In this study we will look at the last section of this great sermon that Jesus has taught the people. This will also close another chapter for us in the study of this great book. If we thought the last two sections of this sermon were tough in the point of examination of our spiritual condition then this section will be extremely tough as well. In this section Jesus will show us two different types of people that have used two different foundations to build a house. In this teaching we will see that both of these men faced a storm that tested the strength of the house that was built.
This teaching is meant for us to examine to see if we are following the way that leads to passing the test of true conversion and true discipleship. Many people think they are saved even though they have no connection to God outside of the walls of the church. Many people are religious but have no obedience from the very command given to us in the Bible. Many people find themselves following man-made laws, religions and thoughts over the truths found in the Bible. This is what false teaching does, this is what hypocritical living produces and this is what a profession of faith without any commitment does. This comes to us as a warning against living in that way and to help us to see where we are so that we can turn away from our own idea of Christian living if we find ourselves on that path. Let’s get into this very tough subject with our first point.
1.Why profess Christ as Lord if you are disobedient?
Look with me at Luke 6:46 Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? The very point I’m going to make here gets a lot of disagreement with it and even has been given titles like Lordship salvation and things like that. I do not like titles other than I am a Christian who is learning and growing in my understanding and trust in God. I do not like placing titles on Christian movements or even associating my beliefs with a denomination. I know these exist but that is not who I am nor am I bent because of some title given to some doctrine.
This teaching that many call Lordship salvation is clearly seen here. It is not that you have to make Jesus Lord then you are saved but rather if you are saved then He will be your Lord in position and practice. Jesus says this in no plainer words than here. The question is simple but is difficult to grasp because of we know at times we fall into this area when we sin. But just like the other areas we have looked at in this sermon this is not talking about one sin but rather the way you are conducting our lives continually. We will see this as we look at the fact that this is speaking about building a house, or in other words how you are living your life.
This teaching here we see in Luke reaches back into the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew’s account where we see in Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Just because you call Jesus Lord does not mean that He is your Lord. The only true way to know that He is actually your Lord is that you are obeying what He says. Now this is where many people say that you can trust in Jesus as Savior for salvation and then in the process of time, you can make Him Lord of your life. To the contrary the call to salvation implies that Jesus is not just your Savior but also your Lord. Romans 10:9 says if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord(He is your Lord) and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.(He is your Savior).
So there is no separation of the two and therefore He must be Lord if you want Him to be Savior. Now this does not imply that you have to do some work first but that if you are saved you will do what Jesus has commanded. This is what we will look at in the remainder of the teaching that Jesus gives to us in our last few verses. We will look at this in two separate points.
2.Those that hear and do.
Look with me at Luke 6:47-48 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. Obedience is not a prerequisite for salvation but is the proof of salvation. So often this truth is seen in Scripture from Old Testament to New Testament. Many people view the Old Testament Law as requirements for salvation but most of what is in the Law was showing Israel what they needed to do to stay in the path of God’s blessings. But what you do see often in both the Old and New Testaments in relation to salvation has to do with a heart change that does not seek to do what is written in some law but from the change from within.
The people of Israel struggled to see this often and their first king, Saul failed to see this. He refused to obey God but did what he thought to be right when they defeated the Amalekites in 1 Samuel 15. This brought about rejection from God towards Saul and this was what Samuel said to Saul in 1 Samuel 15:22-23 “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.”
We know often Jesus shows us that we must obey. Jesus says in John 14:15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
James 1:22 says But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
1 Peter 1:14-16 says As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
We could go on and on with verse after verse showing us this truth but I think what really shows us this truth in in Ephesians 2:10 that says For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
A Christian is not saved by works, does not remain saved because of their works but does works because their faith is real and genuine. James makes this argument well in James 2:18-20 where he says But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
In other words you can call Jesus Lord but that profession means nothing if He is not actually your Lord. That profession does not save you but is only empty words. People have the idea if I believe in Jesus, if I believe that He died and resurrected then that is enough but if that was the case many people would be saved on that point. The salvation call does not require obedience to earn salvation but does require obedience once you are saved. So Jesus says here in Luke 6:48 that the obedient person is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.
The Christian’s faith will not be shaken even under persecution. The Christian will not be tossed around by false doctrine that leads down a path of affirming your faith even though there is no proof of that faith. This can happen early in a Christian’s walk but should not be what a Christian stays in. Ephesians 4:11-14 says And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
This helps us to see that we not only need to discern ourselves but we need to discern those that are teaching us as well. So we see that obedience to Jesus’ words is a must in following and being stable in our walk with Christ. Now we will look at the opposition of that briefly in our last point for this study.
3.Those that hear and do not do.
Look with me at Luke 6:49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” The difference in this person and the person we looked at in our last point is clear. The distinction is these people hear but are not obedient. It isn’t that they did not hear the command, it isn’t that they did not understand the command but it is that they did not do what they were commanded. This is not an analogy of the call to salvation. Nothing in the context points to this being the call to salvation but what we see is the difference in two people that represent those that are Christians and those that are not. Those that are Christians call Jesus Lord and do as He commands. Those that are not Christians call Jesus Lord and live in disobedience.
The test that separates the two people is what happens to them under what we see as a storm. This is a reference to persecution, suffering and trials. The Christian will at times find themselves going down the path of sin but we must not remain there. If we remain there we too will find ourselves sinking into despair and depression. We will find ourselves under the discipline of God as Jesus says in Luke 12:47 And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating.
But for the non-Christian they find themselves sinking into ruin through the trials and sufferings of life. Remember this analogy is in relation to people that call Jesus Lord and do not do what He says so in that viewpoint this person may look good outwardly, they may be at the church every time the doors are open, they may be a leader in the church and maybe even your pastor. The key to understand here is that trials of life will reveal the genuineness of the profession.
To close this study I want to go back and read the question we see Jesus ask in Luke 6:46, Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
Think about areas of your life that need changed. Think about your thoughts, your actions, the way you conduct your life at work, around your family, friends or fellow Christians. Is the way you live revealing that Jesus in indeed your Lord? Not that we will be perfect but do you live your life following Jesus? Remove yourself from religious activities like going to church and ask if others would know that you are different from the world because of your obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Disciple's Direction 