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 explains Matthew 7:21-23, where Jesus says, 'I never knew you; depart from me.' Wilkin clarifies that Jesus refers to individuals within Christianity who performed deeds in His name but did not truly believe in Him. The key message is that only those who do the will of the Father—believing in Jesus Christ—will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Good works alone are insufficient; true faith in Jesus is essential for eternal life and avoiding the condemnation of the Great White Throne Judgment.

Takeaways

  • 📖 Jesus will say 'I never knew you; depart from Me' to many Christians who do not truly believe in Him.
  • 📖 The statement in Matthew 7:21-23 is directed at people within Christianity, not atheists or followers of other religions.
  • 📖 The context is the Great White Throne Judgment after the millennium, as described in Revelation 20:15.
  • 📖 The reason these Christians are cast into the Lake of Fire is that their names are not in the Book of Life.
  • 📖 Entering the kingdom of heaven requires doing the will of the Father, which is believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.
  • 📖 Belief in Jesus Christ is equated with belief in God the Father who sent Him.
  • 📖 Good works alone are insufficient for salvation; faith in Jesus Christ is essential.
  • 📖 Those condemned are described as practicing lawlessness, meaning they are still sinners without true faith.
  • 📖 At the Great White Throne Judgment, many will mistakenly rely on their works instead of faith in Jesus for justification.
  • 📖 Eternal destiny hinges on faith in Jesus Christ, not on personal works or righteousness.

Q & A

  • What is the primary focus of the passage in Matthew 7:21-23 according to Bob Wilkin?

    -The primary focus is on why Jesus will tell many Christians 'I never knew you; depart from Me' at the Great White Throne judgment. It emphasizes that not everyone who professes to follow Jesus will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of the Father.

  • Who are the people Jesus refers to in Matthew 7:21-23?

    -Jesus is referring to people from within Christianity who have prophesied, cast out demons, and done many wonders in His name but have not done the will of the Father.

  • What is the 'will of the Father' according to the New Testament?

    -The will of the Father concerning entering the kingdom of heaven is that people must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

  • How does Bob Wilkin explain the importance of believing in Jesus for salvation?

    -Wilkin explains that believing in Jesus Christ is essential for salvation and eternal life. This belief is in alignment with God the Father's will, and those who believe in Jesus will never perish but have everlasting life.

  • Why will Jesus say 'I never knew you' to some people at the Great White Throne judgment?

    -Jesus will say 'I never knew you' because these people, although they performed works in His name, did not believe in Him for salvation and thus did not do the will of the Father.

  • What does Bob Wilkin mean by 'practicing lawlessness'?

    -Wilkin explains that 'practicing lawlessness' means living in sin without the transformative belief in Jesus. These individuals remain slaves to sin because they did not believe in Him.

  • How does Wilkin address the misconception about good works and salvation?

    -Wilkin addresses the misconception by stating that good works alone cannot earn entry into the kingdom of heaven. Salvation is based on faith in Jesus Christ, not on the merit of one's works.

  • What biblical evidence does Wilkin use to support his argument about faith and salvation?

    -Wilkin cites several Bible verses, including John 6:39-40, John 5:24, John 3:16, and Isaiah 64:6, to support his argument that faith in Jesus Christ is the only condition for salvation and eternal life.

  • What is the significance of John 3:16 in Wilkin's message?

    -John 3:16 is significant because it encapsulates the core message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. It emphasizes that whoever believes in Jesus will have everlasting life and will not perish.

  • How does Wilkin's interpretation of the Great White Throne judgment differ from other interpretations?

    -Wilkin's interpretation focuses on the idea that people will be judged based on their belief in Jesus Christ rather than their works. He emphasizes that those who rely on their works instead of faith will be rejected.

Outlines

00:00

🛑 Warning from Jesus: Not All Christians Will Be Saved

In this message from Bob of Gracie Evangelical Society, the focus is on Jesus' warning in Matthew 7:21-23 about false believers. Despite their claims of prophesying, casting out demons, and performing miracles in Jesus' name, these individuals are not recognized by Him and are cast into the Lake of Fire during the great white Throne judgment. The essential requirement for entering the kingdom of heaven is doing the will of the Father, which is believing in Jesus Christ. This belief, not good works, ensures one's name in the Book of Life and grants everlasting life.

