come.
When we see this in this way, we can conclude that Jesus is talking about a day in the future where He will be seated as a judge. As judge, people will come to Him and try to tell Him why they deserve to be in the Kingdom of Heaven.
The first thing that we need to know is that:
We know there will be a judgment.
We know who will be the judge.
We know these judgments will be eternal in nature.
So when we listen to the words of Jesus, we had better do so with a keen ear to what He has to say.
I liken this to a teacher in school who is teaching his students. The teacher knows what they need to know and the teacher knows what is on the test.
The teacher wants his students to pass the test, so he tells them what they need to do, but also where they might get pointed in the wrong direction.
In His love and mercy, Jesus is doing this for us today.
Discipleship Deception #1- Talking the Talk, not Walking the Walk
“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.
Jesus says, “The first place where you might fail your test is to try and find a third option in discipleship”
Here is our definition of a disciple
And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
A disciple is:
Following Jesus
Being changed by Jesus
Obedient to Jesus, making disciples
When Jesus says, “Follow me”, we have been presented with two options.
Either follow, or don’t follow.
If Jesus said, “Follow me” then turned and walked away, you will either get up and follow Him, or you will stay where you are.
There is no third option.
However, the cost of discipleship is tremendous.
It is leaving our lives, leaving our authority, leaving our kingdoms for the sake of His.
If you begin following Jesus, you can’t go back to your nets.
So how valuable are your nets?
As people, we tend to try and create a third option.
I’ll stay at my nets and tell people I’m following Jesus!
I’ll try to convince Jesus that I’m following Him by saying that I’m following Him.
It sounds ridiculous, but that is the deception.
Here is the third option that we try and create for ourselves.
We say, “I’ll stay where I am and follow Jesus.”
Who is this designed to convince? Jesus?
Certainly not!
Others? Maybe, but they aren’t the judge. Maybe we fall into the trap of believing that other people’s view of our discipleship is the standard for our righteousness.
I am here to tell you today, they are not.
Jesus is the standard for righteousness. He is the judge of our discipleship.
Jesus says, Not everyone who says to me “Lord, Lord” will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
It isn’t by our words that we will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
He continues and gives us a picture of what we will be judged by.
“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.
Only the one who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven.
Some of the deeper theologians in the room might raise their hackles a little bit.
That sounds like salvation by works!
Do you remember when we read this passage?
For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.
If evil actions come from the heart, where to righteous actions come from? Clearly the heart as well.
And how do we determine what is righteous?
Jesus says, “Only those who do the will of my Father.”
Now we get into the all-important topic of God’s will.
We haven’t spoken about this lately, so we will navigate this very briefly.
If we are to obey God’s will, then we must know God’s will.
We don’t just do things and blindly follow God’s will
So, we must know God’s will, then have a heart and the faith to obey His will.
This may be where you feel like you need to perk up in the sermon.
How can I clearly know God’s will?
We have so many decisions in life. How can I know God’s will?
There is a passage that I use to know and seek God’s will, and I would like to walk us through this passage.
This is the antidote against talking the talk, but not walking the walk.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Paul gives us this passage that opens our eyes to what we are called to in Jesus Christ as His disciples.
In view of God’s mercy
If He is Lord, then we are His slave. We talked through this a few weeks ago.
He bought us with a price. The price of His blood.
Romans tells us we are a slave to sin or a slave to Christ.
There is no more empowering posture of humanity than to be a slave to Christ.
His purpose for us is to fulfill the purpose He created us for.
This will always end in His glory and our good.
In His mercy, He sent His son to die in our place for sin. We have salvation and hope through Him.
In view of this mercy, offer your body as a living sacrifice
When Paul says “Your body” he means this flesh and blood body.
We don’t live for its wishes and desires anymore.
This life is sacrifices to the will of the one who gave us mercy.
Oxymoron
Living dead
Holy and pleasing. This is your spiritual act of worship
Our physical surrender is a spiritual act of worship.
God’s general will is that our lives would be lived in a holy and pleasing manner before God.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your minds.
This is in line with our definition of a disciple
You follow Jesus, not just in word, but in a sacrificed life.
You will be changed, or as Paul says here, ”Transformed”.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is. His good, pleasing and perfect will.
When we live lives of surrender and holiness before God, we will find His will.
Jesus had already said, “Ask and it will be given to you, Seek and you will find, Knock and the door will be opened to you.”
This is one of the things we are called to ask for. His will and the faith for obedience.
Discipleship Deception #1- Talking the Talk, not Walking the Walk
Discipleship Deception #2- Signs without Surrender
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!’
Jesus continues the theme where we see Him as the judge.
A different group of people come to Him, trying to justify their discipleship.
They do this by saying, “We did all sorts of miraculous signs in your name. Surely, I am your disciple.”
Signs like speaking prophecy. Speaking the words of God on His behalf
Casting out demons
Perform supernatural miracles.
To these signs and wonders, Jesus again says, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”
Signs wonders, miracles, casting out demons, prophecies are not indicators that a person or a ministry is of God.
In fact, this is the very essence of deception.
It looks Christian. It is done in Jesus’ name. They claim the authority of God in what they do.
But it is not of God.
Jesus is presenting a theme that is repeated throughout the Sermon on the Mount.
It is the same thing that Samuel said as he chose David as king of Israel. “Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.”
Jesus talks about giving and prayer and pushes us to internal maturity, not outward display.
