“I Never Knew You” – The Most Terrifying Words Jesus Ever Spoke. Is He Talking About YOU?

Posted July 9, 2025 | End Times Watch | River Wilde

Matthew 7:21–23 (KJV)

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

There are few words in all of Scripture more chilling than these: “I never knew you.” Spoken not to atheists or idol worshipers, but to those who thought they were serving God.

Jesus paints a scene of the final judgment. People come confidently before Him, calling Him “Lord,” reminding Him of the works they had done in His name. They had prophesied, cast out devils, and done many wonderful works. They were religious, active, and likely admired by many.

Yet Jesus responds not with praise or gratitude—but with rejection.

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven…” (v.21)

Why? Because their hearts were never His.

Knowing About Jesus Isn’t the Same as Knowing Him

This passage crushes the illusion that good works, religious titles, or even miracles are proof of salvation. Many today sit in churches, serve on committees, sing in choirs, preach in pulpits—even cast out demons—and yet do not know Christ. Their lives may be full of religious activity, but not of true repentance, obedience, or faith.

Jesus said in John 10:14:

“I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.”

To be known by Christ is to belong to Him—to have a relationship rooted in trust, surrender, and daily walking with Him.

Workers of Iniquity

What condemned these people? Not their lack of effort, but their iniquity—their lawlessness. They may have used the name of Jesus, but they lived as if He were not Lord. Their works were about building their own glory, not the kingdom of God.

This is a wake-up call. Jesus is not looking for performers—He is seeking disciples. He is not impressed by spiritual activity done without love or obedience. He is looking for hearts that have been transformed by grace.

So, What Does It Mean to Truly Know Jesus?

1. Repent and Believe the Gospel
   Salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9). It is not earned—it is received. Stop believing that YOU are earning your way into heaven, for this is not the case. It is through Christ’s Atoning sacrifice that is responsible for your salvation. A GIFT, for those who are “Born Again” and have devoted their life to Him. Our mindset must be in serving HIM, and not serving a church, for they are entirely different.

2. Follow Him Daily
   Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) Do you have a relationship with Jesus Christ, or is your relationship with the church? Follow and relate to Him directly each day, for there is no “middle-man”.

3. Obey His Word
   “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) I love this! Having a relationship with Jesus Christ produces a devout feeling of LOVE for Him. We are so grateful for what He has done for us. Because of this love for Him, it is our desire to keep His commandments. We do this not out of being told “NOT” what we should do, but we do it out of our love for Him, and have a deep desire to follow His commandments. His commandments are not just a list of rules that we must follow. They are guidelines of the life that we gladly choose to live which keep us close to Him.

4. Remain in Fellowship with Him
   Prayer, Scripture, worship, and humility keep us close to Christ—not as a religious routine, but as part of an intimate relationship. This scripture describes this best:

Matthew 11:28–30 (KJV)
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Yolk up to the Savior each day. It is the two of you moving through life together. We go through these end times, not alone, but right next to our Savior. When we fear, or seem to be out of spiritual energy, He is right there beside us to “Pull the full load” and see us through.

Do not wait until the day you stand before Jesus to realize your faith was hollow. Examine your heart today.

Do you truly know Him—or have you just been busy for Him?

The good news is that He wants to know you. He calls out still. If you hear His voice today, do not harden your heart. Run to Him—not to religion, not to performance, but to the only One who can save your soul and say at the end, “Well done.”

So, let me assist you in your understanding of your relationship with Jesus Christ. Ask yourself these questions:

Is your devotion to a church and fulfilling their requirements, or is it directly with Jesus Christ and accepting His gift of Grace?

Are you continually checking off the boxes of requirements from your church, trying to do good and earning your way into heaven? Or, do you realize that Christ’s atoning sacrifice is ENOUGH to save you? Salvation is a gift for those who accept it. We are saved by grace and not because of our own works, as He has told us.

Ephesians 2:8–9 (KJV)

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

If you still feel that it is through your own works that you earn your way into heaven, sadly, I must inform you that you do not know Jesus Christ. The opening scripture perhaps applies to you… “I never knew you: depart from me…”

You can change this TODAY!! As you spend time studying the atonement of Jesus Christ in depth through the New Testament, you will see and understand the concept of Grace vs Works. Do not continue to offend God by thinking that your salvation is earned through your own works, for it is not. It is ONLY because of His atonement that we are saved…Stop patting yourself on the head and thinking that you are the reason for your own salvation, “ lest any man should boast”.

Why It’s Urgent to Leave Man-Made Religion Now

Many have been comfortable for years in their religion, assuming they are on the right path simply because they are active, obedient, or hold leadership positions. But the Bible warns that in the end times, the greatest danger will not be atheism—it will be false religion.

1. Jesus Said Many Will Be Deceived

“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”
—Matthew 24:4–5, KJV

Jesus Himself warned that deception would define the last days. Not deception from outside the church—but from within. Men would claim divine authority, visions, and revelations—leading people away from the simplicity of the Gospel.

Religious systems that add to God’s Word, place human leaders in Christ’s position, or require rituals for salvation are part of that deception.

2. God Is Calling His People Out

“Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”
—Revelation 18:4, KJV

This powerful warning in Revelation is about a spiritual Babylon—a global religious system that looks godly but is filled with corruption, idolatry, and pride. God says “Come out of her, my people.” That means His true followers are still stuck inside counterfeit religions—and He’s urgently calling them out.

This isn’t just about false doctrine—it’s about spiritual survival. Those who stay will be swept into the judgment that comes upon that system.

3. There Is No Safety in the Church—Only in Christ

“And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
—Matthew 7:21–23, KJV

These are not atheists. These are deeply religious people, doing many good works “in His name.” But Jesus doesn’t say, “You didn’t do enough.” He says, “I never knew you.”

Religion can give you a false sense of security. But only a real, personal relationship with Jesus Christ—based on grace through faith—can save you.

4. Man-Made Religion Will Merge into the End-Time Beast System

“And all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon…”
—Revelation 13:3–4, KJV

In the end, most religions—including many that claim to be Christian—will be absorbed into the one-world religious system led by the Antichrist and False Prophet. This system will demand loyalty, signs, and even miracles to appear legitimate.

If you’re following a church instead of Christ, you may be led into this system without even knowing it.

Final Warning and Invitation

God is shaking the earth. The end-time deception is growing fast. Now is not the time to cling to tradition, to loyalty to a church, or to fear of rejection.

Now is the time to open your Bible, trust Jesus Christ alone, and come out of man-made religion before it’s too late.

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free…”
—Galatians 5:1, KJV

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”
—Acts 16:31, KJV

🙏 He is enough.

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