Matthew 25:31-46
When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats…
The Lord Jesus first came into this world as a ‘helpless’ baby. However, in His second coming He will come in might and power. His first coming was to deal with sin while His second coming is to judge sin. Jesus, in our passage today, spoke of how the coming judgement will be. That the peoples will be in only two distinct groups – the righteous and the unrighteous. The eventual outcome will be either eternal life or eternal punishment. At this juncture, it is important to note that there will be no in-between, no purgatory.
It is interesting that the basis for judgement as presented by Christ is what one did for the least. Those who cared for the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the sick, the imprisoned were commended and gained eternal life. The rest who did not care for these were condemned to eternal punishment. This is interesting because we know that we are not saved by works but by grace (Ephesians 28-10). However, this text is proof that our works authenticate our faith. We can’t claim to have been saved by grace if that grace does not produce good works in us. Grace is both undeserved favour and divine empowerment. James reminds us of this when he asserts:
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (James 1:27)
Reflections
1. Do your works prove that you are saved?
