The Worst Words You Could Ever Hear

Introduction

Good morning Church! I want to begin by saying thank you to each of you for coming out today to join us for our Annual Homecoming Meeting.

Today for me is always such a special day. I don’t really know why but I’ve just always loved Homecoming Sunday.

Now, some would say it’s because of the food and although that is definitely a plus, it’s not the main reason.

I believe it’s because deep down, I see a sliver of what eternity might be like.

God’s people coming together to worship and adore Him, to learn more about Him, and a time of fellowship with friends and loved ones following.

There’s just a special air about Homecoming day and I don’t know about you but I’m ready for that final Homecoming Day when I reach my home on high to be with Jesus, my Lord, my Savior, and my God, forever more, Amen!

Now, don’t get me wrong it’ll be nice to see our loved one’s who have gone on before as well but just to lay eyes on my Jesus, the one who gave His life for me and to bow in His presence and say “Thank You”, that’s what I look forward to most!

What a day that will be Amen!

I say this often but I mean it with all sincerity, I just love how God works things out!

We started this journey in Jesus Sermon on the Mount the first Sunday in March and finally, six and half months later, we have made our way to the last passage in this amazing, all encompassing sermon.

Now, this is where I want to show you how God never ceases to amaze me.

When I began this study of the Sermon on the Mount, I had no idea how many messages it would entail, or when we would finally get through it, but God has worked it out that today, Homecoming Sunday, we will be looking at the final passage in His Son’s most prolific sermon at Jesus teaching on an eternal Homecoming for each and every one of us.

Isn’t that just amazing!

Over the last three weeks now, we have looked at Jesus teaching on two roads and two gates in Verses 13-14…there was the straight gate and the narrow way that one could take that leads to life or there was the wide gate and the broad way that one could take that leads unto destruction.

Jesus told us in that teaching that “many” will enter in at the wide gate and take the broad way that leads unto destruction while “few” will take the narrow way and enter in through the straight gate that leads unto life.

Then, last week, we looked Jesus teaching on two different kinds of trees. There is the good tree that brings for good fruit and then there’s the bad tree that bringeth forth bad fruit.

We learned to beware of false prophets who come in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravening wolves.

We looked at the characteristics of a false prophet and how to tell them apart from a true disciple of God. And we were taught that we could tell the trees apart by the fruit that they bare.

Most importantly, in both of these previous sermons we have realized that the number two is very significant in the fact that there are only two.

Not three or four or more but simply two.

“Preacher what are you saying?”

What I’m saying is this…Jesus made it very clear that there are only two kinds of people in this world and there are only two outcomes of where you and I will spend eternity.

The person who chooses the wide gate and the broad way will spend eternity separated from God, while the the person who chooses the narrow way and the straight gate will inherit life eternal and spend eternity singing the praises of the one who set them free from their sin and shame.

One bears good fruit, while one bears bad fruit and Jesus said by their fruits we shall know them.

Two paths, two gates, two trees and two fates.

Today, we will finish out this Sermon on the Mount by looking at the fates of which choice we make.

Jesus makes a Declaration, then gives us an Explanation and finishes it out by showing us an Illustration describing the consequences of the choice we make.

My prayer is that every single person sitting here today can say without a doubt that you have been born again, you have trusted in Jesus to save you from your sins, and that you have chosen to take that narrow path and enter in through that straight gate which is the Lord Jesus Christ and leads to life eternal...

But if you have not, what I want you to know without a shadow of a doubt before leaving here today is that if you don’t make that move before the day of your eternal Homecoming, it will have been to late and destruction will be your demise.

Weeping and gnashing of teeth, darkness, a place where the worm dieth not and the fire is never quenched, eternally separated from God…that is the homecoming you have to look forward to if you determine in your heart that you don’t need this man named Jesus.

A Homecoming I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy and a Homecoming that I assure you God never wanted for you.

Paul told young Timothy in...

1 Timothy 2:3–6 KJV 1900

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

God wants everyone to be saved; everyone to trust in His Son; everyone to spend eternity in Heaven.

