November 13, 2011: Daniel 7:9-14, Psalm 2, 2 Peter 3:1-14, Matthew 25:31-46
“Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by Him without spot or blemish, and at peace.” Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Frightening thought and consideration given today by Jesus in Matthew. That, Christ tells us, there are truly only two divisions and distinctions to be made in this old world-that one is either a sheep or a goat, and nothing other is measured against one in the end. No wonder the end of the world is such a worrisome and upsetting proposition to read and hear. Is that why we relegate texts such as these today to only a couple of Sunday’s at the end of the church year?
So, what DOES it mean, as Jesus makes this distinction, to be a sheep, and given the blessings of the Father in eternal life, rather than a goat, earning the wrath of the Father unto destruction? Well on the one hand, it is not located in the works that one does. For the works Jesus mentions the sheep doing versus which the goats do not are not any special, extraordinary works that someone may do-they are the common, everyday aspect of what it means to live in society. That to feed those who are hungry and visit those who are alone is not rare, but takes place every day.
And besides, one doesn’t even need to be a Christian to do such works. Anyone, at any one time, can and do such things in their daily walk. That, Christians are not the only ones who do these things, even if they become extra works of mercy to those in need. Thus, it is not the type of work done that qualifies-for if it were, then Jesus would not be the only way to the Father, as He declares in John, but salvation would be given to whoever and whomever did such work unto the least of these, whether or not they believed in Jesus Christ as Savior.
Which leads into the other reason why it is not the works, themselves, that earns one the kingdom. For, as the Psalmist states today, God sits in His heaven and laughs at the work and counsel of the kings of the earth. That is, God considers the works of our hands, if they are being done in the expectation and belief that they earn or merit God’s approval and grace, to be a laughing matter because there is nothing mankind can do to gain anything from Him. Peter proves this today by reminding the world what God will expose concerning the works done on earth at the end. And those who scoff at what He truly desires, will receive God’s judgment of fire that has been prepared and is being held in waiting.
So, what counts before the Father to whether one is separated to the right or the left; to be called a sheep or a goat, is to understand what it means to be a sheep in the first place. For what did Christ say in the John 10? “I am the good shepherd,” He declares, “The sheep follow Him, for they know His voice.” That to be a sheep of Christ, isn’t according to anything you might or might not have done. It isn’t considered and reckoned by your own works or worthiness. But to be a sheep, and so to be separated to enter in to the Father’s rest at the end of all time, is nothing more than to believe in Christ the Son; it means to do nothing other than to trust and follow the Savior wherever He leads and gives Himself-to follow His voice, and His voice alone, in this world; to follow that where He leads, it will be for your good and benefit.
One can see why, then, the sheep in the parable didn’t even know they were doing these works-they were not concerned about what they were doing, but in their faith they were simply doing what they found needed to be done. In their faith, they weren’t looking or counting their works, but simply had loved their neighbors because they has already loved their God. The goats, however, were very concerned about which and what were the “right” works needed-they lived focused only and seeking their own status according to their self-worth. They had no regard for what God had said nor were they concerned that those of God’s were cared for through their service.
So, we see that it is by faith, and faith alone, that one is separated as a sheep or as a goat. For faith is such that one knows they have and hold nothing good in themselves; they look not to what they can do or achieve but simply hold to the mercy of God the Father in the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus the Son. They know that it is in Him that the sin which has condemned them to that eternal fire created for the devil and his angels, was taken by the One who allowed Himself to be placed on the cross and descended into hell for their sake, all so that, as they were baptized, they would be united into Christ’s resurrection which overcame all things. They know that all they can do is to cling to the promise of forgiveness, life and salvation that is given to them in the Body and Blood that was broken and shed by the One who took death and the grave willingly, all so to give His own a new life and future in their redemption.
And as sheep of faith, they, you, now await, in longsuffering patience, for the Son of Man, as Daniel saw, to return in His glory, honor and dominion on that Last Day, so to raise the dead and gather all the redeemed and elect into their reward that has been prepared, as Jesus promises, from the foundation of the world. We do not turn aside when the goats of this world seek you to lose your hope by trying to convince you that God and His promises are simply but fairy tales, but you go forth knowing that your Savior will return one day to gather His beloved to Him. And we continue along in our lives, living by faith, love, holiness and godliness, serving those who have been given to us-from our children, our spouses, our family, friends and neighbor-loving them as Christ has first loved us; giving unto them what they need, even as we have been supplied by Christ’s victory over sin, death and the devil, of what we need from now and into eternity. Amen.
