The Imposter - Pastor Stacey Shiflett

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The Imposter

Matthew 7:21-23

Introduction: In this chapter, we find:

A. False Path – vs. 13, 14

·        13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

·        14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

·        Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

·        Proverbs 4:14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

B. False Prophets – vs. 15-20

·        15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

·        16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

·        17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

·        18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

·        19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

·        20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

C. False Professors – vs. 21-23

• 21 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.

• 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

·        23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

I. The Deception of the Imposter

·        21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven

A. Deceived about their Salvation

There is nothing sadder or horrifying to me than a person being deceived about their salvation.

They have lived their entire life believing with all their heart that they are going to heaven when they die, but go to hell.

Paul called these people “false brethren.”

·        2 Corinthians 11:26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

No doubt they made a profession, they got baptized, joined the church and thought they were OK.

But they were not OK.

Satan is a master deceiver.

If he cannot get you with a false path or a false prophet, he will get you with a false profession.

B. Deceived about their Submission

Twice in this passage, we find these unsaved people calling Jesus “Lord.”

·        21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord…”

·        22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord…”

They thought they had made Jesus the Lord of their life, but they obviously hadn’t.

Just because these people – many of them – called Jesus “Lord” didn’t make Him their Lord.

C. Deceived about their Service

They were not actually serving God; they were serving themselves.

·        Romans 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

What they called “many wonderful works” were not even counted. God called them “works of iniquity” vs. 23.

II. The Disputation of the Imposter

·        22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

IN THAT DAY – is the Great White Throne Judgment

Revelation 20

·        11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

·        12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

They have been so deceived that they stand before God and argue with Him.

A. They Dispute the Veracity of the Books.

There will be a debate in Heaven as to the truthfulness and accuracy of the books that God will open.

The Bible is clear – God will not allow books with lies in them into Heaven.

·        Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

·        Revelation 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

B. They dispute the Value of the Works.

NOTE: Even people that are truly saved will be shocked to discover how many of their works are worthless.

God calls them DEAD WORKS.

1 Corinthians 3

• 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

• 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

• 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

• 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

If a true born-again child of God can be guilty of dead works, how much more a person that is not truly saved?

The Bible is clear – good works is not what gets a person into heaven!

Ephesians 2

• 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

• 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

• Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

C. They Dispute the Verdict of the Judge.

·        Psalms 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

·        Revelation 16:7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments

There will be multitudes of unsaved people that will stand and tell God He is wrong.

*You will never convince me of this fact: a person that argues with God about their salvation at the Great White Throne Judgment has been arguing with God about their salvation long before that!

I believe with all my heart that God will approach and call a sinner to repentance that has been deceived.

He will go out of His way to make sure they have access to the Gospel.

But what good does it do if they argue with Him and debate His Word every time?

III. The Damnation of the Imposter

·        23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

It is critical to understand, that EVERYONE standing before God at the Great White Throne Judgment will be cast into the lake of fire.

This judgment is only for those that have rejected Christ.

This judgment is also for those that were deceived into thinking they were saved, and was not.

This judgment will result in the exact same verdict for every man, woman, boy and girl that stands here:

·        Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Conclusion: This message, as sad, as discouraging and as horrifying as it is comes with good news.

You are not standing before the Great White Throne this morning.

If you were, it would be too late for you to get saved.

If you were, it would be too late for you to abandon your false religion, your false submission and false service.

But it’s not too late.

If you will put your faith and trust in Jesus, and in Him alone, you can be saved today.

You can discover what it means for Jesus Christ to truly be your Lord and Savior.