Why will Jesus tell many Christians, "I never knew you; depart from Me"? - Matt 7:21-23 - Bob Wilkin

Grace Evangelical Society
6 Mar 202306:39

TLDRIn this video, Bob Wilkin from Grace Evangelical Society explores a challenging passage from Matthew 7:21-23, where Jesus warns that not all who claim to follow Him will enter the kingdom of heaven. Wilkin emphasizes that mere proclamation or supernatural acts done in Jesus' name do not guarantee salvation. Instead, true entry into God's kingdom requires doing the Father's will, which according to the New Testament, fundamentally means believing in Jesus Christ for everlasting life. Wilkin clarifies that it's not about the accumulation of good works but about faith in Christ's promise, debunking the belief that deeds alone can secure one's eternal destiny.

Takeaways

  • 🔑 Jesus warns that not everyone who outwardly acknowledges Him will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of His Father.
  • 🙏 The key criterion for entering the kingdom of heaven is doing the Father’s will, which is to believe in Jesus Christ for eternal life, according to New Testament teachings.
  • 🚫 Many who claim to perform miraculous acts 'in Jesus' name' will be rejected because they do not truly know Jesus through faith.
  • 🔍 The phrase 'I never knew you; depart from Me' is directed at those within Christianity who fail to live by faith and instead rely on their works.
  • ✨ Believing in Jesus Christ aligns with the Father's will and grants eternal life, contrasting with reliance on personal achievements.
  • 📖 The significance of belief in Jesus is emphasized as the only condition for salvation, echoing the core message of John 3:16.
  • 🔥 The context of the passage is set during the great white throne judgment post-millennium, as described in Revelation 20.
  • ⚖️ Jesus’ statement 'depart from me, you who practice lawlessness' highlights that rejection at the judgment is due to unbelief, not merely sinful acts.
  • 🧐 The rejected individuals are depicted as those who assert their own righteousness based on deeds rather than faith in Christ’s atonement.
  • 👍 The ultimate assurance of salvation lies in the faithfulness of Christ, not in human works or lawfulness.

Q & A

  • What is the main point Jesus makes in Matthew 7:21-23 according to Bob Wilkin?

    -The main point Jesus makes, as explained by Bob Wilkin, is that not everyone who professes to know Him or performs deeds in His name will enter the kingdom of heaven. Instead, entry to the kingdom depends on doing the will of the Father, which fundamentally involves believing in Jesus Christ.

  • Why does Jesus say 'I never knew you; depart from Me' to some professing Christians?

    -Jesus says this to those who might have acted in His name but did not fulfill the will of the Father. According to Bob Wilkin, these individuals relied on their deeds rather than true faith in Jesus Christ, which is the core requirement for salvation.

  • What does Bob Wilkin identify as the 'will of the Father' concerning entry into the kingdom?

    -Bob Wilkin identifies the 'will of the Father' as believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. This belief in Jesus, as the one sent by the Father, is essential for receiving everlasting life and entry into the kingdom of heaven.

  • What misconception do some people have regarding their good deeds according to Matthew 7:21-23?

    -Some people mistakenly believe that their good deeds, like prophesying, casting out demons, or performing wonders, will qualify them for entry into the kingdom of heaven. However, as the passage highlights, these deeds are insufficient without genuine faith in Jesus.

  • What judgment does Bob Wilkin refer to when discussing the fate of those who are told 'I never knew you'?

    -Bob Wilkin refers to the Great White Throne Judgment, as described in Revelation 20:15, where those not found written in the Book of Life are cast into the Lake of Fire.

  • How does Bob Wilkin explain the significance of the term 'practice lawlessness' in this context?

    -Bob Wilkin explains that 'practice lawlessness' means living in a state of lawlessness or sin. He emphasizes that the condemnation isn't primarily because of their sinful acts but because they failed to believe in Jesus and thus remained in their sins.

  • What does John 6:39-40 add to the understanding of the Father's will?

    -John 6:39-40 supports the concept that the Father's will involves Jesus losing none of those He has been given and ensuring that everyone who believes in Him has everlasting life. It underscores the importance of faith over works.

  • How does the phrase 'I never knew you' relate to the individuals' belief in Jesus?

    -The phrase 'I never knew you' indicates a lack of a personal relationship with Jesus, which stems from a lack of genuine faith. Despite their deeds done in Jesus' name, their failure to truly believe and trust in Him means they are not known by Him.

  • Why do some people think their good works will save them, according to the transcript?

    -According to the transcript, some people mistakenly think that their good works will save them because they focus on their actions rather than on faith. They fail to recognize that salvation is a gift received through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works.

  • What is the 'truly good news' that Bob Wilkin mentions in his message?

    -The 'truly good news' mentioned by Bob Wilkin is that everlasting life and salvation are secured through faith in Jesus Christ alone, as promised by Him. This faith ensures that believers will not perish but have eternal life.

