Notes of a Searching Sermon, by C. H. Spurgeon

“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. 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? And I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt. vii. 21-23).

I. They went a long way in religion.

1. They made an open profession. They said, “Lord, Lord.”
2. They undertook Christian service, and that of a high class; they habitually prophesied and worked miracles.
3. They had obtained remarkable success. Devils had owned their power.
4. They were noted for their practical energy. They had done many wonders; they were active in many ways. They had done wonders. Astonished everybody.
5. They were diligently orthodox. They did everything in the name of Christ. The words, “Thy name,” are mentioned three times.

II. They kept it up a long while.

1. They were not silenced by men. No one discovered their falsehood, or detected their inconsistency.
2. They were not openly disowned by the Lord Himself during life.
3. They were not made a laughing-stock by being left to use the Holy Name without result (Acts xix. 13-17). Devils were cast out.
4. They expected to enter the kingdom, and they clung to that false hope to the last. They dared to say, “Lord, Lord,” to Christ Himself at the last.

III. They were fatally mistaken.

1. Their tongue was belied by their hand. They said, “Lord, Lord,” but did not do the will of the Father.
2. They used the name which is named by disciples; but did not possess the nature of obedient servants (Luke vi. 46).
3. They prophesied, but did not pray.
4. They cast out devils; but the devil was not cast out of them.
5. They attended to marvels, but not to essentials.
6. They wrought wonders, but were also workers of iniquity.

IV. They found it out in a terrible way.

They had the information from the mouth of Him, whom they called “Lord.” Here let us carefully notice—

1. The solemnity of what he said—“I never knew you.” He had been omitted from their religion. What an oversight!
2. The terror of what it implied; they must depart from all hope, and continue for ever to depart.
3. The awful truth of what He said. They were utter strangers to His heart. He had not chosen them, nor communed with them, nor approved them, nor cared for them.
4. The solemn fixtness of what He said. His sentence would never be recalled, altered, or ended. It stood, “Depart from me!”