wait a minute, let us finish the verse.
And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Matthew 7:23 (ESV2011)
These verses have been on my mind of late. They are probably in the top 4 or 5 posted here. Why didn't Jesus "know" them? They were doing apparently good works. Even in His Name.
I think the key here is in what IS NOT SAID by those he sends away.
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 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?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
They THOUGHT they WERE doing THE will of the Father. Good works. Check. In the Name of Jesus. Check.
They DID NOT say " But Lord, we accepted You, and the Sacrifice of Your Blood on the cross, and Your resurrection." NO they RELIED on THEIR work.
James 2:10, and other passages say this:
10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.
Since we KNOW all have sinned, thus breaking the law, these people who rely on THEIR work, instead of Jesus' FINISHED work for Salvation, are sent away.
So what IS the Will of the Father. Well Jesus Himself tells us what the Will of the Father is, as well as other writers of Scripture.
37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
This is why day after day those who rely SOLELY on the blood of Christ come here and plead, cajole, rebuke, yes, even argue, IN TOTAL LOVE, that if you rely on YOUR works to get, OR MAINTAIN, your salvation ,you need to repent and come to rest in our beloved, incredible, sweet, patient, and soooo much more LOVING Savior, JESUS CHRIST!