“The Son of man shall come in his glory … And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: … And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.” — Matthew 25:31-32a,33
Sweet, loving Jesus had a surprising amount to say about Judgment. Several things are consistent:
- Jesus is returning.
- Everyone will stand before him (whether they had believed in him or not).
- Judgment will be based on each person’s actions.
“I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” — Revelation 20:12
- A person’s actions come from who they are:
- Notice the response of both in Jesus story was the same.
“Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison” — Matthew 25:37 & 44
They were just living out what they were, the goats being selfish and the sheep being selfless.
Who can, honestly, say their actions have been consistently selfless? No matter what good things I try to do, the “Old Goat” in me keeps ruining it.
The good news (“Gospel”) is that the old goat can die and Jesus, the lamb of God (John 1:29), can live in his place.
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” — Galatians 2:20
— fritz
The Reader’s Digest magazine has a venerable reputation for condensing long novels and literary works.
Patrikin - Kinship through The Father 