What Are You Practicing?

Jesus’ Warning: “Depart from Me, You Who Practice Lawlessness”

Introduction: Not Just About Sin, But Practice

In Matthew 7:23, Jesus issues a sobering warning:

“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”

It’s a verse that should cause every professing Christian to pause. He doesn’t say, “Depart from Me, you who sinned”—because we all sin. Nor does He say, “You who didn’t confess My name” or “You who failed to believe in Me.”

Instead, He says, “You who practice lawlessness.”

That one word—practice—changes everything.

Jesus is pointing not to a single moment of failure, but to a pattern of life. A direction. A way of walking.

The question becomes: What are you practicing?

1. The Context: Religious People Who Were Rejected

What makes Jesus’ words even more startling is the context. These are people who call Him “Lord.” They even claim to have done miracles in His name!

They look religious. They sound convincing. And yet—they’re turned away.

Why?

Because their profession didn’t match their practice.

This reveals something crucial: it’s possible to be outwardly Christian and yet inwardly lawless. These weren’t atheists or overt rebels. Many were likely sincere—genuinely believing they were serving God—but they were deeply misguided.

They followed a version of faith that separated grace from obedience.

Many sincere believers today reject some of God’s commands—not out of rebellion, but because they’ve been taught those commands don’t apply anymore. But Jesus’ words still stand: those who practice lawlessness, even with good intentions, are on a path that leads away from Him.

Being deceived doesn’t erase the danger of the path.
The call is to test our practice—not just our intentions.

2. What Is Lawlessness?

Biblically, lawlessness isn’t just crime or chaos. It’s a heart and lifestyle that resists or disregards God’s law—His Word, His will, His ways.

“Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.”
—1 John 3:4

That brings it home. Lawlessness isn’t just rebellion—it can include partial obedience. It’s picking and choosing which parts of God’s Word we’ll follow.

This can include Christians who:

• Refuse to honor the Sabbath, claiming it no longer applies
  
• Dismiss God’s holy days as “Jewish” or obsolete
  
• Justify ongoing bitterness, greed, or sexual sin while saying, “Grace covers all”
  

Lawlessness isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it whispers.
It creeps in through compromise. It rationalizes disobedience under the name of freedom.

It also shows up in those who follow false teachers—ministers who soften sin, who replace obedience with comfort, or who reshape Scripture to fit culture (see Matthew 24:11; 2 Peter 2:1). When we accept a distorted gospel without testing it, we may end up practicing lawlessness—all while believing we’re walking in truth.

3. Practice vs. Perfection

Let’s be clear: Jesus is not demanding perfection.

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.”
—1 John 1:8

The issue is not whether we stumble—but whether we’re walking toward Him or away from Him.

Are you:

• Struggling against sin, repenting when you fall, seeking to obey?
  
• Or excusing sin, explaining it away, and calling it grace?
  

King David sinned grievously—but he repented, and returned. Paul called himself the chief of sinners—but his life was turned toward Christ.

God isn’t looking for flawless performance.
He’s looking for a heart that longs to follow.

4. Practicing Lawlessness vs. Practicing Righteousness

Scripture gives us a powerful contrast:

“Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as He is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil…”
—1 John 3:7–8

The word practice matters. It implies effort, repetition, intentionality.

Just like an athlete trains or a musician rehearses—we’re called to train in godliness.

That means:

• Keeping God’s commandments
  
• Honoring His Sabbath and appointed times
  
• Pursuing honesty, humility, purity, and love
  
• Turning from sin quickly, rather than settling into it
  

Our habits shape our hearts.
We become what we repeatedly do.

5. The Stony Heart vs. The Willing Spirit

This is the dividing line—between a stony heart and a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26).

Israel was often called stiff-necked. They longed for Egypt—resisting the transformation God offered.

But God is forming a people not defined by perfection, but by willingness.

He looks for those who:

• Mourn over sin
  
• Desire change
  
• Daily seek to put the old self to death
  

It’s not about flawless performance.
It’s about surrendered direction.

That’s why He gives us His Spirit—not as a license to ignore His law, but as the power to walk in it.

Conclusion: Examine the Direction of Your Life

The true dividing line is not belief vs. unbelief, but practice.

What are you becoming through the rhythm of your life?

Are you:

• Practicing righteousness—even with struggle?
  
• Or practicing lawlessness—even if you look spiritual?
  

Jesus knows the difference.

He’s not asking for perfection.
But He is asking for your direction.

Let’s not settle for just saying “Lord, Lord.”
Let’s be people who seek to do the will of the Father.

“Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”
—2 Timothy 2:19