I Never Knew You... or Did I
Matthew 7:15-23
The message that Jesus is giving is addressed to those who believe in Jesus. Jesus isn't criticizing their righteous actions, efforts or diligence but their relationship with Jesus. Jesus is challenging their self-confidence.
Jesus tells His audience that real faith comes from our relationship with Christ.
Matthew 7:15 ESV
[15] “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
False prophets look like sheep not wolves. It is easy to be deceived by those who use faith language but their lives are not aligned with Jesus' ways. In church, we can deceive ourselves by not questioning our actions or intentions. We could be the wolves in sheep's clothing.
Before we look for others who are False prophets or anti-Christs, we need to look at ourselves. Anyone can imitate the life of faith with actions. However, eventually reality will come up. Faith is not something you can display, but something you live.
Matthew 7:16-17 ESV
[16] You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? [17] So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
Jesus does not say that we should evaluate faith, but we need to look at fruit. The fruit is not short term results. Yes, there are good goals and ministries we can do, but Jesus is talking about endurance.
Fruit is the revelation of faith. Worship matters, prayer matters, ministry matters, outreach matters, but they are not the end result.
Matthew 7:21-22 ESV
[21] “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
[22] On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’
This passage can be used to judge others but it is asking us to self-examination. It is about are we living for our Lord Jesus and not our actions. We can look at our service, our efforts, our results, but if our relationship was not right with Jesus what good is that.
For a Christian, this is the most terrifying statement you could hear.
Matthew 7:23 ESV
[23] And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Jesus has one standard. Are you having a proper relationship with God. Roles can be delegated, results can be measured, but your relationship with God is between you and God. No one else can fix your relationship with God but you.
It is not the lazy that Jesus is addressing, but the diligent. Jesus is not trying to discourage us from doing good works or from being diligent. He is trying to look at our relationship with Him.
Our hope is not how faithful we have been, but how faithful Jesus has been to us.
What we long for to hear that Jesus says he knows us and loves us. It is not by effort but by grace we are saved.
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