The Danger of an Empty Profession

“A man had two sons.”

Matthew 21:28

Jesus told a parable about a father who asked his two sons to go work in his vineyard. One son said, “I will not,” but later he changed his mind (repented) and went. The other son said, “I will, sir,” but he didn’t.

The second son’s response was immediate, positive, and polite! Grandmothers who saw this clean-cut lad would be very impressed, “He’s such a good boy! Any father would be proud to have a son like that.”

But Jesus quickly punctured that balloon: “But [he] did not go” (21:30). He said he would go. He intended to go. But he didn’t. Then Jesus asked, “Which of the two did the will of his father?” (21:31). The answer is obvious. This is the danger of an empty profession.

If you profess faith, but knowingly continue in sin, you’re in the same position as the son who said, “I will, sir,” but then did not do what his father wanted. Where do you find, in the Bible, people who are saved without it making any difference to their lives? That’s not the gospel.

Saying “yes” to God is of no value if it doesn’t lead to doing what He commands: “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him” (Isa. 55:6-7). You cannot pursue wickedness and turn to the Lord. Turning to the Lord is forsaking wickedness.

Are you telling yourself that you are a Christian even though you have sins in your life that you’re unwilling to forsake?