Knowing and Being Known

Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” He replied, “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail. When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ Then you will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.’ [Luke 13.22-27]

How do we reconcile doctrines and teachings about grace with these words of Jesus from Luke's Gospel?

The very fact that we would even need to reconcile doctrines and teachings about grace with something Jesus said should alert us of a problem, shouldn't it?

If something Jesus said is compared to something let's say, the apostle Paul said, and we must choose to interpret one by what the other said, does it not seem entirely appropriate to interpret what Paul said based on what Jesus said rather than the other way around?

In fact, only when we give Jesus' words priority can we fully understand the words of Paul or any other New Testament writer.

For the record, I take no issue with the message of grace here. There is no need to make a distinction between what Jesus said and what Paul said because the two are not in contention. However, I will declare the necessity that we understand every word of Paul (and others) on the foundation of Jesus' words. To do otherwise is a gross failure with tragic consequences (according to Jesus in Luke 13.22-27).

The grace Paul so eloquently and exhaustively describes is one's entrance into God's Kingdom. This entrance is secured only by the blood of Jesus and granted only to those who believe it is so. 

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. [Ephesians 2.8-9]

The holiness Jesus taught describes one's existence in God's Kingdom. This is important! Once inside God's Kingdom (if truly that transformation has taken place), the convert's existence is to know and be known by God in His full triune character (Father, Son, & Holy Spirit). While one sentence here described this 'knowing and being known by God,' it takes a lifetime to fulfill it. It is a lifestyle depicting Christ on earth - not to be saved, but because one is saved.

It is because of this that the door to God's Kingdom is narrow and consequently few find it. Humans today struggle with relationships amongst themselves. How much more do they struggle with relationship with God?

Theologians will do what theologians do, but my encouragement here is for all to intently know God and be known by Him because, repeatedly, Jesus' statement, "I don’t know you or where you come from," clearly reveals the requirement for transformation into eternal life.

Father, help us to understand the necessity of knowing You (hearing Your Word) and being known by You (doing Your Word).