Chapter 12 I never knew you Religion loves Matthew 7:15-23. Religion uses this to strike fear into the hearts of its followers. To be honest, it scared me for the longest time. I would think, “What if Jesus is talking about me? What if he told me, ‘I never knew you’?” I remember the pain and borderline suffering this passage caused me. However, when we compare scripture with other scripture, it really is not that scary at all-unless, of course, you are a false prophet. False prophets are what this passage is about (see verse 15). 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.” (Matthew 7:21-23) Let’s start with verse 21: “but he that doeth the will of my Father”. We must ask, "WHAT is the WILL of the Father?” The answer is in John 6:40, which reads, “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” Continuing on in verse 22 we read, “and in thy name done many wonderful works?” Notice what these people were relying on to go to heaven. They were relying on (trusting in) their WORKS to save them. The Bible states over and over: “NOT by works” (Eph 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; Rom 4:5,6; Rom 3:25-28 and my all-time favorite Rom 11:6 which reads, “and if by grace, then is it NO MORE OF WORKS; otherwise grace is no more grace". Also notice what they DIDN’T say. They didn't say, “Lord, I believed you paid my sin debt at the cross.” Their faith was NOT in Jesus. Rather, their faith was in their works. Let’s move on to verse 23 and the phrase, “I NEVER knew you”. Jesus DIDN’T say, “I once knew you and now I don't.” He said, “I NEVER knew you.” Jesus ate with sinners and told the Pharisees that harlots were getting into the kingdom before them (Matt 21:31). Remember the woman washing His feet with tears. The Pharisees called her a sinner. Jesus said to her, “…thy sins are forgiven… thy faith hath saved thee” (Luke 7:48-50). The point of these passages is this: Jesus KNOWS sinners! This is especially true in light of the fact that the Bible says we are ALL sinners (Rom 3: 9-12). The second part of verse 23 says “ye that work iniquity”. Were they sinners? YES. Wait, do I work iniquity (sin)? YES. Do you still work iniquity (sin)? YES, you do. In fact, the great evangelical Paul could not stop sinning (Rom 7:15-28). We know that every person is a sinner and works iniquity. Some people commit sin more than others, but the Bible concludes ALL under sin (Rom 3:9-12). Saved people sin all the time in the Bible. The Bible also reads that all sins are forgiven to the believer. “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you ALL trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross” (Col 2:13,14). “And by him all that believe are justified from ALL things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:39). “Wherefore I say unto you, ALL manner of sin and blasphemy shall be FORGIVEN unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come” (Matt 12:31,32). CLOSING THOUGHTS Many say the problem is that these professing Christians were relying on their works and not going to heaven. I believe this is a true statement. How many professing Christians do you know who are relying on works to help them get into heaven? However, I also see something else here. Those who fit this "mantra" are Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons. 1. Both groups were started by a supposed prophet (Joe smith and William Russell Taze) 2. Both groups do many wonderful works in the name of Jesus (and declare that works are needed) 3. Both groups DENY the deity of Jesus. They think he is the archangel Michael. Jesus will say I NEVER knew you! Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:3,4: But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. NOTE: many versions read something completely different in 2 Cor 11:3. This is the KJV. Jesus said in the book of John, “…unless ye believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). Whether the problem here is proclaiming works for salvation OR these folks trusting “another Jesus”, they were being judged by the law and were not under grace. The born again believer is “dead to the law” (Rom 7:2-4), is not under the law (Gal 3:23-25), but under grace. The law can’t touch the born again believer. IF you have trusted Jesus and His glorious gospel as your only hope to go to heaven, I can tell you with 100% certainty: Jesus KNOWS you!
No, this pastor is not trusting in works, but knowing good works come from faith in Jesus Christ. The pastor noted in Matthew 7:22 that the people were trusting in themselves and what they did in their good works to get to heaven, yet not recognizing that they themselves can not get to heaven without recognizing Jesus Christ had died on the cross for them to be able to repent and thus be saved.
this seems to be a place to discuss the once saved, always saved....and what about living in sin....what is that....once again...it would seem to help to have some type of forum...not a video...left to float, somewhere, in cyberspace...
Well articulated sermon.. ❤️
Chapter 12
I never knew you
Religion loves Matthew 7:15-23. Religion uses this to strike fear into the hearts of its followers. To be honest, it scared me for the longest time. I would think, “What if Jesus is talking about me? What if he told me, ‘I never knew you’?” I remember the pain and borderline suffering this passage caused me. However, when we compare scripture with other scripture, it really is not that scary at all-unless, of course, you are a false prophet. False prophets are what this passage is about (see verse 15).
