By johninnc
Matthew 7:21-23:
[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.
Matthew 7:21-23 is one of the most misunderstood and misapplied passages in the Bible.
One’s interpretation of this passage can provide considerable insight into what he believes about the gospel, and even whether he believes the gospel.
What this passage means is that people who have never believed in Jesus as their Savior will not get into heaven. It means that those who have never abandoned their trust in their own good works to get to heaven – either in whole, are in part – will not get into heaven.
People who are trusting in good works to get to heaven – either in whole, or in part – misunderstand this passage to mean just the opposite. Such people think that this verse means that simple faith in Christ, if not attended by some nebulous degree of personal righteousness, will not be sufficient for a person to get into heaven.
Many, if not most, of the well-known preachers and evangelists of today preach a false message of salvation by faith plus works, otherwise known as Lordship “salvation,” or “LS.”
For a detailed description of LS, please click here: LS Defined
People who teach LS are false prophets, and the Bible says that we can tell false prophets by their fruits (Matthew 7:15-20).
What are the fruits of a false prophet?
- A false message
- His disciples – the believers of a false prophet’s false message
In his sermon, entitled “The Worst Surprise of All,” pastor Tom Cucuzza makes the following key points regarding false prophets, their false messages, and the horrific consequences of trusting in their false gospels for eternal life:
Minutes 7:03-7:36
A false prophet will give a large percentage of truth with what they have to say. They may even have a large percentage of biblical morality in their message. Good things in their message. But, they’ll misapply that. And what they’ll do is they’ll end up making that thing, that responsibility, that obedience that they give, they’ll end up making that, misapplying that and saying “you have to do this to go to heaven. And, if you don’t do this, you’re not going to go to heaven.”
Now, that is the false prophet of today.
Minutes 8:44-10:14
This passage (Matthew 7:21-23) is one of the most misunderstood passages in all the Bible. It is a passage that has been hijacked by those who, to some extent, believe in getting to heaven through good deeds. Whether completely believing that, or whether partially believing that. They use this verse and they hijack it to supposedly support their position in this. As a matter of fact, they think these verses mean just the opposite of what they actually say. They look at these and they say “well that says that it’s not” – they’ll look at this and say “ how could anybody believe that you’re saved simply be faith in Christ? After all, not everybody who says ‘Lord, Lord’s” gonna get there.” And they equate saying “Lord, Lord” with believing in Jesus Christ as Savior.
I want you to notice something. That is nowhere found in the text. It’s nowhere found in the text.
It’s vital, folks, that you actually understand this passage. The reason is profound!. The reason is so important that I can’t emphasize it enough. I hope you’re listening today. Here’s the reason: If a person does not understand the vital truth here, when he dies he will experience the awful shock of waking up in a conscience torment in hell itself.
And that would be the worst surprise of all.
If you would like to VIEW pastor Cucuzza’s sermon in its entirety, please find the link below:
If you would like to know the truth about how to have eternal life, please click here: The Gospel
Notes From A Retired Preacher 
THANKS HOLLY.
Russell, just thankful with you, may you both have many years together, preferably until the rapture, Lord willing.
Mary, what a blessing that is to see someone believe. Then as you say, so much to unlearn. It used to be we needed to go to church. Now unfortunately in most cases it is a fear and disappointment to go to many. Praying for those pastors who are faithful that the Lord will strengthen them and give them help.
Thanks Holly.
Thanks William,
I have also directed her to this website and Redeeming the moments. Praise god, that he leads others here to this refreshing oasis of truth. The masses are deceived especially the leaders and the churchgoers.
Russell, having dealt with my husband for 7 years with a serious illness before he went to be with the Lord (which is not what I am saying at all is what will be the Lord’s will for Denise) I understand your fears. May the Lord give you both peace and comfort.
Mary, Happy to hear about your friend! Hallelujah, praise the Lord!!
Yes, this girl has finally understood the clear plan of salvation, but she needs time now to undo all those scriptures that she has learnt twisted. All the calvanism needs to dispelled too.
Praise god another soul in the kingdom, she is keen to share it with others when she herself can articulate it clearly.
William, amen!
Mary, You’re welcome! Praise the Lord! Let us all pray for your young friend who just got saved. She is vulnerable and she needs to develop spiritual discernment to be able to tell the difference between true Biblical doctrine and false doctrine. She needs to listen to sermons by Ralph Yankee Arnold, Thomas Cucuzza, and Hank Lindstrom and please encourage her to visit us here at expreacherman.com We’re all here for her and you. God bless!
