Excerpts FROM:

Truth Endures: Landmark Sermons from Forty Years of Unleashing God’s Truth One Verse at a Time

“It is only through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that you or I or anyone will ever enter the kingdom of God. We can’t enter through our religious emotion or our sanctified feelings. It is only through the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Lip profession is no good–there must be obedience. And in the statement, “Lord, Lord,” you get the idea that these people are surprised-in fact they’re shocked. “You mean we’re not even getting in?” But remember what Jesus Christ says in Luke 6:46, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”‘

The following verse is on an old slab in the cathedral of Lubeck, Germany:

Thus speaketh Christ our Lord unto us,

ye call Me Master and obey me not,

ye call me Light, and see Me not,

ye call me Way and walk Me not,

ye call me Wise and follow Me not,

ye call me Fair and love Me not,

ye call me Rich and ask Me not,

ye call me Eternal and seek Me not,

you call me Gracious and trust Me not,

ye call me Noble and serve Me not,

ye call me Mighty and honor Me not,

ye call me Just, and fear Me not;

if I condemn you, blame Me not.

“Millions of people depend on their morality, their good deeds, their baptism, their church membership, even their religious feelings. There will be many church workers in hell, many pastors, and sad to say, many teachers in so-called religious schools. I’m sure many of them are going to say to Christ, “Christ, it’s us, we prophesied in your name.” But Jesus will tear off the sheepskin and lay bare the ravening wolf. That’s exactly what He’s been talking about in Matthew 7:15-20, where He reveals the false prophets–those who claim to have reality and have it not.”

“The true church of Jesus Christ is not a religious institution that welcomes everyone; it is the body of Jesus Christ apart to God, uniquely married and wedded to Christ, and redeemed by faith.”

This was taken from the very first sermon John MacArthur gave to 300 people at Grace Church in 1969.  The sermon is titled

“HOW TO PLAY CHURCH”