Look around your church this Sunday.
Look at the worship team, the elders, the smiling faces in the seats, the people posting Scripture memes and “Jesus is King” captions.
Now hear the words of the King Himself:
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:13–14)
Jesus did not say “some.” He did not say “a troubling minority.”
He said most.
And He was talking about the very people who thought they were on their way to heaven.
It’s evident that many who profess to know God in Christ do not even in the remotest way resemble the Spirit of Christ. They lack the divine imprint. They possess a different spirit and a different wisdom — earthly, sensual, devilish — and from within them flows muddy water and bitter fruit (James 3:15–17). They sing about the blood of Jesus while stabbing brothers in the back. They preach grace while living in greed, lust, and pride. They are tares dressed up as wheat, goats wearing sheep’s clothing.
And one day Jesus will look them in the eye and say, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matthew 7:23).
“And Such Were Some of You”… Or Were You?
Paul wrote to a church full of people who thought they were safe:
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
And such were some of you.
But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9–11)
Notice the past tense: were.
True conversion is not a prayer you prayed once. It is a radical, irreversible transformation. You do not just get a new label — you get a new heart, a new spirit, a new Master. The old man dies. The new man lives.
Yet look again at the average church.
Where is the evidence of this washing? Where is the sanctification? Where is the fear of God?
- People shack up and call it “love.”
- Greed is called “blessing.”
- Gossip and slander are called “prayer requests.”
- Hatred for a brother is called “discernment ministry.”
- Pornography is winked at while the preacher yells about politics.
John could not be clearer:
“Whoever says ‘I know Him’ but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4).
“Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:15).
If you hate a brother or sister in Christ — if bitterness and unforgiveness live in your heart — John says you do not have eternal life. Period.
The Terrifying Marks of False Profession
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False Professor (Never Truly Born Again) |
True Child of God (Imperfect but Real) |
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No real grief over sin — only damage control when caught |
Ongoing brokenness and hatred of sin |
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Fruit is consistently bitter: division, pride, sensuality, greed |
Fruit of the Spirit grows: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness… |
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Loves the praise of men more than the praise of God |
Loves God and loves the brethren, even when it costs |
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Can quote Scripture while living in rebellion |
Trembles at God’s word and obeys, even imperfectly |
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Eventually falls away or hardens under trial |
Perseveres through fire because God keeps His own |
Paul told Titus:
“They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work” (Titus 1:16).
That is not a description of a “carnal Christian.” That is a description of a lost person play-acting faith.
Do Not Be Deceived
The most dangerous lie in the church today is this:
“You can live however you want and still go to heaven because you prayed a prayer in 1997.”
That is a demonic lie straight from the pit.
Grace is not a license to sin. Grace is the power that kills sin.
If your life does not look increasingly like Jesus — if there is no war against the flesh, no growing love for holiness, no supernatural affection for God’s people — then the Bible says you have every reason to fall on your face and cry out for mercy while mercy can still be found.
The Good News for Today
The narrow gate is still open.
The blood of Jesus still cleanses the worst sinner who truly repents.
The same Paul who wrote the terrifying list also wrote:
“And such were some of you. But you were washed…”
Today — right now — if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart.
Run to Christ.
Confess every sin.
Forsake every idol.
Plead for the new birth that only the Spirit can give.
Because one day the door will close.
And most who thought they were inside will find themselves on the outside, forever.
The narrow gate is narrower than you think.
Make sure you have entered it — truly entered it — while there is still time.
“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.” (2 Corinthians 13:5)
The King is coming.
Be ready.
Be real.
Be found in Him.
Maranatha. 🔥