Do You Know for Sure?

We live in a culture that is increasingly post-Christian. Many people know the language of faith without ever encountering the life-changing reality of it. And that’s why this conversation matters so much.

Jesus’ Most Sobering Warning

Near the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says something that should stop every one of us in our tracks. In Matthew 7, He describes a future moment of judgment where people will stand before Him convinced they belong.

They say, “Lord, Lord…”
They list what they’ve done.
They appeal to their spiritual résumé.

And Jesus responds with four of the most frightening words imaginable:

“I never knew you.”

That statement isn’t symbolic.
It isn’t exaggerated.
And it isn’t a parable.

Jesus is describing a real day that will come for every human being.

What makes this so sobering is that these are not people who rejected God outright. These are people who assumed they were safe. They thought they were in. They were convinced their activity equaled intimacy with God.

But Jesus doesn’t say, “I knew you once and then rejected you.”
He says, “I never knew you.”

Faith, Works, and the Root of Our Lives

This is where confusion often enters the conversation.

The apostle Paul tells us we are saved by grace through faith, not by works, so no one can boast. James tells us that faith without works is dead. At first glance, that can feel contradictory—but it isn’t.

Here’s the key:
The fruit of our life reveals the root of our life.

Works do not save us.
But real faith always produces evidence.

A tree doesn’t strain to produce fruit—it bears fruit because it’s alive. In the same way, obedience, repentance, love, and transformation don’t earn salvation; they flow from it.

The danger is what I call a false sense of salvation.

The enemy would much rather convince someone they are safe when they are not than fight them openly. If you never examine your faith, you may never realize it was never rooted in Christ to begin with.

Scripture Gives Us Clarity

God does not leave us guessing about salvation.

Romans 10:9–10 lays it out plainly:

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

This is not about perfection.
This is not about church attendance.
This is not about a childhood camp experience or a moment you can barely remember.

This is about a present, personal faith in Jesus Christ.

To believe means more than intellectual agreement—it means trust.
To confess means more than saying words—it means surrender.

Why This Matters Right Now

I believe many people are carrying uncertainty they’ve tried to ignore. Maybe you’ve wondered quietly, “Am I really saved?” Or maybe you’ve never been asked the question directly.

Let me say this as clearly and lovingly as I can:

Eternity is too long to be wrong.

This is not about fear—it’s about clarity.
It’s not about shame—it’s about grace.

Jesus invites us to come honestly, confess our need, and receive new life. He is not looking for polished religious people. He is looking for surrendered hearts.

A Moment to Respond

In the video above, I pray a simple prayer. The prayer itself doesn’t save you—Jesus does. But prayer gives us language to express what’s happening in our heart.

If you’ve never clearly put your faith in Christ, or if you realize today that you’ve been assuming instead of believing, you can make peace with God right now.

When you come to Him in faith, He promises forgiveness, new life, and a restored relationship with God—not someday, but now.

And that is what Redeemed & Restored is all about.

Blessings,

John Lee Bishop
Senior Pastor, New Life Friends Church
Author of The Church of Living Dangerously