“DEPART FROM ME; I NEVER KNEW YOU”

I don’t know about you, but whenever I hear or read this verse, it always sends chills down my back. Here is the full passage:

21 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. 22 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? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.  Matthew 7:21-23 KJV

There may be millions of people around the world, and probably people that you and I know, who claim to be Christians, and “do good works”, but will be sent to the Lake of Fire because:

  1. they do not do the will of God the Father, 
  2. they don’t know the Lord, and/or
  3. they are workers of iniquity.

This is really heavy and even scary. But when we examine it carefully, we will discover good news for true believers.

Key Point #1: Calling upon the Lord and claiming justification by works is not sufficient to go to heaven.

  • Works righteousness – trying to attain righteousness by our works, even  prophesying, casting out demons, and doing many wonders in Jesus’ name, does not qualify us for salvation.
  • They may KNOW ABOUT THE LORD (as many pagans do), but have not surrendered to Christ, so they don’t KNOW THE LORD. Jesus said: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”
  • Salvation comes only from a true surrender of one’s heart, mind, and soul to receive Christ, who died for our sins.
  • The Gospel doesn’t just save us; it changes us into new creations in Christ. II Corinthians 5:17

Key Point #2: People can “do good works” and yet never surrender to and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. They are in effect CINOs – Christians in Name Only.    

Key Point #3: There is power in the name of Jesus, even when used by individuals who do not know the Lord.

Key Point #4: Observe why, and upon what grounds, He rejects them and their plea—because they were workers of iniquity. 

  • The Greek word for “iniquity” is anomia, which literally means “without law”. In the biblical sense, it refers to being in opposition to God’s moral will – acting as if God’s commands don’t matter.
  • Outward religion without inward regeneration is “iniquity”.

Key Point #5: THE GOOD NEWS is that although doing good works doesn’t earn salvation, when we have true faith in Jesus Christ, it will lead to obedience to God’s will, a life of good works led by the Holy Spirit, and eternity with Christ in Heaven.

  • Christ didn’t come just to create another RELIGION. He came that we may be set free of sin and have a RELATIONSHIP with Him.

Religious acts like worship services become hollow if they are not grounded in faith in Christ and a desire to live a life with God. Those who settle for doing good works and going through the motions at church are missing out on the greatest adventure in the world – life in the Spirit.

Three critical questions:

  1. Do you KNOW the Lord and the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit, or just KNOW ABOUT Him, like knowing about Trump or Putin?
  2. Do you know the Lord’s calling upon your life – what He is calling you to do and become?
  3. Are you fulfilling that calling? If not, WHY NOT?

Time is short, and He is inviting us to join Him on a great spiritual adventure. It is truly exciting, it is the most important thing we have ever done in our lives, and we will never be the same. God loves us more than we can imagine, and He can’t wait to welcome us home through the gates of heaven.

So we need to stand strong, be bold, and be courageous, speaking His Word and His Truth with love and compassion to all He brings across our path.

To God be the glory

LifeintheSpirit.net

Source of Image: Godversusreligion.com