Frightening thought and consideration given today by Jesus in Matthew. That, Christ tells us, there are truly only two divisions and distinctions to be made in this old world-that one is either a sheep or a goat, and nothing other is measured against one in the end. No wonder the end of the world is such a worrisome and upsetting proposition to read and hear. Is that why we relegate texts such as these today to only a couple of Sunday’s at the end of the church year?
So, what DOES it mean, as Jesus makes this distinction, to be a sheep, and given the blessings of the Father in eternal life, rather than a goat, earning the wrath of the Father unto destruction? Well on the one hand, it is not located in the works that one does. For the works Jesus mentions the sheep doing versus which the goats do not are not any special, extraordinary works that someone may do-they are the common, everyday aspect of what it means to live in society. That to feed those who are hungry and visit those who are alone is not rare, but takes place every day.
And besides, one doesn’t even need to be a Christian to do such works. Anyone, at any one time, can and do such things in their daily walk. That, Christians are not the only ones who do these things, even if they become extra works of mercy to those in need. Thus, it is not the type of work done that qualifies-for if it were, then Jesus would not be the only way to the Father, as He declares in John, but salvation would be given to whoever and whomever did such work unto the least of these, whether or not they believed in Jesus Christ as Savior.
Which leads into the other reason why it is not the works, themselves, that earns one the kingdom. For, as the Psalmist states today, God sits in His heaven and laughs at the work and counsel of the kings of the earth. That is, God considers the works of our hands, if they are being done in the expectation and belief that they earn or merit God’s approval and grace, to be a laughing matter because there is nothing mankind can do to gain anything from Him. Peter proves this today by reminding the world what God will expose concerning the works done on earth at the end. And those who scoff at what He truly desires, will receive God’s judgment of fire that has been prepared and is being held in waiting.
So, what counts before the Father to whether one is separated to the right or the left; to be called a sheep or a goat, is to understand what it means to be a sheep in the first place. For what did Christ say in the John 10? “I am the good shepherd,” He declares, “The sheep follow Him, for they know His voice.” That to be a sheep of Christ, isn’t according to anything you might or might not have done. It isn’t considered and reckoned by your own works or worthiness. But to be a sheep, and so to be separated to enter in to the Father’s rest at the end of all time, is nothing more than to believe in Christ the Son; it means to do nothing other than to trust and follow the Savior wherever He leads and gives Himself-to follow His voice, and His voice alone, in this world; to follow that where He leads, it will be for your good and benefit.
One can see why, then, the sheep in the parable didn’t even know they were doing these works-they were not concerned about what they were doing, but in their faith they were simply doing what they found needed to be done. In their faith, they weren’t looking or counting their works, but simply had loved their neighbors because they has already loved their God. The goats, however, were very concerned about which and what were the “right” works needed-they lived focused only and seeking their own status according to their self-worth. They had no regard for what God had said nor were they concerned that those of God’s were cared for through their service.
So, we see that it is by faith, and faith alone, that one is separated as a sheep or as a goat. For faith is such that one knows they have and hold nothing good in themselves; they look not to what they can do or achieve but simply hold to the mercy of God the Father in the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus the Son. They know that it is in Him that the sin which has condemned them to that eternal fire created for the devil and his angels, was taken by the One who allowed Himself to be placed on the cross and descended into hell for their sake, all so that, as they were baptized, they would be united into Christ’s resurrection which overcame all things. They know that all they can do is to cling to the promise of forgiveness, life and salvation that is given to them in the Body and Blood that was broken and shed by the One who took death and the grave willingly, all so to give His own a new life and future in their redemption.
And as sheep of faith, they, you, now await, in longsuffering patience, for the Son of Man, as Daniel saw, to return in His glory, honor and dominion on that Last Day, so to raise the dead and gather all the redeemed and elect into their reward that has been prepared, as Jesus promises, from the foundation of the world. We do not turn aside when the goats of this world seek you to lose your hope by trying to convince you that God and His promises are simply but fairy tales, but you go forth knowing that your Savior will return one day to gather His beloved to Him. And we continue along in our lives, living by faith, love, holiness and godliness, serving those who have been given to us-from our children, our spouses, our family, friends and neighbor-loving them as Christ has first loved us; giving unto them what they need, even as we have been supplied by Christ’s victory over sin, death and the devil, of what we need from now and into eternity. Amen.
posted by Weekly sermons at 4:57 PM
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