The Lord Knoweth Them That Are His

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.  And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.  2 Tim. 2:19

If you have ever walked down a city street and examined some of the older buildings, you may have noticed certain seals or inscriptions set in some of their foundations.  These inscriptions give information concerning the buildings such as when they were erected, who built them, and in some cases, the purpose for which they were built.  

In Paul’s epistles, he often uses the terms building or temple or house when referring to the church of Jesus Christ.  In the above verse, he extends the metaphor and comments specifically about the foundation of the house of God, and even more so, the seal or inscription upon this foundation:  The Lord knoweth them that are his.  Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 

Imagine for a moment a physical house or temple of God, immense, overlaid with gold, and rising into the heavens.  As you approach the magnificent ivory doors, your attention is drawn toward the peculiar inscription etched into the pure gold of the foundation – The Lord knoweth them that are his.  Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.  The doors slowly swing open, and as you enter you wonder about the inscription.  Why these words?  What do they mean?  What message does the builder of this house want to convey to those who enter?  But before any of your questions are answered, you are received by the countless inhabitants of the house – all naming the name of Christ – and in the new found excitement of being a part of this great house, your questions are forgotten.

So why are these words on the foundation?  And what do they mean?  Certainly there must be a message that God, the builder of this house, wishes to convey to those who will enter.  In considering what this message may be, we can break this verse down into three parts: the significance of the foundation itself; the statement, The Lord knoweth them that are his; and the exhortation, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Paul uses the term foundation, not merely because it is the place most likely to bear a seal or inscription, but rather to convey the ideas of strength, support, steadiness and longevity. When Paul wrote the second epistle to Timothy, he was dealing with the rise of false doctrines and increasing apostasy amongst believers, especially in Asia Minor.  Many one time friends of Paul had turned away from him, and many of his co-workers in the gospel were now his adversaries.  The result of this turmoil was that some believers had had their faith overthrown.  With the church being thus shaken, Paul declares that, “the foundation of God standeth sure,” or steady.  Though the visible aspects of the building (the people that were respected as pillars, the ministers that once preached truth, and the members that were seemingly so committed) begin to crumble and fall away, the foundation which is unseen will not be moved, for it is the handiwork of God himself.  

Now this foundation of God bears this seal: The Lord knoweth  them that are his.  Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.  The Holy Spirit thus signifies that the church of Jesus Christ shall consist of two classes of believers: those that profess to know God, but who are not truly his people, and those whom God declares to be his very own.  Also, that if any man will profess to be Christ’s follower he must break off from his sins.  

This statement, The Lord knoweth them that are his is a significant part of the New Testament’s teaching concerning judgment and eternal life.  Remember the words of Christ concerning the day of judgment when many believers will seek entry into his kingdom saying, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?”  (Matt. 7:22)  But what is Christ’s response?  He does not challenge the legitimacy of their prophecies in his name, nor does he chastise them for their casting out of devils.  He does not deny that they have done many wonderful works in his name.  But what does he take issue with?  He declares to them, “I NEVER KNEW YOU, depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”  (Matt. 7:23)

Years ago within the church, there was a strong emphasis on “knowing the Lord.”  It was more common then to hear expressions such as: “Do you know the Lord?”  “How long have you known the Lord?”   “Before I knew the Lord,” and, “He doesn’t know the Lord yet.”  These expressions, although fine in themselves, actually take away from what the real emphasis should be – It is more important that the Lord knows us than that we know the Lord.  It is wonderful that you say that you know the Lord, but does the Lord know you?  I may claim that I belong to him, but does He claim me as his own?  Our final destiny is not determined by our profession of Christ and the works that we have done in his name, but rather by God’s knowledge of who truly belongs to him.

Now we come to the second part of the seal upon God’s foundation: Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.  This is an exhortation to all those who would enter God’s house.  This is a warning to all those who profess to be Christians.  If you will name the name of Christ, take heed that you live a holy life.  Be careful not to develop theologies and doctrines that allow for continuation in sin while promising eternal life.  Do not hold to a “form of godliness” while “denying the power” of true Christianity. 

 

It is interesting to compare the statement of Jesus concerning the judgment, “I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity,” with the words upon the foundation of God’s house, which serve as a message to us in this time of grace.  In the time of grace, professing believers are commanded to depart from iniquity.  In the time of judgment, those who failed to do so are commanded to depart from Christ.  In this time of grace, the Lord declares that He knoweth them that are his.  In the time of judgment, He declares that He knoweth them that are not.

 

So where do you stand within the house of God?  Have you departed from iniquity?  Does the Lord know you as one of his own?  “If any man love God, the same is known of Him.”  (1 Cor. 8:3)  Now if you do love God and have departed from iniquity, you are being built together with the countless saints that have gone before you  upon a good foundation, and although many around you may fall away, leaving you with sorrow and grief, know for certain that the “foundation of God standeth sure” – The Lord knoweth them that are his.