“Then they will go away into eternal punishment, but those who are just and upright and in right standing with God into eternal life.” Matthew 25:46 [AMP] ->me: Today was the parable of the separation of the sheep and the goats. Jesus says that when the Son of Man is seat on His throne, all of the nations (no exceptions) will be gathered before Him and HE WILL separate the people (not nations) one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats (sheep on the right and goats on the left). Then He says to those (sheep) on His right “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” Jesus then essentially says that when you pour out love in the form of helps, support, care, clothing, feeding, and accepting on those around us, we are doing those things as if those people, we are helping, are Jesus Himself. This passage when not taken in context of the rest of the parables here in Matthew, has confused Salvation by grace alone with getting to heaven by works. Lets summarize – [Wedding Banquet] Coming to the wedding feast by following everyone else in is not good enough, you must be wearing the wedding clothes representative of your committed heart to the groom. [Greatest Commandment] Love your God with all your heart, mind and soul and love your neighbor as yourself. You can’t love God with all your heart and consistently chose a lifestyle that is against Him. [The Ten Virgins] You must be prepared for the coming of the Bridegroom; you heart must be sold out in a love and worship of Him way before the day He comes. [The Talents] Salvation produces a heart that understands the responsibility and stewardship of the gifts God has given you. I should be working to double God’s initial investment in me toward profit for His kingdom alone; without an expectation of reward (ultimate worship). [Primary Point] Jesus will be separating sheep and goats based on who has been called (blessed) by the Heavenly Father (people in right standing); those will have hearts that in worship of Him have helped and cared for others with a Love produced and put in us by God alone.
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