You Will Be Known

INTRODUCTION:

Turn with me in your Bibles to Matthew 7. We only have tonight and next week left in our study on the Sermon on the Mount. Then on December 17th, we’ll have a special time of worship, prayer, and reflection based on what we covered in the Sermon on the Mount. I’m really looking forward to that time together.

One of my favorite things to do both here in Washington and whenever I travel is to go on the hunt for unique used bookstores. I love looking through big stacks of books. But one thing that I’ve been doing recently is looking at or for books that I used to read when I was a kid/teen. And I really only read one type of book when I was growing up: mystery/spy books.

I love being held in suspense all throughout the book and wondering who the bad guy is. I try to make a guess but I inevitably get it wrong. The person who I thought was good ended up being the bad guy. And the person that I thought was bad ended up being the hero.

*Harry Potter reference — SNAPE.

What a thrill! Or if you’ve ever watched the old cartoon of Scooby Doo… Every episode ends the same. Someone is caught wearing a mask and there’s a big reveal where the bad guy says curse these meddling kids.

What happens in these stories/movies/tv shows? Eventually, the bad guys are found out. The truth is eventually revealed.

I believe our passage is making the same claim and it’s very similar to the message on Sunday evening. In the end, when everything is all said and done, you will be known. You will be found out.

And for some of us this is going to be a very joyful thing. And so Jesus’ words are an encouragement.

But for others of us this is going to be a very sorrowful thing. And so Jesus’ words are a warning.

So there’s three questions I want to ask you in light of the following verses. Your answers to these questions determine whether you will be joyful in the end to be known, or if you will be sorrowful in the end to be known.

Look with me at Matthew 7:13-14

Matthew 7:13–14 KJV 1900

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

WHAT PATH ARE YOU FOLLOWING? (vs.13-14)

Jesus points out for us that there are two paths. They don’t look the same. They’re not the same size. And they don’t go to the same place.

The great Pilgrim’s Progress illustrates this very well. Pilgrim is following the WAY. He’s navigating the Christian life on a path to the Celestial City. Yet, throughout the allegory, many come and try to distract Pilgrim and get him to follow a different path that leads away from the City. Sometimes they’re successful, Christian reaps consequences from following a different path, panics, and urgently tries to get on the WAY again.

What John Bunyan was illustrating in this book is what Jesus is saying to his followers and to us today.

There is only one way to heaven — Jesus Christ.

The narrow path is then exclusive. All roads don’t lead to heaven. All religions don’t lead to heaven. All people do not go to heaven.

Christ says the path to heaven is exclusively through Jesus Christ, and only a few will find and follow it.

Listen to Jesus’ words in John 10:9

John 10:9 KJV 1900

9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

John 14:6 KJV 1900

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

You are going to encounter people who do not believe this. People who believe worshipping nature, worshipping, themselves, or worshipping nothing will ultimately lead them to heaven. This is called universalism. And it’s the idea that all people, even if they don’t accept and believe in Christ, will go to heaven.

This belief is contrary to what Jesus is saying here and what we see all throughout Scripture. So…

“If you are not on the way to Christ, you are on the way from Him.” — Boice

So, we all are making the decision each day to be on the path to Christ or not. What Christ implores is that we choose today that we will enter in, that we will make Christ our Savior and trust in Him for eternal life.

Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV 1900

19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

What path are you following? Who or what are you trusting in to get you to heaven?

But next, Jesus presents us with this question:

WHAT FRUIT ARE YOU BEARING? (vs.15-20)

Matthew 7:15–20 KJV 1900

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Yes or No — Can works save you?

Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV 1900

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Works can never save us. Our works aren’t meant for justification, but rather for identification. As believers, our works identify us with Christ.

James 2:17 KJV 1900

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Works are a proof of our faith.

The principle here is simply: Your works reveal who you really are.

Jesus presents a dichotomy for us to consider. Good fruit reveals a good heart. Evil fruit reveals a corrupt heart. A good heart cannot bear evil fruit. An evil heart cannot bear good fruit.

Ok you all are very smart so let’s think about this for a moment…

Can you fool others with your fruit? Can you make people think that you’re good when you’re in fact evil? Can you make people think you’re evil when you’re in fact good?

Do you think that we label fruit the wrong way? (example: is coming to church good fruit? it can be good.) What do you think makes good fruit good and bad fruit bad?

This goes back to our motivations that we talked about on Sunday. If our motivations determines the goodness or badness of our works, who truly knows whether someone is bearing good fruit or bad fruit?

Here’s two points from this passage:

Examine your own fruit.

You and God are the only ones who truly know the state of your fruit. Examine yourself.

How do you think others perceive your fruit? Do your teammates see good godly fruit or fruit that blends in with the world? Do your parents see good godly fruit or fruit that blends in with the world? What about this… Are your friends more comfortable with good godly fruit or fruit that blends in or glorifies the world? (give an example)

Beware of those will evil fruit.

Christ says that we will be able to tell others by their fruit. So he tells us beware.

How do you know someone has evil fruit? (have the teens give an example — teaches universalism, teaches licentiousness, etc.)

We should stay away from those who are false prophets and teachers.

But here’s the connection between the fruit and the path…

Only those who have entered in to a relationship with Christ Jesus can produce good fruit.

