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I am SO greatful to God that He led me to the Catholic Church. I cannot imagine attending a so-called Bible church that cannot discern the meaning of “Depart from me I never knew you,” because those lost souls did not feed the hungry, clothe the naked visit the sick and imprisoned, simply because they totally misunderstand Christ’s words. It almost seems to me like a deliberate misunderstanding, however, I cannot think anyone is that ignorant.

Maybe if you all sat and read the passage aloud to yousrselves.

Scripture is very clear that it’s faith that saves.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. “ -John 3:16

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” –Ephesians 2:8,9

It is what you understanding of what faith is that causes dependence on works. Even Devils and Demons have faith that God exists. They also encourage people to do good works to deceive those who fall for it to think it’s they (the people who are doing the good works) who are good. An example of what the faith that saves means one could compare faith in the dollar. If you truly have faith in the dollar you will hold on to that dollar with faith that it will buy the things you want. If you do not have “faith” in the dollar you will exchange that dollar for something you think will retain value to purchase things you want or need such as gold for instance.

Faith that saves is consistent, ongoing reliance on Jesus as our salvation. What that faith produces are actions that stem from a changed heart. Those actions are proof or evidence that our faith is real. Dependence on works for salvation proves that we did not have faith that the sacrifice of Jesus was sufficient for our salvation. On the other hand, if we don’t have the actions described, it proves that what faith we had wasn’t real.

I cannot imagine attending a so-called Bible church that cannot discern the meaning of “Depart from me I never knew you,” because those lost souls did not feed the hungry, clothe the naked visit the sick and imprisoned, simply because they totally misunderstand Christ’s words. It almost seems to me like a deliberate misunderstanding, however, I cannot think anyone is that ignorant.

Maybe if you all sat and read the passage aloud to yousrselves.

Hopefully by now you've realized that you are mixing two separate passages. Matthew 7 speaks about those who Jesus said he never knew - and they WERE the ones who were counting on all the mighty works they did in his name. Whereas, Matthew 25 talks about the last judgment where sheep and goats are separated. I hope you didn't miss the point that those being judged were ALREADY sheep or goats and their works did not determine that.