Knowing Christ Not Religion: True Faith Revealed

Jun 14, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Not “Lord, Lord” but “Known by the King”

Jesus warns that religious resumes—miracles, titles, and busyness—mean nothing without relationship. The crowd’s shock echoes when He says, “I never knew you,” exposing the danger of mistaking activity for intimacy. True faith isn’t measured by what we do for God but by being known by Him. Like workers boasting of their achievements, many build lives on external obedience while their hearts remain far from Christ. Salvation begins when we trade performance for surrender. [38:15]

“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, 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.’” (Matthew 7:21–23, ESV)

Reflection: What religious activities or achievements do you subtly rely on to feel “good enough” before God? How might you shift from proving your worth to resting in being fully known by Him?

Day 2: Resumes Built on Sand, Not Rock

False faith clings to spiritual accomplishments like trophies: casting out demons, prophesying, even serving in church. But Jesus dismisses these as hollow without a heart that knows Him. The problem isn’t the works themselves but the pride that says, “Look what I did!” Like sand shifting under a house, self-made righteousness crumbles when storms come. Grace alone anchors us. [43:24]

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you subtly believed your efforts “earn” God’s love? How might you celebrate what Christ has done for you instead of what you’ve done for Him?

Day 3: Storms Don’t Create Foundations—They Reveal Them

Rain falls on both houses. The difference isn’t the storm but what’s hidden beneath the surface. A life built on knowing Jesus stands when crisis hits; one built on rituals or reputation collapses. Like a sudden diagnosis or loss, trials expose whether we’ve leaned on comfort or Christ. Foundations matter most when everything shakes. [53:57]

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24–25, ESV)

Reflection: What recent “storm” revealed where you’ve placed your security? How can you intentionally deepen your foundation in Christ before the next trial comes?

Day 4: Obedience Is the Fruit, Not the Root

Jesus isn’t after perfect rule-followers but transformed hearts. Obedience flows naturally from love, not obligation. Like a tree rooted in rich soil bearing fruit, a life connected to Christ can’t help but change. The Pharisees polished their actions but ignored their motives; Jesus wants our wounds, not our widgets. [51:04]

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15, ESV)

Reflection: Do you obey God more out of duty or delight? What one step could you take to nurture love for Christ rather than mere compliance with His rules?

Day 5: The King Has Spoken—Will You Build or Admire?

Jesus ends His sermon not with applause but a challenge: hearing isn’t enough. The crowd marveled at His authority but left unchanged. Like a coach’s halftime speech, His words demand action. Will we admire His wisdom or let it rebuild our lives? True disciples don’t just agree with the King—they follow Him into the mess. [59:28]

“And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.” (Colossians 1:18, ESV)

Reflection: What specific teaching from the Sermon on the Mount have you admired but not yet applied? How will you move from agreement to obedience this week?

Sermon Summary

Jesus finishes the Sermon on the Mount by pressing a sobering truth: not everyone who looks like they are walking with God actually is. After warning about two roads, false prophets, and bad fruit, Matthew 7:21-27 lands on this verdict: “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven.” The text puts a single question on the table: Do they really know Jesus, or do they only know how to do religious things in his name?

Jesus exposes a counterfeit confidence that hands him a resume. “Did we not prophesy… cast out demons… do many mighty works… in your name?” Their assurance is performance. His answer is relational: “I never knew you.” The gospel that saves is not earned. It is grace. As the line goes, religion is spelled do, but the gospel is spelled done. Ephesians 2 says salvation is the gift of God, so nobody can boast.

Jesus then names the evidence of the real thing. “The one who does the will of my Father” is not earning life but showing that the heart has been changed. Throughout this teaching Jesus has raised the bar to the level of the heart. The mark is not perfection but transformation. Love for Jesus shows up as obedience to Jesus. Obedience is not the root of salvation, but it is its fruit.

The closing picture drives it home. Two builders, two houses, one storm. Both hear Jesus’ words. Only one does them. The storm does not create foundations. The storm reveals them. Sunny days can hide a lot, but when the wind and water hit, the house on the rock stands because the rock holds. Isaiah calls the Lord an everlasting rock. Standing there is what matters when everything else starts shaking.

