"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 vs 21 - 23 {King James Version}

  • And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity

A background understanding of the Gospel will help us understand the context of these words which the Lord Jesus spoke:

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." - 2 Corinthians 5 vs 17 {KJV}

  • if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature

I want to establish to you a fact that a person who is in Christ is known by Christ! For the fact that someone is a new creature in Christ means that Christ knows him!

"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise," - Ephesians 1 vs 13 {KJV}

  • in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise

For the fact that a man is sealed with the Holy Spirit means that Christ knows him! Are you getting it? Follow attentively.

"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." - 1 Corinthians 12 vs 13 {KJV}

  • For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body

For the fact that a man is baptized into the body of Christ means that Christ knows him.

"Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." - 1 Corinthians 12 vs 27 {KJV}

  • Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular

For the fact that a person is a member of Christ's body means that Christ knows him.

So having established the fact that a person who is in Christ is known by Christ, it becomes easy to understand what the Lord was talking about in our opening Bible passage. Let's take a look at our opening Bible passage again:

"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 vs 21 - 23 {King James Version}

  • And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity

It becomes obvious that the Lord Jesus was addressing false believers, or rather, false ministers: it's in the context, reading from verse 15. Let's take a look at verse 15 to verse 20:

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." - Matthew 7 vs 15 - 20 {King James Version} 

  • Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves

You see, the Lord was speaking of false prophets: men and women who in the open they present themselves as ministers of the Light, but in secret when no one sees them, they are exactly who they are—ravening wolves: wicked, adulterous and ungodly men! Many of these false prophets operate with demonic powers, and they are being celebrated by men as servants of God! Men may not know who they are, but the Lord who sees and knows all things knows exactly who they are! Notice what the Lord Jesus will say to them at the Judgment {Verse 23}:

"And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

  • I never knew you

The Lord cannot make such statement concerning someone who truly believed the Gospel and received the Holy Spirit inside him. I am laid that foundation already for you in this study. So it's obvious that the Lord was addressing impostors amongst us who call the name of Jesus, they look like us, they speak our language, they dress like us, they are in the church, they own ministries, they put on suits, they preach from the Bible, but they were never in Christ!—they never had His Spirit within them! Hence the Lord will say to them, "I never knew you".

Beloved, for you who are in Christ and you know it, those words which the Lord spoke should never scare you!—The Lord wasn't addressing those who have His Spirit within them, rather He was addressing false persons who have not the Spirit in them, who are not obedient to the Gospel; openly they are ministers, but inwardly when no one sees them, they are who they are—ravening wolves: ungodly and wicked men! These are the folks the Lord Jesus spoke of in our opening Bible passage.

So beloved, rejoice in Christ Jesus! The Lord Jesus knows all those who are His; He knows all those who put their faith in Him and have received His Spirit. Glory be to God!

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Jenning Uweye
Teacher,
Global Bible Study Community
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