Matthew 7:21-23 I" Never Knew You

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’

23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’" Matt. 7:21-23

Many "Christians" decided to join the Christian club because it appealed to them and made them look like good people and was an even better lifestyle for them, but they had no desire to be changed by Him and didn't care about what He commanded in His Word. We might say they are Christian in name only without any fruit of the Spirit.

Born-again believers love the principles and commands in God's Word. They hate the wicked ways of the unsaved and love what God loves. They want to be cleansed by Christ.

Matthew 7:15-20

You Will Know Them by Their Fruits

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?

17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.

19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them."

What is that fruit?

Galatians 5:22-23

"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

If someone acts continuously without this fruit, as a lifestyle, then they have never been born again.

Pretenders will be able to play the role, acting the part for a time but eventually, the burden of their pretense will be too much to bear and the real them will leak out over time. This is why we see people who have been Christians all their lives seem to change back into their old rude selves when they grow older. They no longer have the need or desire to impress anyone so they revert to their old ways which is the real them on the inside that they have been hiding.

Romans 8:6

"For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace."

1 John 4:8

"Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."

Ephesians 4:1-3

"I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 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."

Romans 13:10

"Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."

Colossians 3:12

"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,"

Those who walk with Christ may fall at times, confess to be cleansed, and then quickly return to obedience because they hate and are convicted by the sin, they do not remain in it and are authentically ashamed of their sin.

The narcissist justifies and excuses their sin as though they had a good reason, and even worse they continue this way as a lifestyle.

They never apologize and never admit their flaws. These people live a life, tell lies and defend lies on a regular basis without guilt.

Born-again believers can freely admit their flaws because they are authentic people who do not like to lie even about themselves.

Born-again believers openly and freely confess their sins and flaws because they desire to change what is wrong in themselves.

1 John 1:9 "9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."