The Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46)
Use this guide to help your group discussion as you meet this week.
Transcript
SYSTEMukan Well, good morning. My name is Chet. I'm one of the pastors here. I think one of the mistakes we often make in reading the Bible is that we read it as if it is about us. And so you'll see that people read the scriptures and they're just looking for where do I show up in here? How is this about me?
How ought I to respond that it's somehow just a book of morals? And the reality is that the Bible is primarily not about you, but it's about Christ. It's about what God has done in the world on your behalf. And that is extremely good news. That having been said, today we're going to read a Bible story that has you in it. That you're in here.
And what we're going to look at is Jesus prophesies in his last kind of major discourse in the Gospel of Matthew. As he's going to tell us about the end and we're there. And this prophecy will either be a joyous, glorious occasion for you or it will be terrible. And Jesus in his last major teaching in the Gospel of Matthew really goes hard after trying to declare to his disciples that you ought to be ready when he returns. And that you ought to live in such a way that you know that the end will come. That Christ will judge and inaugurate his reign and that we ought to be prepared for that day.
So let's pray together as we then turn to Matthew chapter 25 to study the word together. God, I pray that you would in this moment this morning that you would help us to see ourselves clearly. Lord, I pray that you would help us to see you even more clearly. That we might fix our eyes on you. That we might see what you have done and what you will do and that we might respond accordingly. So we ask for your grace.
We ask for the powerful work of your spirit. We pray that you'd bless this time we have together this morning. In Jesus' name. Amen. So we're in Matthew chapter 25.
Matthew has 28 chapters. So we're coming on the tail end of this. And it's taken us almost no time at all. We've breezed right through this. Matthew chapter 25. We're going to pick up in verse 31.
So in this section, Jesus is answering a question that his disciples had asked him. They said, he had prophesied the destruction of the temple. And they said, when will this be? When will these things be? And what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age? And so Jesus is answering that question.
And this is the last part of that answer. And he says, 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. Jesus refers to himself as the son of man. This whole time he's been referring to the coming of the son of man.
So they ask, when is your coming? And he refers to it as the coming of the son of man. And so he's clearly saying that when I return, when I, Jesus return, I will sit in glory, all my angels with me. So he's very definitively declaring himself to be king and judge of the whole world. I think it's silly sometimes when you hear people say, well, you know, Jesus was a good teacher, but he never really claimed to be God. Oh, yeah, he did.
Just read it. He aggressively claims that he's going to return with all of his angels, that he's going to sit on a throne, that he's going to judge the world. He says he will sit on a glorious throne and before him will be gathered all the nations. That's you. You're there. The word nations there means it's not our word nation like nation states.
It's not USA and Canada. We're not going to be sitting there chanting USA. It's not that's not going to happen. Or Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy, whatever you might chant. It's not that it means all people groups, all tribes, all tongues, all languages. Everyone is there.
And then he says he he makes a distinction one from another. Meaning that this is a personal distinction. You will be there as an individual and you as an individual will go one direction or another. He will separate us one from another. And it says as a shepherd might separate sheep and goats. I am not a shepherd.
I don't think you are either. But we can tell the difference between sheep and goats. The distinction on that day for Christ will be very clear. He will be able to see clearly which is which. And so he separates as he Judges all peoples. Verse 33.
And he will place the sheep on his right but the goats on the left. And we'll find out later that you want to be on the right. You want to be among the sheep. And that's a metaphor that Jesus uses on a regular basis. Is that those who belong to him are sheep. That he is the good shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep.
That his sheep know him. They know his voice and they follow him. That he has a pasture. He has a fold that belong to him. And so his sheep are his church. Those who belong to Christ.
Those for whom he has died. And he separates them. And he puts the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. And again that's just a picture. These are people. Verse 34.
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. Oh what a beautiful day to be on the right hand of Christ. That he will come with all of his angels.
In all of his glory. That he will seat himself on a throne. As king and eternal ruler. That he will have all peoples gathered in front of him. Who have ever lived. We're all going to be there.
And then through his power. Or through the work of his angels or something. He's going to begin to separate us. And there's no at that point being like. I think I'm on the wrong side. I want to be.
Like you do what you're told. And we're going to be separated. And we're going to be before this glorious throne. And then he's going to turn and look. To those on his right. And he's going to say.
Come. You blessed by my father. Inherit the kingdom. Prepared for you. From the foundation of the world. What a beautiful day.