Thanks William.
Thanks so much.
Russell, Your comment – “It looks like she is going to be fine. The tests came back clear. Thank you so much for the prayers. After 31 years of marriage I can’t imagine life without her. God is always good and right and I released Denise to His will but I have to be honest I was selfish because I did not want her to suffer and I didn’t want to lose her. God bless each of you here and again I want to say how encouraging this site has been.”
My comment – I feel the same way about my wife. This year is our 30th anniversary. I also can’t imagine life without her. She recently had 3 tests done and they all came back negative for cancer. Praise God!!!! Happy to hear that your wife’s tests came back normal. Praise God!!!!
Proverbs 18:22
He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.
Proverbs 31:10
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
Proverbs 31:15 – She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.
Proverbs 19:14
House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.
The Lord has been very gracious to me in that He has blessed me for 30 years with a wife with the above attributes.
Mary, Matthew 10:33 is parallel to 2 Timothy 2:12:
Matthew 10:33 KJV – But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
2 Timothy 2:12 KJV – If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
The context of those 2 passages is talking in reference to ETERNAL REWARDS. Christians who deny Christ in this life by not confessing Him before others and failing to endure suffering, failing to persevere, or being unfaithful to Him will be denied ETERNAL REWARDS and the privilege of REIGNING with Him at the Judgment Seat of Christ – 2 Corinthians 5:9-10, 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 ,but their eternal salvation which is a FREE GIFT remains intact and untouched – 2 Timothy 2:13.
2 Timothy 2:13 KJV – If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. That’s the GRACE OF GOD!! ETERNAL SECURITY, ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED – John 10:28-29, Romans 8:38-39.
Arminian doctrine and other false doctrines will no doubt teach that eternal life can be lost if their is a failure to “persevere” to the end, or failure to “confess” Christ, or failure in being “faithful”. You should share with your friend the Biblical examples of Godly people who denied Christ, but are still saved.
1) Simon Peter – denied Christ 3 times.
2) King David – denied God by committing adultery, then murder – 2 Samuel 11.
3) King Solomon – denied God by becoming a serial polygamist and demon worshiper despite God warning him twice – 1 Kings 11:1-12. Solomon also tried to commit murder – 1 Kings 11:40
4) Samson – denied God in the fact that he was a fornicator – Judges 16:1, then Samson commits a simultaneous murder/suicide in Judges 16:28-30. Yet Samson is listed as a Godly man of faith in Hebrews 11:32.
5) Joseph of Arimathea was saved, but did not openly confess Christ, but was a Christian in secret because of fear of the Jewish leaders – John 19:38.
6) The chief rulers in John 12:42 were saved, but did not openly confess Christ because of their fear of the Pharisees.
7) The Corinthian Christians of the apostle Paul’s time denied God by living deplorably in sin:
1 Corinthians 3:3 – there was envying, strife, and divisions among the Christians.
1 Corinthians 5:1-5 – a Christian man was having sex with his stepmother and consequently Paul pronounced judgment on this man in 1 Corinthians 5:5 where Paul says, “hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
In 2 Corinthians 2:5-8 we read that this man was chastened and that God had mercy on him and did not terminate his physical life. Paul instructs the church to forgive and comfort him so that he wont be overcome by excessive sorrow and to reaffirm their love and concern for him.
1 Corinthians 4:18 – there was arrogance among the Corinthian Christians.
1 Corinthians 6:7-8 – there were Christians taking other Christians to court and there was cheating among them.
1 Corinthians 7:2 – there was fornication among the Christians.
1 Corinthians 11:21 – there were Christians hogging and gorging themselves with food, and there was drunkenness at the Lord’s Supper.
Since your friend is a babe in Christ, it is very easy for her to be indoctrinated by false doctrine. It happened to me decades ago when I was a young babe in Christ who lacked spiritual discernment and experience. I was for a period of time led astray by Calvinism/Lordship Salvation. Now I know better. Hope this helps! God bless! I will be praying for your friend also.
Mary, I have two thoughts.
