Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: PLEAD (11/30/23)
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TITLE: I Never Knew You | Previous Challenge Entry
By Doug Laird
12/03/23 -
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To plead is to make an urgent and emotional appeal for someone to do something.
For me, what jumps off the pages of Scripture is the Matt. 7: 21-23 account, in which many individuals will plead their case, only to be told, ‘I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness (Matt. 7: 23 NASB2020).”
In light of what is at stake, one can clearly comprehend the dramatic emotionalism of the moment.
Note that He will say that He never knew them, and not that He never knew OF them.
The omniscient God of the Bible knows OF every detail of the Earthly life of every soul that He created, right down to the numbers of the hairs on their head (1).
God knows every thought we ever had. He knows every word we ever spoke. He knows every deed we did, and the ones we left undone.
When He will say that He never knew them, He will be referring to a personal relationship that He only has with those who have been born again (2).
One can know OF God, and God can know OF him or her, without there ever being a personal relationship in view.
Having established this personal relationship is what it means to be “in Christ (Romans 8: 1 NASB2020).”
It is those who are “in Christ,” that have the Romans 8: 1 assurance of NO eternal condemnation.
The futile plea of the Matt. 7: 23 “many” will be based on their misguided presumption that they were all set, having participated in all their “religious” activity and good deeds, here on Earth.
“Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles (Matt. 7: 22 NASB2020)?”
There are many folks who go to Church and go through (or are put through) the motions of all of the required rituals imposed by their chosen denomination, but will be left behind in the pews, should the Rapture (3) take place in the middle of a worship service!
The reason why?
After having been given the opportunity, they were never born again (4).
One can be given the opportunity to be born again in any place, at any time, under any circumstances, by any means of communication, that God the Holy Spirit chooses to use, to present him or her with the unadulterated Gospel Message.
Accordingly, one can be born again without ever stepping inside a local assembly.
One can “go to” a local assembly every day, and still not ever be born again.
Not all pulpits promote the “unadulterated” Gospel Message. The adulterated gospel messages have been corrupted by the additional requirements imposed by Man-made religion.
It’s been said that even the longest journey begins with the first, single step.
Until that first step is taken, one is NOT on the road (5) Matt. 7: 14) that leads to life in Heaven.
That first step is taken here on Earth. One is born again, IF and when, he or she chooses to believe, when presented with the unadulterated Gospel Message.
It is at the moment, when one is born again, that he or she is sealed (6),regenerated (7),and became the recipient of eternal life (8).
The rituals (e.g. water baptisms, Communion) of the Church Age are for the purpose of acknowledging, and or bringing into remembrance, the significance of what has ALREADY taken place in the spiritual realm.
Once born again, THEN going to (or connecting with) a local assembly, performing good deeds, and living in what the Bible would define as a godly lifestyle, has MUCH to do with post (after) salvation discipleship.
Such things WILL impact HOW (with or without reward and privileges) a born again believer will experience eternity.
The WHERE part was already determined if and when he or she was born again.
Pondering the rewards of Eternity is pointless, if one is not going to be allowed to enter the Kingdom that God has prepared for born again believers (9).
It’s like making all the arrangements for when you arrive at your destination for a planned vacation, but fail to make the necessary arrangements to get there.
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(1) Luke 12: 7 (2) John 3: 5, 7 (3) 1Thess. 4: 16, 17 (4) John 3: 5, 7 (5) Matt. 7: 14 (6) Eph. 4: 30 (7) Titus 3: 5 (8) John 3: 16 (9) Matt. 25: 34
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