The crowds end up amazed because Jesus does not quote authority. He speaks as authority. Over and over he has said, “You have heard… but I say to you.” A king has spoken. The question is not whether Jesus is King. The question is whether he is their King. Admiration is not enough. Information is not the difference. Obedience is. The difference between counterfeit faith and true faith is not appearance. It is relationship. Two roads, two builders, two kinds of faith. Do they know him, or do they only know about him?

Key Takeaways

1. Religious activity cannot replace knowing Jesus Religious resumes can be long and loud, but Jesus’ verdict turns on relationship, not performance. “I never knew you” cuts through impressive ministry lists that never flowed from union with him. A disciple is known by Christ before doing anything for Christ. Without that, even the best works are empty. [41:33]
2. Grace, not performance, secures salvation The gospel rests on what Christ has done, not on what a person can rack up or prove. Confidence that points to self will always wobble in the storm, because self is sand. Confidence that points to Christ can be low on swagger and high on assurance, because grace is solid ground. Boasting dies where grace lives. [44:57]
3. True faith bears obedient transformation New birth does not produce instant perfection, but it does produce a new direction. Love for Jesus grows into a life that starts to look like his words are home base, not mere advice. Transformation is slow sometimes, but it is real, and over time it shows up as fruit that could not be faked. [47:03]
4. Storms expose the real foundation Suffering does not make or break faith so much as show what it was resting on all along. When loss, pressure, and temptation hit, sand sifts and rock holds. The wise are not the most informed but the most anchored, doing what Jesus says because they trust who Jesus is. [53:57]
5. The King’s authority demands response Jesus does not offer suggestions. He issues truth with the right to be obeyed. Admiration without allegiance leaves a house half-built. Wisdom hears, trusts, and does, because the One speaking is the head of the church and the Lord of life. [58:11]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[32:57] - Upside Down Kingdom Finale
[33:57] - Two Roads and False Prophets
[37:06] - Reading Matthew 7:21-27
[38:15] - Do You Really Know Jesus
[43:24] - Religion Says Look At Me
[44:57] - By Grace Through Faith Alone
[47:03] - Evidence Is Heart Transformation
[51:04] - Two Builders One Storm
[53:57] - Storms Reveal Hidden Foundations
[57:20] - Crowds Amazed At Authority
[58:32] - Not Just Admired But Obeyed
[59:51] - Relationship Over Appearance
[61:54] - Two Roads Two Builders Call
[63:42] - Invitation To Know Christ

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Matthew 7:21-27 (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.’ Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was its fall.”

Observation Questions

In Matthew 7:21-23, what specific religious activities do the people list to justify themselves, and how does Jesus respond?
What is the key difference between the two builders in Jesus’ parable (Matthew 7:24-27)?
According to the sermon, how does Jesus contrast “religion” (spelled “do”) with the gospel (spelled “done”)? [44:57]
What does the storm in the parable reveal about the foundations of the two houses?

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus emphasize knowing Him rather than doing things for Him in Matthew 7:21-23? How does this challenge common assumptions about what pleases God?
The sermon states, “Storms don’t create foundations; they reveal them” [53:57]. What does this mean for how we evaluate our own faith during difficult times?
How does Ephesians 2:8-9 (“saved by grace through faith… not a result of works”) clarify the difference between counterfeit and genuine faith in this passage?
Why might someone who admires Jesus’ teachings (Matthew 7:28-29) still fail to obey them? How does this relate to the parable’s warning?

Application Questions

Reflect on your own spiritual journey: Are there areas where you’ve relied more on religious activity (e.g., serving, attending church) than on a relationship with Jesus? What would it look like to shift your focus to knowing Him more deeply?
The sermon warns that “confidence pointing to self will wobble in the storm” [44:57]. When have you faced a “storm” that exposed where your confidence was rooted? How did that experience shape your faith?
Jesus says obedience flows from love for Him (John 14:15). What is one practical step you can take this week to align your daily choices with loving Him, not just performing duties?
The parable ends with a choice: build on sand or rock. What habits, relationships, or priorities in your life might need to be “relocated” to the foundation of Christ’s words?
The sermon asks, “Do you know Him, or just about Him?” [01:02:18] How would you explain the difference to someone new to faith? What evidence of knowing Him do you see in your life?
When have you been tempted to equate busyness for God with closeness to God? How can you prioritize stillness, prayer, or Scripture to nurture relationship over activity?

