Does Jesus Know You? - Matthew 7:21-23 | WCFI Sunday Service

Devotional

Day 1: The Clarification of True Entrance into Heaven

Not everyone who verbally acknowledges Jesus as Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus Himself provides a clear and sobering clarification on this matter. Entrance is not granted based on our own claims or perceived good deeds, but on doing the will of the Father. This is a call to move beyond mere words and into a life marked by genuine obedience that flows from a transformed heart. It challenges the notion of a cheap grace that requires no change in return. [48:05]

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21 ESV)

Reflection: Where in your life might there be a disconnect between what you say you believe and how you actually live? What is one specific area where you feel prompted to align your actions more closely with the will of the Father this week?

Day 2: Faith Without Works is Dead

Genuine belief in Christ will inevitably be accompanied by corresponding actions. A faith that is alive and real produces tangible evidence through deeds of love and obedience. This is not a call to perfection, but to a clear direction and progression in our walk with God. Our works are not the root of our salvation, but they are the necessary fruit that demonstrates the life within. [55:45]

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:14, 17 ESV)

Reflection: Consider a recent opportunity you had to help someone in need. Did your response consist more of words and good intentions, or did it lead to a concrete action? What might it look like to let your faith express itself through a specific act of love today?

Day 3: The Humility of the Sinner Saved by Grace

True faith and works are not for the perfect, but for humble sinners who recognize their need for grace. The examples of flawed biblical figures like Abraham and Rahab show that God uses broken people who come to Him in repentance and trust. This understanding fosters a deep gratitude that guards our hearts from pride and a sense of entitlement in our spiritual journey. [01:16:40]

“And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?” (James 2:25 ESV)

Reflection: When you reflect on your own story of coming to faith, what specific reasons for gratitude come to mind? How does remembering your own need for grace help you extend grace and compassion to others who are also struggling?

Day 4: Guarding Against Complacency and Entitlement

A long history in the church can sometimes lead to a dangerous complacency, where one begins to “play church” rather than pursue a vibrant relationship with Christ. This can foster a sense of entitlement, believing that our association with Christian community secures our standing with God. We must be vigilant against this self-deception and continually examine the evidence of grace in our lives. [01:20:42]

“Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:23 NIV)

Reflection: In what ways might you be relying on your church involvement or Christian background instead of a daily, humble reliance on Christ? What is one practical step you can take this week to move from a place of complacency to active dependence on Jesus?

Day 5: The Proper Motivation for Good Works

Good works are not the means to earn salvation, but the grateful response of one who has been saved. We are called to do good works because God has already created us anew in Christ for that very purpose. Our motivation shifts from trying to merit God’s favor to simply reflecting His character and goodness to the world out of a heart filled with thankfulness. [01:23:52]

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10 ESV)

Reflection: As you consider the good works God has prepared for you, are you primarily motivated by a sense of obligation or by a heart of gratitude for what Christ has done? How can you cultivate a greater sense of thankfulness that naturally overflows into action?

Sermon Summary

Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:21–23 are treated as a sober call to honest self-examination: verbal profession alone does not guarantee entrance into God’s kingdom. The claim “Lord, Lord” can be uttered by those whose lives show no evidence of the Father’s will, and such empty profession echoes the danger of false prophets who appear as sheep but are wolves. The clarity given in the text stresses that entering the kingdom is marked not by reputation, ritual, or moralism, but by a life that bears the fruit of obedience. The book of James is brought alongside this teaching to show that saving faith naturally issues in works; faith that remains inactive is described as dead and useless.

Concrete biblical examples—Abraham’s obedience and Rahab’s faith in action—illustrate the pattern: sinners who humbly trusted God and acted accordingly are counted righteous, not because of flawless character but because faith produced tangible response. The point is neither moral perfection nor a works-based salvation, but a credible, visible faith that is being transformed and moving forward. The preacher warns against cheap grace, complacent church membership, and the entitlement that arises from long familiarity with religious forms. True Christianity is reliance on Christ alone for salvation, and the outworking of that reliance is gratitude-shaped obedience. The congregation is urged to live as those who have been rescued—stumbling forward in grace, producing fruits that reflect God’s character—and to examine whether their profession matches the evidence of their lives. The call is pastoral but urgent: to pursue progress, not perfection, and to let genuine faith be known by its works, so that on the final day there will be no tragic, “I never knew you.”

