"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord' and not do what I say?" (Lk. 6:46). Some will also say, "We ate and drank in your companyˇKwe prophesied in your nameˇK and worked miracles in your name". The Lord will tell them, "I have never known you, away from me, all evil-doers" (Lk. 13; Mt. 7). These strong words are obviously addressed to people who had faith in Christ, and yet are condemned because of their evil deeds. Such a contradiction between belief in God and evil living may sound too absurd to occur in practice. The grim fact is that faith by itself does not always lead to good works which count for salvation. Such a faith is called a "dead faith" by St James. This is the faith of demons who believe in God and tremble and yet choose to be wicked. (Jas. 2:17-19).

On hearing the Gospel message, one can be moved and admire its noble teaching and feel a desire to follow it. But if all this remains only at the level of feeling and desire and is not translated into action, one would be false to oneself. It would be like a person who deceives himself into thinking that it is safe enough to live in a house built on sand and without any foundation.