You Must Know Jesus
Matthew 7:21-23

You can be very religious and still not know what you worship.  You could be attending church your whole life and still not know Jesus.  Not because you go to a church where they talk about Jesus makes you into a Christian.  You may attend a church and know the rituals, practices and still not know Jesus.
Jesus himself said that at the end of times, there will be people that have a form of religion, people who thought knew Jesus or had a relationship with him.  They will be shocked to find out they will not be with Jesus.
I don’t want to be one of those people and I don’t want you to be one of them either.
During his time on earth Jesus defined the relationship he wanted to have with his followers.  He knew there were people around him, not because they truly believed in him.  They were just fans of Jesus, not true followers.
This is one of the scariest passages for church people in the Bible.
Matt.7:21-24
Not everyone says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Jesus already is telling us that not everyone will go to heaven; only those who do the will of God.
What is God’s will?
     – To give eternal life to those who believe in Jesus. John 3:16-18; 6:40
     – To save everyone 1 Tim.2:4 (This salvation is through Jesus)
God’s will for those who are saved is to be sanctified (to live holy lives) 1 Thess.4:3

Service is not a prerequisite to enter heaven. (v.22)
You can be serving Jesus wholeheartedly and still not make it to heaven.  Jesus talks about those who would appear before him on that day (the day of judgment).

These people did all these things in the name of Jesus and for Jesus and yet; they didn’t make it to heaven.  Service is not a requirement to enter heaven.
These people did amazing things for Jesus, in Jesus name.  Many people were helped by what they did, but at the end of the day the servants didn’t make it.
     – Serving Jesus won’t get you into heaven
     – Preaching about Jesus and in Jesus’ name won’t get you into the kingdom of God
     – Even praying and performing miracles in Jesus name won’t get you into heaven.

What was wrong with these people?  They did great things but neglected the most important, the very thing that will get them into heaven.
Jesus said the problem they had was “I never knew you” To know someone is to have a relationship with that person.  Knowing about someone is not the same as knowing that person.  There are lots of church people who only know about Jesus; they themselves don’t know Jesus.  How dangerous it is to spend a whole life of service and never work on your relationship with Jesus?
If Jesus said “I never knew you” He is saying, you were never my disciple or my sheep.
John 10:14 I know my sheep and my sheep know me.
If Jesus says I don’t know, he is saying you are not one of mine.

Service – knowing Jesus = hell
Service + knowing Jesus = heaven (personal rewards)

Knowing Jesus – service = heaven (no personal reward)
Jesus is what makes the difference.

Not knowing Jesus makes you guilty of sin. (Away from me you evildoers).  Not knowing Jesus makes you an enemy of God and deserving of his wrath.  It is knowing Jesus, having a personal relationship with him that will get you to heaven.
It is God’s will that everyone believes in Jesus to be saved.
This is why you must know Jesus.