Not everyone who says to me: Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven

Today we have many people saying “Lord” to Jesus Christ, we see people from the media, famous people saying “Lord” to Christ, but the ironic thing is that most of them do not change their way of being and are still under the curse of sin. There is also another group that is able to preach in the pulpits not to exalt the name of Christ but to be known by others.

In the Bible we find a passage where Jesus spoke about this, and He mentioned the sad end of them:

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’

23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Matthew 7:21-23

One thing is us to vociferate that Christ is the Lord and quite another is to do the will of the one we say is our Lord. And this is why on one occasion Jesus asked the question: Why do you call me: “Lord, Lord” and do not do what I say? (Luke 6:46). We not only must seek to call our beloved Jesus “Lord”, but we must keep His Word so that He may truly be our Lord.

In that great day it will happen that many who had a great ministry, who made great stages in front of the world, who were famous, will come before Jesus telling Him all the good deeds they did in His name, but the sad response of Jesus will be: Go away I never knew you, evildoers!

Let us strive to be known by Christ, to remain in Him and in His Word so that on that day Christ may know us.

This passage serves as a deep warning for every believer who desires to walk faithfully before God. Jesus leaves no room for superficial Christianity—He confronts the danger of outward religiosity without inward transformation. There are people who appear spiritual, who speak with eloquence, who use God’s name freely, and who even participate in religious activities, yet their hearts remain far from Him. The Lord does not evaluate us by the number of ministries we lead, the sermons we preach, or the miracles we claim to perform. He evaluates us by obedience, sincerity, holiness, and a heart that genuinely seeks to please Him. Christ makes it clear that the true evidence of salvation is not external works but a life submitted to the will of the Father. This truth should lead every one of us to examine our own hearts with humility and seriousness.

It is frightening to consider that a person may be highly active in ministry and still be unknown by Christ. This reveals that spiritual gifts, charisma, or influence are not proofs of salvation. Many in the last day will present their résumé of religious accomplishments, yet Christ will not recognize them as His own. Why? Because they practiced lawlessness—they did works in His name but lived lives that contradicted His commands. Their ministries were platforms for personal glory rather than for the glory of God. This is why Jesus repeatedly emphasized the importance of bearing good fruit. Good fruit is not measured by public success but by private obedience, repentance, humility, and perseverance. A true disciple not only speaks about Christ but walks with Christ, honors Christ, and reflects Christ in daily living.

For this reason, we must constantly seek authenticity in our relationship with God. It is not enough to know about Him—we must know Him personally, intimately, and continually. A life rooted in prayer, in the Scriptures, and in obedience protects us from becoming superficial believers. When Christ truly reigns in our hearts, His Word shapes our decisions, His Spirit convicts us when we stray, and His presence transforms our character. Let us desire, above all things, to be found faithful before Him. Let us strive not for recognition from people but for approval from the Lord. On that final day, may our testimony be one of genuine devotion, and may Christ joyfully say to us: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” That is the only recognition that will matter for all eternity.

Understanding the Weight of Spiritual Hypocrisy

The words of Jesus in Matthew 7:21-23 represent one of the most sobering warnings in the entire New Testament. He addresses a phenomenon that remains prevalent today: **spiritual hypocrisy**. This is the state of having a religious vocabulary without a redeemed heart. When people call Jesus “Lord,” they are using a title that implies total ownership and absolute authority. In the Greco-Roman world, a *kyrios* (lord) was one who had the legal right to command and be obeyed without question. Therefore, to call Jesus “Lord” while intentionally disregarding His teachings is a linguistic and spiritual contradiction. It is **hollow rhetoric** that fails the test of divine scrutiny.

The danger lies in the ease with which one can adopt the culture of Christianity without adopting the cross of Christ. We live in an era where “Christian” is often used as a cultural label or a political affiliation rather than a description of a **spirit-led life**. Many use the name of Jesus to bolster their personal brands or to gain trust within a specific community. However, Christ sees past the branding. He looks directly at the motivation of the heart. If the motive is self-exaltation rather than the glory of the Father, the religious activity is considered “lawlessness” in the eyes of God. True faith must move beyond the lips and permeate the very core of our being, dictating our ethics, our relationships, and our private thoughts.

