Known

"I Never Knew You": Known Only in Christ

Reflections on Matthew 7:23

Matthew 7:23—where Jesus says, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.” This is a heavy one, especially when read through a lens of fear or exclusion. But I’d love to offer a perspective rooted in what I’ve come to see as the eternal gospel of Jesus—the gospel of our inclusion in Him from before the foundation of the world.

Here’s my short take:

Each person is known in Christ before creation. Jesus refuses to know anyone outside of Himself. He doesn’t recognize—even the most effective religious person—in Adam. He will not come into agreement with Adam’s best version. He will not affirm what He knows is not eternally true of us. In fact, as the last Adam, He crucified the old Adam and raised humanity to newness of life through His resurrection.

What Jesus is doing in this passage is not condemning people to hell or rejecting them in anger. He’s exposing the tragedy of performance-based religion. These were people doing mighty works in His name, but missing the very heart of who He is. They were working from separation instead of union, from striving instead of rest. Jesus is not rejecting the person—He’s refusing to affirm the illusion.

The Greek word for “knew” (ginōskō) speaks of intimate, relational knowing. Jesus isn’t saying, “You didn’t try hard enough.” He’s saying, “You never shared life with Me—you kept operating from false identity I will put to death.” He is the Truth. He can’t relate to the false self, because He already dealt with it once and for all at the cross.

This isn’t about being cast out of God’s family—it’s about being blind to the truth that we already belong, already are included, already are known. It’s the heartbreak of Jesus over those who lived their whole lives working for God, but never awakening to the reality of life in God. They clung to Adam’s old ways of control, fear, and performance—when the Father had always invited them into rest, love, and sonship.

Jesus only knows what is eternally true in Himself. He sees us from the foundation of love, not the fall of Adam. And that’s why He came—not to start a new religion, but to reveal the eternal truth of who we’ve always been in Him. Known. Loved. Included. Raised.

I wrote a little book about our origin, if you're interested. But whether or not you read it, I just want you to know—there is nothing more real or liberating than knowing that you are already known. Already held. Already one with the One who made you in love.

Much love to you, my friend.

Blessings always!

—James

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