QuakerInfo.com Forum

[Pulpculture]

Doesn't Matthew 25:31-40 hold all the answers?

I have always had disagreements with people who think following a religion gets you to salvation rather than you actions. Matthew 25:31-40, to me, tells you exactly what you have to do and doesn't mention anything about reading books, praying, worshiping, eating bread or drinking wine!



31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

32 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:

33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

[oneputt]

The obvious rebuttal,if you rely on prooftexting individual verses of Scripture,is Ephesians chapter 2.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:


Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

I'm not advocating a born again instanteneous salvation view,just pointing out that there are scriptures they can,and do,use to rebut a works view.

[BillSamuel]

I think that passage is often misunderstood. See how Eugene Peterson renders it in The Message:

[QChaplain]

[oneputt]

[orPowers]

I think the point is well made that our salvation is not a matter of correct doctrines or simply believing in Jesus as savior. This, along with other passages indicating that Christians will be known by their love, and the idea of "baptism" being a complete change in direction and attitude moving toward putting on "the mind of Christ" shows us that the whole point IS that change, and the results shown in our lives.
_________________
Romans 8:38-39

my blog: http://mild-side.blogspot.com/

[Dayvd]

This is something that has been very dear to me in the last several years.

The question I keep asking, and not getting a very good answer for, is... when did it ever become a matter of one or the other? Hasn't it always been a matter of both?

Faith without works is pointless. Works without faith is equally pointless.

How much time do we invest in others compared to how much time we invest in ourselves?

As you can tell I prolly have more questions at this point than answers. I have quit attending structured group meetings(ie, church) and have decided until my doing catches up with my knowing... I don't need to know more. I simply need to act on what I already know. We are commanded to do certain things... I don't need to ask, I don't need to pray about those things... I simply need to act.

It's a funny thing(strange not humorous) but isn't it weird that we rarely pray about doing things for ourselves and yet most always have to pray about doing for others. Why is that?

[Pulpculture]

[Dayvd]

[canawedding]

Very few people understand Mt 25:31-46 correctly. Jesus Christ was teaching about much more than physical food, physical drink, physical clothes, etc. Use a good concordance and study the words "righteous" and "righteousness" in the full context of the entire Holy Bible. Salvation begins when we seek first God's Kingdom and God's Righteousness, Mt 6:25-34. Many people, who thought they were sheep, have already found out that they are goats and many more will also find out too late that they are goats and not sheep.

And, very few people understand what Paul wrote about "works." He and James taught the exact same Gospel Truth about works. Why do so few understand what Paul wrote? Read 2Pe 3:15-16. There are 2 kinds of works in the NT, works that belong to the Law of Sin and Death and works that belong to the Law of the Spirit of Life. To continue with the works from the Law of Sin and Death, will lead to eternal death. Failure to do the works of the Law of the Spirit of Life, will lead to eternal death.

Also, very few people understand what God's definition of Grace is. His Spirit of Grace and Truth will not be given to anyone who ignores and rejects His Righteousness. Faith, as God defines Faith, must take place before His Grace is given, Ro 1:16-21. Use your concordance to study those critical words in their full NT context as well. Very few people, who think they have God's Grace, really have His Grace. Multitudes of people are in for a terrible shock when they find out that they have thrown their salvation away forever when it will be too late to change.
_________________
Jn 3:21. But he that doeth the Truth cometh to the Light, that his works may be made manifest, that they have been wrought in God.

[oneputt]

[canawedding]

oneputt said: "I'm curious how you happen to know the state of any man's soul,or what his relationship with God is like."

All true Christians, who have God's anointing from His Holy One, will understand His exact original Gospel Truth as Jesus Christ and His true servants taught it, 1Jn 2. They made it clear: very few people will be saved, especially in these Last Days, Mt 22:1-14. The vast majority of those who call themselves Christians are not Christians, they are being deceived as the early true Christian Quakers of 300 years ago accurately described many times, 2Th 2. I learned what they warned about three and a half years before i read what they wrote. All truly saved Christians, will have the Mind of Christ and we know who is saved and who is not by knowing just a couple of things about someone, 1Co 1-3.

What the vast majority of so-called Christians call "grace" falls far short of God's definition of "Grace" so that man's definition of grace is deceiving and a distortion of God's definition. Salvation begins with Faith as God defines it, not as man has erroneously defined that too, Heb 11:1,6. Jesus Christ told everyone to seek first God's Kingdom and God's Righteousness, Mt 6:31-33. He meant it. Paul, especially, expounded that command. Read Ro 1:16-21 for an excellent summary of Romans and Galatians. What is it that we must find and do? The early true Christian Quakers knew but few others know and therefore, few others will be saved.

