Hypocrisy

For me, the most chilling, the most frightening words in all of scripture are spoken by the Lord Jesus:

Matthew 7:22 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 perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

The most dangerous position to be in, in all creation, is that of a false believer. It is even more dangerous than being unsaved. An out and out non-believer knows that they are not saved, and while it is still day, there is time to remedy that. But a false believer sits on the brink of destruction thinking that all is well. Such a one will not take any steps at all to remedy the situation.

What does a false believer look like?

Matthew 23:3 "...they say, and do not do."

Matthew 23:5 "...But all their works they do to be seen by men."

Matthew 6 "They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 "greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.'"

Believers also must have the Spirit of life in the inner man:

Romans 7:22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.

Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

The Apostle Paul was aware of the issue of hypocrisy when he wrote,

1 Corinthians 9:27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Even though God our Father wants us to have assurance of our salvation--

Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."--

it would indeed be foolish of us not to ask the Holy Spirit to "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting."--Psalm 139:23

The purpose of such searching of the heart is to make absolutely certain that on that great and final day of judgment, that day when there will be no such thing as repentance and a second chance, we will not hear Jesus say, "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!"

Matthew23:11 "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 "And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

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Dearest Heavenly Father, I do worry about my salvation at times, about the genuineness of my belief, of my calling myself a Christian. You know what is inside of me. You know all the self love that is there. You know that I do most often have an almost unconscious eye out looking around to see if anyone sees me "being good". O Lord, I hate this in myself. Father, if I am lacking in anything, if I am falling short in any way, if I am missing the mark completely, I beg of You Father, in the name of Your dear, sweet Son, that You Yourself would arrest me and bring my heart to perfect repentance in Him. Thank-You, Father, that it is Christ's righteousness, and not my own lack of it, that You will see in that great day of judgment.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.