SEMESTER 5
378 – The Mark of False Professors
BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE
COURSE: ECCLESIOLOGY V LESSON # 78
COMMON MARKS OF FALSE RELIGION – 6 THE MARK OF FALSE PROFESSORS
Read: Mat. 7:21-23
INTRODUCTION:
1. Both the Bible and every sound confession state that there is right and wrong. There are the righteous and the wicked.
2. This series teaches there is false and true religion (totally opposed).
3. If this is true religion, there are people whose religion is just flat wrong.
4. Our test describes them as crying, Lord, Lord, yet banned from heaven.
5. There are several distinct facts about these of which we should be aware.
I. NOT ALL RELIGIOUS PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY SAVED
1. According to our Lord, most religious people are not truly saved.
2. Not all professing, or even sincere “Christians,” are saved. (Verse 21)
3. Some, who claim (true or false) great works in His name, are not saved.
II. WHO ARE THE TRULY SAVED?
1. Those who hear Jesus Christ’s words and do what He says. (Mat. 7:26)
2. Those who do the will of the Father. (Mat. 7:21)
3. Those who continue in Jesus’; word. (Joh. 8:31)
4. Those who genuinely believe on Him. (Joh. 3:15-16 and Joh. 5:24)
5. These are all synonymous descriptions of the same people.
III. WHY ARE THESE RELIGIOUS PEOPLE LOST?
1. Not because of an insufficiency of good works. (Mat. 7:22)
2. Not because of discontinuance. He never knew them. (Mat. 7:23)
3. Not because they “stopped believing.” (Joh. 3:18)
4. Because they expected eternal life for their efforts. (Rom. 10:1 and Rom. 9:30-33)
5. Again, we see the fatal, damning effect of reversing cause and effect.
III. Fruit is the evidence of a tree’s identity, not the cause of life.
IV. WHY WERE THESE SAVED PEOPLE SAVED?
1. Not because of obedience, labor or continuance. (Rom. 3:19-20)
2. Not because of more sincerity in their profession. (Mat. 7:22)
3. They necessarily were saved by pure grace. (Eph. 2:5 and Rom. 11:16)
4. They, by grace, had come in faith to Jesus Christ. (Joh. 6:37)
V. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENTIATING FACTOR?
1. In one case they trusted deeds. (Have we not done many wonderful works?)
2. Much religion today consists of what men do, or promise to do.
3. In the other case, they had nothing but God’s grace produced in them. (I Cor. 15:10)
4. Does your life evidence divine Grace? Confess that it is grace. (I Cor. 15:10)
5. Is there no evidence? Confess that you are unsaved. (Matt 7:21)
6. How is it with you right now? Today?