A NAME IS NOT ENOUGH
Luke 6: 43-49
I have to share with you something I find rather humourous. This week, Pam and I
were at a Teacher’s Conference which was held at a very large church. On the last day of
the conference, later in the day, I noticed a sign that someone from the church had put
up. It was obviously an announcement cancelling some exercise classes, possibly due to the
bad weather. But this is what the sign said, “FIRM BELIEVERS -- CANCELLED
TONIGHT!”
Do you detect the irony in that statement? FIRM Believers! Cancelled tonight.
Now I don’t mean to sound belittling to the Firm Believers (and I’m sure that they
probably had some very good reasons for cancelling their meeting) but that sign reminded
me of a great truth that we find in Scripture. The truth is this. A name isn’t everything.
Or as the old expression goes, “Just because you call a thing a thing doesn’t make that
thing a thing!” Sometimes, a name is not enough.
Such is especially true when it comes to Christianity. You can call yourself a Christian
all day long, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you are a Christian. Calling yourself a
Christian does not make you a Christian, believing in Christ and living in Christ does!
In this passage of Scripture, Jesus discusses the difference between PROFESSION
and PRACTICE. The premise is this. Following Jesus is not determined by our profession,
but by our practice. The true evidence of conversion and faith in Christ IS THE WAY WE
LIVE! Jesus makes this point clear by 3 examples or evidences. If we have these 3 areas
evidenced in our lives, then, and only then, do we have the right to call ourselves true
disciples of Jesus Christ.
I OUR FRUIT v 43-45
A Illustration. One of our silk trees with a sign on it. It says, “APPLE TREE”.
1. Did you notice this tree that claims to be an apple tree?
2. Does having a sign on it somehow magically turn it into an apple tree? NO.
3. How can you detect an apple tree? IT SHOULD PRODUCE APPLES!!
4. Jesus says here, “For every tree is known BY IT’S FRUIT”
B Illustration. Tape a few apples onto the tree.
1. Now then, this tree has some apples on it? Is it NOW an apple tree?
2. Of course not, because although it contains some good fruit, it does not produce
the good fruit!
3. Religion in this world is a lot like that. It has some degree of goodness to it,
but it doesn’t produce real fruit of it’s own because it’s not tapped into Christ!
C Jesus said, in John 15:4 “...As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it
abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”
D So what is God teaching us here? He is teaching us that IF WE ARE TRULY
BORN AGAIN, we will produce EVIDENCE of that fact.
E Can you see the evidences of SPIRITUAL fruit in your life? Galatians 5:22-25
II OUR FAITHFULNESS
A Jesus then moves on. He has made the point quite clear that a name for ourselves
is not enough. We must provide evidence for that name. Then, He asks a very
brash and startling question (in verse 46):
1. “And why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, and not do the things which I say?”
2. What He is saying in essence is this. “Just because you call me Lord, just
because you give me the name of LORD, doesn’t make me your Lord!”
B Illustration: Picture a master and a servant. The master commands the servant to
go perfom a task, to which the servant agrees but does nothing. VISUAL:
Command Rachel (a servant) to get some water, but she won’t do it!
C Do you see the point here?
D There are multitudes of people in this world who are CALLED Christians. But they
are not. They are not because they do not follow the Lord. And the reason they
will not follow the Lord is because THEY DO NOT BELONG TO THE LORD!
E Listen to the very words of Christ!
1. John 14:15 “If you love me, keep my commandments.”
2. John 15:10 “If ye keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I
have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.”
F The Apostle John said it even more harshly (I John 2:4) “He that says, I know
Him, and keeps not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
G Now, does that mean you aren’t a Christian if you sin? No. We will sin as long as we
live in sinful bodies. But the idea here is that IF WE HAVE TRULY BEEN
CHANGED WITHIN, WE WILL INDEED DESIRE AND MANIFEST THAT
CHANGE OUTWARDLY!
Now let us notice the 3rd and final evidence that Jesus gives us that true believers have
more than just a name...
III OUR FOUNDATION v 47-49
A Several years back, the news made us aware of a tremendous tragedy that took
place in California.
1. A multimillion dollar home was built in a great location, near Los Angeles, CA.
2. This spectacular home sported a fantastic view of the Pacific Ocean. With
oversized rooms and ultra modern conveniences, it was the very epitomy of
luxury.
3. But one day, this humungous home was belted by a winter storm and was sucked
into the sea. The reason? It was built on a shoddy foundation, on a cliff, too
close to the ocean. You see, the foundation of a building is vital.
B This parable reminds me of that song we used to sing in Sunday School (“The
Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock”). Let’s sing it!
C Once again, we see visual proof that “A name is not enough!” Because a house
looks solid and secure doesn’t mean it is! The foundation is everything!
D The Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy is going to fall. Scientists travel yearly
to measure the building’s slow descent. They report that the 179-foot tower
moves about one-twentieth of an inch a year, and is now 17 feet out of
plumb. They further estimate that by the year 2007 the 810-year old tower
will have leaned too far and will collapse onto the nearby ristorante, where
scientists now gather to discuss their findings.
Quite significantly, the word “pisa” means “marshy land,” which gives some
clue as to why the tower began to lean even before it was completed.
Also—its foundation is only 10 feet deep!
D Let me ask you about the FOUNDATION OF YOUR LIFE? What is your life built
upon? HOW DEEP IS YOUR FOUNDATION?
E You see, everybody has some kind of foundation in life. But only a foundation in
Christ will last.
1. I Corinthians 3:11 “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is
laid which is Jesus Christ.”
2. Let’s take a quick look at II Timothy 2:19. This says it all.
“Neverthesless the foundation of God stands, having this seal ‘the Lord knows
who are His’ and ‘Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from
iniquity.”
a. This passage makes 2 indisputable statements:
1. God knows those who have a foundation in Him and those who don’t.
2. Those who claim Christ as their foundation, are expected to depart from
iniquity or wickedness.
b. Do you have JESUS as your foundation? And if you do, are you purging your
life from evil practices?
Conclusion:
It’s Not What …
It is not what we eat but what we digest that makes us strong;
Not what we gain but what we save that makes us rich;
Not what we read but what we remember that makes us learned;
Not what we preach but what we practice that makes us Christians.
