Go & Tell

In His sermon on the Mount, Jesus states that not everyone who says to Him, “Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven (Mt 7:21a). He continued with, “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; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness’” (22-23). At first glance, this passage makes even the strongest believer question their salvation, and rightly so. As the Apostle Paul urged the Corinthians, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test” (2 Cor. 13:5a)!

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.

Jesus warned His disciples to “Beware of false prophets who come in sheep’s clothing…” (Mt. 7:15a). He indicates they profess to be believers but lack one key element: although they claim to know Him, He doesn’t know them, and will declare to them, “I never knew you” (v. 23b) on that fateful day of judgment. How tragic it would be to profess faith in a God you don’t know personally and miss spending eternity with Him. The error is that they have a man-centered theology. Though often evangelistic, their efforts are driven by an attempt to earn and maintain salvation.

Ultimately, their concern is not for the lost. Jude 11 says, “Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay, they have given themselves up to the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.” Their characteristics are pride (Cain’s rejection of God’s plan), greed (Balaam’s prophesying for financial gain), and rebellion (Korah’s self-promotion against the divinely appointed leadership of Moses). False prophets often equate God’s blessings with material wealth. Paul taught that people deprived of the truth suppose that godliness is a means of gain (I Tim. 6:6). This is why Jesus describes them as ravenous wolves (Mt.7:15b).

A God-centered theology focuses on God’s redemptive work on the cross to save us, not on our works or merit for salvation. 

A God-centered theology focuses on God’s redemptive work on the cross to save us, not on our works or merit for salvation. When discussing the difficulty of the rich to be saved, the disciples asked, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus replied, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Mt. 19:25-26). He clarified that not all who call on the Lord are saved, but rather “the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter” (Mt. 7:21b). The will of the Father is that we look at Jesus on the cross, and trust in Him alone to save us (John 6:40).

The will of the Father is that we look at Jesus on the cross, and trust in Him alone to save us 

In light of these words, may we humbly discern salvation in ourselves and others, rooted in sound doctrine proclaiming God's grace through faith in Christ alone.

In Christ,

Derrick Poston

North American Mission Board

Great Adventure Missions