Understanding Matthew 7:21-23: What is Messiah Jesus teaching; a works salvation or salvation by faith? Is the quality of work performed at question or the absence of Covenant relationship with the Father?

Discussion,

Before we begin, for contextual concerns, please note that the divine discourse of Matthew 7:21-23 immediately follows Messiah’s teaching concerning “fruit” as works that identify the motives of the individual performing same, see Matthew 7:15-20.

If one has NOT established New Covenant relationship with the Father by faith in the Son, Jesus Christ, their works, their efforts, their prayers, are interpreted as a “filthy garment” (literally: bloody menstrual cloth) in the nose of Elohim (Isaiah 64:6); therefore, anything done by humanity with the motive of “earning righteousness” (a right standing with the Father) through human effort is lawlessness and putrid from Elohim’s perspective. Elohim first demonstrated this for you in Genesis 3:21 immediately subsequent Adam’s disobedience as Elohim, Himself, shed innocent blood and clothed Adam in a robe of imputed-gifted righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21) while rejecting Adam’s self-righteous attempts to cover and conceal his own shame with fig leaves (Ephesians 2:8-9).

What are the “works” articulated in Matthew 7:21-23?

1) “did we not prophesy in your name?” Prophesy is not a lawless work if it is performed through the indwelling Holy Spirit who is given to all who believe (Ephesians 1:13-14).

2) did we not “cast out demons in your name?” Casting out demons is NOT a lawless work if it is performed in the Name of Jesus via the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit given to all who believe in Jesus as Messiah (Ephesians 1:13-14).

3) did we not “do many mighty works in your name?” Working and dedicating oneself to the ministry of Elohim in the divine Name of Jesus is NOT a lawless work if it is done with a pure motive via FAITH through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Therefore, we must logically conclude that the works of these rejected by Jesus in Matthew 7:21-23 were not lawless on their face but lawless because they were done void the Holy Spirit and were therefore done in the flesh under girded by self-righteous motives apart from FAITH.

Jesus confirmed the self-righteous nature of the works performed by clearly telling those who were rejected that “I never knew you, depart from me you workers of lawlessness.” Therefore, it is COVENANT RELATIONSHIP, the ABSENCE of same, that is the focal point of Messiah’s teaching and NOT quality of work done!

If one desires to enter the Kingdom of Elohim, they must FIRST comply with the Father’s will; that is, “believe in the One He has sent into the World” to provide you blood atonement for your sin (John 6:29); then, the works of obedience performed SUBSEQUENT salvation by faith in Jesus, alone, must be done through the indwelling Holy Spirit via the production of divine fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) in order that those works be divinely motivated and acceptable to the Father and actually pass the test for authenticity at the BEMA Judgment.

Therefore, we must conclude that Jesus, in Matthew 7:21-23, is teaching the eternal mandate of Covenant Relationship by grace through faith as a divine PRIORITY if one’s works performed subsequent salvation by faith are to be considered honorable and pleasing to the Father, Son and Spirit in that Day.