RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2020-08-03	Matthew's Warnings to False Disciples
		As one reads through the gospel of Matthew we are confronted with an obvious concern. Matthew seemed burdened to alert us about the danger of thinking we are saved, when we are not. The concern is that there will be those who claim to be a disciple of Christ, but are in fact lost. Now, of course I point out it is Matthew's account with this focus, but all these passages are the words of Jesus. Mat 5:20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. This is early in Jesus' ministry. This is typically called the Sermon on the Mount. The people thought the Pharisees were the most holy men. The Pharisees were “religious” about everything they did, and looked down on everyone else. So, when Jesus said that a disciples' righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees, they must have thought there is no hope for them. Pharisaism tended to soften the law's demands by focusing only on external obedience. They looked good on the outside, but Jesus said on the inside they were filled with dead men's bones (Mt.23:27). Mat 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. These deceive not by disguising themselves as sheep, but by impersonating true shepherds. They promote the wide gate and the wide way. The sheep's clothing was woolen attire characteristic of a shepherd. In today's meaning, they may look good on the outside, and their message may sound good, but it is not true to God's Word. We need discernment to tell the difference. Mat 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Mat 7:22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' Mat 7:23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' Jesus contrasts “says” with “does” in verse 21. The faith that says but does not do is barren unbelief (Mt.7:20, “by their fruits you will know them”). These people claimed remarkable signs. But their whole confidence was in these works. As amazing as these have appeared to be, they were not authentic. Again the context is that a bad tree cannot bear good fruit (Mt.7:18). Mat 13:20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; Mat 13:21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Some people commit themselves to Christ in an emotional and superficial way. But that commitment is not real. They remain interested only until there is a sacrificial price to pay and then they abandon Him (1Jn.2:19). Mat 13:47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, Mat 13:48 which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. Mat 13:49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, Mat 13:50 and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." Notice the fish thrown into the furnace were caught by the net of the kingdom. They have tasted “the powers of the age to come” (He.6:5). And yet, they were unfit for eternal life. So Matthew writes many more examples of false disciples. There were the 5 foolish virgins (Mt.25:1-13), the man who buried his talent (25:14-30), the unfaithful servant (24:45-51), and the false prophets who do signs and wonders (24:24). And no one should forget the 3 year disciple named Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus (10:4). No one wants to have people doubt their eternal life. If you are truly born again you will have that witness within you (R.8:11-17). That witness is the Holy Spirit. Again Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate…Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life” (Mt.7:13-14). Paul encourages us to test ourselves to see if we are truly in the faith (2Co.13:5). This is not justification by works. This is spiritual evidence of justification by faith! Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

An Evangelical Free Church of America

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