Matthew 7:21-23
Not everyone 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 they name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
John 6:40
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.
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.
I used to wonder WHO would be told,"...depart from me, ye that work iniquity." I would think, "How can that be? They not only did works, but they did MANY works, and WONDERFUL works, and they did them in his own name, so how could they possibly be rejected by him? These were people who claimed to have cast out devils and prophesied. How could they, of all people, have never been KNOWN by God?"
God didn't say, "You didn't do enough" or, "your works weren't to my satisfaction." He didn't even say, "you weren't using my correct name".
What he said showed what was important:
I never knew you.
Now get away from me,
you iniquity workers.
What an INDICTMENT!
This screams a warning against trusting in works for salvation. It also reveals the dire need for RELATIONSHIP with God.
This screams a warning against trusting in works for salvation. It also reveals the dire need for RELATIONSHIP with God.
"...I never knew you..."
Could that INIQUITY be the placing of such value on works for salvation that one rejects Christ's work? Could emphasis on works keep people from having a bond, a connection, a God-accepted relationship with the Savior?
BOTTOM LINE:
◘ Does Jesus' sacrifice need your help?
◘ Do you REALLY hold Scripture as truth and the Holy Spirit as final authority?
SALVATION
is a broad topic but
the issues of
🔖whether or not eternity exists,
🔖how a pleasant hereafter may be obtained,
🔖and where one may spend one's afterlife
are worthy of humble
contemplation, study, and prayer.
contemplation, study, and prayer.