“Those Christ Never Knew” (Pt. 2) (April 11, 2019)

Allen Raynor Weblog: “Those Christ Never Knew” (Pt. 2)

(April 11, 2019)

 

          How can we determine real Christians from unreal?  Can we?  Should we?  We generally can tell most of the time.  And, yes we should. Why?  1) We are told to do so.  2) Because of Mat. 7:12 (The Golden Rule) we imagine if the tables were turned and if we had false hope/confidence then we would want others to share the Gospel with us and plead with us to commit to Christ.  “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”  (Mat. 7:12)

          On the day of judgment many will say, “Wait just a cotton picking minute! Didn’t we do this and didn’t we do that? (prophesied, cast out demons, done many wonders, etc.)  Apparently there were even signs and miraculous wonders done by some, but they were not done for the exclusive glory of Christ.  They were done for show; done to gain a following; to impress/awe/shock/mesmerize, etc.  Their purposes sound a lot like the reason for having a circus! 

          The reason Christ, and later the Apostles, performed miracles was to demonstrate power over nature and lend strong testimony to the work of God.  But Satan’s followers, false teachers, etc. have certain power and ability as well; although, much, much less, yet it is enough to cause some to follow them.  Consider, for instance, the magicians in Pharaoh’s court who were able to do certain miracles like those done by Moses; clearly though God was more powerful.  We must remember, everyone is wowed by “miracles” or even the claim of miracles but they are still inferior to Biblical Truth.  The “truth, the “Word,” is always given precedent.  The signs and wonders were only for one reason; to help validate the truth.  They were nothing by themselves.  The false teachers were making the miraculous all about themselves!  Revelation tells us the eventual Antichrist will come with great powers, signs, and wonders, thereby deceiving many.  Those not rooted and grounded in the truth will be easily deceived by the Antichrist.

          The hearts of those Christ never knew are empty.  Jesus says in Mat. 7:23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”  Clearly Jesus created these people, so when it says he “never knew them,” we are not to think He is “unaware” of them.  It simply means He does not know them intimately in the same way He knows His own true children.  Jesus’ words sound very harsh in vs. 23.  But, is there no warning for them?  Is it reasonable to assume they do not know any better?  If you are told what is going to happen and then you make a choice to engage in certain behavior, is it unjust or unfair when you have to suffer the consequences?  Jesus gives more than a fair warning to those He never knew!

          The number one thing that characterizes a believer is a changed life.  Anyone can say anything, but a truly changed life is hard to argue against!  Just like in the opening illustration!  The lost have hearts that are empty and they cannot seem to fill them no matter how hard they try.  I like the words Paul spoke to Timothy concerning the fundamentals or foundation of the faith.  In 2 Timothy 2:19 he says “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows whose who are His,’ and “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.’”  One of the biggest indications of a truly changed life is a desire to be free from sin.  If someone still loves their sin, engages in it, and is unwilling to try and overcome it, the indications are very strong he/she does not know Christ.  The Psalmist wrote “The boastful shall not stand in Your sight, You hate all workers of iniquity.” (Psalm. 5:5)

          Salvation is a miracle of God.  Those whose hearts have not been changed have not experienced the miraculous change which is possible.  John Newton said, “If I ever reach Heaven I expect to find three wonders there; first, to meet some I had not thought to see there; second, to miss some I had thought to meet there; and third, the greatest wonder of all, to find myself there.”

 

In Christ,

Dr. Allen Raynor, Pastor