Goodboy
Just waiting for the Rapture at this point!
I Never Knew You
Mat 7:21 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.
Mat 7:22 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?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
The verses above are often used to get people to take stock of themselves in relation to what they believe and their sincerity in their belief for salvation. One use that I believe is proper, is that we should make sure we are believing in the true Gospel. If we are believing in the incorrect Gospel, then all the sincerity in the world won’t help. Another use which I also believe is correct is that you should be sincere in your belief and acceptance.
Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
In Galatians 1:6-9 above, Paul calls the perversion of the Gospel by adding works to the free gift of salvation through faith another Gospel.
The use of the verses in Mat 7:21-23 that I do not agree with however, is that you were saved once but at some point stopped obeying and have thus lost your salvation. You may say “But isn’t that what Jesus is saying?" The people he is addressing have prophesied in Jesus name, cast out devils and done many wonderful works in Jesus name. Doesn’t that mean they were once saved, but now are no longer?”
Look again closely at Mat 7:22 below,
Mat 7:22 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?
These people are trusting in their works for salvation. They did not say that they believed in and trusted in Jesus Christ by faith for their salvation. If God or anyone asked you why you are going to Heaven, would you start speaking about the things you have done for God? If so, you might want to question your salvation.
Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Let’s look at what Jesus sates again in Mathew 7:23 above, but let’s look first at what he does not say. Jesus could have easily stated “I no longer know you” which would be the normal response if you knew someone before. If someone came up to you claiming to be your friend but were no longer, wouldn’t you respond with “Sorry but we are no longer friends”. But Jesus says “I never knew you”. That would mean you could never have been saved, or he would have known you at some point!
So then what is the point Jesus is trying to make? There are a least two points, but I would never limit how many points God’s word can make. One point is that you do not have to be truly saved to do what would appear to be God’s will. Another point is that there will be many that think they are saved, but are trusting in what Paul likes to call in his letter to the Galatians “another Gospel” or their works.
It’s interesting that the very same verse people use to say you can lose your salvation actually proves you cannot lose it.
What about this verse?
Mat 7:21 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.
These verses answers that question.
John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
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.
Goodboy
Mat 7:21 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.
Mat 7:22 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?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
The verses above are often used to get people to take stock of themselves in relation to what they believe and their sincerity in their belief for salvation. One use that I believe is proper, is that we should make sure we are believing in the true Gospel. If we are believing in the incorrect Gospel, then all the sincerity in the world won’t help. Another use which I also believe is correct is that you should be sincere in your belief and acceptance.
Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
In Galatians 1:6-9 above, Paul calls the perversion of the Gospel by adding works to the free gift of salvation through faith another Gospel.
The use of the verses in Mat 7:21-23 that I do not agree with however, is that you were saved once but at some point stopped obeying and have thus lost your salvation. You may say “But isn’t that what Jesus is saying?" The people he is addressing have prophesied in Jesus name, cast out devils and done many wonderful works in Jesus name. Doesn’t that mean they were once saved, but now are no longer?”
Look again closely at Mat 7:22 below,
Mat 7:22 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?
These people are trusting in their works for salvation. They did not say that they believed in and trusted in Jesus Christ by faith for their salvation. If God or anyone asked you why you are going to Heaven, would you start speaking about the things you have done for God? If so, you might want to question your salvation.
Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Let’s look at what Jesus sates again in Mathew 7:23 above, but let’s look first at what he does not say. Jesus could have easily stated “I no longer know you” which would be the normal response if you knew someone before. If someone came up to you claiming to be your friend but were no longer, wouldn’t you respond with “Sorry but we are no longer friends”. But Jesus says “I never knew you”. That would mean you could never have been saved, or he would have known you at some point!
So then what is the point Jesus is trying to make? There are a least two points, but I would never limit how many points God’s word can make. One point is that you do not have to be truly saved to do what would appear to be God’s will. Another point is that there will be many that think they are saved, but are trusting in what Paul likes to call in his letter to the Galatians “another Gospel” or their works.
It’s interesting that the very same verse people use to say you can lose your salvation actually proves you cannot lose it.
What about this verse?
Mat 7:21 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.
These verses answers that question.
John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
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.
Goodboy