Some of the scariest Bible verses to me are Matthew 7:21-23:
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. 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?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.
The people here were doing and saying “religious” things, even calling Jesus Lord. But He professed not to know them.
Of course, He is omniscient. He knows everything about everyone. But He doesn’t know these people in the sense of having a relationship with them.
How can this be?
Many passages talk about doing, not just hearing, the Word of God. But the reverse is true as well. It’s possible to do religious things without knowing God at all. The Pharisees were famous for knowing the Old Testament law but missing the point of it.
It’s possible to grow up in or become part of Christian culture without really knowing the Lord.
How can we know that we know Him and He knows us?
Psalm 1:6 says, “The Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” That righteousness isn’t our own–we could never measure up to the perfect righteousness required. “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.” (Isaiah 64:6).
Philippians 1:11 speaks of the “righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.” Only He is righteous enough. And He graciously gives His righteousness to us when we repent of our sins and believe in Him.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed (1 Peter 2:24).
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthian 5:21).
He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:5-7).
“The Lord knows those who are his” (2 Timothy 2:19). He’s the good shepherd who knows His sheep (John 10:14). He “knows those who take refuge in him” (Nahum 1:7).
Do you know God? Does He know you?
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Stray Thoughts 
Important question to ask ourselves regularly. Are we pursuing a relationship with the Lord and seeking him, or are just doing the things? Doing the things is a good rhythm to keep us in the spiritual disciplines that draw us closer to God, but I know I sometimes need the reminder that the relationship is the goal.
Yes–even once we know Him in salvation, we need to keep the focus on the relationship, on getting to know Him better.
Thank you, Barbara, for such a great post because there are so many people who know the right things to do and say that come across as them being Christian, without them even understanding the Truth of the gospel. I know…I was one of them at one time. I was in my early 30s before I ever heard a clear presentation of the gospel.
Thank you for that testimony! I’m so thankful the Lord brought you to Himself.
So am I.
I find those verses scary, too, and regularly pray, “Lord, if I’m not on the right track, please do what it takes to get me onto it.” It can just be challenging to sort out Jesus’ original intent, current church traditions, culture, etc. Thank you for a clear presentation of what it truly means to know, and be known by, God.
When I was struggling with assurance of my salvation, I often prayed something like that–if I am missing something, please make it clear to me.
I think my heart would break if my Father said that to me when I finally made it to the doors of home – to have loved Him, the thoughts of Him keeping me going and not giving up – I am glad He knows me better than I know myself – and that He doesn’t give up on me, holds me accountable to our relationship. Those are, indeed, the saddest verses!
Thankfully, those who truly know God personally as their Father won’t hear those words. One of my frequent prayers for loved ones is that none will be deceived into thinking they are saved if they are not, that God would make their condition clear to them, show them their need, His provision, and His open arms waiting for them.
Those have been some of the scariest verses for me too. In so many ways, I am thankful to live in a culture influenced heavily by Christian ideals. But for many years now, I’ve feared that we value those ideals more than a relationship with God. So many can “hide” by performing in a certain way. And those who don’t conform to those ideals are told they’re going to hell because of them—and not told they are loved by God who died for their sins and wants their hearts more than anything. Thank you for this wonderful post, Barbara.
That’s my concern for many–that they grew up in a Christian culture without knowing the Lord personally themselves. And it’s true when someone like that says something aberrant, too often Christians jump on them as heretics instead of lovingly pointing them to God’s truth.
Those are very scary words to hear as they will be final words. I would rather experience the Lord’s correction here while I am alive than to hear those words one day.
Me, too!
What an important distinction! I can never fully know God and yet he knows me better than I know myself!
It’s always stood out to me when Paul prays “that I may know Him”–when he already knew Him. It’s a lifelong (and maybe even eternal) journey of getting to know Him better after that initial introduction.
This is a great question? And, I agree, very scary. We could do good things, be good people, and practice religious traditions, but there is more to it. This also prompts me to pray differently. I always want to know Him, of course. But maybe it should also be: Lord, I want you to know me. I want to be so close to You that there is no doubt that I am Yours.
A sobering post. Our relationship with God has to be the most important decision of our lives. Eternity is a very long time.
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