I NEVER KNEW YOU: DEPART FROM ME!

Let's say that you are a very skilled forklift driver, and you decide to show up at the docks everyday for a week.  You follow the instructions of the foreman, and you load pallets of materials being shipped overseas.  You never damage a single item.  You are always there first and leave last.  You get along with the rest of the dock workers.  You actually might be the best forklift driver your supervisor has ever seen.  But when payday rolls around, you find there is no paycheck waiting for you!  You sprint over to the accounting office, and ask why you didn't get a paycheck.  What do you think the accountant is going to tell you?  You have no relationship to the company! 

That is an illustration of what Jesus was saying to those who are religiously doing good works in order to "get a paycheck."  He said, "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" (Mt. 7:21-23).

It seems that the vast majority of people who call themselves Christians, seem to think that by their church attendance, their witnessing, their tithing, their feeding the poor, etc., that they somehow qualify to get into heaven.  They are sorely mistaken!  They err in believing that their works qualify them, when there is only one work that opens the door to heaven:  believe on, or trust in Jesus!  Jesus said, "This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him (Jesus) whom He (the Father) hath sent" (Jn. 6:29).  The most famous verse in all of Scripture says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (Jn. 3:16). 

I know I am presenting the fact that salvation is a free gift, that it cannot be earned, over and over again.  To those who are genuinely born again by faith in Jesus alone, I apologize.  It just seems quite clear to me that the vast majority of people calling themselves Christians, are going about doing "good works" with the idea that their salvation depends upon it.  In reality, the "saved" obey the leading of the Holy Spirit, and cheerfully do so out of gratitude for what the Lord did for them on Calvary!  We don't just say, "Lord, Lord"; Jesus really is the Lord of our lives!

 

If you are doing religious works to be saved, or to stay saved, you are wasting your time!