Can you see that? Can you feel what that would be like. For just a moment. To be in front of King Jesus. In all of his glory. And him to welcome you.
And to call you blessed. And to say that there's a kingdom. That's been prepared for you. Since the foundation of the world. That's what Ephesians tells us. That he chose us in him.
Before the foundation of the world. That he's preparing this place for us. That his original design. Was that we would live with him in Eden. That we would belong to him. That we would be his people.
And that got broken. And that got lost. Through sin. But that Christ has come to redeem a people. That might belong to him again. That might get to live in his kingdom.
That he's been preparing. His ultimate desire this entire time. That awaits those who know him. And love him. And have been redeemed by him. Verse 35.
He says. 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. This is the first time we're told this. But those on his right. Are righteous. They are holy.
They are good. 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 do we see you sick. Or in prison. And visit you. Now Jesus is prophesying. I don't know. It seems really bold.
To say that. Like if I'm on his right. In that day. And he says. You're blessed. You've done all these things.
I'm not going to go. I don't think I did. I don't want to call you out. But I should be on the other side. Just be blessed guys. Like just.
But there. There's this response. That they have. It's like. I don't know. When did.
When did this happen? When did we see you. And respond. This way. 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.
Now that phrase. My brothers. Is. Very important. To understanding this passage. This is often taught.
That the least of these. Just means. Everybody who is. Hungry or hurting. Or. Poor or destitute.
But. That phrase. My brothers. And some translations. Will say. That you did.
To my brothers. Or sisters. Even the least of them. Even the smallest of them. You did to me. That phrase.
My brothers. That's only used. In the gospel of Matthew. For two types. Of brothers and sisters. Physical bloodline.
Brothers and sisters. Or. Disciples. Those who belong. To Christ. So.
There's even a place. Matthew 12. It says. That they. Come to him. And they say.
Your mother. And brothers. And sisters. Are here. And he says. Who is my brother.
My mother. And who are my brothers. And stretching out his hands. Toward his disciples. He said. Here.
Are my mother. And my brothers. For whoever does the will. Of my father in heaven. Is my brother. And sister.
And mother. In Matthew 28. After his resurrection. He says. Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers.
To go to Galilee. And they will see me. This picture of the church. Being brothers and sisters. Being a family in Christ. Is the predominant picture.
Given to us. In the New Testament. And it seems as if. Jesus is. Clarifying. That this was done.
Not specifically to. Not in general. To anyone who was destitute. But specifically to those. Who belong to him. And he's reiterating an idea.
That we see in Matthew 10. Where Jesus is sending out his disciples. And he says. Whoever receives you. Receives me. And whoever receives me.
Receives him who sent me. So he's telling his disciples. If they will receive you. If they'll accept you. They receive me. And as he keeps going.
In verse 42. He says. And whoever gives one of these little ones. Even a cup of cold water. Because he is a disciple. Truly I say to you.
He will by no means. Lose his reward. So it seems as if. Jesus is pulling that same idea. To here. And saying.
That these are the people. Who loved and received. Those who belong to Christ. That they loved and received. The church. That this is not.
Just being nice to everyone. In general. There's a couple of things. To say about that. One. You are supposed to be nice.
To everyone in general. Jesus tells us. Specifically. Pointedly. There are three groups of people. We're supposed to love.
We're supposed to love. The brothers. We're supposed to love. Those who belong to Christ. And specifically. To do things for them.
Because they belong to Christ. We're supposed to love. Our neighbors. And his story. The good Samaritan says. Everyone's your neighbor.
And we're supposed to love. Our enemies. Those who belong to Jesus. Those who you come in contact with. Those who are your enemies. That's who we're called to love.
You don't know anyone. Who's not in one of those categories. So this. Highlighting. And specifying. That he is talking to those.
About those who belong to Christ. Is not. To say. That we don't have to. Oh good. We don't have to help other people.
But it is to help us understand. What he's saying. In this. Passage. That's what he says. In John 13 34.
He says. A new commandment. I give to you. That you love. One another. Just as I have loved you.
You are also to love. One another. By this. This love for one another. All people will know. That you are my disciples.
If you have love. For one. Another. That there is a distinct. And special. Love.
In the church. For those who belong to Christ. I was a. When I was in college. I was an intern. At a church.
