Sermons on Matthew 7:21-23
The various sermons below on Matthew 7:21-23 share a common emphasis on the necessity of a genuine, personal relationship with Jesus, rather than merely engaging in religious activities or verbal professions of faith. They collectively highlight the Greek word "genosco," underscoring the importance of knowing God intimately. Many sermons use analogies, such as social media friendships or the story of the Rich Young Ruler, to illustrate the superficiality of a faith that lacks true relational depth. They also stress the importance of doing the will of the Father, suggesting that authentic faith is evidenced by obedience and transformation, not just external acts or declarations. The sermons collectively warn against false assurance and the dangers of relying on religious acts without a true connection to Christ, using examples like the sons of Sceva to illustrate the inadequacy of formulaic expressions of faith.
In contrast, the sermons diverge in their thematic focus and illustrative approaches. One sermon uses a "salvation confidence matrix" to explore the danger of false assurance, while another emphasizes the narrowness of the path to salvation, using a metaphor of squeezing a grape to illustrate its difficulty. Some sermons focus on the theme of true grace, arguing that it empowers believers to live obediently, while others highlight the authority of Jesus' name, warning against its misuse without genuine relationship. Additionally, the sermons vary in their use of cultural references, such as the analogy of Freddie Adu, to critique superficial religiosity. These differences in approach provide a rich tapestry of insights, offering a pastor multiple angles from which to explore the passage's implications for authentic Christian living.
Matthew 7:21-23 Interpretation:
Transforming Faith: Deepening Your Relationship with God (Renovation Church) interprets Matthew 7:21-23 by emphasizing the difference between knowing about God and truly knowing God. The sermon uses the analogy of social media friendships to illustrate how many people have a superficial relationship with God, similar to how they "know" their Facebook friends. The sermon highlights the Greek word "genosco," which means to know personally and intimately, to stress the importance of a deep, personal relationship with Jesus rather than just intellectual knowledge.
Examining the Authenticity of Our Faith in Christ (Impact Church) interprets Matthew 7:21-23 by using a "salvation confidence matrix" to illustrate the danger of false assurance in one's salvation. The sermon emphasizes the importance of examining the authenticity of one's faith and warns against being in the quadrant where one is confident in their salvation but is not truly saved. The sermon uses Jonathan Edwards' "Religious Affections" to discuss signs of genuine faith versus false assurance.
True Grace: A Call to Holiness and Obedience (John Burton) interprets Matthew 7:21-23 by warning against the dangers of false grace, which suggests that obedience and works are unnecessary for salvation. The sermon stresses that true grace empowers believers to live obediently and that a lack of obedience can lead to eternal separation from God. The sermon uses the story of the Rich Young Ruler to illustrate the necessity of surrendering all to follow Jesus.
Building a Genuine Faith on Solid Foundations (New City Church) interprets Matthew 7:21-23 as a warning against superficial religiosity. The sermon emphasizes that merely professing faith or performing religious acts without genuine transformation and obedience to God's will is insufficient for entering the kingdom of heaven. The preacher uses the analogy of Freddie Adu, a soccer player who was hyped but did not live up to expectations, to illustrate how some Christians may profess faith but lack the substance of true discipleship.
Living with Authority: The Power of Jesus' Name (WFCOG) interprets Matthew 7:21-23 by emphasizing the importance of a genuine relationship with Jesus over mere verbal profession or religious acts. The sermon highlights that saying "Lord, Lord" without truly knowing Jesus and doing the will of the Father is inadequate. The preacher uses the example of the sons of Sceva from Acts, who tried to cast out demons in Jesus' name without truly knowing Him, to illustrate the danger of relying on formulaic expressions of faith without a real relationship with Christ.
Knowing Christ: The Path to True Righteousness (Harvest Community Church of Irvine) interprets Matthew 7:21-23 by emphasizing the importance of truly knowing Christ beyond performing miracles or prophesying in His name. The sermon highlights that doing the will of the Father is key, and knowing Christ involves an intimate relationship characterized by self-knowledge, love, and awareness, rather than just external acts of righteousness.