But when you choose to go it alone, and do it on your own, there’s only one outcome left for you…The Worst Words You Will Ever Hear… “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

I pray those words settle upon your heart this morning and I pray that every person sitting here can say beyond a shadow of a doubt, “Brother Bobby I know I will never hear those words for I have trusted in Christ” but if you can’t, if you’ve never taken that step before, I beg you to get things right here today!

I pray that the Holy Spirit of God gets a hold of you right now and shows you your lost condition and need of salvation and then, I pray that you will take this opportunity God has given you here today to get things right with Him for if you don’t, these will be The Worst Words You Will Ever Hear!

Matthew 7 starting in Verse 21…if you have it would you say, Amen.

The Declaration — (Vs. 21)

Jesus begins His declaration by telling us that not everyone who calls Him Lord is going to enter into heaven.

When He says here, not “everyone” who refers to Him as Lord is going to enter into heaven that means some will and some won’t, right?

Knowing that, we need to break down the rest of the verse in order to understand just “WHO” will enter that say unto Him Lord, Lord.

He goes on to say… “but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

So, let’s break down who is and who is not and how we can tell them apart.

In the first part Jesus says, “not all who “say” to me Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that “doeth” the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

Not he/she who says but he/she who does.

This came to me as I was studying this part…It’s not he/she who calls Him Lord but he/she who makes Him Lord.

You see, anyone can call Him Lord, anyone can use the name of Jesus but only those who make Him Lord of their lives will enter into the kingdom of heaven.

There’s a little story in Acts Chapter 19 I want to show you here to help drive this point home.

Over in Acts Chapter 19 the Bible tells us that Paul had been preaching in Ephesus and teaching them there for two years or so and that God was using him mightily through the performing of miracles.

Well some of the Jews, who were considered exorcists, at some point, seen the miracles that God was doing through Paul and how that undoubtedly he was healing and casting out demonic spirits in the name of Jesus and they thought they could do the same by simply using the name of Jesus but look what happens...

Acts 19:13–20

13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

I believe this is a perfect illustration in which God’s word shows us the difference in those who refer to Him as Lord and those who regard Him as Lord.

The difference between those who simply know who Jesus is and those who know Him personally.

The difference in those who only want the benefits of His Lordship without surrendering to His Lordship.

Listen to me this morning friend, it’s not good enough to call Him Lord, you must consider Him Lord.

It’s not good enough to say Lord, Lord but you must submit to His Lordship over your life!

And when you submit to His Lordship over your life, the will of His Father you will want to do, Amen!

James reiterated His brother’s command in...

James 1:22 — But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

And this was such a hot topic with James that he continued the thought on over into chapter 2. In Chapter 2 Verse 14 he says...

James 2:14 — What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

James 2:17–18 — 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

James 2:20 — But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

James 2:24 — Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

James 2:26 — For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Listen, when you make Jesus Lord over your life, your life is then hid with Christ and it becomes no longer your life that you want to live but rather the life that He’d have you live and I can assure you that if you are living the life that Christ would have you live, it will be backed up with some form or fashion of works for Him and the Kingdom of God.

You will want to offer Him the fruits of your labor because of what He did for you!

We don’t work to be saved but we work because we’ve been saved and understand the price that freedom cost our Lord and understand the principle behind...

Romans 12:1 — I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

When you’ve made Jesus your Lord, when you come to know the one, true God who sacrificed His life on Calvary for you, you in turn will be willing, happy, overjoyed even to live your life in sacrifice to Him because you understand it’s the least you can do for Him considering what He’s done for you!

And that’s exactly what He’s saying right here in this verse… “if you’ve truly made me Lord, just as I came not to do mine own will but the will of my Father who has sent me, you too, if you know me personally will seek to do the will of my Father.”

What is the will of God?

That all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of truth and live a life in obedience to His Word.

2 Peter 3:9 — The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

1 Timothy 2:3–6

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

God’s will is for all to be saved but it’s also for those of us who have been saved to share the good news of our salvation with others!