05:02

🌟 Faith, Not Works, Determines Eternal Destiny

The second part of the message emphasizes that good works alone cannot secure a place in the Kingdom of Heaven. Citing Isaiah 64:6, it is highlighted that those judged at the great white Throne will wrongly rely on their deeds rather than faith in Christ for salvation. The key takeaway is that eternal destiny depends on believing in Jesus, whose faithfulness guarantees everlasting life and freedom from eternal condemnation. Listeners are encouraged to trust in Christ's promise and to focus on faith rather than works.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Kingdom of Heaven

The Kingdom of Heaven refers to the realm where God reigns supreme and is a central theme in Christian theology. In the context of the video, it emphasizes the criteria for entry into this divine kingdom, which Jesus explains as doing the will of the Father.

💡Will of the Father

The Will of the Father in Christian doctrine is God's desire and plan for humanity, specifically regarding salvation. The video explains that the will of the Father is for people to believe in Jesus Christ, which is the key to entering the Kingdom of Heaven.

💡Great White Throne Judgment

The Great White Throne Judgment is a future event described in the Book of Revelation where all the dead are judged by God. The video mentions this event as the time when Jesus will declare to some Christians, 'I never knew you,' because they did not do the will of the Father.

💡Book of Life

The Book of Life is a record mentioned in the Bible, particularly in Revelation, where the names of those who are granted eternal life are written. The video discusses how those not found in the Book of Life are cast into the Lake of Fire, indicating their eternal separation from God.

💡Everlasting Life

Everlasting life refers to the eternal life promised to believers in Jesus Christ. The video emphasizes that belief in Jesus is the condition for receiving everlasting life, contrasting it with the fate of those who rely on their works instead of faith.

💡Lawlessness

Lawlessness is a state of living in sin and disobedience to God's laws. In the video, Jesus uses the term to describe those who, despite performing religious acts, are condemned because they did not truly believe in Him and thus continue in their sinful nature.

💡Justification by Faith

Justification by Faith is a Christian doctrine that asserts that individuals are made righteous before God through faith in Jesus Christ, rather than by their own works. The video reiterates this principle, emphasizing that faith alone is the basis for salvation.

💡Faith Alone

Faith Alone, or 'sola fide,' is the belief that faith in Jesus Christ is the sole means of obtaining God's grace and eternal life. The video underscores this concept, noting that those who rely on their works rather than faith are not fulfilling the will of the Father.

💡Prophesied in Your Name

Prophesying in Jesus' name refers to performing acts of prophecy under the authority of Jesus. The video highlights that many will claim to have done such works, but without genuine faith in Jesus, these acts will not secure their entry into the Kingdom of Heaven.

💡Cast Out Demons

Casting out demons is an act of exorcism performed in Jesus' name. The video points out that despite performing such miraculous works, individuals who do not truly believe in Jesus will be rejected by Him at the final judgment.

Highlights

Jesus will tell many Christians 'I never knew you; depart from Me' according to Matthew 7:21-23.

Not everyone who calls Jesus 'Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of the Father.

Many will claim to have prophesied, cast out demons, and performed miracles in Jesus' name.

These people are from within Christianity, not atheists, Buddhists, or followers of other religions.

The judgment referred to is the Great White Throne Judgment after the millennium.

Revelation 20:15 states that anyone not found written in the Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire.

Jesus emphasizes that doing the will of the Father is essential for entering the kingdom of heaven.

The will of the Father concerning the kingdom is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 6:39-40 and John 5:24 highlight the importance of belief in Jesus for eternal life.

Belief in Jesus also entails belief in God the Father who sent Him.

Justification by faith alone is a key message in the New Testament.

Jesus will reject those who have not done the will of the Father, which is believing in Him.

John 3:16 explains that belief in Jesus grants everlasting life and prevents perishing.

Practicing lawlessness refers to those who continue in sin and are not redeemed by faith.

Good works without faith are insufficient for entering the kingdom of heaven, as emphasized in Isaiah 64:6.

At the Great White Throne Judgment, many will mistakenly rely on their works instead of faith for entry into the kingdom.

Eternal destiny hinges on faithfulness to Christ's promise of everlasting life for believers.