“I never knew you”
Four words that will be seared into the minds of many. There will be many people pleading with Jesus in that day:
Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name..? Mt7:22
“I never knew you” Mt7:23
Lord, Lord, did we not … cast out demons in your name..? Mt7:22
“I never knew you” Mt7:23
‘Lord, Lord, did we not … do many mighty works in your name? Mt7:22
‘I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.’ Mt7:23
Jesus in a parable in Mt25:24-30 calls one of his servants “wicked and slothful” and tells others to cast out the “worthless servant” into outer darkness – why for not bearing fruit.
RSV Matthew 25:24-30
24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow;
25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’
26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed?
27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.
28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.
29 For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.’
Jesus in Mt25:1-12 tells a parable of 10 maidens, 5 of which are foolish. The foolish weren’t prepared when the door to the marriage feast was open. The door was shut and they were denied admittance.
RSV Matthew 25:1-12
1 “THEN THE kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them;
4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’
7 Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
9 But the wise replied, ‘Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut.
11 Afterward the other maidens came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.‘
12 But he replied, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
Does Jesus consider you worthless, wicked, slothful or foolish? Are you ready? Do you know the difference between conversion and salvation? It’s a very wide difference and thinking that you are saved but are really only converted will cause you to be rejected by Jesus.
I’ve encountered many “Judeo-Christians” who will tell me that they are saved and will point to a verse or two in the bible to show that they are saved. These same “Judeo-Christians” will refuse to discuss salvation or reviewing any other scripture verses that goes counter what they believe is correct.
The bible is clear on how to be placed into the salvation status and how to keep it.
Called/Chosen + Hear + Believe + Repent + Confess + Baptize + Abide = Salvation -> Proclaim
Mt22:14 + Lk11:28 + Jn3:16 + Mk6:12 +Rm10:9 +Acts2:38 + Heb10:26 = 1 Pt 3:21 -> Mt28:19-20
RSV Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”
RSV Luke 11:28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
RSV John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
RSV Mark 6:12 So they went out and preached that men should repent.
RSV Romans 10:9 because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
RSV Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
RSV Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
RSV 1 Peter 3:21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
RSV Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.”
There is only one way to be entered into the book of life. One should strive diligently to ensure that what one believes is true and that the friendly preacher isn’t a savage wolf devouring the flock. Be converted and saved not just converted and unsaved.
Regards,