Seven Words You Never Want To Hear From God 

Pastor Dan Southern

Matt 7:21-23

21 “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. 22 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?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

In these closing words of the Sermon on the Mount, we are told what some will hear when they stand before God. His words are some of the most earth shaking, bone shattering, and heart stopping words that could fall on human ears. These are words that according to the scripture will be heard by many! They are seven words that I never want to hear from God! I believe they are seven words that no one here would want to hear from God! They are seven words that you don’t have to hear from God. Imagine standing before God and hearing these words ringing in your ears, and echoing in your soul! "I never knew you: depart from me."

First, notice what people will say to God. Notice how they address him. Many will say “Lord, Lord”. There will be much calling on the Lord, and calling out his name on that day but it will be too late!  Notice how they appeal to him. Some will say, “Have we not prophesied in your name”. People will appeal to the Lord expecting to receive an affirmative answer. Notice how they argue with him, “In your name have cast out devils and in your name done many wonderful works?

Second, notice what God will say. He speaks words of denial to them, “I never knew you”. Look closely at the text, these are religious people, possibility church going individuals who thought they knew God but never surrendered their heart and lives to Him. Though God knows our name, and knows the number of the hairs on our head, he wants to "know" us. He wants us to know him as Father, and he wants to know us as children! How sad it would be to stand before God, and hear him say I never knew you! Notice, He speaks words of departure to them. “Depart from me”. Such final words! To be separated from the presence of God forever is a hellish thought! He speaks words of discernment to them, “You that work iniquity”.

They appeal to him with offerings of what they deem good works, but God’s discernment is always righteous. They were workers of iniquity because they had not obeyed the gospel. The book of Isaiah says, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags” Isaiah 64:6.

Finally, Here is some advice on how to avoid hearing these words. Jesus said, “Not everyone that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven”. It is not the testimony of our lips that will save us. “They said to him Lord, Lord! They even prophesied in his name”! But His words were “I never you: depart from me”. It is not the toil of our labors that will save us. They did many wonderful works in the name of the Lord. It is our trust in the Lord that saves us. If we are trusting in any other person or thing to get us to heaven, then we will hear the words, “I never knew you: depart from me”. Jesus said, "But he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven."

What is the will of God concerning salvation? First, it is his will that we be saved, forgiven of ours sins and wrong doings 2 Pet 3:9. Second, it is his work that we believe on Jesus John 6:29. Third, it is through his way that we are saved John 14:6.

Someone said it is as easy as A, B, C. Admit you have sinned and Accept Christ’s offer of forgiveness, Believe that Jesus died and rose again for your sins, and then Confess your sins to God asking for his forgiveness.  It really is that simple.