Matthew 28:19–20

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

This wasn’t a suggestion but rather a command and we need today more than ever before to see it as such.

We get this idea that if I don’t do it, someone else will but dear friend that’s not the mindset that God wants of His children.

If you’ve accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior your first and foremost duty is to share that good news with someone else!

The most important gift that God has given you is a testimony and not for yourself but for everyone around you, everyone you come in contact with on a daily basis.

Use it! It’s the greatest tool you’ve been given!

“Well Bro. Bobby I’m not good at talking, I’m an introvert.”

Well what are you good at would be my question?

Whatever you are good at, think of how you can use that gift to share the good news of Jesus Christ with someone else!

Don’t quote me on this but I believe it was Adrian Rogers who use to say God doesn’t need any secret agent Christians.

Listen friend, if God has called you into His fold it’s because you have a gift and I assure you that He’s given you that gift, some way, some how to share the good news of His dear Son with a lost and dying world!

So the question I want to ask those of you who have been born again this morning is this…what are you doing with the gift He’s given you to share Jesus with a lost and dying world?

Are you being a hearer only or a doer of the Word?

Do you refer to Him as Lord or have you regarded Him as Lord over your life?

Jesus begins His final moments with a Declaration...

Matthew 7:21 — 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.

Then He takes it a step further with an Explanation.

The Explanation — (Vs. 22-23)

Jesus says here that on judgment day people will try to plead their case to Him.

Matthew 7:22 — 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?

They will rely on the works that they have done.

Now your probably thinking to yourself, “he just harped having works for 10 minutes and now he’s saying these people had all kinds of works and still ain’t gonna make it in?”

The difference is these people are relying on their works for salvation.

Our faith doesn’t rely on our works.

Our faith relies on the finished work of Jesus Christ on Calvary but because of our faith in Jesus, we will also have works to back it up.

The crowd Jesus is talking about here though has all kinds of works but no worship.

And the reason there is no worship is because they’ve never considered the worth-ship of Jesus in their lives.

What exactly do I mean by that?

Notice what Jesus says to them there…“I never knew you:”

What does Jesus mean when He says these words?

You have to keep something in mind here...

Jesus is God, correct?

And if Jesus is God, that means Jesus is also omniscient, correct?

To be omniscient means to know everything.

But He says here, “I never knew you.”

So, does that mean Jesus doesn’t know everything or everyone?

Absolutely not.

The word “Knew” used here is the Greek word (ginōskō). It is a verb that means to know, to understand, or to acknowledge. It refers to having knowledge or understanding regarding a subject.

Vine’s Dictionary put it this way...

In the NT ginōskō frequently indicates a relation between the person "knowing" and the object known; in this respect, what is "known" is of value or importance to the one who knows, and hence the establishment of the relationship, e.g., especially of God's "knowledge," 1 Cor. 8:3, "if any man love God, the same is known of Him;"

So what exactly does Jesus mean here when He says, “I never knew you:?”

There will be those on judgment day who Jesus never knew because they cared not to get to know Him.

You see friend, Jesus wants a relationship with every single person sitting here today.

These folks had religion but religion isn’t enough!

You must have a relationship and Jesus wants to have a relationship with you but if you don’t want the same, He’s not going to force it upon you for then it would be out of dictation and not desire.

Jesus wants you to desire a relationship with Him. He wants to get to know and in turn, wants you to get to know Him.

He has already proven His love for you by dying for you and simply asks that you see that love that He has for you and asks you to reciprocate it back to Him.

He died for you so that you might live for Him!

And in living He simply wants you to love Him and learn of Him.

Matthew 11:29 — Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

He explains that there will be many who rely upon religion to get them into heaven but religion alone won’t do it.

It takes a relationship.

And for those who show up on judgment day without a relationship with the one and only Son of God these will be the worst words they will ever hear...

“Depart from me ye that work iniquity.”

These words will ring for all eternity upon the ears of it’s hearers.

“I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

The word iniquity means lawlessness and ties back into Jesus declaration…the difference between those who say and those who do.

