Deacon Skip, up at All Saints’ posted a video the other day. In a woman, a Christian, was telling the interviewer what she thought was the scariest part of the Bible. She answered, “depart from me.” “I never knew you”. When asked why, she said because those are people who called Jesus “Lord, Lord”.

Two writes of the Gospels recount this, both Matthew in chapter 7 and Luke in chapter 13. There is nothing unreliable her, this is indeed a terrifying verse for many. For many will ask, “Is this me?”

Scripture tells us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). God tell us to fear him, not to be cruel, but to prevent us from a very cruel fate. For it is the consequence of turning away form God. Each time we choose our own desires over his, we allow a distance to grow between us and him that persists until we repent, and earnestly turn to him, once again.

It is far too common in many Christian churches to find a false gospel preached. One that says, “if you confess Jesus with your lips (and often with emotion), then you will be saved (no matter what you do)”. This is not true, or at least, it is not what has been revealed to us in scripture.

Not only is this not what Jesus (God-incarnate) explicitly said himself, but it is contrary to the whole story and lesson within the Bible over its thousands of years. And the Bible really is one story. It is the story of a perfect God’s love for his imperfect creation.

Adam and Eve, our spiritual parents and the first of our kind, were formed by God to participate in his creation. Everything was provided for them. They were born able to choose to obey God’s will and commandment but chose to turn from that will, rejecting him and his ways.

They chose their own will and desire over God’s, separating themselves from him. Breaking the very foundation of the world, and of all nature, including their own bodies and souls. It is that corruption that we all have inherited. That desire to separate from God and to have our own way. And it is that corruption and separation, that Jesus Christ came to save us from.

So he died in our place, as the prophet Isaiah foretold that he would:

“Surely he hath borne our griefs” (Isaiah 53:4)

For:

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6)

In doing so, he has taken our place.

He “was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” (Romans 4:25)

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Romans 5:1)

But if Jesus Christ has not changed you. If he has not led you to turn away from your own desire and towards his, then your faith has no works.

And know that this too is true, that just as by faith we are saved, if our faith does not change us, if it produces no good works in us, then our faith, being alone is dead (James 2:17).

For many on the last day will say to Jesus, “Lord, Lord”, but how does Jesus tell us it will be known that we are his?

“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:35)

Christians will be known by the way they treat one another.

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)

Christians will be known, because they do the will of God, and not the will of themselves.

“If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed” (John 8:31)

We must keep the words that Jesus gave us.

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20)

We are to baptize in the Triune name, and teach and do all the things that Jesus commanded us.

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” (Luke 9:23-24)

We are to deny ourselves daily, take up each our own cross, our burdens and trials in this life, and follow our Lord. We must let him be our guide. For everyone who does this will save his life eternally, and those who do not will lose it eternally. The choice is ours.

It is in light of these clear commandments that we read our Epistle today.

“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind” (Ephesians 4:17)

“Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.” (Ephesians 4:19)

“And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Neither give place to the devil.

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:23-32)

This is the price that Jesus Christ exacts upon us. That our love, our faith be unlike any empty words, but a duty and a promise to live, not after our own desires, but by the desire of him whom our very souls were purchased by. For God desires us to be close to him, and to do so of our own choice.

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Bear these temptations gravely my friends, for Christ bore much more for us. This now is our cross to bear, that we may truly, fervently, follow him.

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-Deacon Nick Acker