First, the article linked below addressed the concept:
https://expreacherman.com/2014/09/03/lordship-salvation-looking-for-evidence-while-denying-proof/
Then, the link below addresses that verse specifically:
https://expreacherman.com/2014/06/01/some-lordship-salvationists-pet-passages-explained/#_edn5
Matthew 10.33 if you deny me, i have an Arminian girl who has just been saved, I know its not talking about salvation, how can I explain this to her, in its right context, please.
Russell, I am thankful that your wife is well.
Thanks for the update!
It looks like she is going to be fine. The tests came back clear. Thank you so much for the prayers. After 31 years of marriage I can’t imagine life without her. God is always good and right and I released Denise to His will but I have to be honest I was selfish because I did not want her to suffer and I didn’t want to lose her. God bless each of you here and again I want to say how encouraging this site has been.
Russell, I am still praying for you and your wife.
Russell, I will pray for both of you. Thanks for the update and encouragement from God’s word.
Holly and Johninnc, thanks for the prayers. I will keep you posted. Last night I taught my weekly Bible study. We are still in Hebrews and I was in chapter 12 talking about how the Lord brings and allows things in our lives to mature us and to discipline us. I talked about that God wants us to endure/learn what He has for us so that we are perfected more and more. He has rewards for us and part of obtaining them is learning those lessons God has for us. When I was preparing the lesson I had no idea that my wife, Denise, and I would get broadsided with this medical issue yesterday. The lesson was exactly what she and I needed. His grace is truly sufficient and His timing is perfect. Keep praying and I will keep you posted.
These are the two links worth watching, both done at Ralphs Church.
Well done, Alice, we are all so blessed to have found this site. So many people are under an accursed gospel, especially pastors in baptist churches and do not even know it.
Alice directed me to the You Tube, that Peter Amato did who works in with Ralph Arnold. There are 2 worth listening to. The Gospel changed my life and the message of Calvanism. Peter Amato was a pastor and an unsaved one, and 2 years later from hearing the gospel became saved, thanks to Hank Lindstrom’s ministry (now passed on).
God Bless……
Russell, praying with John and others for your wife. May the tests be thorough, and may the doctors have integrity and wisdom as they deal with her. May you both have peace and comfort throughout.
John W – great to hear others who have come out of the same thing, we need to only remember the wisdom found in Luke 10:38-42 I believe it tells us basically everything that is important for our growth in Him.
Russell, I have prayed for your wife and for you as well.
Guys please pray for my wife. She is having some medical issues and goes in on this Thursday for more testing. Thanks.
JohnWI, it is awesome to read your testimony of simple faith in Christ.
I am thankful that God led you to a clear presentation of the gospel, and to some sound sermons that are helping you to grow in your understanding of His word.
Alice, your comment on Jan.10th so blessed me!! It is my story also! There are so many false gospel messages out there and until I heard the clear gospel message, like you said ( Yankee Arnold, Tom Cucuzza, ExPreacherman, Johninnc, Pastor Dan) I was so confused, depressed and hopeless. But then GOD, brought me to the clear gospel and I put my trust in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross, alone. That He did that for me, and He gave me eternal life as a free gift! What an Awesome God!
This past week I was reading an article from a magazine I get from Friends of Israel, which I am going to cancel because of their reformed teachings, and the article was about Romans 9 – 12, and I could tell where he was going with it, but I prayed for answers, and the Lord led me to Yankee Arnold’s teaching on Youtube, ” Why I Love Jacob but hate Esau” and it blessed me so much. I am better understanding the two natures and that clears up so many confusing verses also. I recommend that video, if you haven’t already watched it. God bless the fellowship from this blog!
Alice, thank you for the prayers for this ministry, the people who come here, and for me and my family.
Like you, I am very thankful for the life and ministry of the late Jack Weaver. Thank you for reminding everyone of his love for the Lord, and his heart for the gospel and for the lost.
It is now almost one year since Jack Weaver went to be with the Lord Jesus Christ. We miss him very much and his comments and insights on ExP which were always encouraging and instructive. I love going back and re-reading the past posts in previous years and Jack’s comments. I wish I had known about this site much earlier. My friend Mary introduced me to this site.
Thank you Johninnc for continuing on with this Expreacherman website which is so…o..o..o needed to keep us informed about the deceitful teaching of Lordship-salvation. We thank the Lord for you that He has provided you in Jack Weaver’s absence to continue to teach us and warn us against LS.
