This have been debate about 'I never knew you'.
I would like to telling you something about this. The only way you shall be able to understand Matt. 7:23 better, you have to read throughout chapter 7 as context.
You should be aware of the context of Matthew chapter 7 is talking all about salvation. I don't have to type whole chapter 7 to you. But, I want to tell you something on few verses from chapter 7 which relate to verse 23.
Notice Matt. 7:13-14 telling us, there are two roads, every individuals of the world, included Christians have two choices, which road, they shall go enter into. Christ telling us, high percent of people make their choice go on the wide road, they want go on that road because of easy life and having pleasure life rather than facing hardship life, and do not want to follow Christ. They are on the way to destruction. Obivously, it speaks of leading them toward everlasting punishment shall be in the lake of fire - second death. Christ tells us, there is low percent of people go into narrow road, which leading toward eternal life. Because of few people are willing to face hardship life, suffering, giving up everything, follow Christ all the way to the end(Matt. 10:22; 24:13), then shall have victory-overcome. Sadly :tear: , this passage tells us the true fact that, high percent of people are on the way to hell. Even, also many religions included baptist are on the way to hell, because they make the choice rather to having easy life, than facing hardship, and not willing to giving up their old habits of sins. Few inidviduals are on the narrow road toward eternal life, because they already determined giving everything, facing hardship life, follow Christ 100% all the way throughout life till death(Matt. 10:22; 24:13; Rev. 2:10) shall have victory and overcome them. Christ tells us, there are FEW of them made it into eternal life. Sad. :tear:
Then, Christ explained us, WHY there are so many went into the wide road in Matthew 7:15-20. Christ tells us, we must be watch out for false teachers, pastors, religions, because they deceived people are on the way to hell. There are too many false religions out there. It easily make people into confusion, and misleading them by believing religions' lies. The only way that, we can know them, by examining their fruits, see if they have truly fruits. If we see any pastor have no fruit, for example - Benny Hinn. He is so wicked evangelist. He deceived thousands, and thousands of people for believing in him of lies.
So, when we get to Matt. 7:21. Christ explained to us, what will be happening in the Judgment Day, many religions included baptists shall say to the Lord that, they do many wonderful works for Him. But, Lord shall say to them, He doesn't know them, send them away into everlasting fire.
Obivously, this is the picture of judgment seat of Christ/great white throne at the Judgment Day. All people of the world, included dead people from all centuries shall be raised up, to face before Christ.
When, Christ shall say to them, 'I never knew you'. He doe not saying, "I never knew you, you depart from me, go into the fire for a thousand years, then you will come out and join with us for eternal life."
He shall saying to them, "depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Notice word, 'depart', which is refer to Matt. 25:41 says: "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."
Christ does not saying to them, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into temporarily fire for a thousand years, prepard for the devil and his angels."
Christ clearly telling us, He shall say to them, depart from him, cast them away into eternal fire with devil and his angels. He never promise to them(goat) that, they shall be released out of the fire, and put them into eternal life with Christ on new earth.
Notice Matt. 25:46 says, "And these shall go AWAY into EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT: but the righteous into life ETERNAL."
Christ doesn't saying, "these shall away into tmporarily punishment: but the righteous into life 1000 years."
Simple, Christ tells us, goat shall go into eternal punishment in the lake of fire. That's it. No guaranteed for a person shall be release out the fire beyond of this Judgment Day.
The picture of Matt. 7:21-23 show us, it is the Judgment day - judgment seat of Christ/great white throne on the last day of this present age.
There is no purgatory in the Bible. Sorry.
In Christ
Rev. 22:20 -Amen!
