november 26 2023
November 26th 2023
Old Testament: Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 “I Myself will judge”
Psalm: Psalm 95:1-9 “Kneel before the Lord. Our Maker”
Epistle: 1st Corinthians 15:20-28 “At His coming; then comes the end”
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46 “Eternal punishment … eternal life”
Sermon Text:
Sermon Title: “The Final Judgment” or “Eternal Punishment vs Eternal Life”
Grace to you and peace, from God the Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
A former pastor in our Altamont circuit was known to ask a simple question quite frequently. “Are you ready”? What was he saying we should be ready for? Certainly, for the day of our death, which could come unexpectedly at anytime, even today; but also for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, who will “destroy every rule and every authority and power” (1st Corinthians 15:24) at His coming. So, I ask you the same question this morning, “Are you ready”? The Psalmist also exhorts us to readiness saying, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts”. (Psalm 95:7b-8a)
In the Gospel reading for today, we have a clear picture of the Day of Judgment, when there will be a final separation of believers in Jesus from unbelievers; “for when the Son of Man comes in His glory and all His angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. Before Him will be gathered all the nations (all people who have ever lived) and He will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats”. (Matthew 25:31-31-32)
Now this is called the Day of Judgment, but we should recognize that the judgment has already taken place. Our eternal destiny is already decided at the day of our death; based on whether or not we have true faith in Jesus Christ. So, the eternal destination of all will simply be revealed on that day, by the sheep and goats being separated. “And He will place the sheep on His right hand and the goats on His left”. (Matthew 25:33)
The rest of the reading is divided into two sections, one describing the state of those who are blessed by God with eternal life and the other describing the state of those who end up in eternal punishment. Listen to how Jesus describes the first group; “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”. (Matthew 25:34)
At first, it sounds as if they inherited eternal life based on what they had done, for Jesus said, “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”. (Matthew 25:35-36) However, Jesus says nothing about these works saving them.
Listen to how the righteous answer Jesus. “Then the righteous will answer Him, Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You or thirsty and give You drink? 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”? (Matthew 25:37-39)
Now, before we go any farther, what Jesus is teaching here is not some sort of works righteousness. Those who were righteous were (in the new/redeemed man/new creation) spontaneously doing good works naturally, because of their faith in Christ Jesus. They were not worried about or even thinking that someone might notice them, in order that they might be praised by men. This is what Luther meant when he wrote that the Christian is always busy doing good works, even before anyone asks.
Next Jesus said; “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”. (Matthew 25:40) When we serve others in His name, we are also serving Christ; for Jesus said, “whoever gives one of these little ones, even a cup of cold water because he is My disciple … he will by no means lose His reward”. (Matthew 10:42)
But what of those who refuse to do even these small acts of kindness for the benefit of fellow Christians? Now Jesus speaks of those who are eternally condemned. “He will say to those on His left, Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels”. (Matthew 25:41) Notice here that hell was not originally prepared for human beings, but for the devil and his minions, “they will be tormented day and night, forever and ever”. (Revelation 20:10b) Tragically, all those who have rejected Christ in this life will join them.
Jesus says of them “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”. (Matthew 25:42-43) Then the goats will ask the same question the sheep asked earlier, “they 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”? (Matthew 25:44)
“Then He will answer you saying, Truly I say to you, as you did not do it to the least of these, you did not do it to Me”. (Matthew 25:45) Again, do not be confused, thinking that these were condemned because of their sins of omission. The sins themselves had been atoned for by Jesus’ death on the cross, but because they had no faith in Jesus Christ, whatever works they may have thought they were doing, had no benefit to them.
In closing Jesus said, “these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life”. (Matthew 25:46) So, “on the Last Day, Jesus will separate true believers from the hypocrites and those who reject Him. The unbelievers will be condemned (an eternity in hell), but the faithful will be (publicly) vindicated and welcomed into heaven. Having received forgiveness through faith in Christ, God’s flock (we) eagerly await the Day”. (LSB note, page 1640)
For those interested in a more detailed Scriptural study of these things, over the next several Sundays, in adult Bible class, we will review the following topics in some detail. Temporal Death, the State of Death, the Second Coming of Christ, the Millennium, the Resurrection of the Dead, the Final Judgment, the End of the World, Eternal Damnation and Eternal Life (Salvation).
But for the rest of the sermon today, I want to review how the Small Catechism teaches on this doctrine using Holy Scripture. The question is asked, “What do the Scriptures teach about Christ’s second coming”? First, they teach that Christ will return visibly with great glory on the last day. The angels said at Jesus’ ascension, “this Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven, will come again in the same way you saw Him go into heaven”. (Acts 1:11b) The Apostle John in the book of Revelation said “behold, He is coming with the clouds and every eye will see Him”. (Revelation 1:7) Not to mention Jesus’ own words in several places; “As the lightening comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man”. (Matthew 24:27)
Second, Scripture teaches that Christ will return to judge the world, not to set up an earthly government as is taught by many churches. We heard this in the Gospel this morning, “when the Son of Man comes in His glory and all His angels with Him … He will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats”. (Matthew 25:31-32) Jesus also clearly taught, “My kingdom is not of this world”. (John 18:36)
Third, Christ will return on a specific day, known by God alone. This is why Scripture has so many warnings about being ready, “for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect”. (Matthew 24:44b) Jesus also said, “concerning that day or hour, no one knows”. (Mark 13:32a) “He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness”. (Acts 17:31a)
Fourth, before the return of Christ there will be increasing turmoil and distress for the church and the world. Jesus said, “nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes … they will deliver you up to tribulation and death, and you will be hated by all for My name’s sake … many will fall away from faith … false prophets will arise and lead many astray … and the Gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world”. (Matthew 24:7-14)
Fifth, the return of Christ is a source of hope and joy for the Christian; for Jesus taught, “when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near”. (Luke 21:28) Christ was offered once as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world, so, His second coming is “not to deal with sin, but to save us who are eagerly waiting for Him”. (Hebrews 9:28) Therefore, we “wait for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ”. (Titus 2:13)
So, I ask again, “Are you ready”? We ask You Lord, to prepare us for Your coming by gladly hearing Your Word. Jesus said, “whoever hears My words and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life”. (John 5:24) “He who testifies to these things says, Surely, I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen”. (Revelation 22:20)
So, in these gray and latter days, the way is often bleak and the road we have to walk is long and hard. Still, we press on in faith clinging to God’s precious promises, and are thankful to God amidst all the bad news of this world. Amen
The peace of God …