In Lawrence. South Carolina. The pastor was. Out one Sunday. There was a guest. Pastor coming to preach.
And I was his handler. I was to show up early. And help him get his microphone. And show him where things were. Be his friend. So I did that.
He was an older gentleman. Big old guy. Real country. And after everything got started. And you know. I just went and sat down.
I was in the front. First or second row. Sitting next to my wife. And she takes notes. She has real pretty handwriting. And she.
When someone is preaching. She will write down the date. She will write down who it is. If she knows her name. She will put. If they have a sermon title.
She will put that in quotations. At the top. Or she will start writing. Real kind of pretty writing. The kind of the passage. That they are coming from that day.
And that morning. He. He was going to preach from this. John 13 34. And he says. He says.
Now God. Says. That we are supposed to love. One another. And we are supposed to love our enemies. And we are supposed to love our neighbors.
But I am here today. To tell you. Who we supposed. To love. Special. I was paying attention.
And then I glanced over at her notes. And she had written in parenthesis. Who we supposed to love special. Y'all. I lost it. I'm on the second row.
It's just. I was like. That's an excellent title for a sermon. Who we supposed to love special. And I'm going. It's bad.
You can't let me and my wife hang out with each other. We cause trouble. But. It wasn't a good look. It's not my best day. But I did sit and laugh.
For a full like seven minutes. Because I couldn't get it together. If I could have just laughed a little bit out loud. It would have been fine. But I had to.
But Jesus here. I think is saying the same thing. That there is a. Who we supposed to love special. That we are supposed to have a specific. Reception.
And love. And grace. Towards those who belong to Christ. And there is something in that idea. Of who those who receive you. Receive me.
And those who receive me. Receive him who sent me. That same idea. That if we. Love and receive the church. And those who will love.
And receive those who belong to Christ. Will ultimately love and receive Christ. And will ultimately get the father. That's why he. We want to be good missionaries. And that's why we talk about.
We've been sent out as the church. Because if people will receive us. They'll eventually receive Christ. And if they'll get Christ. They get the father. So he says.
That to those. On his right. Verse 41. 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. Depart. From me.
You cursed. Into the eternal fire. Prepared for the devil. And his angels. The kingdom. You will be here.
On that day. We will be in front of a glorious. And fearful king. And he will look at some. And say. Welcome.
You blessed. Come inherit the kingdom. And he will look at others. And say. Depart from me. You cursed.
Into the eternal fire. You are. Prepared for the devil. And his angels. The kingdom. Is prepared for those.
Who will receive it. Those who end up. In hell. Have joined. The enemy. Hell was not prepared.
For you. Hell was prepared. For the devil. And his angels. And it is a place. Of eternal punishment.
For him. I don't know. What you have seen. On cartoons. Or TV shows. Or movies.
Satan does not hang out. In hell. And he does not enjoy it. When he eventually goes there. He is not the ruler. Of hell.
Christ. Is the ruler of hell. And he has prepared it. For the devil. And his angels. But those who do not.
Submit to Christ. Do not love Christ. Do not follow Christ. Have not been redeemed. By Christ. Will join.
The enemy. In his punishment. And it is a place. Of eternal fire. There is a glorious kingdom. Prepared.
From the beginning. Of the world. And there is a place. Of eternal punishment. And everyone. On that day.
Will be sent. One way or the other. And if you. Have not considered this. I plead with you. To consider this.
If you have not. Wrapped your mind around. There will be a day. When you see. Jesus. And that will be.
A beautiful. Glorious day. Or that will be. A terrible. Frightening. Awful day.
I ask you to see this. And he'll say. 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. Your soul. Was meant.
To live for eternity. And your soul. Will. Live. Beyond your body. All of our bodies.
Are failing. All of them. And they fail more. And more. Over time. And the older you get.
The more you have discussions. With people your age. About how your body. Is failing you. It's just how it is. Little kids.
Heal up. Like magic. Overnight. They heal right up. High school. You heal up pretty quick.
College. You heal up pretty quick. Then you start getting injuries. And you're like. I rolled my ankle. Fifteen years ago.
And it is somehow. Still rolled. It has not unrolled itself. And the older you get. The more you will sit around. And discuss with people.
All the things that are wrong with you. Your body is failing you. This is God's grace. A simple. A simple. A simple.
Gracious reminder. That you will one day meet him. That your body will not last forever. But your soul will. And I want you to see. That these two locations are eternal.