The disciple whom Jesus loved stated in...

1 John 2:4–5 — 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

Are you keeping the commandments of God this morning?

Do you strive each day to live by God’s standards laid forth in this Book we call a Bible?

Do you strive each day to make Jesus sermon on the mount your guidebook?

Have you opened your heart to Jesus and allowed Him to come in and clean up your life?

Are you living your life for Him or for yourself?

These are a few of the questions I think we should ask ourselves after looking at Jesus Explanation of His Declaration.

And finally this morning, we’re going to look at the Illustration He gives to finish it all up and tie it all together.

The Illustration — (Vs. 24-29)

In this final illustration Jesus talks about two houses and differences in how they are built and the outcome of how each built them.

I want you to know that how you build your house is up to you.

It’s not your mom and dad’s decision, your spouses decision, it’s your decision as to how you build your house and what it’s founded upon.

And Jesus says here, “whosoever hears these sayings of mine and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man who built his house upon a rock.”

Now, I also want to point out two different decisions to be made here.

There’s the decision to be wise and the decision to be foolish.

Jesus says those who hear His teachings and does them will be wise, while those who hear only and follow not his teachings will be foolish.

He says here that the wise man built his house on a rock.

In Luke 6:48 Luke’s gospel says the wise man “digged deep” and laid the foundation on a rock.

And the rains descended and the floods came and the winds blew and beat upon that house and it fell not for it was founded upon a rock.

Listen, if your building your life on any other foundation than the Lord Jesus Christ, your house will one day fall.

All may seem well on this side of eternity but I assure you that when you leave this walk of life and stand before almighty God one day, the storms of His wrath against your sin will cause the house you have built to crumble!

The most unwise decision a person could ever make is building their foundation on anything other than the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus went on to say, “those who hear my sayings and doeth them not, shall be likened to a foolish man, which built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house and it fell and great was the fall of it.”

Here we have right the opposite of the wise man who put in the effort to dig deep and build his house upon a rock.

The person who hears the teachings of Jesus, who knows God’s word, yet decides in their heart to live however they want instead of how God wants, is foolish.

The word for “foolish” used here is the Greek word (mōros) and it describes people or actions that demonstrate folly or lack of forethought.

It’s literally where we get our English word moron from.

When I read this passage, I see a person who knew better than to build their house on the sand but someone who didn’t want to take the time or put in the effort to dig deep and find a rock to lay their foundation on.

I see someone who knew the teachings, heard the sayings, understood the eternal outcomes of each decision but chose instead to take easier route thinking somehow, some way, it would all be ok in the end.

They think that they will get away with simply building on the sand.

I want to assure you this morning that you have a decision to make.

You can choose to be wise or you can choose to be foolish.

You can choose to build upon a rock or you can choose to build your life upon sand.

One choice will stand in the end on judgment day, the other will crumble before your very eyes.

Paul told the Corinthians in...

1 Corinthians 3:10–15

10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

What foundation have you built your life upon this morning?

Are you building on the rock solid foundation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ or are you building on the sands of the world?

I assure you on that final judgment day only one foundation will stand.

What final words will you hear when you stand before judge Jesus?

Well done thou good and faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things now I will make the ruler over many; enter thou into the joy of the Lord.

Or...

I never knew you: depart from me ye that work iniquity.

The choice this morning as to where you spend eternity and the words you hear on that day are up to you.

Please don’t let these dreadful words be the final words you will ever hear.

You have heard about two eternal decisions each person sitting here must make for themselves.

I adjure you to choose wisely and choose to build your foundation on the Lord Jesus Christ this morning.

If God is speaking to your heart, telling you that you need to be saved, during this invitation won’t you come and get things right with God?

Now is the accepted time and today is the day of salvation.

The chapter finishes by saying the people were astonished at His doctrine for He taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.

Jesus spoke with authority because He holds all authority in heaven and earth one day we will all meet Him face to face.

I pray you are prepared for that day, if not, get prepared today.