Depart from me. I never knew you.
You will find these heart-pounding, brain-buzzing words in Matthew 7:21-23.
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Let’s park here.
Jesus isn’t speaking of the world.
Jesus is speaking to people claiming Christ.
Jesus is clearly saying belief isn’t enough.
Even the demons believe….
The demons know who Jesus is. They call him the “Son of God” (Matthew 8:29).
19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and tremble. (James 2:19)
Belief isn’t how we are known.
Our Jesus tattoo and t-shirt aren’t how we are known.
How much scripture we can quote isn’t how we are known.
Our “perfect” theology isn’t how we are known.
Our church isn’t how we are known.
Who we follow on Facebook isn’t how we are known.
Our apologetics aren’t how we are known.
Our vaccine status isn’t how we are known.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
It’s not the signs and wonders.
It’s not the casting out of demons.
These are not the earmarks of someone following Christ.
We must get this…
Jesus can and does work signs, wonders, healing, and deliverance through people walking in sin, error, and disobedience.
Read that again.
It’s true because it’s not about THEM.
It is His mercy for the sick, the broken, and the demonized that moves Him to compassion.
Sounds a little crazy, I know, but read here:
Mark 9:38-40
38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”
39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us.
But let’s move on to this terrifying verse….
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Before you run out and buy a head covering, buy a second refrigerator for your meat, or fall back under the heavy yoke of the law, read this….
Matthew 22:40-41
Jesus replied: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
Two
Both – Love
John 6:37-40
37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will [a]by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
1 John 3:15
Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
John 13:35
35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
Romans 13:8
Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
1 Corinthians 13:2
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
1 John 4:12
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
Ephesians 4:2-3
With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Colossians 3:14
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
1 Corinthians 13:5
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
And so I implore you brothers and sisters to read this again….
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
What is lawlessness?
To fail to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
To fail to love others.
To fail to love those with differing theology.
To fail to love those who have wronged you.
To fail to love the widow and the orphan.
To fail to love those walking in an identity crisis.
To fail to love those who voted differently than you.
To fail to love the addict, the prostitute, and the demonized.
To fail in love is to not be known by God.
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
Be known by God, beloved.
Don’t just love those who love you.
Learn to love those who don’t.
This is to become like Christ.
Matthew 5:18
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
And that law is LOVE.
This is to be known by Christ.
To learn more about Heidi and her Kingdom passion, visit Kingdom Come Home
Featured Image by Jade on Unsplash
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