In Matthew 7:21-23 we see a group of christians who, like most christians, thoroughly believed they were saved (“I know that I know that I know”). They claim to have done many wonderful things in Messiah’s name (although, if they are like most christians, they don’t even know His name is Yahoshua). They claim to have cast out demons in the false name they call Him. And, yes, they even call Messiah “Lord.”
But, Messiah says that He doesn’t “know” them (there is no relationship between Him and them), and He tells them to depart from Him.
So, what happened? According to what most christians believe, those folks did everything they were supposed to do to be saved—they called Him “Lord,” and lived good christian lives (apparently they were very active in their “churches,” as they claim to have cast out demons and such).
The crux of the matter comes down to what we are told in Romans 8:9—those who do not have the Holy Spirit are not Messiah’s. Period. These christians believed false teachings about salvation, not knowing that the salvation christianity teaches is a counterfeit of true salvation—a work of man, and not of the Father.
Ask most any christian how to be saved, and you will likely hear some christianese euphemism like “all you have to do is ask forgiveness for your sins and accept Christ into your heart.” They actually think that is what it means to be saved, even though there is no scripture anywhere that states anything about “accepting” anybody, or that one must ask forgiveness for sins to be saved. Both of those lies are based on christianity’s false teachings about salvation.
It seems many don’t understand the difference between “receive” and “accept.” To accept something is to agree to receive it. The action is done by the one who is receiving. He must agree to receive it. That puts the power in the hands of the receiver. Problem is, man does not have the power or authority to save, so man has no authority in the actual transaction.
Man’s duty is to believe in Messiah Yahoshua, and confess Him before others (which is to “endure in belief,” as standing for the true Gospel of Yahoshua will usually mean ridicule and rejection by religious folks—most christians stand in direct opposition to the truths of the Holy Spirit because His truths expose the false teachings of christianity).
That is where man’s part of salvation ends—believe and confess Messiah before others. It is by the Father’s will alone that His covenant is given to those who believe in, and confess His Son to others. And, when He places His covenant within someone, the Holy Spirit will TELL that person, directly and literally, that he has been made a child of Yah (Romans 8:16).
The christians we see in Matthew 7:21-23 never received that confirmation from the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 1:6-8), but were misled by teachings that told them all they had to do was “accept Christ” and they are saved, which is utter rubbish.
Here is the important question today: if you think you are saved, what makes you any different from the christians shown in Matthew 7:21-23? Who has told YOU that YOU have been born again? If you think that some decision you made to “accept Christ” means you are saved, then there actually is NO difference between you and the christians shown in that passage.
Do not let the false teachings of christianity lead you to hell and then to the lake of fire! Know today that YOU do not have the power to declare your own salvation—either by decision or by “sinner’s prayer.” Come out of Babylon (christianity) and seek to receive the Holy Spirit by heeding His truths, and believing in Messiah Yahoshua, who is Yah’s perfect Passover Lamb!
The Laodiceans believed they had need for nothing—which is what most christians think about true salvation (the confirmation of the Holy Spirit), since most christians believe they had the power to declare themselves saved by their decision to “accept Christ,” as if He needs anybody’s acceptance.
Believe, confess Messiah before men, and then await the giving of the covenant. The true path to salvation is shown in the Passover journey (from Egypt to the mountain), and mirrored in the way of the tabernacle (from the Outer Courtyard to the Holy of Holies).
For more information: Between Belief and Salvation