You can’t make that sure, which is one of the keys to understanding this text. Assurance of salvation is one of the most common pastoral challenges, and understandably so. It matters, forever. And we struggle with sin until the day we die. A robust view of election sadly often doesn’t help as we end up fearing we may not be elect. Add to that this anecdotal evidence- nine times out of ten when I am seeking to help those who struggle deeply with assurance the person also has a struggle with OCD.
I was seeking to serve a brother just recently when I saw something I’d missed a hundred times before. When the goats are sent on their way their objection is all that they had done in His name, “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’” (). The goats are reasoning that because they had done such wonderful things for the kingdom that they deserved a place in it. They were like the Pharisee who prayed, “I thank you Lord that I am not like other men.” It was, however, the one who beat his breast crying out, “Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner” that went home justified.
But what about verse 21? “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Isn’t Jesus making the exact opposite point, that not just those who profess faith, but those who obey will make it into heaven? If we don’t do the will of the Father, Jesus makes crystal clear, we won’t enter the kingdom. Isn’t it the will of the Father that we should prophecy in Jesus’ name, cast out demons in Jesus’ name, do mighty works in Jesus’ name? Perhaps. But this is certainly the will of the Father, that we would believe on the one He sent. The work of the Father is to rest in the Son.
When we stand before the judgment seat the last thing that should come out of our mouths is “Did we not…” The only safe thing to say is “Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner.” Our assurance, in the end, is grounded in His faithfulness, not ours, what He has done, not what we do, His holding us, not we holding on to Him.
It is a terrible thing indeed to fall under the judgment of God, to hear those dreadful words from Jesus. We, however, who speak on that day of all He has done for us and not what we have done for Him, will surely hear this, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Enter into your reward.” And we will dance.