2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
Mt 7:21-23 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 in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’
“It looks like true religion. The person comes to church because he’s been summoned by a bell, repeats words because others do the same, hears what is delivered from the pulpit with little attention or affection, unless something occurs that exalts self or soothes conscience. And then he runs with eagerness out the door” (Thomas Manton, 17th century Puritan)
I. Don’t just tell me (vs 14-17)
vs 14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
Mt 25 When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He’ll place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left…
I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.
When did we see you hungry, thirsty and naked? I lived in the 21st century & you walked the earth in the 1st century. And the King will say, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. You saw needy people and did nothing about it at all.’
II. Show me (vs 18-19)
vs 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith w/o deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
vs 19 You believe God is one, you do well. Even the demons believe and shudder.
Mark 1:23 There was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”