We appreciate your time, effort and hard work in writing new posts and making comments and responding to us and praying for us. We keep you and your family in our daily prayers as well as those who come here regularly to comment here . May the Lord bring more and more people from around the world to ExP and have their eyes opened to the false gospels that they are under and believe the Gospel of Grace and be saved eternally.
William, what an interesting insight on John MacArthur’s book and all the other works religionists. Makes perfect sense.
Alice – great comment!
Alice, Here’s 3 passages in the Bible that utterly refutes all works salvationist’s eisegesis of Matthew 7:21-23:
1) Luke 7:50 – 50 Jesus said to the woman, “YOUR FAITH HAS SAVED YOU; GO IN PEACE.” Notice Jesus did NOT say to her, “Thy faith plus works has saved you.”
2) Luke 17:19 – 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; YOUR FAITH HAS MADE YOU WELL.” This was the only leper out of the 10 who were healed by Jesus who came back and knelt before Him to praise and thank Him. This one leper was healed of leprosy and also eternally saved at that very moment.
3) Luke 18:42 – 42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: THY FAITH HATH SAVED THEE.
The blind man BELIEVED that Jesus is the Messiah that gives eternal life in Luke 18:38. He was healed of his blindness and at the same time instantly and eternally saved right then and there.
Alice, Yeah with false doctrine it’s ALWAYS this produce “fruit” and “works” or one is doomed mentality. Mormons, JW’s, Roman Catholics, Buddhists, philanthropists, Boy/Girl Scouts of America, and even some atheists produce “fruit” and “works”, BUT are not saved.
Thanks William. I appreciate your comments too and I learn from all the new posts that Johninnc puts here at ExP plus the comments that people write in response. The Lord is teaching me more and more everyday, strengthening my faith in Him alone for my salvation APART from any works on my part.
The litmus test for SALVATION according to:
1. Calvinism, Arminianism, Lordship salvation-ism is:
Produce fruit /works OR You are not saved….!
2. The Bible:
Believe the Gospel (GOOD NEWS that Christ paid your sin-debt in full and rose from the dead) OR You are not saved…!
Alice, I LOVE your comment! Amen to that!! PRAISE THE LORD!
I just recently discovered that Mormons, Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and Churches of Christ are ATTRACTED to MacArthur’s book, “The Gospel According to Jesus”. It’s so obvious as to why because MacArthur is speaking their language and teaching the same thing. MacArthur was very surprised when informed that some Mormons were using his book to “motivate” their followers to be more obedient in their “faith”. Birds of a feather flock together. It’s like MacArthur’s book is like a technical manual on “faith plus works” damnation.
Please note that I changed the link to pastor Tom Cucuzza’s sermon to a video version on Youtube.
Alice, your reference to John 6:40 is spot on to the field of meaning in Matthew 7:21.
I have to admit that for many years that I was under LS teaching, I understood the above passage Matt 7: 22-23 to mean that simply trusting in Jesus and His finished work on the cross ALONE is NOT enough for salvation for “even the demons believe and tremble”. Regarding this passage, we were taught in our churches and Bible study groups that unless our professing FAITH is accompanied by WORKS (James 2 :26), it is DEAD faith that can NOT save.
The thing that really threw me is the verse above: Matt 7 :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”.
I thought that ‘doing the will of the Father’ meant that we should obey Him, keep the 10 commandments, turn from sin, do good works, submit, surrender, commit, persevere, endure etc, etc, etc. After all that passage is talking about entry in to heaven ie SALVATION. ‘ …I never knew you, depart from Me, ye that work iniquity’.
It didn’t occur to me in all those years that DOING all those things actually ADDS to the FINISHED work of Jesus Christ, and thus nullifies GRACE and the FREE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE.
But thankfully the Lord opened my eyes to what He REALLY meant by these verses through the teaching of Tom Cucuzza, Ralph Arnold and ExPreacherman and all those who write comments here. Now I realise that that passage is ACTUALLY talking about those who were trusting in their WORKS (partially or fully) for entrance into heaven, rather than trusting ONLY on what Christ has done for us on the cross.
I thank the LORD for revealing His TRUTH through the HOLY SPIRIT, WORD OF GOD, and GRACE teachers like Jack Weaver and Johninnc and many others.
John 6: 40 “This is the WILL OF HIM that sent Me that every one which seeth the Son and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day” . Now I KNOW that the DOING the will of God is actually BELIEVING in Jesus Christ, NOT ‘doing’ stuff…..!
