The Lord Never Knew Him

The Lord Never Knew Him

Matthew 7:23 "Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"

June 16, 2020

In Romans, the Apostle Paul writes that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. This is referring to confession as Jesus being Lord and receiving what Christians today call salvation. It is the necessary steps that we have accepted as practice to ensure we have salvation from hell and will be in Heaven someday. Paul writes that it is critical steps of confession and belief, both in the name of the Lord, that attains initial salvation. He says that everyone who does this will be saved. But there is some conflicting verbiage in the Bible, as Jesus says that not everyone who calls out His name will be saved. Jesus said there are those who,  in the Christian world, will earn their living in the church, and yet the Lord will not acknowledge them as saved when they try to enter the gates of Heaven.

Both Paul and Jesus are correct in their words, there is no dichotomy, just clarification required. Paul lays out the formula for achieving salvation, as no other steps required, with the same rules for everyone, Jew or Gentile. Jesus, however, was clear that just calling out His name is the initial act, but then Jesus gets to judge his heart. Paul clarified the steps for us, but Paul always left it there, realizing it then becomes a private relationship between the individual and the Lord. Paul was not given authority to judge the heart, only the Lord can do that. Jesus said there are many who will work in the church and live their whole lives attending church (even knowing the Scriptures and the lingo), yet not actually be saved.

Jesus was clear that that initial steps are calling on the name of the Lord, however clarified it by saying only those who then do the will of Father are truly saved. This is the issue of Lordship. Jesus was saying that a man who is performing acts of service in a church as a church leader, but not necessarily hearing from the Lord and doing the Lord's will, may not be saved. As Christians, we receive salvation and then we have to submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives, following His will. Salvation is the initial step on the journey, but the journey proves the authenticity of salvation.

Sadly, there are many reading this who call themselves Christians, but have deceived themselves into thinking their salvation was authentic. Maybe their motive was just to find insurance against hell and never knew Jesus as Lord. It is possible to know who Jesus is and yet not know Him as Lord. In doing the Lord's will, it takes knowing His will and then implementing it. Many Christians live out their lives doing their own will, even pastors of churches can have their own agenda. You likely sit in church alongside many who call themselves Christians, and yet they will not be in Heaven with you. Maybe you are deceiving yourself. Maybe you think you are a Christian and yet are following your own path in life, your own will and your own plans. The Lord would suggest that this is not the path required of a Christian. Show yourself the authenticity of your salvation by your life and choices and whom you seek for direction. You can do all the right things, good things, even in a Church, and yet if you are not seeking what the Lord would have you do, laying down your wants and desires, then you are not saved, your salvation was never authentic. 

Don't take my word for it; look it up:  Matt 7:13-23, Rom 10:5-13, Phil 2:12