Romans 10:1-2 ” Brothers My hearts desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.”

First Some Context

Paul is known as an apostle called by God to share the gospel to Gentiles. Gentiles are everyone who is not Jewish. This was radical because Paul in his “zeal” for the Jewish faith, was killing Christians because he believed they were going against his jewish faith. After an encounter with God written about in Acts 9, Saul’s name is changed to Paul and he becomes a preacher to gentiles about the good news of Jesus. Paul writes the above verse concerning Jews that do not know God yet have a passion for the laws and traditions of God. He says they know and are excited about him but know nothing of him.

This journal is a post that shares a similar sentiment about how I feel about those who have either fallen away from the faith or have never known God. One of the scariest verse in the Bible to me is Matthew 7:21-23. In short Jesus states that many will stand before him in heaven and say, “Lord we prophesied in your name , cast out demons, and more.” And God will turn to them and say depart from me I never knew you!

I find this often a tough passage because casting out demons and prophesying are biblical and yet God says these acts do not prove someone knows me. I find that contrasting this Matthew 7 passage with Matthew 25:34-40 sheds a bigger light on what marks someone as truly knowing God. Jesus applauds those who make it to heaven, for feeding him when he was hungry and caring for him when he was sick and more. It is their acts of kindness & love they did for the least of people, like the hungry, imprisoned and sick. In the Matthew 7 passage, people are telling God their works to prove they are his. In the Matthew 25 passage, God is revealing that those who are his do such works are his. Notice the works they do, are focused on caring and loving others while the works of those who didn’t know God were all about what they could do.Those who know God are not tallying their good works as proof of who they are , the way they live &love prove they are God’s children. James 1:27 says, Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

So Why Am I Saying All This?

I am burdened for those lost in the church.To add to this church has become about going to church and attending all the church events instead of being the church and taking care of those hungry, sick and in need. We have become churches full of pride where we pride ourselves in our spiritual might by how well we pray, worship, or how many church events we attend. Those who Jesus said depart form me I don’t know you were casting out demons and prophesying. Things not inherently bad but good things. But it’s the heart of the matter. What is at the heart of what we believe about God? After Jesus sends out the 72, in Luke 10:17-20, they come back and tell Jesus even the demons submit to us in your name! Jesus redirects their energy and joy not towards the casting out of demons to the heart fo the matter. Luke 10:20, Jesus says, “Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, rejoice that your names are written in heaven!” So there’s no boasting in casting out demons, but if we are to boast , boast of our position in heaven as sons and daughters of God because of what christ has done!

2nd Timothy 3:5, says they have the appearance of godliness , but denying its power. How many people in church are truly His own? I write as a warning to all in the church including myself to examine ourselves based on God’s word and ask do we really know God? Do we really know him or are we just very well acquainted with church today. Are we his or do we just know a lot about Him. Will we come to God saying I did all these good things grant me salvation ? Or do we know that only Jesus lived a perfect life? And by accepting by accepting Him we are freely given His righteousness that give us a right standing with God. Do we do church instead of being the church?

2nd Corinthians 5:14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convince that one died for all, and therefore all died.And he does for all, that those who live may no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

The love of God compels me to ask, do we really know God? When we stand before him will He vindicate us ( Matthew 25:34-40) or will we try and vindicate ourselves ( Matthew 7:21-23)?