Title: Nominal Believer / Matthew 7:21-23
In order not to become a person who confesses the Lord only with their lips, and not to become a person with only intellectual consent, those who hear the gospel must not only believe in Christ, but also fulfill the Father's great will through the evidence of salvation in His name.
I. Cheap Grace
Dietrich Bonhoeffer pointed out a misconception that was then in the Lutheran Church in Germany. He described it as 'cheap grace'. This is because, like the Korean church today, unregenerate people in Germany claimed to do good deeds. They spoke of grace, but of unconverted grace. “There are those who consider themselves clean, but do not wash away their filth” (Proverbs 30:12).
In the words of von Hooper, cheap grace is "to preach forgiveness without repentance, baptism without church training, communion without confession, pardon without personal confession. Grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without the living and incarnate Jesus Christ." "He said.
Such people are often seen in our church today. It is unfortunate that the number of these nominal Christians is increasing day by day. Most of them believe in some doctrines without caution. But these are those who do not dedicate themselves to Christ, personally believe in Him, obey His Word, or walk the steps of true disciples.
II. false trust
Is there anyone who is right in doctrine but has not come to know the Lord personally? Then the Lord will speak. “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” (21).
What does this mean? Saying “Lord, Lord” is actually a profession of faith. In Hebrew and Greek, the word 'Lord' refers to divinity. In the Old Testament, the Lord is used to call on Jehovah, or God. Lord ( ) in the New Testament was used when asking citizens of the Roman Empire to confess the divinity of Caesar. Jesus rebuked those who confessed his divinity but did not enter into personal fellowship with him. Unfortunately, such people are also found in churches today.
There are those who have not been regenerated, and there are seminarians who have not made the right devotion to the Lord. For many years, knowing that Christ is God, and proclaiming that He would die on the cross and come again to judge the world, there are those who have not reached the position of trusting and devoting themselves to Jesus as their Savior.
Luther was like that. Luther, deeply interested in his soul, left his secular vocational training and entered the famous Augustine monastery in Erfurt. Luther made a lot of progress and was ordained as a monk. He studied the Bible and earned a doctorate in theology. He lectured on the Psalms, Romans, Galatians, Hebrews and Titus. At that time, if someone asked Luther if he believed in the divinity of Jesus Christ, he would have answered, of course. If you ask him to believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, he would have answered 'yes' even though he did not know what that meant and had no experience of being born again. If you ask me if I believe that Jesus will come again to judge the world, yes, I would say that my body trembles when I think about it.
In this respect, Luther did not know the Lord personally. Jesus is God. But his God was not. Jesus is Lord, but not his Lord. Jesus is the Savior. But it was not his Savior. Before the peace he longed for had become his, and before God's use as the great Reformer, he had to face Jesus Christ himself.
This is why there are always fake or nominal believers in the church because they have been able to believe the doctrine only with their heads without any conversion experience. Some of them are in danger of being uprooted because they have been planted by the devil like tares in a field of grain. Some of them even deceive themselves. After all, the world says to them, 'You hypocrite, do you know why I'm not a Christian?' But do not be discouraged by these weeds, for it is clear that you are not one of them. Ask the Lord to reveal the condition of your own heart before Him, and ask Him to lead you to full trust in Christ and devotion to Him without falling into false trust.
III. If there is no good fruit (deeds),
Christianity must have the fruit of works, but it is not a religion of works. There are always good fruits to those who have received Jesus Christ inwardly. Therefore, faith is not merely an intellectual acceptance of a doctrine, but a personal commitment. Good deeds come out of personal devotion. In this way, faith and deeds are like the two oars of a boat. Just as if there is only one oar, there is a problem with the ship moving forward, so faith must come with good deeds.
IV. become a christian
If you really need to have a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, how is that possible? The method is simple. First, take a break from what you are doing. And be careful to hear his voice. Second, when he speaks to us, even if it is difficult to accept what he says, acknowledge (approve) that what he said is true and answers our questions. Jesus is kind and will not hit you hard. He will take the problem for you. "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30). Third, open the door of your heart and receive him, and you must follow the narrow path of Christ for salvation. This does not mean that you are responsible for your salvation. Open the door of your heart and he will enter you and rule over you. At that time, if you absolutely obey him, rely on him and rejoice, you are a Christian.
Complete devotion to Jesus brings peace, joy, and righteousness. “The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). Are you a Christian now? The answer is not in your intellectual faith (doing, Lord), nor in your good works (prophesying in your name), but merely in your personal encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ to become a Christian. Do you confess and claim Jesus as Lord of your life? Lord Jesus Christ, come into me and rule me. Can I pray? “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37). Be a true believer.