One of the most alarming statements by Jesus is concerning those who will identify as Christian and lay claim to the works they did in his name and yet be denied entrance into the kingdom because He "never knew" them:
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. 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?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness! Matthew 7:21-23
These referenced by Jesus clearly identified as Christian because they called Jesus " Lord" and make claim to having "prophesied" and "cast out demons" and "done many wonders" in Jesus' "name."
The vast majority of Christians cannot even make such claims, yet here are people who do, and yet Jesus will say he "never knew" them, and therefore, deny them entrance into the kingdom. This reveals that there will be those who identified as Christian in their life and actions who will not enter the kingdom.
Their justification for qualification will be their words and works in Christ's name. Yet Jesus denies knowing them and denies them entrance. Jesus does identify them by their deeds, being works of lawlessness. This could be just another way of identifying them as those who had never believed in him nor received the remission of sins.
They appealed to their words and deeds for qualification to enter. This is why I believe it is not what a person has done but what a person believes that should be the basis of assurance of salvation. They did not appeal to a belief in Jesus as the Christ, the Savior of the world from sin. These folks appealed to what they did and not to what they believed.
