And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

And then will I profess unto them, [ homologeesoo (Greek #3670)] - or, 'openly proclaim'-tearing off the mask --

I never knew you. What they claimed-intimacy with Christ-is just what He repudiates, and with a certain scornful dignity. 'Our acquaintance was not broken off-there never was any.'

Depart from me (see Matthew 25:41). The connection here gives these words an awful significance. They claimed intimacy with Christ, and in the corresponding passage, Luke 13:26, are represented as having gone out and in with Him on familiar terms. 'So much the worse for you,' He replies: 'I bore with that long enough; but now-begone!'

Ye that work iniquity - not 'that wrought iniquity;' for they are represented as fresh from the scenes and acts of it as they stand before the Judge. (See Luke 13:24-27.) That the apostle alludes to these very words in 2 Timothy 2:19, there can hardly be any doubt - "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity."

J.C. Ryle:
The Lord Jesus Christ winds up the Sermon on the Mount by a passage of heart-piercing application. He turns
from false prophets to false professors, from unsound teachers to unsound hearers. Here is a word for all. May
we have grace to apply it to our own hearts!
The first lesson here is the uselessness of a mere outward profession of Christianity.Not every one that saith
"Lord, Lord," shall enter the kingdom of heaven. Not all that profess and call themselves Christians shall be
saved.
Let us take notice of this. It requires far more then most people seem to think necessary, to save a soul. We
may be baptized in the name of Christ, and boast confidently of our ecclesiastical privileges; we may posses
head knowledge, and be quite satisfied with our own state; we may even be preachers, and teachers of others,
and "do many wonderful works" in connection with our church: but all this time are we practically doing the will
of our Father in heaven? Do we truly repent, truly believe on Christ, and live holy and humble lives? If not, in
spite of all our privileges and profession, we shall miss heaven at last, and be forever cast away. We shall hear
those awful words, "I never knew you: depart from Me."
The day of judgment will reveal strange things. The hopes of many, who were thought great Christians while
they lived, will be utterly confounded. The rottenness of their religion will be exposed and put to shame before
the whole world. It will then be proved that to be saved means something more than "making a profession." We
must make a "practice" of our Christianity as well as a "profession." Let us often think of that great day: let us
often "judge ourselves, that we be not judged," and condemned by the Lord. Whatever else we are, let us aim at
being real, true, and sincere.

_________________
Sreeram

I Never Knew You by Elizabeth Needham

When the King in His beauty
Shall come to His throne,
And around Him are gathered
His loved ones, His own;
There be some who will knock
At His fair palace door,
To be answered within,
There is mercy no more.

Refrain

I have never known you,
I have never known you,
I have never, I have never,
I have never known you.

They had known whence He came,
And the grace which He brought;
In their presence He healed,
In their streets He had taught;
They had mentioned His name
And their friendship professed;
But they never believed,
For of them He confessed:

Refrain

Now the righteous are reigning
With Abraham there;
But for these is appointed
An endless despair;
It is vain that they call:
He once knocked at their gate,
But they welcomed Him not;
So now this is their fate:

Refrain

O sinner, give heed
To this story of gloom,
For the hour is fast nearing
That fixes your doom;
Will you still reject mercy?
Still harden your heart?
Oh, then, what will you do
As the King cries, Depart!

Refrain

They called Jesus Lord, but what did they believe who he is,
only they would know....maybe a problem of misidentification?
(For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and
shall deceive many) they all believe, it's just not the truth,
or in the Jesus of the Bible

What does it mean to believe? Obviously more than
repeating a phrase. In Revelation for example,
"church of the Laodiceans" - they also all believe
so explain then why Jesus will "spit some out of his mouth"?

Is it because it's "their" church - not His?
"church of the Laodiceans" implies it's "theirs" alone
Rich in everything, no need for anything else, claims
to see the truth, Jesus corrects them, he's outside of it
yet still stands at the door and knocks.

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ;
and shall deceive many. Matthew 24:5

"Christ means the anointed one"

so they not actually claim to be Jesus,
they claim to be as annointed as him

Another Jesus - A different Spirit - Another Gospel
http://www.letusreason.org/Wf2.htm