Sa araw ng Paghuhukom marami ang magsasabi sa akin, “Panginoon, hindi po ba kami ay nagpahayag ng mensahe mula sa Diyos, nagpalayas ng mga demonyo at gumawa ng mga himala sa iyong pangalan?” Ngunit sasabihin ko sa kanila, “Hindi ko kayo nakikilala. Lumayo kayo sa akin, kayong mga gumagawa ng kasamaan.”

Mateo 7:22–23

Is it possible to call on the name of the Lord Jesus and be rejected by Him? Nakasulat sa Romans 10:13 (NIV), “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Pero nagbigay ng warning si Jesus sa Matthew 7:22–23 na hindi lahat ng tumatawag sa Kanya ng “Lord” ay nakikilala Niya. Puwede palang mangyari na walang saysay kay Jesus kahit gaano man kadami ang mga demonyong pinalayas o kung nag-perform ng  miracles, nag–spread ng God’s message, o nag-serve sa pangalan Niya ang isang tao?On Judgment Day, you face Jesus and enumerate to Him all the things you have done but He tells you, “I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers!” (Matthew 7:23)

The word “knew” here is more than just head knowledge. Jesus said He will acknowledge only those who actually do the will of His Father in heaven, which is to believe in Him whom God has sent (John 6:29). Truly knowing Jesus is having that deep relationship with Him as a result of our salvation, resulting in good works that are acceptable to God.

Believing that our good works alone can bring us to heaven is wrong in the eyes of God because His standard is perfection. “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (James‬ 2‬:10,‬ NIV). Are we trusting in Jesus or are we trusting ourselves, thinking that we deserve salvation because we are good enough? May we never hear Jesus say na hindi pala Niya tayo kilala.