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.” (Matthew 7:21-23)
Let’s start with verse 21: “but he that doeth the will of my Father”. We must ask, "WHAT is the WILL of the Father?” The answer is in John 6:40, which reads,
“And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Continuing on in verse 22 we read, “and in thy name done many wonderful works?” Notice what these people were relying on to go to heaven. They were relying on (trusting in) their WORKS to save them. The Bible states over and over: “NOT by works” (Eph 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; Rom 4:5,6; Rom 3:25-28 and my all-time favorite Rom 11:6 which reads,
“and if by grace, then is it NO MORE OF WORKS; otherwise grace is no more grace".
Also notice what they DIDN’T say. They didn't say, “Lord, I believed you paid my sin debt at the cross.” Their faith was NOT in Jesus. Rather, their faith was in their works. Let’s move on to verse 23 and the phrase, “I NEVER knew you”. Jesus DIDN’T say, “I once knew you and now I don't.” He said, “I NEVER knew you.” Jesus ate with sinners and told the Pharisees that harlots were getting into the kingdom before them (Matt 21:31). Remember the woman washing His feet with tears. The Pharisees called her a sinner. Jesus said to her, “…thy sins are forgiven… thy faith hath saved thee” (Luke 7:48-50). The point of these passages is this: Jesus KNOWS sinners! This is especially true in light of the fact that the Bible says we are ALL sinners (Rom 3: 9-12).
The second part of verse 23 says “ye that work iniquity”. Were they sinners? YES. Wait, do I work iniquity (sin)? YES. Do you still work iniquity (sin)? YES, you do. In fact, the great evangelical Paul could not stop sinning (Rom 7:15-28). We know that every person is a sinner and works iniquity. Some people commit sin more than others, but the Bible concludes ALL under sin (Rom 3:9-12). Saved people sin all the time in the Bible. The Bible also reads that all sins are forgiven to the believer.
“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you ALL trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross” (Col 2:13,14).
“And by him all that believe are justified from ALL things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:39).
“Wherefore I say unto you, ALL manner of sin and blasphemy shall be FORGIVEN unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come” (Matt 12:31,32).
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Many say the problem is that these professing Christians were relying on their works and not going to heaven. I believe this is a true statement. How many professing Christians do you know who are relying on works to help them get into heaven? However, I also see something else here. Those who fit this "mantra" are Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons.
1. Both groups were started by a supposed prophet (Joe smith and William Russell Taze)
2. Both groups do many wonderful works in the name of Jesus (and declare that works are needed)
3. Both groups DENY the deity of Jesus. They think he is the archangel Michael.
Jesus will say I NEVER knew you! Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:3,4:
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
NOTE: many versions read something completely different in 2 Cor 11:3. This is the KJV.
Jesus said in the book of John, “…unless ye believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). Whether the problem here is proclaiming works for salvation OR these folks trusting “another Jesus”, they were being judged by the law and were not under grace. The born again believer is “dead to the law” (Rom 7:2-4), is not under the law (Gal 3:23-25), but under grace. The law can’t touch the born again believer. IF you have trusted Jesus and His glorious gospel as your only hope to go to heaven, I can tell you with 100% certainty: Jesus KNOWS you!
the expression....I never knew you....ergo never saved....which would not invalidate the ...once saved, always saved doctrine...
Abel = True Believer
Cain = Make Believer
Peter = True Believer
Judas = Make Believer
you seem to be saying the what, but not the how...or what is the true.....or truth..
This guy is unsaved, trusting in his works, and will be among those Jesus condemns to hell in Matthew 7:21-23.
No, this pastor is not trusting in works, but knowing good works come from faith in Jesus Christ. The pastor noted in Matthew 7:22 that the people were trusting in themselves and what they did in their good works to get to heaven, yet not recognizing that they themselves can not get to heaven without recognizing Jesus Christ had died on the cross for them to be able to repent and thus be saved.
this seems to be a place to discuss the once saved, always saved....and what about living in sin....what is that....once again...it would seem to help to have some type of forum...not a video...left to float, somewhere, in cyberspace...
some of your arguments seem to be...conjecture...
you need to flesh some of this out....ergo...one with a non Bible divorce...remarries, is this one....living, in sin...