The point about external expressions is that it leads to a show and it leads to pride
This is what the Pharisees were doing when they prayed and when they gave to the poor.
Jesus said, “These things are not bad. But when you do them, they shouldn’t be for everyone to see and build your pride among others. They should be internal so your holiness is seen by God and your humility would grow.
There are many ministries that emphasize these signs as evidence that God is at work in their midst.
They will often point to the Holy Spirit as the power behind their displays.
But as we look at the Bible, there are some clear evidences that the Holy Spirit is at work.
The Holy Spirit will lead us to sanctification
Holy Spirit leads us into holiness. This is His name. It is literally the outcome of the Holy Spirit living within us.
Second to this, the Holy Spirit will supernaturally equip us for relationship with the world around us.
God’s Plan A is for us to reach the world through a Spirit filled relationship that loves where we wouldn't otherwise live.
Forgive where we would otherwise hold a grudge
Give, share, endure, have joy, and peace.
Does God do miracles? Can demons be cast out? Absolutely!
But the Holy Spirit’s work won’t lead to an ostentatious spectacle.
The Holy Spirit will work and change our hearts from within with humility and love.
Signs in this manner aren’t just empty deception, but look at what Jesus says about these displays.
“Away from me you EVILDOERS!”
The baseline here is “knowing Jesus”
You may know about Him, but we need to know Him. It will change your life.
To claim to do something on behalf of God, when it is not on behalf of God is the height of sacrilege, and blasphemy.
This is evil in the eyes of the Judge, not just misplaced. Even when it is done in the name of Jesus.
We must be cautious to heed the warnings of the judge.
The Foundation of a Disciple: Obedience
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
The foundation of a disciple is seen in Jesus last statements of this sermon.
He gives the example of two groups of people.
The first group of people are those who hear His words and put them into practice
There are two parts to this story.
First, they hear His word.
Second, they put His words into practice.
This is the same language that Jesus will use when He gives His commission for His disciples:
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
This is Jesus’ commission for His disciples
This is why we use a Biblical foundation in everything we do.
We feel this is Jesus direct instruction to His discples.
It is that we use the Bible, the Words of God, as the foundation for all that we teach.
How can a disciple be a disciple if not for the Word of God?
He can’t
We must teach everything Jesus commanded.
Everyone in this room is in this place.
We have all heard what Jesus taught and has commanded in our passage today.
Our choice is whether we will be in the first category or the second category.
The second category of people also hear the words of Jesus.
But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
This person hears the Word, but does not put them into practice.
Maybe he learned a lot and became a better theologian.
Maybe he had a stubborn heart and rejected the truth.
But whatever the reason, Jesus’ words did not develop growth within that disciple.
It says that the storm hits both houses.
Again, this looks much like the last story that Jesus told. It is a story of judgment.
You can listen to Jesus, but if He doesn’t change your heart, then you don’t know Him.
If the words of Jesus only hit your ears or your mind, but not your heart. You are being warned here today.
The decision to follow Jesus is an entire change of heart and change of perspective.
God allows us glimpses into this reality with the storms of this world.
C.S. Lewis- death of his wife. (A Grief Observed)
God knocked over his entire house of cards. All that he believed about God, about the world, and about life were shattered.
But in this falling, he realized how much he only wanted to believe in God for his happiness and his benefit not the glory of God.
He came to the conclusion that only a good God would allow our house of cards to be knocked over.
Would He be a good God if He allowed us to build our houses on the sand and not know we were not on the rock?
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,
because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
When Jesus finished this sermon, the crowd was amazed at his teaching.
I imagine this amazement and astonishment wasn’t just based on the teaching alone. But also because they had been pushed face to face with the reality of what they had held true for so long being revealed as off base.
It says that they were amazed that Jesus taught as one who had authority.
He taught as one who had authority because He was the One who had authority.
The teachers of the law commented on the Bible as they understood it.
Jesus commented on the Bible as its author.
That is a big difference.
This should drive us to a place of not replacing the truth of the Word of God with teaching about the Word of God.
We must be people of the Word. It is how we know God. It is how He has revealed Himself and the Kingdom to us.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Conclusion
Jesus’ words leave no middle ground. There are only two paths, two foundations, two verdicts. Either we know Him, or we don’t. Either our lives are built on the rock of His Word and obedience, or they are built on the shifting sand of empty words and outward appearances.
The sobering reality is that many will one day stand before Jesus convinced they are secure, only to hear Him say, “I never knew you.” That is why He speaks so clearly here—because He loves us enough to warn us.
The storms will come. The judgment will come. The question is not if but when. And when that day comes, it will not matter what others thought of you, how religious you appeared, or even what ministry activities you took part in. What will matter is whether your life was truly surrendered to Jesus, whether you obeyed His Word, whether He knows you as His own.
So today, the choice is in front of you.
Will you talk the talk, or will you truly follow Jesus?
Will you chase signs, or will you surrender to the Savior?
Will you build on sand, or will you build on the rock?
There is no halfway. No third option.
Jesus is calling you to decision: “Follow Me.” Not later. Not when it’s convenient. Today.
If you have never surrendered your life to Christ, this is the moment to move from words to obedience, from knowledge to relationship, from sand to rock. And if you have called Him “Lord” with your lips but not with your life, this is the moment to repent, to realign, to take your stand on the solid foundation of His Word.
The narrow gate still stands open. The Rock is unshakable. The Savior is calling. The decision is yours.
Will you follow Him?
Gospel Presentation
Directed Prayer
Communion