The Deception of Religious Success

One of the most striking aspects of Jesus’ warning is the profile of the people being rejected. These were not atheists, nor were they people who openly opposed the church. On the contrary, they were **highly active religious leaders**. They pointed to three specific credentials: prophecy, casting out demons, and performing miracles. By all modern standards, these individuals would be considered “successful” ministers. They would likely have large followings, televised programs, and significant influence. Yet, Jesus describes them as **evildoers**.

This teaches us that **charismatic gifts are not a substitute for Christian character**. It is possible to operate in a spiritual gift while being out of fellowship with the Giver. The presence of a miracle does not necessarily validate the lifestyle of the person through whom the miracle flowed. God, in His sovereignty, may choose to use a person for the benefit of others, even if that person’s heart is not right. This is a terrifying reality for anyone in leadership. It means we cannot measure our standing with God by our public effectiveness. We must measure it by our **internal alignment** with His holiness. When ministry becomes a performance rather than an act of service, we risk falling into the same trap of self-delusion that Jesus described.

The Distinction Between Knowing About God and Being Known by Him

The phrase “I never knew you” is profoundly significant. In the biblical sense, “to know” implies a deep, experiential intimacy—the kind found in a covenant relationship. Jesus is not saying He lacked information about these people; as God, He knows all things. Rather, He is saying that there was **no relational bond** between them. They were strangers to His grace, though they were familiar with His name. They treated Jesus like a tool to be used for their own ends rather than a King to be served with their lives.

To be “known” by Christ is to live in a state of constant communion with Him. It involves a daily surrender where we acknowledge our total dependence on His mercy. This intimacy is cultivated in the “secret place” of prayer and the quiet study of His Word. It is evidenced by a **tender conscience** that is quick to repent when it offends the Holy Spirit. If we are more concerned with being known by the world than being known by the Savior, our priorities are dangerously misplaced. The goal of the Christian life is not to build an earthly kingdom in Jesus’ name, but to be citizens of His heavenly kingdom who live in submission to His will.

Doing the Will of the Father

Jesus states clearly that the entry requirement for the kingdom of heaven is “doing the will of my Father.” This raises an essential question: What is the will of the Father? While the Bible contains many specific commands, the overarching will of God is our **sanctification**. God desires that we be transformed into the image of His Son. This transformation is not a self-help project; it is the result of the Holy Spirit working within a heart that has truly surrendered. Doing the will of God is not about achieving perfection through human effort, but about a **disposition of obedience**.

A person who does the will of the Father is one who:

• **Practices Repentance:** They do not hide their sins but confess them and turn away from them.
• **Exhibits Love:** They love God with all their heart and their neighbor as themselves, reflecting Christ’s character.
• **Prioritizes the Kingdom:** They seek first God’s righteousness rather than their own comfort or fame.
• **Submits to Scripture:** They view the Bible as the final authority for their life, even when it contradicts their personal desires or societal trends.

This is the **narrow way** that Jesus spoke of earlier in the Sermon on the Mount. It is a path of self-denial and cross-bearing. Many prefer the “broad way” of religious activity because it allows them to keep their ego and their sinful habits intact while still feeling “spiritual.” But the narrow way is the only one that leads to life.

The Danger of “Thin” Christianity

In the context of modern faith, we must be careful to avoid what can be called **thin content Christianity**. This is a faith that is high on emotion and slogans but low on doctrine and discipline. It is a faith that relies on “likes,” “shares,” and public declarations without the “thick” substance of a life poured out in sacrifice. Just as a website with thin content offers no real value to the reader, a superficial faith offers no real witness to the world. It is a facade that collapses when the storms of life arrive.

To avoid this, we must dive deep into the **character of God**. We must move beyond the basic milk of the Word and consume the solid food of deep theology and rigorous practice. We need a faith that can withstand the scrutiny of the “day” Jesus spoke of—the day of judgment. On that day, the “thin” layers of our public persona will be stripped away, leaving only what is real. If all we have is a collection of religious experiences and “Lord, Lord” repetitions, we will be found wanting. We must ensure that our roots go deep into the soil of God’s grace so that we are not moved by the winds of cultural Christianity or the temptation of self-glory.