Sermon Clips

32s

“``Jesus asked the question behind the entire question. I think what he's asked is, do you really know me? Do you really know me? Do you really know this Jesus leads us to the first point is religious activity is not the same as knowing Jesus. Matthew twenty one twenty three, this is where it gets scary. This is like the first time I ever read this passage. I was like, man, I think I should probably pay attention to what's going on here because Jesus says, not everyone who says to me, lord, lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven.”

from 00:38:15

#KnowJesusNotReligion

41s

“Obedience doesn't save us. No. And that's again, that's not what Jesus is saying. That's not what John's saying. It but here's what it is. Is it reveals to who you're following? I always say, there's nothing wrong with working hard for the lord There's nothing wrong with doing great works. The Bible tells us that we need to do great works but it's the it's the motive behind the works that we're doing. Are we doing these motives because I get to wake up every morning and I get to be a Christian. So, I'm going I get to do these things or are we saying I have to do these things or I'm going to do these things because I'm going to get a reward for it.”

from 00:50:18

#MotivesMatter

44s

“Point two, false faith focuses on performance. Matthew seven twenty two. They said, did we not prophesize? Cast out demons. Do mighty works. Notice what they never mentioned here. They never said anything about grace. They never said anything about repentance. They never said anything about surrender or faith. They never said those things. They, everything that they pointed to was what they did. Look at what we did. Their confidence was in performance Their confidence here of thinking that they knew Christ was all of the great things that they had done in the name of Jesus.”

from 00:43:05

#FaithNotPerformance

48s

“And notice what he says is he says, and then here's where I think it's going to support that he's not talking to born again, the Christians again because Jesus doesn't say, well, I knew you once. I I knew you when you were baptized and then then a month later, I forgot about you. Alright. He doesn't say I knew about you or or you know what? I knew that you attended church. Jesus says, I never knew you. Philippian three eight says, indeed, I count everything as a loss because of surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, my lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things and counted them as rubbish in order that I may gain Christ.”

from 00:41:42

#KnowChristAboveAll

47s

“and it becomes a hard issue and so when we have that hard issue, now we start to have this intimate relationship with god. And the evidence of knowing Christ is not perfection, it's transformation. That's what he's been teaching. It's not to be this perfect person, but it's to surrender. Not earning salvation, but living differently because you've received salvation. That's where you see the fruits that he was talking about last week, is you will see the fruits in somebody if they truly earn that salvation. We can't have a false salvation.”

from 00:47:42

#TransformationOverPerfection

47s

“If we look at religion, religion is spelled d o. The gospel is spelled d o n e, done. The foundation of your faith cannot be what you've done for god but for what for what god has done for you, for what Christ has done for you. I think too many times we think that we can just do something great and get reward for it by look at what I've done. And I think it's because we're we're raised that way. I think that we're raised in school with that mentality that if you work hard and you you do the things that you do like,”

from 00:45:07

#GraceNotWorks

37s

“But they didn't know Christ. They weren't pointing to what Jesus did. They were pointing to what they did. And that's the problem with religion is when we start pointing to the things that we do. Look at what I did. Look at what I have done. That's where we start to get in a scary relationship is it's about me and not about Christ. Because that's what religion says is look at what I've done but the gospel says, look at what Jesus has done. That's what the gospel says is look what Jesus has done. And that's where we go back to where Paul says, I dropped everything”

from 00:43:49

#LookToJesusNotSelf

36s

“So, if you're a born again Christian today and you're thinking, oh man, I'm scared that Jesus isn't going to know me. Well, I don't think you need to be scared. I think it's the ones that were fooled into believing something different because the Bible is clear that we're saved by grace, right? That we're saved by that grace. We're saved. There's no performance that we have to do to be saved. So, I do. I feel sorry for these ones that that and I'm not gonna pick on any other church or what whatever. We we we all know what what we're looking at here.”

from 00:40:49

#SavedByGrace

Ask a question about this sermon

Westside church This sermon · AI assistant

What distinguishes religion from genuine relationship with Christ

How does obedience relate to true saving faith

What reveals whether a faith will withstand storms

Knowing Christ Not Religion: True Faith Revealed

Devotional

Day 1: Not “Lord, Lord” but “Known by the King”

Day 2: Resumes Built on Sand, Not Rock

Day 3: Storms Don’t Create Foundations—They Reveal Them

Day 4: Obedience Is the Fruit, Not the Root

Day 5: The King Has Spoken—Will You Build or Admire?

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Knowing Christ Not Religion: True Faith Revealed

Share