1. Does Jesus Know You? Truth, Judgment and Eternity Text: Matthew 7:21-23

2. Text Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’” NAS

3. LORD Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,” NAS In the Greek the word used for Lord Lord is Κύριε, κύριε. This term means kýrios – is a person exercising absolute ownership rights; lord (Lord). A title of honor, expressive of respect and reverence, with which servants salute their master, a title given to God, the ruler of the universe. These people were claiming that Jesus is their Lord and exercises ownership of their life. Jesus is referencing believers here, He is referencing Christians. I believe that most Christians do not properly comprehend the magnitude of who Jesus is referencing here.

4. Take This to Heart This reference to Kyrios comes after Jesus talks about the wide and narrow gates in Matthew 7:13-14. Then Jesus talks about the coming deception among Christian leaders and that we will know them by their fruit and trees that bare bad fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire and burned. Then He gives us a deep revelation into the day of judgment and reveals a mystery in relation to those who will perish on that day and that many of those are in fact professed believers in Jesus Himself.

5. Who Will Get Into Heaven? Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.” NAS Jesus tells us straight that those who do the Will of My Father who is in Heaven will enter into Heaven. But hang on, this is not a works salvation, we are saved by grace, we can’t lose our salvation no matter how hard we try? Oh really? Jesus said this passage not me, and I can tell you now if you try hard enough you can lose your salvation. Yes, no one can snatch you out of the hand of God, but you can get out of the hand of God. The truth of the doctrine of salvation here stated by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself is that “He who does the Will of My Father who is in Heaven will enter into the Kingdom of God.”

6. Prophecy Matthew 7:22 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name,” NAS They had the power in the Spirit to prophesy in the name of Christ, whether they were false or true prophesies, Jesus does not tell us, but He does acknowledge that these workers of iniquity prophesied. They spoke for Him and had power in the Church and probably were highly regarded by the followers of Christ, for they appealed to this gift as proof of their being Christ’s followers.

7. Deliverance Matthew 7:22 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons,” NAS This passage points out that these followers of Christ had power over demons and over the realm of evil. In this they are appealing to their authority in the Church and that demons obeyed them when they used the Word of Christ as evidence of their being true followers of Christ. This is scary, this gives new meaning to the verse, “Be careful when you think you stand lest you fall.” (1Corinthians 10:12)

8. Miracles Matthew 7:22 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ NAS These believers were so faith filled in Christ that they even performed miracles in Jesus name, and they pointed to the miracles as proof of their being loyal followers of Christ. You would think that those with a gift of miracles would be definitely one approved by God.

9. What Does Jesus Say? Matthew 7:23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’” NAS The Judgments of God are pronounced, the verdict is in, and regardless of the gifts the believers had, despite their works and wonders performed and their level of authority in the Church, they did not do the will of God and therefore Jesus did not know them. My question to you and me today is, “Does Jesus Know you?” “Does Jesus know me?”

10. Does Jesus Know You? This is such a critical question and one which we have got to search out and pray about with all our heart. Does Jesus Know you? You want to make sure that He knows you and that you walk in the Will of God. Don’t leave this to blind chance, because you could have eternity in hell to pay for not knowing whether you are doing the will of God, and whether He knows you.

11. How Does Jesus get to Know You? Prayer, He gets to know you when you talk to Him daily. “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” (Romans 8:14), those who don’t walk in the Spirit are not sons of God. “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” (2Chronicles 16:9) “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and Truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks.” (John 4:23)

12. Esteemed by God and not Despised Isaiah 66:2 says, “This is the one who I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in Spirit and trembles at My Word.” “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17) This is why Paul said, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. “Romans 12:1 These are but a few of the many Scriptures related to how Jesus gets to know you and who He is looking for in a Disciple.

13. Conclusion Does Jesus know you? Well the fruit of a life in Christ will be evident, you will be filled with a passion to live for Christ and see Him glorified and not yourself. You will have a deep burden to be in the Scriptures, and in prayer, and you will worship the Lord with all your heart. Your life will be transformed and you will not only lead a life where sin is abhorred but you will recognise sin and walk the other way. But mostly you will feel and intense love for Christ and a deep desire to sit at His feet and break that expensive alabaster jar of your soul, repent and worship Him.