(Text and Audio)
Title: Lord, Lord
A Claim (supposedly) points to a truth, but it is not Truth itself
Twice in this passage, once in v. 21 and then again in v.22 we see Jesus use the example of “Lord, Lord.” Any guesses as to why? (Take answers.)
The doubling of a name was actually an address of intimacy.
Think of it this way. Imagine if in the middle of my sermon George W. Bush walked into the back of our sanctuary, surrounded by an entourage and a few very intimidating Secret Service agents. What would your honest initial reaction be? How might you address him? (Take answers.)
Now also imagine if I approached the entourage with no fear, had a huge grin on my face, extended my arms and said, “Dub. Get over here you old Texas rascal!” And gave the former President a big hug. You would rightly assume, based at least in part on the manner in which I addressed President Bush, that I knew him, correct.
Well, in the same manner, the first century greeting of “Lord, Lord” was an equivalent of intimacy. Consider:
- Genesis 22:11 But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.”
2. Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.”
Application: Because we speak something, doesn’t make it true. Only God has that type of quality to Him. Many will claim to know God, but their claim is not a guarantee that they actually do know God. Someone who has a reputation, or a title like Dr., Reverend, Deacon, or Pastor may make a claim to intimacy with God. But we must remember that a claim is just that. It is a claim to a truth, but it is not a truth itself.
Conclusion: Entering heaven is not based on a claim of intimacy.
- A work by any other name is still a work
The next thing that we see Jesus say in verse 22 is that “many” will come forward on the day of judgement and again, using the intimate address of “Lord, Lord”, point to evidences of their works as proof that they know God.
Now, this is where this passage becomes particularly interesting to me for a few reasons.
First, in our society today, if you were to ask most people if they believe in some form of heaven or hell, some form of judgement, they’d probably say yes. And if you were to then ask them which place they were going, they’d probably say heaven. (Very few people both believe in Hell, and believe they are going there.) Then if you were to ask them why it was that they thought they’d go to Heaven, in most cases, often even with supposed Christians, what do you think the answer would be? (Take answers.)
Most of them will say they are going to heaven because they are generally a “good” person, or they have done more “good” things than “bad” things.
So, essentially, whether they realize it or not, they are arguing for a works based salvation.
What are some of the works that many think will grant them access to Heaven?
- Good deeds
- Church attendance
- Tithing
- Church rituals: membership, communion, confirmation, etc.
- others?
Now, compare that list with what Jesus says these people will be claiming. They say, “Did we not prophecy in your name?” When was the last time you or I prophesied in Jesus’ name?
They say, “We cast out demons in your name!” When was the last time you cast out a demon in the name of Jesus?
They say, “We did many wonders (miracles) in your name!” When was the last time you did a miracle in Jesus name?
What’s my point here? Their list is much more impressive than our list. Both groups are arguing for the same thing, works based salvation. Both groups are saying, “But Lord, look at what I’ve done for you!” I’m just saying, what they’ve done is quite a bit more impressive, yet God rejects them both.
Now, today we do have people that seem to, or claim to perform miraculous things in the name of Jesus: faith healings, huge movements of the Spirit, etc. But what we often do is point to the seeming fruit of someone’s labor and conclude that these people must be holy, they must know God.
Many will look at the followings of people like Joel Osteen, with 20,000 plus at each Sunday morning service, or Robert Schueller with his televised crystal cathedral, or Rob Bell with hundreds of thousands of books sold, and they will conclude: Their works are obviously being blessed by God, therefore, they must have the favor or God, therefore they must know God, and God must know them.
Listen, I’m not trying to qualify their salvation, but each of these men have highly questionable theologies, and my point is that the stuff that they are doing pales in comparison to doing miracles in Jesus’ name. Yet those people, doing the miracles are still being told, “I never knew you, depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.”
Application: Do not judge someone’s faith only by their works. Works can be misleading. Works and fruit are not the same thing. The works of Joel Osteen are impressive, he gets people in seats. The fruit of Joel Osteen (what he says and teaches once these people are in the seats) is highly problematic.
Conclusion: Entering Heaven is not based on works, even if those works are miraculous.
Close:
Okay, so what, then is the answer? I can’t tell you…until next week. But I will give you hint: Jesus is a good teacher. He, unlike me, won’t leave these people hanging. Verse 24 goes a long way to helping us understand how we know we know God.