The Known & Unknown Paradox



“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.” (Matthew 7:21)



Yesterday we noted the parable Jesus told about knowing His sheep—His followers—and today’s text deals with those who are not His true followers. They claim to be Christians—followers of Christ—but Jesus said:



“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’” (vv. 22-23)!



What a devastating condemnation on those who falsely claim to know Christ.



Many of these are leaders of church groups who do not have a true, life-saving relationship with God. They do not know God, for they “practice lawlessness” and teach others to do the same. This serious, life threatening issue begs all of us to ask the most critical, life altering question: 



How do we know that we know God? Since knowing God and being known by Him is critical to eternal life with Him, we are fortunate that He gave us clear and concise answers in 1st John, the book. These are the clearest, most direct “tests” in all of Scripture.



“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him” (1 John 2:3–5).



This is why Christ calls them “you who practice lawlessness,” because they teach that God’s Ten Commandment Laws do not apply to His followers today! Furthermore, “Those who abide in Him do not continue in sin” (1 John 3:6), and what is sin? “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” (v 4).



And finally, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:2-3). “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18).



Let us pray for those who have been fooled into believing the doctrines of men!