Eternal punishment. Or eternal life. That you will be sent. Somewhere that is. Terrible. Or somewhere that is.
Glorious. And I think it's. A very valid question. For us to try to understand. What is this passage saying. And how might I end up.
On the right. Oh. If this is true. I want to be among the sheep. First thing I want us to see. We ought to take away from this passage.
Is that Jesus will return. To judge the world. There is a day. When everything will be called to account. When you will stand before him. Final judgment will be passed.
And it will be done. Based off of. King Jesus's desires. Not ours. Not our method for fairness. Not what we think ought to happen.
There will be no. Appeal court. I know we're Americans. And we don't like. Monarchies. But Jesus is a king.
And there is no overruling him. He will return. To judge the world. And you need to see that clearly. Secondly. The thing we have to understand.
From this passage. Because this passage. Taken on its own. Removed from it. The context of the rest. Of scripture.
Can lead us. In an odd direction. So the second thing. We're going to spend our time on. This morning. Is that we do not earn.
Righteousness. But we do display it. If you are in Christ. We do not earn righteousness. But we do display it.
The righteous. Will dwell. With Christ. For eternity. So another way of saying that.
Is we do not earn. Our salvation. But we do. Display it. If you took. Just this passage.
On its own. You better run outside. And feed some hungry people. Because all he's going to do. Is keep up with. Whether or not you've done that.
But that would be. To negate the rest of scripture. That says that you do not. Earn salvation. I want to show my work. Romans.
Chapter 3. Paul says. What then? Are we Jews. Any better off? No.
Not at all. He's reading. He's talking about Jews. They've been given the law. They've been told. How they ought to act.
But he says. For we have already charged. That all. Both Jews and Greeks. Are under sin. As it is written.
None is righteous. Okay. So now we have a contradiction. Because he says. You righteous. Welcome to the kingdom.
But the scriptures also say. None is righteous. So it's as if. Jesus is saying. On that day. I will separate the sheep.
From the goats. Oh. No sheep. It says. None is righteous. No.
Not one. No one understands. No one seeks for God. All have turned aside. Together they have become worthless. No one does good.
Not even one. Sound like you and your family? Sounds like mine. For by works of the law. No human being will be justified. That means made right.
In his sight. So those who are justified. Are righteous. But he says. No one will be. Not by works of the law.
Since through the law. Comes knowledge of sin. So that if you learn all the rules. All it does. Is show you your wickedness. But then Jesus says.
In the very next sentence. The very next thing. That he comes out of his mouth. In chapter 26. If we look at that in Matthew. It says.
When Jesus had finished. When Jesus had finished. All these sayings. He said to his disciples. You know that after two days. The Passover is coming.
And the son of man. Will be delivered up. To be crucified. So Jesus says. In Matthew chapter 25. Something that seems as if.
He's declaring to us. That we ought to go out. And earn our salvation. And then the next words. Out of his mouth. Are I'm going to the cross.
And then. As we see this carried out. Into the rest of the New Testament. We begin to understand. What's going on. Galatians 2 21.
Also Paul. He says. I do not nullify. The grace of God. Meaning unearned favor. That's what grace is.
For if righteousness. Were through the law. It's good behavior. Good actions. Then Christ died.
For no purpose. So whatever. Anybody says. What God wants from us. Is to be a good person. That's what Jesus came.
To teach us how to be moral. The question I always ask them. Is then why did he die? What is the purpose of the cross? Because if he just wants. You to be a good person.
And that's all it takes. What was the purpose of the cross? Paul says. No purpose at all. If the point is for you. To be moral.
We would nullify grace. And Christ would die. For no purpose. Titus 3 5. He saved us. Not because of works.
Done by us. In righteousness. But according to his own mercy. By the washing of regeneration. And the renewal of the Holy Spirit. Or Philippians 3.
I have suffered the loss of all things. And count them as rubbish. In order that I may gain Christ. And be found in him. Not having a righteousness of my own. That comes from the law.
But that which comes through faith in Christ. The righteousness of God. That depends on faith. So if we're to read this. With the rest of the New Testament in mind. We would look and say.
Those who are on his right. Those who are his sheep. Are those who have the righteousness of Christ. Applied to their account. Through faith. By grace.
Through the work of Jesus. But they have not earned this on their own. But Jesus says. He'll look at them and say. Welcome. You've done good things.