Outlines

00:00

📘 Understanding True Christian Faith

In this segment, Bob from Gracie Evangelical Society discusses the crucial distinction between mere profession of faith and genuine adherence to Christian teachings as outlined in Matthew 7:21-23. He emphasizes that not all who invoke Jesus' name will enter the kingdom of heaven; only those who do the Father's will. Bob clarifies that the will of the Father is to believe in Jesus Christ, which is underscored in several New Testament passages, including John 6:39-40 and John 5:24. This belief is foundational to attaining everlasting life and escaping eternal condemnation. Additionally, he touches on the Great White Throne Judgment described in Revelation 20, where those not found in the Book of Life face eternal damnation, underscoring the necessity of true faith over mere religious acts or declarations.

05:02

🌟 Salvation Through Faith Alone

In this conclusion, Bob emphasizes the insufficiency of good works for salvation, referring to Isaiah 64:6 which compares them to 'filthy rags' at the great white Throne judgment. He argues that instead of boasting about deeds, believers should affirm their faith in Christ's promise of everlasting life, which ensures they will never perish. This faith in Jesus' faithfulness is presented as the sole basis for eternal security, highlighting the concept of justification by faith alone. Bob encourages viewers to embrace this message, urging them to subscribe and keep their focus on grace, underscoring that true Christian faith relies entirely on Christ's merits rather than human efforts.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Kingdom of Heaven

The Kingdom of Heaven refers to the spiritual realm over which God reigns as king, or the fulfillment of God's will on Earth. In the video, it is used to highlight the ultimate goal for Christians - being part of this kingdom. However, not everyone who outwardly professes to know Jesus will enter, only those who do the will of God, as emphasized in Matthew 7:21.

💡Will of My Father

In the context of the video, 'Will of My Father' refers to the essential actions or beliefs required by God for salvation, specifically the belief in Jesus Christ. The speaker, Bob Wilkin, clarifies that performing miraculous deeds in Jesus's name is insufficient without genuine faith, as shown in the scriptural reference to doing the Father's will as a condition for entering the Kingdom of Heaven.

💡Book of Life

The Book of Life, mentioned in Revelation 20:15, is depicted as a heavenly record that lists the names of those granted eternal life with God. In the video, not being found in the Book of Life equates to eternal condemnation, stressing the importance of faith in Christ as a prerequisite for one's name to be written in this book.

💡Great White Throne Judgment

This term describes a final judgment scenario presented in the Bible where individuals are judged by Christ. It is referred to in the video to frame the context in which Jesus says 'I never knew you; depart from me.' It underscores the seriousness of being authentically connected to Jesus through faith rather than just deeds.

💡Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ

Belief in Jesus Christ is central to Christian doctrine and is emphasized in the video as the only requirement set by God for salvation and entry into the Kingdom of Heaven. The speaker contrasts this simple yet profound requirement with the mistaken reliance on works or miraculous signs by some Christians.

💡Everlasting Life

Everlasting life in this video is described as life that continues forever in the presence of God, obtained through belief in Jesus Christ. The speaker references several biblical passages (John 3:16, John 6:40) to emphasize that this promise of eternal life is a gift from God that does not depend on human actions but on faith.

💡Lawlessness

Lawlessness refers to a state of disorder due to a disregard of the law. In the spiritual context of the video, it symbolizes living in sin or without ethical or moral boundaries as defined by scripture. 'Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness' is used by Jesus to describe those who have not lived according to God's will, indicating that mere identification with Christian activities is insufficient for salvation.

💡Faith Alone

The doctrine of 'faith alone' (sola fide) is crucial in Protestant theology, which asserts that faith in Jesus Christ is sufficient to achieve salvation. The video strongly advocates this position by explaining that faith, apart from works, is what God looks for when determining who enters Heaven.

💡Justification by Faith

Justification by faith is a theological concept where sinners are declared righteous in the eyes of God solely through their faith in Jesus Christ. This concept is central to the video's message, contrasting it with the ineffective reliance on deeds for salvation.

💡Grace

Grace in Christian belief is the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings. It is frequently mentioned throughout the video to remind viewers that salvation is a gift from God and not something one can earn through actions or merits.

Highlights

Jesus warns that not everyone who addresses Him as 'Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, only those who do the will of His Father.

Many will claim to have prophesied, cast out demons, and performed wonders in Jesus' name, yet He will tell them 'I never knew you; depart from Me'.

This stern rejection at the great white Throne judgment is because their names are not found written in the Book of Life.

The essential will of the Father for entering the kingdom is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, emphasizing faith over works.

Jesus' declaration 'I never knew you' highlights a relational distance, not just a failure to meet legalistic standards.

The criteria for entering the kingdom is not based on miraculous works but on a genuine faith in Jesus Christ.

Those who focus on their works as the basis for salvation are mistaken and will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

True belief in Jesus is a belief in the message of justification by faith alone, apart from works.

The phrase 'depart from me, you who practice lawlessness' points to a continuous state of sinfulness without true faith.

Believing in Jesus means transitioning from death into life, and it is the only condition for not perishing but having everlasting life.

At the great white Throne judgment, the condemned are those who rely on their deeds rather than their faith in Christ's promise of salvation.

Eternal destiny hinges on Christ's faithfulness and the promise that believers in Him will have everlasting life and never perish.

Believers are called not to stumble over their sins but to rest in the assurance of salvation through faith in Christ.

The message of everlasting life by faith is described as 'truly good news' for all who accept it.

Bob Wilkin encourages viewers to embrace the message of grace, highlighting the importance of faith over works in Christian doctrine.