April 8, 2025 - Matthew 7:21-23 - "Lord, Lord but Never Known of Him"

Matthew 7:21-23

"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."

This is one of the most sobering passages in all Scripture. It pierces through the noise of religious performance and cuts to the heart of true salvation. These words of Christ are not addressed to atheists or open rebels, but to those who profess to know Him, and even those who do mighty works in His name. Yet they are turned away. Why? Because salvation is not in what we do — even if it is done "in Jesus' name." Salvation is not in our profession, performance, or power. It is in Christ alone, through the sovereign grace of God and the Righteousness that He earned and established, and God the Father imputed to the spiritual account of His elect when Christ laid down His Life in the satisfactory Sacrifice to the Father for their sin.

What, then, do we learn about the Way of salvation as revealed in the Bible?

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1. The False Security of Religious Activity

"Lord, Lord, have we not...?"

Many today possess a false assurance of salvation. The individuals described in this passage are convinced they belong to Christ, yet they are stunned by His rejection. Instead of appealing to Christ as the Sovereign Judge of all, they point to their ministry, miracles, and many works. As the Lord Jesus said of the Pharisees in Luke 16:15, “Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” They mistakenly believe their efforts have earned them a place in the kingdom of God, rather than trusting in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ alone.

What a terrifying deception! Here is a stark reminder to those who are striving according to their own efforts to attain or maintain salvation by their works that it is possible to do many religious things — even impressive things to men — and still be lost and separated from Christ. It's not what you have done for Christ, but rather what He has done for you. Salvation is not about our résumé, but the record that God has given us of His Son, in whom alone is salvation. It's not a status we achieve, but one that God has initiated and accomplished for His elect by the Righteous obedience unto death by His Son.

2. The Central Issue: "I Never Knew You"

"I never knew you: depart from me..."

Here is the dividing line: not what you know, but whether you are known by the LORD Jesus. He doesn’t say, “You never knew me,” but “I never knew you.” This is language rooted in God's everlasting covenant of grace to save a chosen people from fallen humanity— to be known by Christ, God's chosen Mediator, and to be chosen, loved, and redeemed by Him

Here we see the doctrine of Christ, that of the particular, effectual redemption of elected sinners — that Christ laid down His life for His sheep (John 10:15), that He knows them by name, and that they are kept by His power, not their performance. The ones who are cast away here are not rejected because they didn’t know enough or do enough. They had a zeal, but not according to the Truth. Rather, it is because they were never part of His elect, and therefore never redeemed, and therefore would never be born again. They had external religion but lacked the internal work of grace by the Spirit of God (Titus 3:3-5).

3. The Will of the Father

"But he that doeth the will of my Father."

What is this will? Jesus tells us elsewhere: "And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life..." (John 6:40). The will of the Father is not merely moral obedience or ministry success — it is that by the Spirit of God faith is given to God's children to believe on the Son. The grace of God does not leave the child of God indifferent of the Person and work of Christ. No one can earn salvation, but it is the fruit of Christ's finished work. The will of God is not just a law to obey, but a Person to trust — Christ Himself.

4. Resting in Grace, Not Works

This passage is not meant to drive us into despair, but to lead us away from self-trust and into the only true Refuge, Christ and His saving grace. If your hope is in your ministry, your morality, or your zeal, you are building on sand (Matthew 7:24-27). To trust in Christ alone — in His finished work, in His electing love, in His righteous life and substitutionary death — means that you are known by Him. And those whom He foreknew, He also predestined… justified… and glorified (Romans 8:29-30). Therefore, His command is to rest in Him, submit to Him and His gracious work alone, but never confuse the fruit with the root. The root is grace, and that is the grace of God that reigns through the Righteousness that the LORD Jesus earned and established to the satisfaction of God the Father, on behalf of His people.

May the Lord, Jesus, keep us from the deception of self-righteousness. Let us not trust in any works of our own, no matter how good they may appear in our eyes. May the LORD strip us of all confidence in the flesh, and root us wholly in His finished work alone. May we be known by Him— loved, redeemed, and kept!!