5/24/15 – One Act of Gospel Love at a Time

Matthew 25:31-46 ESV

“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. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 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. For 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.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 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.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘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.”

I. 2 LINES IN HEAVEN (31-36)
A. At the throne of Jesus, there are 2 lines. Before Jesus, the second Adam, there was only one. (Romans 5:12-21)
B. Sheep inherit kingdom. Their connection to Jesus is demonstrated in good works. (James 2:14-17)
C. Works without the Gospel are as dead as faith without works. D. We are not saved by good works but to good works. (Eph 2:10)

II. FORGET ABOUT IT (37-39)
A. The most impressive good works are the ones no one, including you, notice.
B. We do for all, but especially care for fellow followers of Jesus.

III. NO ONE KNOWS WHEN (40)
A. Jesus does not observe humanity. He becomes human & identifies Himself with us.
B. Jesus makes us part of His family. Like with any family, if you do for one of us you do for all and if you mess with one of us, you are messing with us all. (Acts 9:4-5)

IV. YOU WERE NOT MEANT FOR THIS PLACE (41-46)
A. Goats are sent where to the place prepared for the Devil, not man. God has always desired to save mankind, not condemn it.
B. Goats sent away. They showed no connection to Jesus through good works.
C. Hell is not just for horrible people. It is for all who refuse Jesus.

APPLICATION:
1. Live on mission in the everyday things.
2. Tackle the mission, one person and one act of Gospel love at a time.
3. We do for Jesus, with Jesus.
4. Jesus came to and cared for us. We now go to and care for others.