Here is a little something from Daniel, written some 2500 years ago, that has warned about these days but very few are listening:

Daniel 12:1-10, “the Man clothed in linen” describes the wise and the wicked. * (ASV, public domain)

1. “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince, who standeth for the children of thy people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that same time. And at that time thy people shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the Book. [Read Jn 5:1-14; Jn 8:1-11; 1Jn 3-5. God, through His Son, made it possible for adults to “sin no more.” Why have so-called Christians continued to sin? As prophesied, most of them no longer believe in God’s exact original Gospel Truth. False teachers, who love their paychecks, power and pride, have been teaching false gospels. Soon, God’s amazing patience will come to an end. Most people, who think their names are written in the Lamb’s Book of eternal Life, will find out that isn’t so when it is too late to change. Read Mt 7:13-29; Mt 22:1-14. What is “good fruit?” What is the “wedding garment?” Will many be saved?]
2. And many of them, that sleep in the dust of the Earth shall awake, some to everlasting Life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. [Do you understand the following quote from Rev 3? “I know thy works … that thou hast a little Power and didst keep my Word and didst not deny my Name.” Read Jn 5:15-47; Jn 8:12-59. Only God’s exact original Gospel Truth will save those who believe, repent and obey.]
3. And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to Righteousness, as the stars forever and ever. [In Mt 6:31-33, Jesus Christ commanded everyone to seek first God’s Kingdom and God’s Righteousness. Have you obeyed His command? Read Mt 3-7; Mt 11; Mk 1:14-15; Lk 8-12; Lk 16:15-17; Ro 1:16-21; Ro 4; Ro 10:3-4; 1Co 12:13; Eph 4:4-7; Heb 11:1,6. How do we begin to be saved? Read Lk 24:44-53; Jn 20:19-31; 2Ti 3:12-17. What is the goal of “every Scripture inspired of God?” What will the Godly “wise” have and do that makes them “shine as the brightness of the firmament” according to Mt 13; Mk 4; 2Co 3-5; Php 2:1-18? What is the “treasure in earthen vessels?”]
4. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the Words and seal the Book, even to the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be increased.” [Use a good concordance and see how critical words and their variations are used in the full context of the Scriptures. Do not trust any man-made definitions for such words as “Faith”, “Hope”, “Love”, “Grace”, “Peace”, etc. There are two kinds of “knowledge” as there are two kinds of “works”. What is the major difference between the two kinds of “knowledge” and “works”?]
5. Then I, Daniel, looked and behold, there stood other two, the one on the brink of the river on this side and the other on the brink of the river on that side. [Read Dt 32:1-6; Ps 1; Pr 23:23; Isa 55; Jn 3-4; Jn 7:37-39; Jas 1-3; Rev 7; Rev 21-22. What is the “Water of Life?” Who “freely” gives the “Water of Life?”]
6. And one said to the Man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?” [Read 1Th 5 about “times and the seasons.” Few have paid careful attention to what really matters—their own salvation! Who is “the Man clothed in linen?” Why is He “above the waters of the river?” What was being symbolized? Read Mt 14:22-33. Who walked on physical water?]
7. And I heard the Man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river when He held up His right hand and His left hand unto Heaven and sware by Him that liveth forever, that it shall be for a time, times and a half. “And when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the Power of the Holy People, all these things shall be finished.” [How can someone break “in pieces the Power of the Holy People?” Why would God allow it? Read Mt 10-12; Mt 24-25; Mk 13; Lk 19-21; Jn 14-16; Heb 8-13.]
8. And I heard but I understood not. Then said I, “O my Lord, what shall be the issue of these things?” [Read Col 1-4. The Words were sealed until the New Covenant Gospel Truth was preached as the New Testament writers described. Read 1Pe 1-5; 2Pe 1-3. How are the souls of the saved “purifed” according to Peter’s Epistle? How are the saved “begotten again” according to Peter’s Epistle? What “Water” do the “springs without Water” not have? What does the “dog” symbolize? What is the “vomit”? What does the “sow”, the pig, symbolize? What is the “mire”? Read Mk 5:1-20. How did the “swine” die?]
9. And He said, “Go thy way, Daniel, for the Words are shut up and sealed till the time of the end. [In Jn 6:45, Jesus Christ said, “It is written in the Prophets: ‘And they shall all be taught of God.’ Everyone, that hath heard from the Father and hath learned, cometh unto me.” Read Ac 13; Ro 1:1-8; 1Th 1-5. How long did it take true believers to become effective witnesses? Did they attend Bible colleges or seminaries? Did the apostles command anyone to establish such institutions or to trust in them? Read Jer 2:11-13; Jer 17:5-18; Mt 23:8-12; Jn 6:44-45; Ro 12-15:21; 1Jn 2; Rev 1-3. How do the “wise” “overcome the evil one?”]
10. Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white and be refined but the wicked shall do wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand but they that are wise shall understand.” [Read Jn 17-21. Jesus Christ said He sends His true followers as His Father sent Him. Where can we read that the Father sent His Son to baptize with physical water? Read Ps 51; Isa 1-2; Isa 55-59; Jn 15:1-17; 1Co 6; Jas 4-5. How is a true Christian washed “whiter than snow?” How do true Christians “purify themselves, and make themselves white and be refined?” Read Mt 23; 2Co 11:1-15; 2Th 1-3; Jude. What is the lie that “the lawless one” uses to deceive? Read 1Co 1-3. True Christians will know the answers to all of these simple questions. Do not be deceived! The wicked will suffer the “shame and everlasting contempt” of Isa 66:24!]

Serving “The Lord our Righteousness” for the Glory of God the Father,
anne robare / * “Daniel” was written approximately 530 B.C.
_________________
Jn 3:21. But he that doeth the Truth cometh to the Light, that his works may be made manifest, that they have been wrought in God.

[oneputt]

Why does a response consisting of cut and pasted,cobbled together Bible verses not surprise me?One,btw,that does nothing to answer my question of how YOU know the state of any persons' relationship to God.

[Shay]

[orPowers]