I Never Knew You

While approximately two thousand years have past since it was proclaimed, “The Sermon on the Mount” still stands as the master sermon from the Master Preacher.  No matter how many times a person reads it, that sermon still resonates as strongly as it ever has.  There are so many great parts to it.  Whether it be the “the beatitudes”, “the model prayer” or “the strait gate”, the reader gets to have a glimpse of the mind of God.  As a matter of fact, “And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine.  For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Matt. 7:28-29).

Near the very end of the sermon, Jesus uttered some words of warning concerning the salvation of men.  Let us notice carefully what our Lord had to say.  “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).

There is so much to discuss from those three verses.  The first thing is that “universalism” is untrue.  If you are not familiar with the term “universalism”, then let me explain.  “Universalism” is the theory/belief that every person, regardless of what he or she does, is going to be saved and go to Heaven.  While that might be a comforting idea to some people, it is just not the case.  While Jesus did die for all men, not all men will obey “the will of the Father”.  Today, the New Testament is the standard of law under which men live.  The writer of Hebrews put it this way, “God, who at sundry times and divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds” (Heb. 1:1-2).  If a person today wants to go to Heaven, then he must obey the New Testament/the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:16; 2 Thess. 1:6-10).  Jesus is “…the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Heb. 5:9).

Second, while confession of one’s faith is essential to salvation, just acknowledging Jesus as Lord, Savior, Christ, or God is not all of the Gospel plan.  It is true that Jesus spoke of confessing Him before men (Matt. 10:32-33).  It is also true that Paul, by inspiration, wrote, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Rom. 10:9-10).  Notice that confession is “made unto salvation”.  Paul did not write that confession is “made into salvation”.  Confession gets one closer to being saved, but is not all that God requires.

Then we learn that there are many individuals who will believe they are saved because of differing works that they have done.  They will even protest to the Lord that they acted “in His name” or by His authority.  It is then that Jesus will tell them, “I never knew you”.  Wow!  Can you imagine what it will be like for those people?  Just think about the number alive right now who believe that they are right with God, but do not faithfully serve Him.  Then, add to that number how many throughout the past two thousand years have done likewise.  There are so very many souls that will hear “depart from me, ye that work iniquity”.  While it might shock many to learn of such, it should not be surprising.  Jesus had already stated, “Enter ye in at the strait gate:  for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matt. 7:13-14).

Friend, do not let yourself be one that is told by Jesus, “I never knew you”.  Act now by believing on the Lord Jesus as the Son of God (John 8:24), repenting of your past sins (Acts 17:30-31), confessing before men your faith towards Jesus, and being baptized into Christ for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38; Gal. 3:27).  Continue faithfully the remainder of your life, and you will “enter into the kingdom of heaven” (2 Tim. 4:6-8; Rev. 2:10).
~ Corey Barnette