Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev19960324.htm

MATTHEW: JESUS AS ISRAEL'S MESSIAH AND HIS MESSIANIC KINGDOM
Part VII: Discerning True Kingdom Righteousness From Mere Religiosity
D. Christ's TRUE Righteousness As Contrasted With Religiosity's Bankrupt Practices
6. Contrasting Man's Idea Of Good Religious Experience With God's TRUE Experience
(Matthew 7:13-27)
  1. Introduction
    1. The Pharisees taught enough of the Mosaic Law that Jesus told his followers to heed what they expounded from the Scriptures in the synagogues, Mtt. 23:2-3a.
    2. However, unless one's righteousness exceeded the righteousness of the Pharisees, in no way could he enter heaven according to Jesus, Mtt. 5:20.
    3. If the Pharisees were so accurate on Bible exposition, but so lost regarding their eternal destiny, the need exists to discern between true and false religious experiences.
    4. Matthew 7:13-27 defines the difference between the true and false religious lifestyle and experience.
  2. Contrasting Man's Idea Of Good Religious Experience With God's TRUE Experience, Mtt. 7:13-27.
    1. The belief that the majority opinion on the truth thus constitutes the truth is inaccurate, for the minority go the correct way where the majority go to destruction, Mtt. 7:13-14:
      1. Jesus commanded his hearers to enter God's true way through the narrow gate, Mtt. 7:13a.
      2. The inclusive, ecumenical way the majority uses does not lead to blessing, but to destruction, 7:13b.
      3. The narrow way through which the minority enter is the true way opposite majority opinion, for that narrow, correct route leads to God's blessing for salvation and true spirituality, Mtt. 7:14.
    2. The belief that all ministers present God's truth is inaccurate; we must discern godly from ungodly ones:
      1. Not all ministers are godly, for some only take selfish, destructive advantage of their hearers like ferocious wolves in sheep's clothing, Mtt. 7:15.
      2. We can discern between godly and ungodly ministers as follows, Mtt. 7:16-19:
        1. Test all ministers according to what their lives produce, Mtt. 7:16-18, 20: (a) Ministers, like trees, inevitably and unalterably produce in their lives what is in their hearts, the godly ministers producing what is good and ungodly ones what is evil, 7:16a,16b-18. (b) Accordingly, we ought to take enough time to be able to evaluate the lifestyle of a minister before accepting his instruction from the pulpit, cf. also 1 Timothy 5:22, 24-25.
        2. Test ministers according to the inevitable results of their ministries: (a) those ministers who are godly have their efforts preserved by God while (b) those who have their lives and ministries ruined are not doing His will, Mtt. 7:19. Thus, we can tell them by the fruits of ministry results, Mtt. 7:20.
    3. The belief that all who profess to be eternally saved are saved is inaccurate, for there are false and true professions of salvation, Mtt. 7:21-23:
      1. Jesus stated that not all who say to him, "Lord, Lord" will be saved, 7:21a.
      2. In fact, many on judgment day will say to Jesus, "Lord, Lord" and claim to be saved for performing even many miraculous and anti-demonic works in Christ's name only to be sent to hell, Mtt. 7:22-23a.
      3. According to Jesus, a mere profession of faith does not cut it with God, nor attesting works themselves but one's really being KNOWN by Christ by being truly saved, Mtt. 7:23.
      4. We know from John 3:16 that true salvation comes by faith alone in Christ, not by professing to know the Lord or by professing to be saved due to attesting works!
    4. With these facts in mind, Jesus warned His listeners that it was not how one went through the motions of religiosity that mattered, but upon what foundation his religious efforts were constructed that produced divine blessing. We have to base our religious activities and words upon God's truth or all of the actions and words we perform in a religious setting will eventually fail like a house built on sand, Mtt. 7:24-27!
Lesson: False religiosity heeds majority opinion where true spirituality goes the Bible-based way though it is in the minority opinion. False spirituality ministers have evil lifestyles and calamitous ministry results where godly ones live upright ly and have God bless their ministries. People with artificial professions of salvation say the right things and do the right things, but don't have a personal relationship with God. Those of true faith personally know the Lord as Savior!