This week, we dive into one of Jesus’ most unsettling statements from Matthew 7:21-23—”I never knew you. Depart from me.” Often misinterpreted as a call for believers to work more and try harder, we unpack how this passage actually dismantles a works-based approach to salvation, revealing that knowing Jesus—not religious performance—is what truly matters. We explore cultural and personal struggles with grace, how legalism warps our understanding of faith, and why even good works can become a form of self-salvation. Let’s get to it!
In this episode:
(00:00) - Intro
(02:33) – Why Matthew 7:21-23 is one of the most unsettling passages in the Bible
(04:39) - Personal reflections on salvation
(08:28) – Common misunderstanding about faith and works
(13:28) – What Jesus really meant by “depart from me, I never knew you”
(18:18) – How legalism distorts our faith and fuels doubt
(19:18) – The surprising way Jesus’ words dismantle a performance-based gospel
(23:28) – How good works become self-salvation
(27:58) – How growing up in religious environments can lead to fear and insecurity
(29:08) – The radical, often-overlooked simplicity of grace
(33:28) – What it actually means to “do the will of the Father”
(35:28) – Why our human nature resists the idea that salvation is 100% free
(39:30) - The radical nature of grace
Get full show notes and links at https://www.thechristianskeptic.org.
Watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thechristianskeptic.