Examining the Fruits of Our Lives

Jesus encourages us to judge a tree by its fruit. This applies to our own lives as well. We must take a sober inventory of what our lives are actually producing. Are we producing the **fruit of the Spirit**—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? Or are we producing the “works of the flesh” hidden under a religious cloak? It is easy to fool others, and sometimes even ourselves, but we cannot fool the Creator.

When we bear good fruit, it is a sign that we are truly abiding in the Vine. The fruit is not the cause of our salvation, but it is the **infallible evidence** of it. A heart that has been truly touched by the grace of God cannot remain indifferent to the commands of God. There will be a natural—or rather, supernatural—longing to please the One who saved us. If that longing is absent, if there is no grief over sin and no joy in obedience, then we must fall on our knees and ask God for a true conversion. We must not take our salvation for granted simply because we belong to a church or use Christian terminology.

The Call to Authenticity and Sincerity

The ultimate goal of this warning is not to lead us to despair, but to lead us to **authenticity**. Jesus wants us to be whole, not divided. He wants our “yes” to be “yes” and our “Lord” to be backed by a life of service. There is a great beauty in a life that is consistently devoted to Christ. It carries a weight and a fragrance that no religious performance can replicate. Such a life becomes a light in the darkness, pointing others not to the believer, but to the Savior.

We must also recognize that we live in an age of **distraction and performance**. Social media encourages us to curate an image of ourselves that is often far from reality. This can bleed into our spiritual lives, where we become more concerned with how our “faith” looks on a screen than how it looks in the eyes of God. We must fight against this trend by prioritizing the internal over the external. We must be willing to be “unknown” by the world if it means being intimately “known” by Christ. Our identity must be rooted in our status as children of God, not in our titles, our achievements, or our digital influence.

Practical Steps Toward a Rooted Faith

To ensure we are not among those who are surprised on that final day, we can take practical steps to deepen our walk with the Lord:

1. **Daily Self-Examination:** Take time each evening to reflect on your day. Did your actions align with your confession that Jesus is Lord? Where did you fail, and where do you need to repent?
2. **Disciplined Study:** Don’t settle for “verse of the day” spirituality. Study entire books of the Bible to understand the full counsel of God. This prevents taking verses out of context to suit our own desires.
3. **Accountability:** Surround yourself with believers who are willing to speak the truth in love. We all have blind spots, and we need a community that will call us out when our lives don’t match our words.
4. **Service in Secret:** Do good works that no one will ever see or hear about. This breaks the power of the “performing” spirit and reminds us that we serve an audience of One.

By integrating these practices, we build a foundation that is not easily shaken. We move from being “Lord, Lord” sayers to being **Father’s will doers**.

Living for the Final Approval

Everything we do in this life is a preparation for the moment we stand before Jesus Christ. The applause of men is fleeting and will fade into silence. The awards, the fame, and the “religious success” of this world will mean nothing when we look into the eyes of the King of Kings. The only thing that will matter is whether we were **faithful to Him**. Did we love Him? Did we obey Him? Did we know Him? This perspective changes everything. it clarifies our priorities and simplifies our lives. It frees us from the need to impress others and empowers us to live with a singular focus: the pleasure of God.

In conclusion, let the warning of Matthew 7:21-23 resonate in your soul. Do not let it be just another passage you read, but let it be a **divine compass** that guides your steps. Avoid the curse of superficiality and the trap of religious pride. Seek the Lord while He may be found, and call upon Him in truth. Ensure that when you say “Lord,” it is a declaration of your life’s reality, not just a word from your lips. May we all strive to be among those who, on that great day, are welcomed into the joy of the Master because we didn’t just speak His name—we followed His lead. Let us be a people of **integrity, holiness, and genuine love**, reflecting the true light of Jesus Christ to a world that desperately needs to see the real thing.

As we move forward, let us remember that the grace of God is available to transform us. If you find that you have been living a superficial faith, today is the day to turn back. God is not looking for perfect people, but for **contrite hearts**. He is ready to move you from the category of an “evildoer” to a “beloved child.” All He asks is for sincerity. Let go of the mask, stop the performance, and come to Him as you are. He will give you the strength to do His will and the joy of being truly known by Him. This is the path to the kingdom, and it is open to all who will walk it in truth and humility.