I Never Knew You

“Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" (Matthew 7:22-23)

Jesus is talking to the Jewish religious leaders who went to Synagogue every Sabbath and revered the Law of Moses. They did not think much of the "sinners" who Jesus spent most of his time with.

"When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" (Matthew 9:11)

The Church should be slow to condemn sinners for whom Jesus ate with and died for. 

"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:17)

The bible speaks of a time in the future where Jesus returns to establish once again the Kingdom of Israel on this earth to last 1,000 years.

"And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years were complete. This is the first resurrection." (Revelation 20:4-5)

When Jesus said "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers" he was referring to the Jewish religious leaders who had rejected him as their Messiah and the Savior of the world.  Those unbelievers will not be among the "first resurrection" who reign with him for 1000 years.  

No one gets to heaven by following those who "drive out demons" and "perform many miracles" in the name of the Lord. Nor do we get there by joining a church, being baptized, tithing, praying or dancing in the spirit. We all get saved the same way - by the Love, Grace and Mercy of God!

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:4-5)

Jesus is the "Savior of the World". The outcast Samaritans recognized this and rejoiced. 

"Jesus said to her, You are correct to say that you have no husband. In fact, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband...Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Jesus because of the woman’s testimony...when the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him to stay with them, and He stayed two days. And many more believed because of His message. They said to the woman, We now believe not only because of your words; we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man truly is the Savior of the world.” (John 4:25-42)

Outside the Synagogue a promiscuous women met Jesus and introduced her Savior to her friends.  Those inside the Synagogue did not believe Jesus was the  "Savior of the World" and got mad at anyone who said he was. 

Some things never change.

Law Reveals Sin - Grace Saves The Sinner

"Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor." (Galatians 3:24-25)

Paul says the Law (given to Israel through Moses) served as a tutor for the Jews until they are brought to Christ and are justified by believing that Jesus Christ is their Messiah.  Once they believe they no longer need the Law for it will have served its purpose.  

Although we Gentiles never were under the Law of Moses, we do observe from studying Israel that the Law of Moses, or obedience to church Creeds or Statements of Faith, can save or justify anyone.  It is only by the GRACE of God that anyone is saved, Jew or Gentile, believer or unbeliever.  

"... I do not nullify the GRACE of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly...^"So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God...There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 2:21; 3:26-28)

“Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? ...I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again...” (2 Corinthians 11:22-27)

Who are the “they” Paul is talking about? It was the Jewish “servants of Christ” who kept insisting that Gentiles cannot be saved without joining their group by becoming Proselytes to the Law of Moses.

“…woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.” (Matthew 23:12-13)

Nothing much has changed it seems to me over the past 2000 years. We are still told by our leaders that people must join the church or they will be eternally excluded from the Kingdom of God. But the message from God through Paul says….

“…as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive...” (1 Corinthians 15:22)

Again, the salvation of sinners is not an offer to be accepted or an organization to be joined….but good news to be believed. Some are chosen by God and gifted with faith to believe in this life, ALL will believe after the resurrection when…

“EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS that Jesus Christ is Lord, TO THE GLORY OF GOD the Father.” (Philippians 2:8-11)

“Now these things happened to them (Israel) as an example, and they were written for our (all of mankind) instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” (1 Corinthians 10:11)

God’s dealings with Israel are an illustration of what He intends to do for ALL. The Old and New Covenants were made and written for and to ISRAEL as an example and to instruct ALL mankind what God is going to do for us at the close of the ages.

“But now He (Christ Jesus) has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.” (Hebrews 8:6)

The basic promises of the old covenant Law of Moses can be summarized as "do this, and you will live." The promises under the law were contingent upon the performance of Israelites. If they were able to keep the Law, the promises of long life and blessing during this age were fulfilled. Ultimately, the children of Israel demonstrated the inability of man to live up to the standards of the Law of Moses and of course all of them died and continue to die.

"Notwithstanding, the children rebelled against me; they did not walk in my statutes, and were not careful to observe my judgments, which, if a man does, he shall live by them" (Ezekiel 20:21).

The promises under the New Covenant made to Israel are immeasurably better than those under law, because they DO NOT depend upon man's performance.

"I will make a new covenant… I will put my law in their minds…I will be their God…I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more". (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

What God has promised to do for Israel under the New Covenant he will do for ALL mankind because He has no favorites and what God does for them is an “example” for us all. It “instructs” us on what God is going to do for mankind at the end of the ages. He will forgive mankind’s iniquity and He will remember our sin no more. Paul was given this good news to tell to us Gentiles.

“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who will have ALL men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one MEDIATOR between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for ALL, to be testified in due time. Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not ; a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.” (1 Timothy 2:3-7)

It continues to astound me as to how few in institutional Christianity understand the gospel when it is so clearly explained by our apostle Paul! Satan is indeed a clever deceiver of even the most intelligent religious leaders of mankind.