True Discipleship: Beyond Words to Genuine Relationship (River of Life Church Virginia) interprets Matthew 7:21-23 by emphasizing the distinction between merely calling Jesus "Lord" and truly knowing Him. The sermon highlights that true discipleship involves doing the will of the Father and having a genuine relationship with Jesus, rather than relying on religious activities or verbal declarations alone. The sermon uses the Greek term for "practice" to emphasize the habitual nature of lawlessness versus righteousness.
Striving for Perfection: The Narrow Path to Christ (Community Baptist) interprets the passage by focusing on the narrowness of the path to eternal life, likening it to the small space between fingers when squeezing a grape. This metaphor illustrates the difficulty and exclusivity of the path to salvation, emphasizing that it is not God who makes it hard, but human sinfulness and love for sin.
Matthew 7:21-23 Theological Themes:
Transforming Faith: Deepening Your Relationship with God (Renovation Church) presents the theme that a genuine relationship with God is not about religious activities but about truly knowing Jesus. The sermon emphasizes that many people may perform religious acts but still miss the essence of a relationship with God, as highlighted in Matthew 7:21-23.
Examining the Authenticity of Our Faith in Christ (Impact Church) introduces the theme of self-examination and the danger of false assurance. The sermon stresses the importance of evaluating one's faith to ensure it is genuine, using the concept of a "salvation confidence matrix" to illustrate the potential for self-deception.
True Grace: A Call to Holiness and Obedience (John Burton) discusses the theme of obedience as a necessary component of true grace. The sermon argues that grace is not a license to sin but an empowerment to live a holy life, and that obedience is a critical aspect of genuine faith.
Building a Genuine Faith on Solid Foundations (New City Church) presents the theme that true Christianity is not about external religious acts but about a transformed life that aligns with the teachings of Jesus. The sermon challenges the notion of cultural Christianity and calls for introspection and genuine obedience to God's will.
Living with Authority: The Power of Jesus' Name (WFCOG) introduces the theme of the authority of Jesus' name, emphasizing that invoking His name requires a genuine relationship and alignment with His character and mission. The sermon warns against using Jesus' name as a mere formula without understanding its significance and the need for a life that reflects His teachings.
Knowing Christ: The Path to True Righteousness (Harvest Community Church of Irvine) presents the theme that righteousness is not about personal achievements or external acts but about a deep, intimate relationship with Christ. This relationship is marked by knowing Christ and sharing in His sufferings and resurrection power, which transforms one's life from the inside out.
True Discipleship: Beyond Words to Genuine Relationship (River of Life Church Virginia) presents the theme that true discipleship requires a transformation of life and a commitment to holiness. It emphasizes that salvation is not just about belief but involves a continuous practice of righteousness and a personal relationship with God.
Striving for Perfection: The Narrow Path to Christ (Community Baptist) introduces the theme of human sinfulness as the primary barrier to finding the narrow path to salvation. It contrasts the simplicity of God's offer of salvation through Jesus with the complexity humans introduce by loving their sin.
Matthew 7:21-23 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Examining the Authenticity of Our Faith in Christ (Impact Church) provides historical context by referencing Jonathan Edwards and the religious awakenings of the 1700s. The sermon discusses how Edwards emphasized the need to examine the authenticity of conversions during times of revival, which parallels the need for self-examination in contemporary faith.
Building a Genuine Faith on Solid Foundations (New City Church) provides insight into the historical context of the Sermon on the Mount, highlighting Jesus' critique of religious hypocrisy and the importance of genuine obedience. The sermon references the Pharisees and their focus on external religiosity, contrasting it with the inward transformation Jesus calls for.
Striving for Perfection: The Narrow Path to Christ (Community Baptist) provides historical context by discussing the prevalence of false religions and the human tendency to create works-based paths to salvation. It highlights the historical rejection of God by humanity, from Adam and Eve to the future rebellion during Christ's millennial reign.
Matthew 7:21-23 Cross-References in the Bible:
Transforming Faith: Deepening Your Relationship with God (Renovation Church) references John 17:2-3 to explain that eternal life is about knowing God and Jesus Christ. The sermon uses this passage to support the idea that a genuine relationship with God is essential for salvation, as emphasized in Matthew 7:21-23.
