Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Gospel Lesson just read, Jesus’ Words from Matthew 25. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- If you are a witness at an important trial, obviously your truthful testimony is extremely important. You would be fully aware of the importance of adding your evidence toward a just and right verdict.
- There are other times when we are singled out as evidence. For example, if a player practices really hard, and follows all of the coach’s instructions – and then makes a great play in the game, the coach will likely single that player out and make an example of him, in order to urge the other players to do likewise.
- At the same time, we can also be singled out as an example of what not to do. If we goof off in class, and fail to study hard and apply ourselves, and then do poorly on a test, the teacher may admonish us that “this is what happens when you refuse to learn and fail to prepare for a test.”
- Judgment Day is much like this. The Lord points to one group and holds them up as an example of what His gracious mercy, and the gift of faith in His love, creates and produces in His people. He then points to the other group –and there are only these two groups – and acknowledges what the results are when people reject His love, refuse to repent, and instead live according to their selfish sinful nature.
- Many people don’t understand and don’t like the way that the Lord has chosen to deal with humanity, with our inner life and being, the “soul” that He has created and placed in each of us. They feel qualified and free to criticize God, to admonish Him, and ultimately to reject Him.
- On Judgment Day, they will view the evidence of God’s methodology: sending His Son as Redeemer of the world, calling all people to repent and believe in His forgiving and redeeming love, so that we are renewed from the inside out, in our hearts and minds, and moved to love others as He has loved us. Thus God is vindicated by what His grace accomplishes in the lives of His dear children, those who repent and believe in Him! Jesus clearly taught that:
I. Believers In Christ, Those Blessed By The Father, Inherit God’s Eternal Heavenly Kingdom
Text: “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
A. They Believe The Good News Of God’s Forgiveness, Love And Salvation, Given To All Freely In Christ Jesus
John 3:36 “He that believes the Son, has everlasting life.”
John 5:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My Word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”
1 John 4:10,16 “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. . . . So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”
B. So God’s Love Also Shines Through His Believers In Their Love For Others, Thus Vindicating God’s Plan Of Salvation By Their Works Of Love And Life
Text: “I was hungry and you gave Me food. I was thirsty and you gave Me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed Me. I was naked and you clothed Me. I was sick and you visited Me. I was in prison and you came to Me. . . . Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me.”
All of this occurs because of faith in God’s gracious love and wondrous gift of salvation.
1 John 4:19 “We love because He first loved us.”
Statement; As Jesus presents the great scene of Judgment Day, it almost resembles a great cosmic court room! However, He is the only one presenting the evidence, and the only one making the final judgments and announcing the verdicts. You, however, are there, as evidence of the beauty, the wonder, the marvel of His gracious love, His gift of redemption and salvation, and the power that His love has on fallen sinful hearts and minds.
Application: This is critically important for us to see. For we recognize our continuing struggle with sin, the Old Adam that we continue to try to put to death. We also recognize that even our “righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” We are well aware that we are not yet all that we are going to be, and that we need to continue purifying ourselves. None of this is brought up at the end; none of this sin is taken into account on Judgment Day – for “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” We know the New Covenant, in which God has promised: “I will forgive their sins, and I will remember their iniquities no more.” So we need this comfort, this assurance that Jesus gives to us in this account of Judgment Day – and we need to continue in our acts of mercy and love in spite of our ongoing failings and sin.
Transition: But on Judgment Day there is another group, another set of evidence, and a different verdict, for:
II. Unbelievers Share The Fate Of The Devil And His Angels
Text: “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
A. They Refuse God’s Gracious Love And Salvation, In Unbelief
John 3:36 “He that believes not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
Hebrews 11:6 “Without faith it is impossible to please Him.”
B. So, Whatever Works They Did [even if they appeared good] They Did For Themselves, And Not For Love – And So Their Lack Of Love And Truly Good Works Vindicate God’s Judgment Upon Them – Eternal Punishment In Hell
Text: “For I was hungry and you gave Me no food. I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink. I was a stranger and you did not welcome Me, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me. . . . Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me. And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Statement: So you see that on Judgment Day the evidence will be presented, and none shall argue. Nor will there be argument about the verdicts – all will plainly see the truth and justice in God’s verdicts. And critically, all will see the fruits of faith versus the fruits of unbelief. And God will be vindicated for His plan of salvation, His fairness, His justice, His gracious mercy, His forgiveness and love.
Application: Sadly, the verdict upon unbelievers is incredibly tragic. After all, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” “God wills all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” “He is the blood atonement for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
The eternal fire and eternal punishment was not created for any human being. Rather, it was prepared for the devil and his evil angels. But the decision to disbelieve and reject God’s love is the choice to share in the demonic fate – and this is obviously not God’s will for any human being! But it will be as these unbelievers demand for themselves – to be without God, to be godless.
Conclusion: So do you see how important you will be on Judgment Day? The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians remarks that all that God has done for us, within us, and through us is “to the praise of His glorious grace!” You are to the praise of His glorious grace; your works of love and decency are to the praise of His glorious grace; your very being and behaving is vindication of God, vindication of Jesus, vindication of God’s grace and mercy, and vindication of the ministry of the Gospel all these centuries!
You are the evidence of the wisdom and power of God’s great love for humanity! This is true regardless of our continuing struggle with sin. We continue to repent. We continue to rejoice in God’s forgiveness and cleansing. And we continue to demonstrate love and compassion for all – compelled by the love of God for us. It is all important, of cosmic importance, and we will be filled with joy and blessing on that Day! Thanks and praise be to God. Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.