Sermon: I Never Knew You

I Never Knew You

Text: Matthew 7:13–27

The Scariest Passage of Scripture

As we come to the month of October, I find myself thinking about the culture around us. October is when everyone tries to scare the living daylights out of people with ghouls and goblins and all manner of horrific displays. But I want to ask you something: What is the scariest passage of scripture?

I believe the scariest passage of scripture is found in Matthew 7:21–23. Jesus said:

Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” (Matthew 7:21–23, NKJV)

This is the scariest passage of scripture because it reveals the true reality of the

Find Pastor Sam's Books

message of Jesus. Not everyone will enter the kingdom of heaven. That is a hard truth that the American church needs to hear.

Not Everyone

Jesus begins with these words: “Not everyone.” I must tell you today that universalism is wrong. It is being proclaimed widely, but it is wrong. There is a message today that says every road leads to the top of the mountain, that every religion leads to heaven. But that is not true. Jesus says clearly: Not everyone will enter into the kingdom of heaven.

On college campuses today, children are being taught that truth is relative. When you confront them with moral truth, they say, “Well, it’s my truth. It’s your truth.” This is what our young people are being indoctrinated with. They believe you can have your truth and I can have my truth, and somehow both can be good. That makes no sense. If you really believe that I am wrong, then you cannot truly have your truth because you would have to let me believe what I want to believe.