Skip to content
Share
Explore
August 14, 2025
Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord...
In Matthew 7:21-29, Jesus told His followers, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"
The people Jesus spoke to believed they would receive everlasting life and peace. They thought Jesus would welcome them because they had done amazing things in His name. They were good people who participated in the rituals and rites of Christianity and even displayed the power of the Spirit by performing miracles. How could that not be enough?
Sadly, many professing Christians will find themselves in the same situation on the Day of Judgment. Pastors, preachers, cardinals, priests, deacons, elders, Christian authors, performers, choir members, church workers, missionaries, and countless participants in cultural Christianity from all backgrounds will hear the horrifying words of Jesus: "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!"
How could this happen?
In the New Testament, there are multiple instances where Jesus urges His listeners to imitate His actions. He often stated that He only does what the Father directs Him to do. This understanding leads us to a critical point Jesus made in Luke 6:46-49 when he said: “Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed, and its destruction was complete.”
In simple terms, every professing Christian who is turned away on that dreadful day failed to follow Jesus' instructions to do what He said and, by extension, do His Father's will.
In the passage from Luke, Jesus even highlights the irony of calling Him Lord while failing to obey Him. It makes no sense. A lord has authority and commands obedience. The people of Jesus' time understood well what it meant to have a ruler or master. Disobedience could result in penalties ranging from lost wages to imprisonment or even death. Unfortunately, many professing Christians desire a savior but not a Lord. And as Jesus states, you cannot have one without the other.
So, what does Jesus command?
Among His many directives, one stands out above the rest. In Matthew 16:24-26, Jesus tells His disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?"
What does it mean to deny ourselves and take up our cross?
As we have seen, it does not mean mere participation in Christian cultural practices. Likewise, it does not mean seeing the suffering in the world and occasionally responding with a donation or putting on a cheerful face while quietly swallowing our contempt for those we dislike. It does not involve ensuring that the church kitchen is staffed or the choir robes are washed. It does not mean listening to Christian music, reading our bible, putting a fish emblem on our car, or wearing a cross around our neck.
What denying ourselves and taking up our cross does mean is quite alarming. It means we are preparing to die with Him.
Imagine if you will that once we grasp the wooden beam and heft it to our shoulders, there is no turning back. We stand condemned alongside Jesus in full view of the world. Choosing to take up the cross places us on a path of ridicule, scorn, mockery, and even death—all because of our love for Him and our faith that He is the promised Messiah who alone can save us. To take up the cross means turning our backs on our own lives and giving ourselves over to complete transformation from the inside out by His fathomless love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness.
Simon Peter set us an example.
After many followers had turned away due to His challenging teachings, Jesus turned and asked the twelve, "Do you want to leave me too?" Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:67-69)
Peter built well.
Want to print your doc?
This is not the way.
This is not the way.
Try clicking the ··· in the right corner or using a keyboard shortcut (
CtrlP
) instead.