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Originally Posted by Ohio
The words "never knew" must be understood as "never approved" since Jesus knows every one of us, all mankind indeed, and all we think and do, regardless of whether we believed or not.
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There is no reason to interpret it this way based on the text. The Greek word "ginōskō" (γινώσκω), used in Matthew 7:23 where Jesus says, "I never knew you," does not refer to an omniscient knowledge but rather a relational, intimate knowledge. Examples of the usage of this word are below though there are many more.
In Matthew 1:25, in describing Joseph and Mary, it says, "but he did not know (ginōskō) her until she gave birth to a son."
In this context, "know" refers to intimate marital relations showing the depth of knowing this word implies.
In John 10:14-15 Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd; I know (ginōskō) my sheep and my sheep know me- just as the Father knows (ginōskō) me and I know (ginōskō) the Father."
Here, "know" clearly refers to an intimate relationship between Jesus and His followers, and between Jesus and the Father. That Jesus did not "know" the workers of lawlessness also directly implies that they were not his sheep.
Paul echoes this concept of only God knowing his sheep in 2 Timothy 2:19:
"Nevertheless, the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: 'The Lord knows (ginōskei, γινώσκει) those who are His,' and, 'Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.'"
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The fate of these evil workers are a warning to all God's children. Christians can be "bad trees" and even "bad branches" (John 15) which will suffer loss by fire. (I Cor 3.13-15) Just because the Lord will use the judgment of fire to prove our works does not mean we will be sent to the Lake of Fire. In fact, many will escape the fires at the Bema Seat because their faith and works have been already purified by fiery trials on earth. (I Pt 4) This is God's way to mature all His children, including even His Only Begotten Son.
It is not correct, however, to connect the fires of Matt 7.19 and John 15.6 with the fire of Matt 13.40-42.
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In 1 Corinthians 3:13-15, the focus is indeed on works being tested by fire, not the individuals themselves. The context leading up to this passage discusses the ministries of Paul and Apollos and the quality of their work as builders on the foundation of Christ. This passage teaches that good works can vary in quality, and only those done with the right motives and for God's glory will endure. For example, Jesus criticized those who made a show of their good deeds, like blowing trumpets before giving to the needy (Matthew 6:2), indicating that such works will not be rewarded.
In contrast, John 15 uses the metaphor of branches and emphasizes our need to "abide" in Christ to bear fruit. Jesus explicitly states, "You are the branches" (John 15:5), identifying his audience as the branches. Later, in John 15:6, He warns that branches (the audience) who do not remain in Him and do not bear fruit will be "thrown away, wither, and burned." Here, it is not the works being burned as in 1 Corinthians 3, but the branches themselves- those who fail to remain in Christ.
This parallels the passage in Matthew 7, where Jesus speaks about bad trees producing bad fruit and their ultimate fate of being burned in the fire (Matthew 7:19). Similarly, in John 15, it is not the fruit (the works) that is burned, but the branches themselves. Shortly after, in Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus addresses the workers of lawlessness, who are the bad trees producing bad fruit. Their end is likewise to be cast into the fire as foreshadowed earlier in verse 19.
The fire which tests the quality of good works in 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 is hence a different fire from the one in Matthew 7:19 and John 15 where people are actually being thrown into the fire (not works) which refers to the final judgment. God have mercy on us all.
Revelation 20:15
"And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire"