Please give an explanation of the verse, Matt. 7:21.
Listen: 118.4
Let’s read Matthew 7:21-23, “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. 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? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Here the Lord gives a grave warning to us all. There will be many who appear to the world as Christians. They will call Jesus, ‘Lord’. They will do great works in His name, but the word of the Lord to these people is, “I never knew you.” In fact, the Lord says their great works are iniquity, or wickedness. While people might be able to fool others as to their true spiritual condition, we are assured in 2 Timothy 2:19 that, “…The Lord knoweth them that are his…” The Lord, who looks on the heart, knows the heart of every man, woman and child. While these people appear to be mighty men and women of God, they fall short. They have not done the will of the Father.
What is God’s will that we have to do in order to be saved? Let’s read John 6:28-29, “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” There is only one work of God that brings salvation, and that is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 10:9-10 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Apart from faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, there is no salvation.
Do you find it surprising to realize that many people who claim to be ministers of the Lord are not even saved? Consider the words of 2 Corinthians 11:14-15, “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
Let us not be attracted to those who seem to perform great works. Satan is a great imitator and will try to draw us away from Christ by leading us to men who can do great things, but do not have the truth of salvation. 1 John 4:1-3 tells us, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” (118.4)