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Christian Citizenship  /  Five Laws of the Kingdom Life  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 4
In John 15 and Matthew 7 (“Lord, Lord… Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness”), Bercot insists that obeying Jesus is not optional and that “lawlessness” is a lived practice, not a theological mistake—how does his reading challenge common evangelical ways of using “I never knew you” to mean “they were never saved,” and what part of his argument do you find hardest to accept?
Another way to ask: Bercot says “lawlessness” in Matthew 7 means a pattern of disobeying Jesus, not just having wrong beliefs. How does that push back on the common idea that “I never knew you” only means “they were never saved,” and what part of his view is hardest for you?

Direct Answer Bercot challenges the “they were never saved” explanation by arguing Jesus targets ongoing disobedient practice—“lawlessness”—not a missing conversion formula. He says “I never knew you” is a common idiom meaning “you’re a stranger to me” because of what you do, not because Jesus lacked information about you.

Support from Transcript:

  • He says Matthew 7 is “crystal clear” that praising Jesus (“Lord, Lord”) and ministry works don’t matter if you don’t obey: “none of that is going to matter if you’re not obeying his commandments.”
  • He notes theologians shift the issue to theology using “I never knew you,” but he says it was “an idiom… not meant to be taken literally.”
  • He supports this with the wise/foolish virgins: the bridegroom says he doesn’t know them, yet obviously he had invited them.
  • He cites Luke 13: Jesus rejects those who say, “We ate and drank in your presence,” calling them “workers of iniquity.”
  • He emphasizes Jesus’ stated reason: “Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness,” meaning something “you’re doing… practicing.”
  • He directly critiques the idea: “They never invited Jesus in their heart… But Jesus doesn’t say that.”
Discussion Follow-ups What makes you want the passage to be about a past moment rather than a present pattern? How do you hold Bercot’s warning together with his insistence on grace and abiding power in John 15?

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