Lord, Lord

Common Sense Commentary:   "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.   Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matt.7:21-23.  "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"  Lk.6:46. 
Last night I saw a young black man who had two crosses (crucifixes) tattooed, one on each cheek, on his face.  He was a double murderer with a long criminal record and as cold as a snake, with no apologies or apparent repentance.  I have seen many street prostitutes, drug pushers and gang bangers wearing a gold cross reckless without any evidence of conversion but plenty to the contrary.  Homosexuals often profess Christianity with no guilt of their homosexual sin whatever. At the least it is adultery and at worst ... "abomination" (Lk.16:15).   On TV you will see dozens of criminals, in prison, convicted of every kind of crime, with crosses tattooed all over their bodies but with no apparent embarrassment at the contradiction of their crimes, drug abuse, cursing and verbal hatreds.

You can tattoo a cross on your face, wear one or ten around your neck and carry a bible and not be a Christian. You can attend church every Sunday and "say prayers", and not be a Christian. I have known preachers and deacons who got saved after years of active church membership.

A person can talk about "the Lord" with educated proficiency, look like a Christian and even "act" like a Christian and not "be" a Christian. "Being" a Christian is a matter of "by God's grace".... "through faith" in that grace, acceptance of Christ as your personal Saviour, and commitment to Him.  It is not "appearances" ....."...Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." 1Sam.16:7.  It is not "works" .... "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us...." Titus 3:5. It is not by water baptism, church membership, tithing, or being good.    "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Eph.2:8-9.
Even so,   "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." James 2:26.

Works do not save us, but they are the fruit of salvation, and their absence prove the tree is a contradiction.... like the fig tree Jesus condemned in Matt.21:19.   RB