You see. Jesus in this passage. These things are not in contradiction with one another. Jesus in this passage. If you understand the rest of the New Testament. Is talking about the fruit of salvation.
Not the root of salvation. He's talking about what the root of salvation. Eventually leads to. Which is fruit. That those who have been made righteous by Christ. Display righteousness.
So we do not earn our righteousness. But we do display it. This is what he says in Matthew 7. Beware of false prophets. Who come to you in sheep's clothing. But inwardly are ravenous wolves.
You will recognize them. By their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes. Or figs from thistles. So every healthy tree bears good fruit.
But the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit. Nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit. Is cut down. And thrown into the fire.
Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. So Jesus can look at those on his right. Call them righteous. And declare. And refer to their good works. Because they are the outworking.
Of his righteous work in them. 1 John 3.10 By this it is evident. Who are the children of God. Okay. So there is evidence.
Someone says I belong to Jesus. There ought to be evidence. You ought to be able to watch their life. And go yeah. Seems like it. This is one of the reasons.
Why we do membership through community groups. Some of the reasons we do membership through community groups. Is that we want to care for you. And if you are not in a group. We don't really have a way to do that. But some of the reasons we do membership through community groups.
When we do membership class. We just tell you things. And then we send you off to your group. And your group has to co-sign whether or not you are a member. Because in membership class. In our membership commitment.
You are saying I believe these things. And if you go back to your group. And say I want to be a member. And your group can go. You don't believe those things. We love you.
No. We want you to believe those things. But we know you well enough to know. That this isn't showing up in your life. We want to walk this out with you. We want to help hold you to this.
It says by this it is evident. Who are the children of God. And who are the children of the devil. Okay. So those who belong to Christ.
And those who belong to the enemy. Whoever does not practice righteousness. Is not of God. Nor is the one who does not love his brother. If it doesn't show up. You don't belong to him.
Verse 14. As he continues. He says we know that we have passed out of death. Into life. Because we love the brothers. Do you love the church?
He says we know that we belong to Jesus. Because we love the brothers. Do you? Whoever does not love. Abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother.
Is a murderer. And you know that no murderer. Has eternal life abiding in him. Meaning that if you do not care. For the church. You do not love those who belong to Jesus.
That you hate them. They bother you. They frustrate you. And you don't overcome that with forgiveness and grace. But you just turn from them.
He says that you've got death abiding in you. By this we know love. That he laid down his life for us. Oh he gives us a picture of love. Full sacrifice. That he laid down his life for us.
Some of you say I would love the church. But it's really hard. And they're very aggravating. Yes. It's going to feel a lot like dying. To love the church.
That's how we know love. That he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods. And sees his brother in need. Yet closes his heart against him.
How does God's love abide in him? Well that's a sentence. Just pulled directly from what Jesus just said. That he's going to look at. Those who belong to him and say. I know you belong to me.
Because of look at what you did. Look at how you responded to those in need. And that's why. John can say. If you have the world's goods. And you see a brother in need.
And you don't respond. How do you have love in you? If you can see them. And just turn. And don't care. How do you have love in you?
How is it there? If you don't care. And those who abide in Christ. Abide in love. So James 2.
What good is it my brothers. If someone says he has faith. But does not have works. Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed. And lacking in daily food.
And one of you says to them. Go in peace. Be warmed and filled. Without giving them the things needed for the body. What good is that? So also.
Faith by itself. If it does not have works. Is dead. One of the things we talk about in this church. Is that we want to be gospel centered. We want to be gospel fluent.
We want to know how the gospel applies to life. And we want to point each other back to Christ. In all things. And I think there's a danger for us sometimes. To someone struggling in our group. Someone's in need in our group.
And we just encourage them. Just know that the Lord cares for you. He loves you. He'll provide for you. We know that. Because Jesus came.
And he died. And he provided everything for us. And you leave. And you're like. I blessed them. Because I gave them the gospel.
And James says. Yeah. Did you help him pay the bill? Did you help him pay the bill? Or did you just tell him Jesus was good? Because if he's not good in you.
To help you be the church. So they might receive you. So they might receive him. So they might know the father. If he's not in you. What faith is that?
Oh it's dead. Oh it's dead. And so if you are saying. I belong to Christ. I've been made righteous by Christ. My tree is renewed.
