Knowing Jesus Intimately - 9781735252964

According to the Bible, we know of only two basic statements a person will hear when they face Jesus in Heaven. In Matthew 25:21-23, Jesus related that the master would say to the obedient, good stewards, "Well done, good and faithful servant? Enter into the joy of your lord." Certainly, this is what we all hope to hear. However, earlier in the same gospel, in Matthew 7:21-23, to those who called Him "Lord", Jesus said, "I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers." These people said they knew Jesus but were startled and surprised to hear that Jesus did not "know" them! This clear distinction in possible statements that one might hear upon seeing Jesus in Heaven should strike a healthy fear of the Lord into every person who identifies as a "Christian" and professes to know Jesus. You say, "I know Jesus", but most critically, does "Jesus know you"? I remember the day the Holy Spirit brought this to my attention. While reading through the book of Matthew the words of Jesus saying "I never knew you" almost leapt off the page at me. I stopped, read it again, and said aloud, "This is something I never want to hear!" Previously I had only considered the phrase, "Well done, good and faithful servant" as something every "Christian" who made it into Heaven and faced Jesus would hear. I asked the Holy Spirit how a person could ever know on this side of eternity which statement they would hear? To my way of thinking it is crucial to have this assurance before leaving this life. Wouldn't you agree? As I examined several related scriptures, the Holy Spirit led me to examine the meanings behind the Greek word translated as "knew" that Jesus used when he is quoted as saying, "I never knew you". As we will learn more later, this word includes the meaning of an intimacy of relationship. One must have an intimate, ongoing, personal relationship with Jesus to receive His welcome we all want to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant".

• | Author: Stephen Canup
• | Publisher: Freedom In Jesus Ministries, Inc
• | Publication Date: Aug 07, 2023
• | Number of Pages: 394 pages
• | Language: English
• | Binding: Paperback
• | ISBN-10: 1735252964
• | ISBN-13: 9781735252964