A Warning from Jesus

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The best explanation I heard on this passage goes like this : "Depart from me all those who professed to be my followers, yet lived your lives as if I had never given you commands to live by". In other words, all those who never tried to be holy like Jesus. And, by the way, ALL sins are mortal unless they are forgiven by Jesus. And He can forgive EVERY sin.

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An excellent few verses from the Book of Mormon

25 What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease to be God.
26 And thus God bringeth about his great and eternal purposes, which were prepared from the foundation of the world. And thus cometh about the salvation and the redemption of men, and also their destruction and misery.
27 Therefore, O my son, whosoever will come may come and partake of the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come the same is not compelled to come; but in the last day it shall be restored unto him according to his deeds.
28 If he has desired to do evil, and has not repented in his days, behold, evil shall be done unto him, according to the restoration of God.
29 And now, my son, I desire that ye should let these things trouble you no more, and only let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance.

Jesus has already shown us His mercy by opening for us a way to escape the just recompense of our sins. The verses you cite in Matthew 7 speak of the end results for those who refused that mercy, as it was predicated upon obedience to the principles and ordinances of Christ's gospel.

Upvote:2

I think KJV has a more accurate (and clearer) translation of this.

21 ¶ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, 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? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

The key here is the will of the Father. It is illustrated in John 6:39-40.

39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

So Father's will is that you believe in his only begotten Son, that you might have everlasting life, so your question is correct.

The reason Jesus can't show mercy to unbelievers is that he is a just God. All we have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), and we deserve the everlasting punishment, which is the lake of fire prepared for the devil and his angels. It isn't meant for men, and God doesn't want anyone to end up in there. Because we can't possibly expiate our sins, God, being in Christ, reconciled the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:19). And this isn't just mercy, this is grace, because not only we don't get what we deserve, but we get what we don't deserve, even eternal life.

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