After a long break, we are finally back with a new episode!
On Today's episode, we will cover what is known as the scariest passage of Scripture in the Bible, Matthew 7:21-23 which says:
“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. 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?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ - (NKJV)

These are the words of the Lord, Jesus Christ, from the Sermon on the mount.
Many Christians are terrified of these verses and it's a cause of much anxiety and fear. But, my question is this: Doesn't Jesus know His sheep and they know Him? 
“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. 
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.””
John 10:14-16, 27-30 NKJV

Why should someone known by Christ fear the words from Matthew 7:23 , "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!"?
What did Jesus literally say in the greek there? What is the context of those words? What does it mean to know and be known by God and abide in the love of God through Jesus Christ and not walk in fear of Judgement?
The one who knows God and is known by God abides in His love and has confidence in the day of judgement. 
"By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.”
I John 4:13-19 NKJV

The purpose of this episode is to bring greater understanding to what this verse means to the one who is walking in the light vs the one who is walking in darkness; to the disciple, the person who's walking with God and the one who loves darkness and has no relationship with God.

This message is a journey of freedom from fear for the believer and a message of sobriety for the hearts and minds that wrestle with this verse as followers of Christ. Please open your Bibles with me in this journey and read for yourselves. There's a lot of scripture and comfort in this message. But at the end of the day, this scripture is still sobering and will be a terrifying reality for many. Hopefully, after listening to this message, you will either grow in your confidence in where you stand in your walk with Christ, or make the changes necessary to repent and seek the Lord according to truth and righteousness, and see the beauty of the Gospel manifested in the love and grace of God upon your life.


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