Key Takeaways

1. Confession requires visible life change A verbal claim that Jesus is Lord must be accompanied by a life shaped by the Father’s will. When words are divorced from obedient practice, confession becomes self-deception; the decisive question is whether one’s daily choices display the reign of Christ. This is not a demand for flawless performance but for consistent evidence of transformation and direction toward holiness. [40:19]
2. Faith proves itself through obedience Biblical faith is demonstrated and completed by concrete action—James shows faith and works operating together as proof of genuine justification. Historical examples like Abraham and Rahab reveal that God credits faith when it issues in risky, trust-filled obedience, not merely private assent. Therefore deeds are not a competing cause of salvation but its fruit and verification. [54:09]
3. Salvation is Christ, not works Entrance into the kingdom rests solely on trusting Christ; no ritual, title, or moral ledger secures heaven apart from reliance on him. Good works flow out of gratitude for redemption and serve as evidence of union with Christ, not as currency for it. This preserves both the comfort of grace and the seriousness of holy living. [83:09]
4. Examine fruit, not church membership Length of attendance, family pedigree, or ministry visibility can mask spiritual complacency and entitlement. The test Jesus gives looks for fruit—changed affections, love for neighbor, and obedience to the Father—rather than membership cards or religious performance. Regular self-examination, marked by humility and forward movement in grace, guards against playing church while remaining far from God. [80:23]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[36:04] - Opening Prayer & Worship
[39:52] - Scripture Reading (Matthew 7:21–23)
[42:45] - Does Jesus Know You?
[43:58] - Wolves in Sheep's Clothing
[48:05] - Clarifying Entrance to Heaven
[54:09] - James on Faith and Works
[70:30] - Rahab, Abraham, and Redemption
[81:02] - Self-Examination and Warning
[86:39] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading: Matthew 7:21-23 (ESV)
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”

Observation questions

According to Jesus, what is the single requirement for entering the kingdom of heaven?
What three specific religious activities do the people in verse 22 claim to have done in Jesus’ name?
What is Jesus’ final, sobering declaration to these individuals in verse 23?
What illustration was used to describe the Christian life as a "stumbling forward by grace into obedience"? [58:08]

Interpretation questions

Why do you think Jesus places such a strong emphasis on doing the Father's will, rather than just using the right words or performing religious acts?
The people in this passage seem shocked by Jesus' rejection. What does this suggest about the potential for self-deception in our own spiritual lives?
How does the concept of "stumbling forward" [58:08] help us understand that the call to obedience is about progression, not perfection?
James says that faith without works is dead, just as saying "go in peace" to someone in need without helping is useless. What is the connection between genuine faith and tangible action in both of these examples?

Application questions

Verbal confession requires visible life change. What is one area of your life where your words and actions might not yet be fully aligned, and what is a practical step you can take this week to move them closer together?
Faith proves itself through obedience. Think of a recent situation where you felt prompted to act in a way that reflected your faith. What was the outcome, and how did it demonstrate the reality of your trust in God?
Salvation is in Christ, not works. How does remembering that your good works are a result of gratitude, not a requirement for salvation, free you from both pride and fear in your Christian walk?
We can become complacent and entitled based on our church background or involvement [01:19:42]. In what ways might you be relying on your religious resume instead of a vibrant, daily relationship with Christ?
Examine fruit, not church membership. If someone were to look at the "fruit" of your life—your affections, priorities, and how you treat others—what would it tell them about who or what is truly your Lord?
The goal is to live as someone who has been rescued. What does "stumbling forward by grace" [58:08] look like for you right now? Where are you seeing progress, even if it's small?

Sermon Clips

51s

#HumbleRepentance

“So you're telling me a prostitute is in the line of now Jesus? Because Jesus is the son of David. So maybe you're wondering, are you sure? I'm absolutely sure. The Bible teaches that. And what does that tells us? Tells us that when the Bible says faith without works is dead, it's not saying that you got to be perfect. Saying that you got to come humbly, humble, and broken like a beggar and sinners and a sinner sayings. I cannot do it alone. I have no capacity. I need you. I need you, God. I repent of my sin, and I turn from my wicked ways.”

35s

#CreatedForGoodWorks

“But here, Ephesians two ten says, for we are God's handiwork created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepare in advance for you to do. See, God's goal in saving us was not only to rescue us from hell, but also that we would reflect his character and his goodness to the world. You see, God's delight to see the becoming more like his son. That's why we are called Christians. You know what Christian is? It's Christ like.”

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Does Jesus Know You? - Matthew 7:21-23 | WCFI Sunday Service | Feb 8, 2026