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The point here in Matthew 7:22-23 is that Jesus NEVER knew these many people which means they were NEVER saved.
Yet, I already explained to you how Ezekiel 3:20 helps explain our Lord's words that say, “I never knew you.” Jesus can say he never knew them because there is no more righteous deeds on their record to remember them anymore on their account of turning back towards sin.
Now, is it remotely possible that these are believers who never knew Jesus? Sure, it is possible. But if this was the case, then Matthew 7:23 would not be an exhaustive truth on the matter, either. First, Matthew 13:41-42 teaches us that the Son of Man (Jesus) will send forth his angels and they will gather out of HIS KINGDOM all those who do iniquity and they will be cast into the furnace of fire (the Lake of Fire). Nothing is mentioned here about how He never knew them in Matthew 13:41-42. It says that they were in HIS KINGDOM meaning they were once saved, and they later lost it on account of their justifying sin or iniquity. Also... we know by tons of Scripture verses that a believer can also fall away, too.
Here is a General List of Verses on How Believers Can Fall Away:
1 Samuel 16:14
1 Samuel 31:4
Ezekiel 18:24
Hebrews 3:12-14
Hebrews 4:11
Hebrews 6:4-9
Hebrews 10:26-30
Hebrews 12:15
1 Timothy 1:18-20
1 Timothy 4:1-7
Galatians 3:1-5
2 Peter 2:20-22
2 Peter 3:17
Matthew 13:18-23
1 Corinthians 10:12
2 Thessalonians 2:3
1 Samuel 31:4
Ezekiel 18:24
Hebrews 3:12-14
Hebrews 4:11
Hebrews 6:4-9
Hebrews 10:26-30
Hebrews 12:15
1 Timothy 1:18-20
1 Timothy 4:1-7
Galatians 3:1-5
2 Peter 2:20-22
2 Peter 3:17
Matthew 13:18-23
1 Corinthians 10:12
2 Thessalonians 2:3
Now, do not misunderstand me, believers cannot lose their salvation (like they would a pair of car keys), but they can forfeit their salvation (i.e. they can willingly throw it away by rebelling against God). In fact,
Here is a list of believers who have forfeited their salvation:
Saul (1 Samuel 16:14) (1 Samuel 31:4)
Demas (2 Timothy 4:10)
The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)
Judas Iscariot (Psalm 41:9) (Luke 6:16) (Acts 1:25)
Hymenaeus and Philetus (2 Timothy 2:17-18)
Unnamed Christians destroyed by false teaching (2 Timothy 2:17-18)
Many Unnamed Disciples (John 6:66)
Some Younger Christian Widows (1 Timothy 5:14-15)
Some Christians Eager For Money (1 Timothy 6:8-10)
Ananias and Sapphira (Acts of the Apostles 5:1-11)
Demas (2 Timothy 4:10)
The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)
Judas Iscariot (Psalm 41:9) (Luke 6:16) (Acts 1:25)
Hymenaeus and Philetus (2 Timothy 2:17-18)
Unnamed Christians destroyed by false teaching (2 Timothy 2:17-18)
Many Unnamed Disciples (John 6:66)
Some Younger Christian Widows (1 Timothy 5:14-15)
Some Christians Eager For Money (1 Timothy 6:8-10)
Ananias and Sapphira (Acts of the Apostles 5:1-11)
And here is a list of potential fallen believers:
The Servant Who is Not Looking For Him (Luke 12:45-46)
Recent Convert Who is a Potential Spiritual Leader (1 Timothy 3:6)
The Unforgiving in Heart (Matthew 6:14-15)
Luke Warm Unrepentant Believer (Revelation 3:14-22)
Fruitless Christians (John 15:1-10) (Matthew 25:14-30)
Widows That Live in Pleasure (1 Timothy 5:5-6)
Believers Whose Seed Fell Upon the Rocks (Luke 8:13)
Believers Whose Seed Was Choked by Thorns (Matthew 13:22)
Gentile Believer Who Did Not Have on a Wedding Garment (Matthew 22:1-14) (Revelation 19:7-8)
The Potential Fellow Believer Who Erred From the Truth & Was Converted Back (James 5:19-20)
Recent Convert Who is a Potential Spiritual Leader (1 Timothy 3:6)
The Unforgiving in Heart (Matthew 6:14-15)
Luke Warm Unrepentant Believer (Revelation 3:14-22)
Fruitless Christians (John 15:1-10) (Matthew 25:14-30)
Widows That Live in Pleasure (1 Timothy 5:5-6)
Believers Whose Seed Fell Upon the Rocks (Luke 8:13)
Believers Whose Seed Was Choked by Thorns (Matthew 13:22)
Gentile Believer Who Did Not Have on a Wedding Garment (Matthew 22:1-14) (Revelation 19:7-8)
The Potential Fellow Believer Who Erred From the Truth & Was Converted Back (James 5:19-20)
In fact, Paul is against Eternal Security or a sin and still be saved type belief. For Paul says,
- We can fall from grace (Galatians 5:4).
