Lawlessness 2: The Common Denominator...in Hell!

Lawlessness 2: The Common Denominator...in Hell!
Brad Reiches
Oct 12 2007 10:34AM

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Friday, October 12, 2007

GodThoughtsWired!

"LAWLESSNESS!"

THE COMMON DENOMINATOR...IN HELL!

2

"Depart from Me (Jesus), you who practice lawlessness."

Matthew 7:23

anomia:  "lawlessness., sin, without the law."

INCREDIBLY!  The individuals to whom Jesus is referring to here (Matthew 7:23), are church-going, Jesus-confessing, ministry-participating people who believe with all their hearts that they are Christians!  The context of the lesson that Jesus gives us here is PROFOUND!  Let's take a look:

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' 

will enter the kingdom of Heaven; but he who

does the will of My Father who is in Heaven.

Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord,

did we not prophecy in Your name, and in Your

name cast out demons, and in Your name perform

many miracles?'  And then I will declare to them,

Depart from Me (Jesus), you who practice lawlessness."

Matthew 7:21-23

Note 1:  "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of Heaven..."(v. 21).  Just because someone verbally acknoledges that Jesus is Lord DOES NOT NECESSARILY mean they are saved!  Remember the warning of James,

"You believe that God is one.  You do well;

the demons also believe, and shudder."

James 2:19

Demons know who Jesus is.  They are aware, and they acknowledge that Jesus is God.  However, demons are not saved because they do not put their trust in Jesus, nor do they submit to Him as Lord and Savior.  Those who have a "demon-like" belief in Jesus will wind up in hell!*

Note 2:  "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord,did we not prophecy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'"(v. 22). 

Just because someone is involved in ministry DOES NOT NECESSARILY mean they know Jesus!  "To obey is better than sacrifice" (1 Samuel 15:22).  "I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice" (Hosea 6:6).  Remember, Jesus is ALWAYS looking at the heart.  He can ALWAYS see through the facade of empty ritual and identify the true condition of the soul.  Those who "practice lawlessness," known, willful rebellion over time, are in great danger of being eternally separated from God on the day of judgment (see Matthew 25:41, 46), no matter what position they may have held in the church. 

*For an in-depth study click on, The Bible Says Series:  HELL.