I’m going to start here:
Matthew 7:21–23 (KJV)
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
What Jesus means by “knew” here is, He was never in a covenant relationship with whom He’s rejecting. There wasn’t INTIMACY.
📌Knowing God biblically always includes relationship + obedience (ref. John 10:27)
INIQUITY
This is LAW-LESS-NESS. Living as though God’s authority does not apply.
•Rejecting God’s standards
•Living according to one’s own will
•Practicing religious activity while ignoring obedience
This is why Jesus says these people did miracles but were still rejected. This is why TRADITIONS within the church are rejected as well. Jesus rebuked the religious folks for their traditional behavior while still denying the Spirit of Truth. Today, it’s a Sunday to Sunday [Sabbath to Sabbath] work for many WITHOUT operating in obedience to Yaweh [rather in or out of the temple] & allegiances are divided (idols of self & cultural “norms”).
2. SIN (which is something we do, sometimes unknowingly due to our human nature, and what we must repent for, daily–making intentional efforts to avoid yielding to our flesh over Holyspirit)
INIQUITY are different levels of rebellion.
In short, SIN means:
•To miss the mark
•To fall short
•To make a mistake or error
Picture an archer missing the target.
📖Ref. Romans 3:23
Sin can occur through:
•weakness
•ignorance
•temptation
•human failure
Example: Peter denying Jesus (Luke 22:61–62). This was sin, but Peter repented. He made a turn AWAY from the mindset & whatever else that caused him to deny The Truth, The Way & The Life ✝️
⚡️INIQUITY on the other hand is
☠️Perversity
☠️Moral distortion
☠️Pre-meditated wickedness
☠️Twisting what is right
☠️A bent or twisted heart condition.
‼️Iniquity is deeper than sin.
It is sin that has become a pattern or nature‼️
Another key fact about INIQUITY is that those who are in it, often times don’t see that they’re in error bc PRIDE has them blind & deaf to their “good works” & abuse of God’s grace…
IF SIN isn’t repented of, then INIQUITY is developed while excuses, lies/deception continues to feed the behavior as it grows & spread 🖤Repeated sin hardens the heart, producing iniquity. Untreated, spiritual cancer looks like what we see cancer do in the natural. Another example Holyspirit gave me was, HIV/AIDS. ☠️☠️☠️
CONCLUSION:
Along with divided allegiances, Jesus is addressing THOSE PRACTICING LAW-LESS-NESS‼️‼️Those who are habitually practicing spiritual works but, lives without submission to God’s authority. They have religion without righteousness. A form of godliness and denying His Spirit/power (Ref. 2Tim3:1-5; Titus 1:16)
THE SOLUTION is a simple challenge: repentance + surrender + true relationship with Christ.
Empowered and Inspired 