Jesus tells us that all others — those who do not bring forth good fruit will be judged, hewn down, and cast into fire.

John 15:1–5 KJV 1900

1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Here’s the secret to producing good fruit… Abide in Christ. Follow Christ. Have a strong relationship with Christ. Follow those who follow Christ.

The solution to producing fruit is Christ. It’s not trying harder. It’s not fooling others. It’s not being hypocritical. It’s only through Christ Jesus.

How do we abide in Christ? (prayer, Bible reading, godly friends and mentors, church, worship, etc.)

What path are you following? What fruit are you bearing?

WHOSE WILL ARE YOU ACCOMPLISHING? (vs.21-23)

Matthew 7:21–23 KJV 1900

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Did you know that not everyone who claims to follow Christ will enter into heaven? Did you know that 66% of teens raised in church will drop out of church once they graduate high school? This is scary stuff! And I don’t want that for any of you.

These are some of the saddest verses in the Scriptures — “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Imagine getting to heaven one day after professing Christ only for Christ to say he never knew you. How could that happen?

Christ shows us that only those who do the will of the Father will enter into the kingdom of heaven.

What is the will of the Father? (*plug for Just Do Something)

Remember Matthew 6:33

Matthew 6:33 KJV 1900

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

“The will of God is simply: moral purity, theological fidelity, compassion, joy, our witness, faithfulness, hospitality, love, worship, and faith. These are His big concerns.” — Kevin DeYoung

How might we be in danger of following Christ while seeking our own will? (We can follow Christ because of a promise for a better life / Steven V. We can follow Christ because our parents follow Christ. We can follow Christ to get something out of Christ / for miracles.)

Here’s where everything comes full circle. Remember at the beginning I said that You Will Be Known. In the end, when we come to stand before Christ, our costume/mask will be taken off and our true selves will be revealed. We will be judged. And some may be deemed to not be believers. How scary and how sad.

But, for some of us, pretend Jesus goes to remove our mask and nothing comes off. We lived just as we said. We believed truly in Jesus and bore good fruit. What a joy!

The path you’re walking reveals who you are. The fruit you’re bearing reveals who you are. The will you’re accomplishing reveals who you are. So be encouraged, or be warned.

CONCLUSION:

As way of conclusion, I want to encourage us in one area. Some of us may think that the lesson we just heard means that if you bear one single piece of bad fruit that you’re not a Christian. That’s not true. Why? We are still imperfect sinners continually in need of the strength and forgiveness of Christ.

Here’s my encouragement. One of the most often overlooked fruits of the believer is that of confession and repentance — not only to God, but to others. It’s not ok to sin, but it’s ok that we sin. Why? We’re human. But God wants to see what we do with our sin. Do you hide it from others? Or do you seek accountability from others? Do you pretend to be righteous, but really are not because you’re unwilling to deal with your sin?

Here’s what I want you to understand: This church, this youth group is a place where we are free to be sinners. You’re free to confess your sin, not be judged, and get help. Honestly, this is something that I try to practice with others in the church as well.

Good fruit is honest, vulnerable, accountable, and repentant.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What path are you following? (Matthew 7:13–14)

If someone were to look at your everyday choices—your habits, your friend group, your priorities—what “path” would they say you’re on? Why?

What are the biggest distractions or detours that try to pull you off the narrow way? How do you usually respond to them?

What’s one area of your life where choosing the narrow path feels hardest, but also most worth it?

2. What fruit are you bearing? (Matthew 7:15–20)

If your fruit reveals your heart, what kind of fruit have you been showing lately at home, school, or on your team?

What’s one example of “good fruit” that is easy to fake? How can a teen tell the difference between genuine fruit and pretend fruit in their own life?

Who in your life helps you produce good fruit by encouraging you to abide in Christ? What do they do that helps you?

3. Whose will are you accomplishing? (Matthew 7:21–23)

What’s a way teens might “look Christian on the outside” but still live for their own agenda? Why is this tempting?

How does seeking God’s will (Matthew 6:33) practically shape the decisions you make about friends, entertainment, or school life?

What do you think it truly means for Jesus to “know you”? What does that relationship look like day to day?

PRAYER PROMPTS:

1. “Lord, show me my path.”

Ask Jesus to reveal whether you’ve been walking the narrow way or drifting toward the wide way.

Pray for clarity, conviction, and courage to choose the path that leads to life—even when it’s hard.

2. “Lord, grow Your fruit in me.”

Ask God to help you abide in Christ and to produce real fruit: honesty, repentance, purity, compassion, obedience.

Ask Him to reveal any “fake fruit” or hidden sin that needs confession and accountability.

3. “Lord, align my will with Yours.”

Pray that your motives, decisions, and desires would reflect God’s will—not your own agenda.

Ask Jesus to help you love Him more than what He gives you.

JOURNAL PROMPTS:

“Where am I walking?” Write honestly about which path your life habits show you’re choosing right now. Be specific—not just “I need to do better.”

“What fruit do others see?” Think through what your parents, friends, teachers, or teammates would say your fruit looks like. What fruit are you proud of? What fruit concerns you?

“Do I want God’s will or my own?” Describe a recent situation where your desires clashed with what you know God wanted. What did you choose, and what did it reveal?