The following warning is given to us by Jesus Christ. . . . "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.   (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?   (23)And then will I profess unto them, I NEVER KNEW YOU: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."   Mat. 7:21-23 The people sighted here are neither atheistic nor agnostics.   They are not        God haters.   They are not Moslems nor Buddhists, nor part of any non-Christian group.   By the way they refer to Christ, it's safe to say these people thought they were saved.   No doubt they had made a profession of faith.   Perhaps they even considered themselves born again and Spirit-filled.   But in the end, to their shock: It was a false profession all along.    You may be wondering why they didn't realize it was false before this tragic day arrived.   The answer, however, is simple: they were trusting in the very things they mentioned, as proof of their salvation.   Unfortunately, they were trusting in all the wrong things. Let's take a closer look . . .   1. "have we not prophesied in thy name?"    They assumed that witnessing for Christ was proof that they were saved.   And, indeed, most would find it hard to believe that a non-saved person would go around witnessing, much less, preaching on behalf of Jesus Christ.   But just because a person witnesses doesn't automatically mean they are saved, as we learn from the book of Acts. . .

The Apostle Paul, during his second missionary journey, was preaching the gospel in the city of Philippi, when a curious incident took place.   The Bible says: "...a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and CRIED, SAYING, THESE MEN ARE THE SERVANTS OF THE MOST HIGH GOD, WHICH SHEW UNTO US THE WAY OF SALVATION."   Acts 16:16-17    Here was a woman willing to witness to others about God's saving grace, and yet SHE WAS NOT SAVED!   Furthermore, rather than inviting her on his journey and have another witness along, Paul did just the opposite: "And this did she many days.   But Paul, BEING GRIEVED, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.   And he came out the same hour."   Acts 16:18    There was another spirit behind her desire to witness to others, and the Bible warns: "Beloved, BELIEVE NOT EVERY SPIRIT, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many FALSE PROPHETS are gone out into the world."   1 John 4:1    Perhaps you, the reader, consider yourself a bold, Spirit- filled, witness for Christ.   Maybe you even put great stock in your boldness as proof of your salvation.   But please take heed to what you have just read, and remember, the persons in Matt. 7:21-23 also prophesied in His name.   But in the end, Christ said to them: "I NEVER KNEW YOU: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."   Matt. 7:23   2. "...and in thy name have cast out devils?"    They assumed that performing miracles was proof that they were saved.   But this also is an erroneous assumption, as we learn, once again, from the book of Acts.   This time, we find Philip, the evangelist, preaching and performing miracles in Samaria and the Bible says: "But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city USED SORCERY, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one" Acts 8:9    Simon had been there, long before Philip, performing miracles.   And so convincing were his miracles, that the very next verse says the people in Samaria, "all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, THIS MAN IS THE GREAT POWER OF GOD.

And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched [FOOLED] them with SORCERIES."   Acts 8:10-11    How sad that this kind of thing goes on today fooling many into believing it's of God. How even sadder to think that the very people performing these miracles are fooled themselves and may even be using them as proof of their salvation.   But not all miracles are of God, including those meant for good.   The Bible warns: "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.   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."   2 Cor. 11:13-15    If you are trusting in a miracle that you have seen, or even performed, as proof of your salvation, take heed.   The last thing you want to hear from Jesus is: "I NEVER KNEW YOU: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."   Matt. 7:23   3. "...and in thy name done many wonderful works?"    They assumed that their wonderful works were proof that they were saved. Yet the world is full of examples of the unsaved doing great works in the name of God.   The Pharisees in Jesus' time were doers of good works.   But it was all done for the wrong reasons.   Jesus said: "But all their works they do for to BE SEEN OF MEN" Mat. 23:5    To sight your good works as proof of your salvation is to say that you are saved by them in the first place.   But the Bible says: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES: it is the gift of God: NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST."   Eph. 2:8-9    No one who is truly saved will sight their good works as the reason for their entrance into Heaven.   No truly saved person would boast in such a way.   So if you are trusting your good works as proof of your salvation, take heed to what the Bible says and avoid having to hear: "I NEVER KNEW YOU: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."   Matt. 7:23

IF you were to die today, are you 100% SURE you would go to Heaven?   The Bible says YOU CAN BE SURE (1 John 5:13). BUT FIRST, you must realize that what keeps you from going to Heaven are your sins, because: "...your iniquities [sins] have separated between you and your God," Isa. 59:2. In fact, in God's eyes YOU ARE A SINNER: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Rom. 3:23. And Jesus, referring to sinners, said that He: "shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity [sinners]; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."   Mat. 13:41-42 SECONDLY, you must realize that there is NOTHING you can do to save yourself and earn Heaven: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."   Eph. 2:8-9   Baptism, good deeds, church membership, self-righteousness are all examples of good works that cannot save you, because: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he [Christ] saved us," Titus 3:5. THE ONLY WAY you can get saved is through Jesus Christ.   He said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)   THAT'S WHY: "...while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom. 5:8-9)   THEREFORE: You must REPENT (change your mind); admit that you are a Hell deserving sinner and can't save yourself.   And call upon Christ, and Him alone, to save you. "if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus [REPENT], and shalt believe in thine heart [TRUST] that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."   Rom. 10:9 SEND THE LIGHT A Writing Ministry of Fargo Baptist Church

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