“The single greatest cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door, and deny him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” - Brennan Manning • Jesus Had Zero Tolerance for Hypocrisy Matthew 23:27–28 (ESV) 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. *Hypocrisy is focused on image, spiritual discipleship is focused on transformation. * • Not Everyone Who Claims Christ Actually Follows Him Titus 1:15–16 (ESV) 15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work. Matthew 7:21–23 (ESV) 21 “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.’ Doing Signs for God Doing the Will of God ** Focus on outward works (Matthew 7:22) Focus on inward obedience (Matthew 7:21) Self-Driven (Matthew 6:1) Driven by surrender to God (Matthew 6:10) Impress Others (Matthew 6:2) Pleases God (Colossians 1:10) Power without relationship(Matthew 7:23) Relationship through obedience (John 15:5) “Look what I did” (Matthew 7:22) “Lord, what do You want?”(1 Samuel 3:10) • Don’t Let People’s Failures Shake or Shape Your Faith Acts 13:49–50 (ESV) 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. Acts 13:51–52 (ESV) 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV) 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Psalm 118:8 (ESV) 8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. Romans 3:23–25 (ESV) 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. Imputed Righteousness and Imparted Righteousness- “God counts us righteous because of Christ’s work (imputed), and God works in us to make us righteous in our hearts and actions (imparted). Faith gives the first; obedience grows the second.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV) 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. Romans 6:22–23 (ESV) 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. • Don’t Just Examine Others, Examine Yourself Galatians 6:4 (ESV) 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. Matthew 7:1–5 (ESV) 7 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Ephesians 4:32 (ESV) 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. If our faith collapses because of people, it may be that our faith was built on people instead of Jesus.