These are only three verses but they’re very powerful.

“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?'” v. 22

They obviously have done many amazing, spiritual things. However, spiritual accomplishments mean nothing if we are not personally connected to God. God said,

“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.” v. 21

We should call on the name of the Lord to be saved. It says in Romans 10:13, “For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'” Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

However, just because someone calls on the name of the Lord doesn’t mean that he is truly saved. Anyone can call on the Lord but not really mean it. Anyone can prophesy, cast out demons, and do wonders in thre name of Jesus.

It can be done for the Lord without really knowing the Lord. It can also be for personal gain.

“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'” v. 23

“I never knew you…”

It’s not enough that we know the Lord. We should also be known by Him. A relationship is not a relationship if it is one-sided. There should be a mutual understanding between the two people.

When I heard a similar message before, I cried out to God and asked Him to show me that He knows me. I prayed to Him with that request for three nights in a row and the day after, I received my confirmation. I was laughing and crying at the same time in front of my friend who is also a believer of Jesus Christ. I was elated.

There is a day of judgment. In verse 22, God said, “Many will say to Me in that day…” “…in that day…” refers to Judgment Day. There will be a day where we will stand before God and face His judgment.

On that day, the only thing that will matter is our relationship with God. I remembered the story of Mary and Martha when Jesus visited them. Martha was preoccupied with many things, with serving God, but Mary chose to sit at the feet of Jesus. Martha complained to Jesus about her sister, Mary, who was not helping her. Jesus, however, told Martha that Mary chose the good part. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus to focus on Him, to communicate with Him, to have fellowship with Him.

“And Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.'” – Luke 10:41-42 NKJV

What then is the basis of salvation? It doesn’t mean we should not call on the Lord because we should. It doesn’t mean bot doing anything for God. The basis of salvation is connection to God. We have to check our heart if we are truly connected to Him.

“In the end, there is one basis of salvation; it isn’t mere verbal confession, not “spiritual works,” but knowing Jesus and being known by Him. It is our connection to Him – by the gift of faith that He gives to us – that secures our salvation. Connected to Jesus we are secure; without connection to Him all the miracles and great works prove nothing.” enduringword.com