- We can be moved away from the hope (Colossians 1:23).
- We can be a castaway (1 Corinthians 9:27).
- We can be cut off just like the Jews if we do not continue in God’s goodness (Romans 11:20-22).
- We can sow to the flesh and reap corruption instead of sowing to the Spirit which reaps everlasting life. (Galatians 6:8).
- We can deny God by a lack of good works (Titus 1:16).
- We can shipwreck our faith (1 Timothy 1:19).
- We can deny the faith and be worse than an infidel if we do not provide for our own household (1 Timothy 5:8).
- We can err from the faith and pierce ourselves thru with many sorrows if we love and covet after money (1 Timothy 6:10).
- Hymnenaeus and Philetus have overthrown the faith of some (2 Timothy 2:18).
You said:Their attempts at external obedience apart from a relationship with Christ is not the will of the Father. (Matthew 7:21; John 6:40; John 17:3) Unbelievers will ALL be characterized as "workers of iniquity." These were NOT genuine believers and that is the heart of the issue. Also a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. (Matthew 7:15-20)
It could also be that they held to a belief that said that they could sin and still be saved. So they did wonderful works in his name, but they also worked iniquity (or sin). So their sin is what cast them out. For Jesus said depart from me ye that work iniquity (See: Matthew 7:23).
You said:As we read on in Matthew 7:24-27, we find two different foundations with two different results. Each house has a different material upon which its foundation is laid, and each house has a different final outcome. One house is built by a wise man upon a rock and it stands. The other is built by a foolish man upon the sand and it collapses.
But Matthew 7:26-27 makes it clear that we have to do what He says and if we don't we are like a fool who built his house upon the sand and when a storm came, great was the fall of that house. So doing what Jesus says is the focus and thrust of Matthew 7:23.
You said:Those deceived by their own self-righteousness in Matthew 7:22-23 were "outwardly" doing things that also the righteous would do, yet they did not truly know Christ (had no personal relationship with Christ) which stemmed from not truly believing in Him.
It certainly is possible that a person can do righteous things in the Lord's name and not really know Jesus. A person does first have to be saved by God's grace before they can walk with the Lord. But neither can we do nothing for the Lord and say we are saved, either. Matthew 7:24-25 is focused on DOING what Jesus says. Yes, this must involve a relationship with Christ. But the point that Jesus wants to make is that we must do what He says and not in doing nothing.
You said:The rock the wise man builds upon is true righteousness found in Jesus Christ alone.
Oh, no it's not. It is in doing what He says. For the person who does not do what Jesus says is a fool according to Jesus in Matthew 7:26-27. The person who does what Jesus says is called wise (See Matthew 7:24-25).
You said:The sand the foolish man builds upon is self-righteousness. Only those who truly believe in Christ unto salvation are wise and hear the words of Jesus and properly act on them.
It does not say that. It simply says that they do not do what Jesus says in Matthew 7:26-27. You are adding to the Scriptures. Granted, we cannot do works alone without God's grace to save us. But neither can we just have a belief alone in Jesus and expect to be saved, either. Matthew 7:24-27 refutes that idea.
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