See how important it is to RIGHTLY divide the Word of Truth???
You could end up in hell / lake of fire, if you get it wrong…!!
Hi William,
I am extremely pleased to hear about Andrea trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ alone as her Saviour as a result of the Lord using you while ministering to another. I am further overjoyed to hear that Andrea is Jewish in descent as my heart and affections lie deeply with the Jewish people and with His chosen nation – Israel.
I too have prayed that Andrea’s family may come to believe the Gospel and thus be saved eternally by His precious Blood.
His Grace is always sufficient for us.
Mike, agree.
these verses in nmatthew 7 will be said at the great white throne judgement not at the bema seat (judgement seat of Christ) it will be said to people who did not trust in Christ ALONE one would not even appear at judgement seat if they had not trusted in Christ alone
William, I praise God when I hear of someone being released from the bondage of legalistic works salvation. I am sure Andrea is rejoicing in the gift of her eternal destiny! And I too pray for her family that they receive the good news of the gospel of their salvation in Christ.
I can’t turn on the TV only to hear these preachers coming on with this twisted stuff about how Christ’s death already took away everyone’s sins, BUT they also say saving faith in him must be an “active” faith or it can’t save you. And this one preacher went right to the Matt. 7 “I never knew you” passage and to James for his “active faith” proofs.
Preston, I’m doing pretty good. Today has been a real blessing! Praise God! A lady on YouTube has been freed from 15 years of bondage to works salvation and uncertainty of her salvation. She’s Jewish and tells me that she feels so relieved and free after she read the Scriptural passages that I shared back in May of 2015. How are you doing? Keep contending for the gospel of John 3:16 and let us continue to fight the good fight and refute false doctrine on YouTube that is deceiving so many souls in the world!
William,
have not heard from you in a while? I would ask, “How’s it going”? but I can see it going pretty well. 🙂
William, I have joined you in praying for Andrea’s family and also in praising God and thanking Him for Andrea and her heart to share the gospel with her family.
John, Andrea just shared with me that she’s JEWISH. She said that she is soooo happy and relieved knowing that she’s eternally saved and that absolutely nothing can undo that. She wants us to pray for her family hoping that they will also BELIEVE and be SAVED!!!!!
HALLELUJAH, PRAISE THE LORD!!!!
Fryingpan, when I pulled up the “Sermon Audio” site, it featured prominently sermons by a who’s who of false teachers.
A great post as always, johninnc.
These verses are worthy of posts like this on a regular basis, and I also believe anyone sent to Sermon Audio should indeed be advised to venture beyond Tom Cucuzza’s sermons at their own risk while on that site.
William, thanks for sharing the wonderful news about Andrea!
I have prayed that Andrea will grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Praise God!! I just received 2 YouTube responses from a woman who has been set FREE from the bondage of 15 years of not knowing whether or not she was saved. In a YouTube comment that I shared back in May of 2015 with someone else where I quoted the following passages in the Bible in support of faith alone in Christ alone apart from works:
“Narrow way/road = Faith alone in Christ alone APART from works – John 5:24, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:20, 3:28, Romans 4:2-5, Romans 9:32, Romans 10:4, Romans 11:6, Galatians 2:16, 2:21, Galatians Ch. 3,
VERSUS
Broad way/road = Faith plus works Calvinism/Lordship Salvation, Arminianism, Roman Catholicism, Pentacostalism, Mormonism, JW, etc. Matthew 7:22 – they are the ones on the broad way/road who thought that their “good works” would merit them eternal life. They are the ones who are desperately pleading with Jesus to let them into His Kingdom based on their WORKS. Broad way/road = Matthew 23:4, Luke 11:46, Acts 15:10, 2 Corinthians 11:4.”
She commented twice and said that she read and studied the Biblical passages that I posted and said that after reading those passages that it is finally making sense in her head. She said she is finally set FREE from works and depending on the FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS after 15 years of doubt and uncertainty in her mind over her salvation! She sounded so happy and enthusiastic!!!! PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PRAISE GOD FOR YOUTUBE AND THE INTERNET WHERE PEOPLE CAN BE REACHED WITH THE GOSPEL ON A WORLDWIDE BASIS!!!!
I encouraged her to visit us here at expreacherman. Hope to hear from her soon. Her name is Andrea.
SOLA FIDE!!!!!