I Never Knew You

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? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.   (Matthew 7:22-23 KJV)

These verses should bring chills to those that attend brick and mortar churches of men.  Are you willing to examine the doctrines of the Christian church against the one true doctrine of scripture?  Which do you love the most?  The doctrine of God or the doctrines of men?  These are tough questions that will offend many.

Let’s look closely and what Jesus is saying.  The preceding verse, verse 21 tells us that Jesus is speaking of our spiritual position relating to the kingdom of Heaven.  This is spiritual.

Verse 22 begins, “Many will say to me…”  The relationship of the many and the few is that many does indeed mean many, as in the majority… and the few really means a few, or in comparison to the many… the minority.  You will notice this relationship of the many and the few throughout the Bible.

So we have many who will say to Jesus, “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?”

Think for a moment who claims to prophesy in the name of Christ?  Who claims to cast out devils in the name of Christ?  Who claims in the name of Christ to do many wonderful works?  Is it the Jews?  Do they claim Christ at all?  How about the Muslims… maybe the atheists?  I don’t think any of those groups have anything to do with Christ… much less do they do many wonderful works in his name.  What group on this earth claims to do many wonderful works in the name of Christ except the so-called Christian Church?  Do you know of one other?  Do you believe these verses in scripture?

“And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”  How can Christ say I never knew you?  This never (Greek oudepote) means: “not even at any time, that is, never at all”.

First we need to realize that man doesn’t really like the truth… it offends him.  As a matter of fact, God offends him.  Natural man hates God and hates God’s truth.

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  (Romans 8:7 KJV)

This natural, carnal man also hates God’s plan and God’s order.  God has a plan for the salvation of all… it’s called the good news… and he has an order, and it is foolishness to the carnal man.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  (1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV)

Carnal man prefers his own plan.  Paul speaks of this other gospel… this other Jesus.  I will show in a future post that man has always rejected God… always.  The many reject him and his good news to this very day.

The doctrines of the temples made with hands teaches that we choose God.  We invite Jesus into our hearts… that we claim him… or say a sinner’s prayer.  And in so doing these things we are his… but that is not what the scripture says.  Unlike man’s doctrine, God’s truth is:

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.  (John 6:44 KJV)

This draw in the Greek means “to drag”.  It is the Father who drags those of his choosing to the son.  And those that God gives him he knows and never loses.

And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.  (John 6:39 KJV)

…”depart from me, ye that work iniquity”.  Those that Christ knows, he has made alive.  He gives life… quickens the spirit.  Those that do not have life are spiritually dead and dead to Christ.  Until you have been resurrected with Christ you cannot enter into his kingdom.  Even Peter (Matt. 16:23) had not yet been converted when Christ told him “Get thee behind me, Satan”.  Christ did not say to Peter that he would never enter the kingdom… but until the carnal man has died and been resurrected with and in Christ, it cannot.

Brick and mortar churches make claim to people’s lives being changed and the thousands of new members saved each week.  The World Evangelization Research Center states that there are 10,000 new converts each day in China alone.  Which is True?  Christ tells us:

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.  (Matthew 7:14 KJV)

So which is true? Few, as Christ says… or many as the present day church of man says?  I think the many, as scripture testifies, have been deceived.

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. 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? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.  (Matthew 7:21-23 KJV)

The truth is found from all the words of the scripture… not from the pulpits.  You won’t find treasure where it isn’t buried.  Trust in God to show you the mysteries of his word… not the man on the platform.