The Illusion of Salvation

 "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith."

Texts: Matthew 7:21-23; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Romans 12:2; Ephesians 5:11

A few years ago, I was on my way to a town not far from my home. I had visited this place several times and thought I knew the route well. However, at some point along the way, I missed a turn and ended up lost. I had left my phone at home, so I had no way to figure out which direction to take. Despite my confidence in knowing the way, I soon realized that I was completely lost.

No greater tragedy can ever happen to a man, woman, or child than to stand before the Lord Jesus Christ believing they are saved, only to hear Him say,

"I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

(Matthew 7:23, KJV)

Friend, nobody in their right mind would ever want to see a loved one, a friend, a neighbor, or even an enemy spend eternity in the Lake of Fire because they lived under the illusion of salvation.

That is why I preach this message.

Not to condemn.

Not to criticize.

But because eternity is too long to be wrong.

The greatest deception Satan has ever accomplished is not convincing people there is no God. His greatest victory is convincing religious people they are saved when they have never truly been born again.

Jesus warned us that this deception would exist.

"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)

Notice carefully what Jesus did not say.

He did not say they were atheists.

He did not say they were pagans.

He did not say they worshipped idols.

These were religious people.

They knew His name.

They used His name.

They even performed religious works in His name.

Yet they never belonged to Him.

Religion Without Relationship

We live in a generation where people are told that simply believing certain facts about Jesus is enough.

Many have repeated a prayer.

Many have joined a church.

Many have been baptized.

Many have carried a Bible.

Many have sung in the choir.

Many have preached sermons.

Yet Jesus said many—not a few—but many will hear those awful words,

"I never knew you."

Friend, calling Him Lord does not make Him your Lord.

The real question is not,

"Do you know about Jesus?"

The real question is,

"Does Jesus know you?"

There is a world of difference between knowing about Christ and walking with Christ.

The Need for Honest Self-Examination

The Apostle Paul gave one of the most sobering commands found anywhere in Scripture.

"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves."

(2 Corinthians 13:5)

Notice that Paul did not tell us to examine our neighbor.

He did not tell us to examine another church.

He said,

Examine yourself.

Our generation has become experts at judging everybody except ourselves.

We compare ourselves with other sinners and conclude we are doing pretty well.

But God never compares us to another sinner.

He compares us to His holy Son.

What Does God See?

I have known people for years who professed to be Christians.

If they never told you they were saved, you would never know it.

Nothing about their speech...

Nothing about their attitudes...

Nothing about their priorities...

Nothing about their lifestyle...

Nothing about their love for God's Word...

Nothing about their love for God's people...

Nothing about their obedience...

revealed Christ.

Jesus said,

"Ye shall know them by their fruits."

(Matthew 7:20)

He did not say,

"You shall know them by their profession."

Fruit always reveals the root.

A transformed life is God's signature upon a redeemed soul.

God's Will Is Not Divided

One of the greatest misunderstandings among Christians today concerns the will of God.

Some speak of God's "perfect will."

Others speak of God's "permissive will."

As though somehow God smiles upon lives that continually miss His purpose.

The Bible teaches something entirely different.

God has one holy will.

Paul described it this way:

"That ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

(Romans 12:2)

God's will is not divided into levels of obedience.

Sin is never God's approved alternative.

The Greek word translated "sin" is hamartia, meaning to miss the mark.

Imagine an archer shooting at the target.

Every arrow that misses is still a miss.

It does not matter whether it missed by one inch or one hundred yards.

Missing the mark is still missing the mark.

Some people almost speak as though God hands out trophies for near misses.

Friend, Heaven does not grade on a curve.

God never approves what He has forbidden.

He may allow rebellion for a season, but He never blesses rebellion.

Paul commands,

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."

(Ephesians 5:11)

The Danger of a False Assurance

The most dangerous person in America today is not the atheist.

It is not the criminal.

It is not the drunkard.

The most dangerous person is the one who believes he is saved while remaining lost.

Satan is perfectly content with church attendance if it never produces genuine conversion.

He does not mind religion that lacks repentance.

He does not fear churches filled with people who have never been transformed.

Paul warned Timothy,

"Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof."

(2 Timothy 3:5)

There is plenty of religion.

But where is the power?

Where is the holiness?

Where is the brokenness over sin?

Where is the burden for lost souls?

Where is the love for God's Word?

Where is the desire to obey Christ regardless of the cost?

Judas: The Great Warning

If anyone should shake us awake, it is Judas Iscariot.

He walked with Jesus.

