According to Matthew 7, Am I Really Saved?
According to Matthew 7, Am I Really Saved?
Overview
It might be one of the most unsettling things Jesus ever said. In Matthew 7, people stand before Him, call Him Lord, point to everything they did in His name, and hear Him say, "I never knew you." If you've read that and wondered whether it could be you, you're not alone. Brad Kirby and Andre Samson walk through the passage and name three ways people fool themselves about where they stand with God: what they know, what they feel, and what they do. Then they land on the only thing that actually saves: a real relationship with Jesus, built on what He did for you. So where is your confidence resting today?
Three Takeaways
You can know about Jesus and still not know Him.
The people in this passage had the right name and the right answers. They were passionate, too. But right doctrine can't save you on its own, and strong feelings, even religious ones, aren't the same as saving faith. You can feel close to God and still be far from Him.
A resume of good works can't save you.
Brad calls this the strongest delusion. These people listed what they'd done: prophesying, casting out demons, mighty works. Jesus still said, "I never knew you." It's possible to do things in Jesus' name and not know Him at all.
Your confidence rests on what Jesus did.
You're saved through a real relationship with Jesus, who won your forgiveness and changes you. The thief on the cross knew Jesus for minutes and had no time to earn anything, yet he was truly saved. His hope rested on what Jesus did for him, not the other way around.
Scripture in This Episode
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.'"
Luke 23:42-43
And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise."
Talk About It
Of the three, what you know, what you feel, or what you do, which are you most tempted to lean on for confidence with God?
If you pictured standing before Jesus one day, what would you want to point to? How does the thief on the cross change that answer?
Brad describes a real relationship with Jesus as one that changes you. Where have you seen Him change you, and where do you want Him to?
Your Next Step
This week, read Matthew 7:21-23 next to the thief's story in Luke 23. Then tell Jesus, in your own words, that your hope rests on what He did, not on what you do.
Take it with you
Download the printable one-pager below.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.*
