Hi Chris,
Those who called Jesus Lord, but did not obey were those who had bad soil. When reading Matthew 13 while studying the book of Matthew, I think this is one of the parables that really stood out to me in understanding about those who are saved and those who aren't.
We see:
~ Hard soil among the path. These heard the gospel, but they weren't open to the gospel. So the birds of the air came to eat the seed.
The evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart.
~ Shallow soil among the rocks. The seed can't take root. These hear the gospel and the seed begins to grow, but it can't continue to live in shallow soil.
The man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.
~ The thorny soil among a thicket of thorns. The seed that falls among the thorns also begins to grow. But the thorns take over all the nutrients and water so the young seedling is crowded out by the thorns.
The man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
~ The fruitful soil. The seed falls on good soil and grows and produces an abundant crop.
The man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”
This all helps me to understand that many who say they are saved in the churches where we fellowship will have these types of soil. The different soils except the first will show signs of growth. But after a while they don't persevere in the truth of the gospel so it either becomes watered down or distorted somehow or nonexistent.
They may still continue on in church and go through the motions, but there will be no life found in them. They may put on a good show, they may talk and act like a believer, but they are the ones that are saying....... Lord, Lord did we not..........?