He heard every sermon.

He watched every miracle.

He cast out demons.

He preached.

He traveled with the disciples.

Yet Jesus called him,

"...a devil."

(John 6:70)

Imagine that.

A man who walked beside Jesus for three years died lost.

Salvation is not proximity to Jesus.

It is a transformation by Jesus.

Church attendance never saved Judas.

Religious activity never saved Judas.

Knowing Bible doctrine never saved Judas.

Only a changed heart saves.

Entertainment Instead of Holiness

We live in perhaps the most entertained generation in human history.

Everything revolves around pleasure.

Sports.

Movies.

Television.

Social media.

Concerts.

Even churches have become places where people expect to be entertained.

Some openly say,

"If church isn't fun, I'm not coming."

Friend, the Church was never called to compete with Hollywood.

The Church exists to glorify Christ.

Paul warned,

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine..."

(2 Timothy 4:3)

People want sermons that make them feel comfortable.

They do not want preaching that exposes sin.

But a doctor who refuses to diagnose cancer is no friend.

A preacher who refuses to warn about hell is no shepherd.

What Makes Us Good?

People often say,

"I'm a good person."

"I've never murdered anyone."

"I've never robbed a bank."

"I help people."

"I give to charity."

"I attend church."

Those are good works.

But good works cannot erase sinful hearts.

Isaiah declared,

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags."

(Isaiah 64:6)

There is only one way to become acceptable before God.

Jesus Christ.

Only His blood washes away sin.

Only His righteousness clothes guilty sinners.

Only His grace can make us children of God.

The First Requirement: The New Birth

Jesus said,

"Ye must be born again."

(John 3:7)

Notice, he did not say,

"You should."

He said,

"You must."

Every one of us has a physical birthday.

When I pick up medicine, they ask for my birth date.

Why?

Because every living person has one.

May I ask you something even more important?

When were you born spiritually?

Can you point to that moment when God convicted your heart?

When did you repent of your sins?

When you trusted Christ alone?

When did the burden of guilt roll away?

Repentance is more than feeling sorry.

Many people are sorry for being caught.

True repentance changes direction.

John the Baptist preached,

"Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance."

(Matthew 3:8)

Repentance produces a different life.

The Second Requirement: Surrender

Salvation is not merely receiving Christ as Savior.

It is yielding to Him as Lord.

Jesus asked,

"And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"

(Luke 6:46)

A surrendered heart says,

"Lord, whatever You want...

Wherever You send...

Whatever You ask...

I belong to You."

God is not looking for church members.

He is looking for surrendered disciples.

Finding Your Place in God's Family

When God organized Israel, He divided them into twelve tribes.

Each tribe had a purpose.

Each tribe had a calling.

So it is in the Church today.

Every believer has been gifted to serve.

God places His people into a local church where they can grow, serve, worship, and fulfill His purpose.

When we surrender to Christ, He connects us to His people.

When we find the place God has prepared, we discover the work He created us to do.

Christianity and Discipleship Cannot Be Separated.

One of the greatest illusions in modern Christianity is the idea that a person can be a Christian without becoming a disciple.

Jesus never made that distinction.

He said,

"If ye love me, keep my commandments."

(John 14:15)

Disciples learn.

Disciples obey.

Disciples follow.

Disciples grow.

The evidence of salvation is not perfection.

The evidence is in the direction.

Are you becoming more like Christ?

The Final Examination

One day, every one of us will stand before Jesus Christ.

There will be no church membership roll.

No baptismal certificate.

No denominational label.

No family heritage.

No preacher standing beside you.

Only you...

And Jesus.

Perhaps He will ask,

"Who are you?"

"Do I know you?"

Those are the only questions that will matter.

My prayer today is that no one hearing this message will stand before Him with nothing more than an illusion of salvation.

If there has never been a new birth...

If there has never been genuine repentance...

If there has never been surrender...

Today is the day.

Do not trust your religion.

Do not trust your emotions.

Do not trust a prayer you repeated years ago if there has been no transformation in your life.

Trust Jesus Christ.

Repent.

Believe the Gospel.

Be born again.

Walk with Him.

Then, when you stand before the King of kings, instead of hearing,

"I never knew you."

You will hear those precious words,

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant... enter thou into the joy of thy lord."

(Matthew 25:21)

May God help every one of us to lay aside every illusion and make our calling and election sure, so that when this life is over, we shall rejoice forever in the presence of our blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Sincerity does not guarantee salvation—only a genuine relationship with Christ does. Amen.