“Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven” Mat 7:21
It is not that easy.
So was Jesus lying or mistaken in John 11:26?
Which was it?
You think maybe you should tell Him he ought to reconsider what He said?
“Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven” Mat 7:21
"It is not that easy." - FatherofFive
It is that easy. If you read the passage that you quoted in 7:23, Jesus says "I never knew you". Not "I knew you but you didn't obey me." Or "I knew you but It's been a while and I've forgotten you." Or "I knew you but you were lazy." And certainly not, "I knew you but wish I didn't." It's "I NEVER knew you."
You either have a relationship with Jesus or you don't. Casting out demons or performing works in Jesus name, does not mean you ever asked Jesus to cover your sins. Doesn't mean you ever established a relationship with Him.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven” Mat 7:21
It is not that easy.”
Key words: “And then will I profess unto them, I NEVER KNEW YOU: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt 7:23).
It’s not “I used to know you,” or “I knew you until you made yourself unknown to me.” It’s straight out “I never knew you” to those who said “Lord, Lord.”
Christ knows who are His:
Joh 10:26-30 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. (27) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (29) My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. (30) I and my Father are one.
Not only does Christ say that He knows His sheep, He says that the Father gave the sheep to Him. He does it again, here:
Joh 6:43-44 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. (44) No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
No man can come to Him except those drawn by the Father. He further declares that those who belong to Him, He ordains that they may produce fruit, and that their fruit should remain:
Joh_15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
And they are not chosen because God foresaw their works, but rather according to His own purpose and grace:
2Ti_1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,