I have the root of salvation. Then Christ can look at you and say. Yes. Show me the fruit of salvation. Do you love? Do you care?
Do you sacrifice? Do you welcome? Do you welcome? Do you pay attention? Do you listen? Do you pray?
Do you give? Has the root of salvation. If you're saying it's the root. It means it's the absolute core of you. And if it's the absolute core of you. If he's gone to work on the inside of you.
To make you righteous. Now it'll be a mess sometimes. And there are seasons. That's why I love that it's fruit. There are seasons where it takes a while. There are seasons where it doesn't show up.
The way you want it to. But long enough. It's going to show up. And so if you say. This is the core of me. That I belong to Jesus.
One of the questions is. Okay. Is that reflected in the outer part of you? Is it reflected in your wallet? Is it reflected in your time? Is it reflected in how you love and care for the church?
Do you have time for those who are in need? Do you? Do you? Do you? Do you? Do you?
Do you? Do you? If not. John says. The love of God does not abide in you. James says.
Your faith is dead. And Christ says. Depart from me you cursed. I think too often. We have pitched Christianity. We have understood Christianity.
We have understood being a Christian. And being a faithful Christian. As all the things we do not do. Depending on your age group. What church you grew up in. Christians don't dance.
They don't watch movies. Christians don't dress a certain way. Christians don't talk a certain way. The joke I always had growing up. Was they don't drink smoke or chew. Or date girls that do.
Christians don't sleep around. Well. Okay. I have heard a pastor say. That he. Had a friend.
Who had a dog. That was. 15 years old. And that dog. Laid on the floor. In his friend's house.
And he said. Often it seemed like. The way we describe Christianity. My friend's dog. Was a. A beautiful.
Wonderful picture. Of a good Christian. Because he didn't do. Do anything. And if all Christians. Are.
People who don't do things. Then that dog. Was excellent. But Christ says. He's going to look at the church. And say.
You did. Do. Things. I think. Too often. We've thought of Christianity.
As not only the things. That I don't do. But a bunch of little. Personal activities. That we do. Read my Bible.
I pray. Those are excellent. They're good. The reason you need to read your Bible. Is so you'll read stuff like this. And if you just read it.
And go. Hmm. Good point. Thanks Jesus. And close your Bible. Or turn your little phone app off.
And move on. Without. Doing the things. James says. It's like someone who looks in a mirror. Sees that their hair is messed up.
Sees they have mustard on their face. And then walks away. And doesn't do anything. With what they saw. The reason we pray. The reason we read the Bible.
Is so that we might be the people. That have been sent out in the world. To display Christ. To have righteousness. Dwell in us. And exude from us.
And all the things that Christ lists us here. Are relational. Do you love? Do you care? Oh. Do you care?
Oh. And it's a beautiful picture. He says. I was hungry. And you gave me food. I was thirsty.
And you gave me drink. Christians provide physical needs. Pay for groceries. Buy meals. And when we do that. We're displaying the gospel at work.
In our heart. Because Jesus says. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. That he'll satisfy. And so that we know. We've been satisfied.
Of our deepest longest. Deepest longing of our hearts. Our hunger and our thirst. To be made right. And so therefore. We respond.
In caring for others. Physical short term needs. He says. I was a stranger. And you welcomed me. That we're supposed to be hospitable.
That we're supposed to open our houses. For people to stay with us. And to eat with us. I was thinking yesterday. I know sometimes people are like. Yeah but what if.
Like what if I pick up a hitchhiker. Or what if I have someone to come in the house. And they hurt me. This is much easier for me to think through. Personally. Than for my family.
So I'm just going to think through it personally. But I was thinking. If I was by myself. And I picked up a hitchhiker. And he killed me. That's kind of a good way to meet the Lord y'all.
That's what I thought yesterday. There's a real good chance. I'm going to be doing something stupid. When I die. This one felt pretty good. Be like.
Yeah Lord. I was just doing that hospitality stuff. You talked about. But that we would. Welcome people. This is.
People who come down. And do summer internships with us. This is missionaries. This is refugees. This is orphans. That we would have strangers.
Who belong to Jesus. And we would welcome them. Just because they belong to Jesus. And we'd say. Hey. We're all going to share a big table.
In eternity. Come share my table with me right now. He says. I was naked. And you clothed me. They were exposed.
They lacked. Everything. Everything. That they needed. He said. You clothed me.
