THE « LORD LORD CROWD ». ARE THEY MERELY DELUDED CHURCH MEMBERS?

It’s indeed sobering to realize that there are people seated in churches every Sunday who suffer from the deadly “Lord, Lord,” delusion. It is abundantly clear that Jesus didn’t hold back in warning His listeners of that imminent, eternal danger.

Hell has many residents who formerly professed faith in Christ. They didn’t “lose their salvation” because that’s biblically impossible (John 10:27–29). They are people who claimed to know Jesus, only to find out that Jesus didn’t know them.

It’s hard to think of any scenario in all of Scripture more horrifying than standing before Christ on Judgment Day with a false assurance of one’s salvation.

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 will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in lYour name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?” And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” (Matthew 7:21–23)

We need to remember that this passage is referring to unsaved church members. It isn’t referring to atheists, pagans, or cult members. Those condemned by Christ in Matthew 7 are people who address Christ as Lord. People who, in all likelihood, have professed some connection to the same gospel that we believe!

Christ’s warning requires distinctions that are far more subtle than the obvious differences between the church and the world. We need to be able to distinguish the dividing line between true and false Christians. Moreover, on a personal level, we need to be able to discern where we really stand with the Lord.

There is no hope of heaven for those who do not believe the gospel. But, the shocking thing is that even among those who believe and say, “Lord, Lord, we preached in your name, we cast out demons in your name, we did mighty works in your name,” there will be those who have no hope of heaven.

The shock is that many who call Jesus “Lord” will be sent by God to eternal hell. This then is a riveting critical passage in a day and a time when lots of people call themselves Christians. There has been no change, no transformation. They have just added “Jesus” without any true commitment to being an obedient slave who is true to his/her master.

It’s sobering to realize that there are people seated in churches every Sunday who suffer from this deadly delusion. And Jesus didn’t hold back in warning His listeners of that imminent, eternal danger.

In Matthew 7:13–27 into six dichotomies, contrasting the way to heaven and the way to hell. There are

two gates,

two ways,

two crowds,

Two behaviors,

two foundations

two destinations.

In each case, only one of them is right.

Are we faithfully preaching the gospel and calling these unsaved church members to conviction of sin, repentance, confession and the need for them to be obedient DOERS and followers of Jesus, and not merely “LORD LORD” SAYERS!