The Most Terrifying Verse in the Bible…

One of the most terrifying verses in the Bible

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 will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness. — Matthew 7:21-23

I used to hear teachings and sermons about this portion of scripture that would leave me full of fear and focused on myself. Would I make it? Who can make it? What does God want me to do? Does God know me? These are some of the questions that flooded my heart.

It actually got to the point where I was terrified of missing the will of God and scared of Jesus. I was paralyzed by fear and miserable. This is what religion does to people. It’s so sad.

But understanding faith righteousness changed everything. Understanding the gospel of grace changed everything. When you trust in Jesus and His finished work and cease to focus on your performance, freedom happens.

To be known by God is to trust in His love towards us revealed to us by His Son. Simply put, believe the gospel! Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent” John 6:29. The yoke of Jesus is easy and His burden is light.

If you are trusting in your own works and performance in order to be right with God, then you are are self-righteous. And no one can make it standing before God on their own merit, all have sinned and fallen short, we all need a savior.

The folks in Matthew 7:21-23 are trusting in themselves, they aren’t trusting in Jesus. Can you imagine standing before Jesus and pointing to the things you have done? It’s not about what we do, it’s about what He did.

Our good works and our performance don’t get us saved and they can’t keep us saved. We must trust in the work and performance of Jesus Christ alone. He alone is righteous and He extends His righteousness as a gift to be received by faith. Thank you Jesus!

We can experience assurance of salvation when we trust in Him. When I was trusting in myself, I never had assurance. I always wondered if I would make it and if I was okay.

But believing the gospel and looking to Christ and what He accomplished for me changed everything. I now have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ and you can too.

God loves you and His desire is for you to believe the gospel.