Do we care when we hear about. Tragedies in other countries. Do we care when we hear about it in other states. Do we care that there are people in our city. Who are wearing the same thing over and over again. That we.
That they need. Clothing. We were exposed. We were naked. We were uncovered in our shame. And Christ came.
And he was stripped naked. And exposed. So that he might take our shame. So that we might be clothed in his righteousness. You absolutely better believe that Christ. That Christians respond.
To soul level clothing. By simple. Earthly. Caring about the needs of others. There's a beautiful picture of the gospel. It says.
I was sick. And you visited me. I've been so blessed in this church. When I've seen some of our older members. There's two ladies in our church. Who at different times.
Would gather up gift bags. And gift baskets. And they would go travel around. And they would visit every single person. That's homebound or shut in. Just to care for them.
I mean there have been days. Where I heard that story. And I went and just sat in my office. And I thanked Jesus. That he was good. That he works in people.
That their hearts so love him. That they so love each other. There have been pictures of people. Who have been hurt. And gotten to go live. With another church family member.
There have been pictures of people. Who have run out of money. And church families come together. To pay for hospital bills. Medical bills. Buy vehicles.
And it's this beautiful picture. Of these people actually believe. They actually belong to Christ. That's why he says. The world will know. That you're my disciples.
By the way you love. One another. He says. I was in prison. And you came to me. There are a lot of inmates.
Who have placed their faith in Christ. This is also. It's weird. I don't really want people in my house. Yeah. But we had Christ go to a cross for us.
He died so that we might be redeemed. So that we might live out a picture of that. So yeah. Christians do a bunch of stuff they don't want to do. And yes. There's also a bunch of stuff we'd like to do.
That we don't do. But that's not our primary marker. They were meant to be people who love. And who so. Are so in love with Christ. And so see what he's done for us.
That we respond. You see. We do not earn our righteousness. But we do display it. And that means there's a very important distinction here. As you consider this.
And I would call on you to consider this. I'm calling you to consider this today. I'm calling you to consider it this week. I'm calling you to read this passage. And look over it. Because the reality is.
You want to be among the sheep. But if you look at your life. If you look in the mirror. And you see that there is no fruit of righteousness. The response is not. I better do better.
Oh I better start serving. I better get it together. If there is no fruit of righteousness. Then your faith is dead. There is no love in your heart. And you need Christ.
And you need his righteousness. To go to work on the root. So that then the fruit might be displayed. Now some of you are going. I see where the Lord is at work here. And I see where the Lord is at work here.
And I really do grow in hospitality. I really do need to add some of this to my life. And I need to be repentant. And asking the Lord to help me see this. But if you're looking at this.
And you walk out of here. And your only response is. I'm going to do better. I'm going to try harder. And then I will earn my salvation. And my righteousness.
That is not how it works. You are a sinner. In need of a savior. Who redeems you. And then righteousness. Blooms out.
Like fruit. Fruit. But if you have a tree. That doesn't grow fruit. You don't go to the spots. Where fruit should be.
And try to fix it there. The root's got to be okay. It's got to have water. It's got to have all these. Actual nutrients. Before it can.
Grow up and do what it's supposed to. The band is going to come back up. My hope is that we would hear well. The words of Christ. In his last major teaching. That you would know that a judgment is coming.
That an eternity is coming. That it is real. That it is coming for all of us. Sooner than we think. That's one of the primary things. That he goes after in this.
When will it come? Sooner than you think. And oh may we respond. In repentance. Receiving the grace that is offered. And then by Christ's righteousness.
A work in us. May we look like these people. And grow in our love for each other. And for our neighbors. And for our enemies. But I pray the Lord would help us.
To love each other special. Let's pray. God we thank you for your grace. Lord we will all see you on that day. And we eagerly await. For you to arrive as our glorious king.
But Lord may we be ready. For those here this morning. That have no love. Who would say they have faith. But by their life it is displayed as dead.
We pray that they would come to you. To be made new. That they would plead with you. To redeem them. To be righteous. In their place.
That you would forgive them of their sins. And make them whole. We pray that we would all grow. In displaying the fruit of righteousness. Which is a genuine love. For those around us.
May we see you. And your love. And may it empower us. To sacrifice. To give. To care.
To be put out. For the sake of others. As you were put out. Cast out. And destroyed. For our sake.
In Jesus name. Amen.