Pay close attention to this.
First, you must know the following about Christ, and the WORK we do as Believers.
YOUR LABOUR IS NOT IN VAIN IN CHRIST.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that YOUR LABOUR IS NOT IN VAIN IN THE LORD.
The writer of Hebrews said, HE CANNOT FORGET YOUR LABOUR OF LOVE.
Hebrews 6:10 For God is NOT UNRIGHTEOUS TO FORGET YOUR WORK AND LABOUR OF LOVE, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
The above letters were written to BELIEVERS, assuring them that THEY CANNOT BE FORGOTTEN.
But what's up with Jesus in Matthew 7?
Why would he say that he will send some people (thought to be Believers because of signs and wonders) away, telling them HE NEVER KNEW THEM, even after they used His name to do wonders?
Let's examine this together.
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.
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?
7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
The people above are NOT BELIEVERS!
You may ask, WHY?
Didn't they do Miracles in Christ name?
Didn't they call him Lord?
Yes, they did those things!
But we must pay a close attention to stuffs like this.
A thing as such happened while he was not yet glorified.
See this:
Mark 9:38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one CASTING OUT DEVILS in thy name, AND HE FOLLOWETH NOT US: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
9:39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.
Are they Believers?
No!
Did Jesus say it's impossible for Unbelievers do Miracles?
No!
Did Jesus say they were Believers because they used his name?
No!
Okay, see this.
Hebrews 6:4 For it is IMPOSSIBLE for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Were they enlightened?
Yes!
Did they taste of the heavenly gift?
Yes!
Did they partake in the Holy Ghost, witnessed His manifestations?
Yes!
Did they hear God's word?
Go to church?
Listen to good sermons?
Yes!
Were they saved?
No!
They were not Believers!
How did I know?
They had an attribute of an Unbeliever.
"They crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh."
Who has such attributes?
Hebrews 10:26 If anyone sins deliberately by REJECTING THE SAVIOR after knowing the truth of forgiveness, this sin is not covered by Christ’s death; there is no way to get rid of it.
(TLB)
They crucified to themselves the son of God, Jesus Christ!
Which is the same as THEY REJECTED CHRIST after hearing God's word, the truth about salvation, experiencing the power of the Spirit.
They never Believed in Him.
What can we do to save them without their Faith in Christ?
Nothing!
Nothing!
Hence, it is IMPOSSIBLE to save them!
They are the they which "Fall away".
They were never SAVED at anytime!
They never BELIEVED Jesus!
Jesus had experience with some of them.
John 6:64 But there are some of you that BELIEVE NOT. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
6:66 From that time many of his DISCIPLES WENT BACK, and walked no more with him.
They were called "DISCIPLES".
"mathētēs" from the Greek which means "Learner, pupil, follower" but not "Believers".
Interesting!
They were never Believers!
Never Believers, though they followed Jesus!
Hear the testimony of those who were TRULY followers, Believers (though not yet saved because Jesus was not yet glorified).
John 6:67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? THOU HAST THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE.
That is Believer!
That's his confession!
His faith!
Now back to Matthew 7:20-23, these folks called Jesus Lord!
But that's not an enough reason to conclude they were Believers!
No!
Philippians 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
2:11 And that EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, to the glory of God the Father.
What Jesus was talking about is PICTURED here to the Philippians.
Whether any man likes is or not...
Everybody will declare Jesus as LORD.
EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD.
EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD.
It's a must!
It will happen.
Believers or non-believers!
Everybody!
Every creature!
But Jesus said,
7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I NEVER KNEW YOU: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
That's serious!
He said, "I NEVER KNEW YOU!"
Jesus did not say "I DON'T KNOW YOU ANYMORE".
Rather, "I NEVER KNEW YOU!"
What's Jesus saying here to Believers?!
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I KNOW THEM, and they follow me:
I KNOW THEM.
I KNOW THEM.
And it is also written,
HE CANNOT FORGET THEM!
HE CANNOT FORGET THEM!
"forasmuch as ye know that YOUR LABOUR IS NOT IN VAIN IN THE LORD."
1 Corinthians 15:58
"God is NOT UNRIGHTEOUS TO FORGET YOUR WORK AND LABOUR OF LOVE."
Hebrews 6:10
How could he forget so soon?
How?
Is Jesus Christ now UNRIGHTEOUS?
No! God forbid!
THIS MEANS, They were NEVER Believers!
They were never the Shepards sheep!
They were never in Christ!
They were never Believers!
Now you may ask, WHO THEN IS A BELIEVER?
Come here,
Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
10:9 That if THOU SHALL CONFESS with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and SHALL BELIEVE in THINE HEART that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be SAVED.
10:10 For WITH THE HEART MAN BELIEVETH UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
A Believer is ONE WHO ACCEPTS Jesus as Lord with his heart!
One who will SAVE him because he by himself is helpless.
A Believer is not a church goer!
A Believer is not a CHRISTIAN!
Anybody can be a Christian.
Anybody can act like Jesus Christ.
Anybody can go to church!
That does not guarantee FAITH!
No!
Therefore dear friends, Matthew 7:21-23 is not referring to the BELIEVERS in Christ!
The Believer in Christ is not in that shoe!
He's not among, the "depart from me", "workers of iniquity", "Fall away".
No!
Hear Jesus again to the BELIEVERS.
John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and NO MAN IS ABLE TO PLUCK THEM OUT OF MY FATHER'S HAND.
THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH!
NO MAN IS ABLE TO PLUCK THEM OUT OF MY FATHER'S HAND!
How then will He by Himself SEND THEM AWAY?
That's impossible!
Impossible!
Blessed.
Hagios Akins