You must have heard this verse:
“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:22–23)
This passage has long been a favorite for those who push a performance-based version of Christianity. I used to get nightmares thinking about this. Some would preach that believers—if they lack “purity”—will stand before Jesus only to be turned away. But let’s pause and ask an important question:
What “purity” are we talking about here? And is it even possible to have it apart from Christ?
The Error of Law-Based Purity
When people talk about purity, they refer to law-based purity. This type of thinking reflects the same mindset Paul corrected in the Galatian church:
“Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3)
Purity doesn’t come from striving, rule-keeping, or perfect moral behavior. It comes through faith in Jesus Christ.
“He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.” (Acts 15:9)
It is faith—not law—that brings cleansing. No one is sanctified by behavior. In fact, the idea that you could be pure apart from Christ is itself a rejection of the gospel. It’s the law mindset Paul calls a bewitching deception (Galatians 3:1). You are absolutely pure with the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, when you believe!
Who Are the People in Matthew 7?
Let’s take a closer look at the passage. Jesus says:
“I never knew you.”
These aren’t believers who lost their salvation, or carnal believers. They’re people who were never in relationship with Him to begin with.
Contrast that with what Jesus says about His sheep:
“I know My sheep, and am known by My own.” (John 10:14)
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.” (John 10:27–28)
If you are a believer, you are already known by God and accepted by grace (Ephesians 1:6). Matthew 7 is not about believers who lacked performance or purity. It’s about people who thought their works would gain them favor.
Notice what these people boast in: “Didn’t we prophesy… cast out demons… perform miracles…?” It’s all about what they did.
But salvation is not about what we do—it’s about who we trust.
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.” (Titus 3:5)
Believers Are Not Judged by Their Works
Works are the fruit, not the root!
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)
Those in Matthew 7 were boasting. But the believer boasts only in Christ (Galatians 6:14).
Rest in Grace, Not in Works
To say that believers will be rejected by Christ due to a lack of personal purity is to misunderstand the gospel entirely. It shifts the focus from Christ’s finished work to human effort—and that’s exactly what Paul rebuked over and over.
There is no such thing as righteousness without Christ. He is our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30). And once you’ve believed, you are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13), justified by faith (Romans 5:1), and fully accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6).
So next time someone uses Matthew 7 to scare believers into legalism, remember: Jesus wasn’t warning those who trust in Him. He was warning those who trust in themselves.
We are not saved by our works—we are saved by His. And that’s good news!
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