Sermon on the Mount #45 Saying Vs. Doing

This is one of the most sobering passages in all of Scripture. It speaks of those who profess with their lips that Jesus is their Lord, but by their desires and actions they deny that to be true (Titus 1:16). Jesus is saying that He may be professed with one's lips, but denied by one's life one's unrepentant disobedience to God's commandments (Revelation 3:1).
When asked if they are a Christian, many in churches will quickly respond that they are because they went forward to receive Christ at an evangelistic crusade, or have been baptized, or are a member of a church, or attend worship on the Lord's Day. And indeed, we would say that such a person is a professing Christian. But Jesus warns us that not all professing Christians are true Christians.
What Jesus says in our text today is that there will be "many" professing Christians at the final judgment who will be cast away into hell. If that does not get the attention of us all who profess Jesus as Savior and Lord, we have either fallen spiritually asleep or are spiritually dead. The words of Jesus are true and must be received in faith by all who hear. Jesus does not want true Christians unsure of their salvation, but rather assured that they are united to Christ by faith alone. But He does not want us to have a mere profession of faith, but rather a true and living faith that bears the fruit of repentance, love, and obedience to Him and His commandments.