MATTHEW 7:21-27
A good work is said to be done when we do the will of God as a response to His love, mercy and our new identity of righteousness in Jesus Christ.
On the other hand, dead works are attempts to find favour, earn acceptance or be made righteous before God by our own effort, ability or willpower.
It is difficult to tell the difference between dead works and good works. They can look very much the same outwardly. They can be the same works, but they have different motives.
Good works apart from faith in Jesus cannot please God.
So when Jesus talks about knowing someone, He is talking about whether that person is a son or daughter of His Father in heaven. The point of this text is that there will be many who claim to know Jesus, but in reality do not. The caution for us is not to deceive ourselves. To guard against calling Jesus our Lord while neglecting to obey His commandments. To guard against thinking that any act of service, no matter how spectacular, is proof that we know God. To take account of our lives to see whether we have truly repented of our sins, that we have truly trusted in Christ for our salvation, and that we have embraced Him with all our heart.
Outside Jesus, our works may seem good, but they are dead.