True Grace: A Call to Holiness and Obedience (John Burton) references Hebrews 10:26 to highlight the danger of continuing in sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth. The sermon uses this passage to emphasize that deliberate sin can lead to a loss of salvation, aligning with the warning in Matthew 7:21-23.
Living with Authority: The Power of Jesus' Name (WFCOG) references Acts 19:13-16, where the sons of Sceva attempt to cast out demons in Jesus' name without knowing Him, to illustrate the importance of a genuine relationship with Christ. The sermon uses this passage to emphasize that invoking Jesus' name requires true faith and alignment with His will.
Knowing Christ: The Path to True Righteousness (Harvest Community Church of Irvine) references Philippians 3:10-11, where Paul expresses his desire to know Christ and the power of His resurrection, sharing in His sufferings and becoming like Him in His death. This passage is used to support the idea that true righteousness and knowing Christ involve a deep, transformative relationship rather than just external religious acts.
True Discipleship: Beyond Words to Genuine Relationship (River of Life Church Virginia) references John 3:16-21 to emphasize the necessity of belief in Jesus for salvation and the condemnation that comes from loving darkness rather than light. It also cites Romans 10:9-10 to stress the importance of confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection.
Striving for Perfection: The Narrow Path to Christ (Community Baptist) references John 14:6 to affirm that Jesus is the only way to the Father and Romans 3:23 to highlight human sinfulness. It also discusses the role of creation in revealing God, referencing Psalm 19:1.
Matthew 7:21-23 Christian References outside the Bible:
Examining the Authenticity of Our Faith in Christ (Impact Church) references Jonathan Edwards' "Religious Affections" to discuss the signs of genuine faith versus false assurance. The sermon uses Edwards' work to emphasize the importance of examining the authenticity of one's faith.
True Grace: A Call to Holiness and Obedience (John Burton) references Leonard Ravenhill and Steve Hill to critique the false grace movement. The sermon uses their teachings to argue that true grace requires obedience and that the idea of sins being forgiven past, present, and future without repentance is a dangerous misconception.
Living with Authority: The Power of Jesus' Name (WFCOG) references Charles Spurgeon, quoting his statement that a Bible falling apart usually belongs to someone who is not, to emphasize the importance of a deep, personal relationship with God through His Word.
Knowing Christ: The Path to True Righteousness (Harvest Community Church of Irvine) references the hymn to Christ in Philippians 2:6-11, which describes Christ's humility and obedience to death on a cross. This hymn is used to illustrate the depth of Christ's love and the kind of intimate relationship believers are called to have with Him.
True Discipleship: Beyond Words to Genuine Relationship (River of Life Church Virginia) does not explicitly reference non-biblical Christian authors or theologians in its discussion of Matthew 7:21-23.
Matthew 7:21-23 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Transforming Faith: Deepening Your Relationship with God (Renovation Church) uses the analogy of social media friendships to illustrate the superficial nature of many people's relationship with God. The sermon compares knowing God to knowing someone on Facebook, where there is a lack of deep, personal connection.
Building a Genuine Faith on Solid Foundations (New City Church) uses the story of Freddie Adu, a soccer player who was highly anticipated but did not fulfill expectations, as an analogy for Christians who profess faith but lack genuine transformation and obedience. The sermon uses this illustration to challenge listeners to examine the authenticity of their faith and ensure it aligns with the teachings of Jesus.
Knowing Christ: The Path to True Righteousness (Harvest Community Church of Irvine) includes an illustration of the preacher meeting the governor of Colorado, Dick Lamb, at an airport. The conversation was pleasant, but it did not equate to truly knowing the governor. This analogy is used to illustrate the difference between knowing about someone and having an intimate relationship with them, paralleling the difference between knowing about Christ and truly knowing Him.
True Discipleship: Beyond Words to Genuine Relationship (River of Life Church Virginia) uses the analogy of a military oath to illustrate the concept of making Jesus Lord. Just as taking an oath does not make one a soldier until they undergo training and submission, confessing Jesus as Lord requires a life of obedience and transformation.
Striving for Perfection: The Narrow Path to Christ (Community Baptist) uses the metaphor of squeezing a grape to describe the narrowness of the path to eternal life, illustrating the difficulty and exclusivity of the path to salvation.