Matthew 7:21-29

The uselessness of a mere outward profession of Christianity.
A striking picture of two classes of Christian hearers.

"We must make a "practice" of our Christianity as well as a "profession.""

"He does not content himself with listening to exhortations to repent, believe in Christ, and live a holy life. He actually repents. He actually believes. He actually ceases to do evil, learns to do well, abhors that which is sinful, and cleaves to that which is good."

Questions:

Jesus warns that professing his name is not the test of true Christianity, though we must add that it is not less than that (see Romans 10:9). It is those who do the will of the Father in Heaven. And so, Ryle asks if we are truly repenting, truly believing on Christ, and living holy and humble lives. To help us in this, he encourages us to think often of the great day when Jesus returns and consider if we are living in such a way to hear "well done, good and faithful servant" or "depart from me you workers of lawlessness?" How often does this shape our daily lives?
Jesus tells us what makes one wise and foolish, and shows it by revealing their respective ends. The wise man hears God's Word and does it, and the foolish man hears and doesn't. The wise man, in his listening and doing, builds his house so that when the storms of life and the judgement come, his house will stand while the foolish man's will not. And so we need to ask ourselves: what kind of house am I building? Am I content to hear sermons and teaching, to read the Bible and walk away unchanged? Or is my life being transformed as I hear and respond in trust and faith to what I hear and read in God's Word? Does the truth of God's word translate into communion and prayer to God? May we be active and not just passive learners in the things of God!