I would like to share my reply (from a few weeks back) to a young brother who asked for my explanation on matthew 25: 31-46. I am truly gratified for his comment that "...after reading your emails I begin to understand grace in a deeper way and I feel so much happier!"
There is nothing wrong with feeling free and joyful only in the pure grace of our Lord, and in fact it is exactly from such a place in God's heart we have the security and power to walk out the holiness He intends all along. Contrary to many who believe that grace without work of the law leads to spiritual laziness and irresponsibility, we need to free all believers -- especially the young people! -- from the bondage of condemnation, guilt, and shame so inextricably associated with traditional church teachings.
Dear ...
Thank you for the kind comment! I try to share the revelation of the gospel as much as possible, and from a different point of view that focuses on the grace of Christ. It is something I feel lacking in much of today's teachings, which center on man's role that is based on a religious tradition. True Christianity is about our relationship with Christ from beginning to end. Yet so few stay in that pure joy of first receiving His grace, but by the continuous preaching of guilt and condemnation are inevitably pulled back into the worship by man's work that robs of the peace and enjoyment He dearly wants for us.
Regarding Matthew 25: 31-46, the wording of "hell" certainly puts fear into a believer not wanting to be a goat, but of which classification on the judgment day he cannot be certain of. And it is a misinterpretation of such passages that puts him under bondage, and misleads in a belief that salvation can only be more assured by "doing certain things" such as what Jesus describes in these verses. But that becomes fruits of work and not of faith, and the motivation not of genuine charity but much more in self-preservation. Jesus will see through that charade though innocent from the false teaching of law, leaving the poor believer in a state of confusion.
Some say this particular passage is for unbelievers when they are being judged because neither group seems to have a clue what Jesus was referring to. But many also see it as for Christians who love God but neglect his fellow men. The anger and admonishing of Jesus in many of the parables and direct accusations are made toward the pharisees, who represent the attitude of self-righteousness and contempt/indifference towards the poor and needy, which are two sides of the same coin. It is a sad truth that loving God (of the worshipful kind) is natural, but loving man (in a godly way) is counter to the carnal nature unless our hearts are truly moved and transformed by the gentle warmth of Christ, and understanding how much His love shines in charity and forgiveness.
The church today is still full of the seeds of Pharisees. These Jesus will deny knowing. But it is not entirely their fault but for the traditional teachings passed down through generations. Although each believer is responsible for rightly dividing the word of God, and to search the heart of Christ in spite of the weight of so much counter-grace doctrines forced upon them. It is only when we are relieved of the shackles of fear and obedience to the requirement of law that one is able to receive the true light of the gospel and the life of Christ living in us. The holy spirit is frustrated by our clinging to the law, yet most Sundays we sit at the pew such message reinforces the bondage.
Of great importance is the separation of sin from the sinner. God hates sin, chief (and root) of which is self-righteousness (pride), but He loves the sinner so much that He is willing to die for each and every one! Our repentance is not to turn away from sin but from pride, which keeps us separate from God even while professing belief. Every sin God will take away (burn), which is not to say He will destroy man but only to liberate His children from the influence and accusation of sin. Judgment is nothing but separating one from another, and God's justice is for us even it is against sin; for to enter the Kingdom of God we must be pure and sanctified. Therefore the work of the holy spirit in us is to cleanse us, and on the day of the judgment God's own loving fire will cleanse those who had not yet received such cleansing. But worry not, this is not being sent to hell to burn forever as punishment (Greek: Kolasis, meaning discipline; and from root Kolazo, which is pruning in this context), but for a time (age, but mistranslated as eternal) the discipline (certainly not pleasant if one is not first willing or understanding His will) of God's love works to burn away all fear and pride to prepare man a joyful return to His bosom.
As we have children, even when they do wrong we do not turn away but love them still more, so our God who is love defined will not leave nor forsake us living in sin. Such is the love man has never known but is the very power that raises us from the dead, and gives us eternal life -- all because He laid down His own on the cross and washed our feet with His blood. Amen
James
Regarding Matthew 25: 31-46, the wording of "hell" certainly puts fear into a believer not wanting to be a goat, but of which classification on the judgment day he cannot be certain of. And it is a misinterpretation of such passages that puts him under bondage, and misleads in a belief that salvation can only be more assured by "doing certain things" such as what Jesus describes in these verses. But that becomes fruits of work and not of faith, and the motivation not of genuine charity but much more in self-preservation. Jesus will see through that charade though innocent from the false teaching of law, leaving the poor believer in a state of confusion.
Some say this particular passage is for unbelievers when they are being judged because neither group seems to have a clue what Jesus was referring to. But many also see it as for Christians who love God but neglect his fellow men. The anger and admonishing of Jesus in many of the parables and direct accusations are made toward the pharisees, who represent the attitude of self-righteousness and contempt/indifference towards the poor and needy, which are two sides of the same coin. It is a sad truth that loving God (of the worshipful kind) is natural, but loving man (in a godly way) is counter to the carnal nature unless our hearts are truly moved and transformed by the gentle warmth of Christ, and understanding how much His love shines in charity and forgiveness.
The church today is still full of the seeds of Pharisees. These Jesus will deny knowing. But it is not entirely their fault but for the traditional teachings passed down through generations. Although each believer is responsible for rightly dividing the word of God, and to search the heart of Christ in spite of the weight of so much counter-grace doctrines forced upon them. It is only when we are relieved of the shackles of fear and obedience to the requirement of law that one is able to receive the true light of the gospel and the life of Christ living in us. The holy spirit is frustrated by our clinging to the law, yet most Sundays we sit at the pew such message reinforces the bondage.
Of great importance is the separation of sin from the sinner. God hates sin, chief (and root) of which is self-righteousness (pride), but He loves the sinner so much that He is willing to die for each and every one! Our repentance is not to turn away from sin but from pride, which keeps us separate from God even while professing belief. Every sin God will take away (burn), which is not to say He will destroy man but only to liberate His children from the influence and accusation of sin. Judgment is nothing but separating one from another, and God's justice is for us even it is against sin; for to enter the Kingdom of God we must be pure and sanctified. Therefore the work of the holy spirit in us is to cleanse us, and on the day of the judgment God's own loving fire will cleanse those who had not yet received such cleansing. But worry not, this is not being sent to hell to burn forever as punishment (Greek: Kolasis, meaning discipline; and from root Kolazo, which is pruning in this context), but for a time (age, but mistranslated as eternal) the discipline (certainly not pleasant if one is not first willing or understanding His will) of God's love works to burn away all fear and pride to prepare man a joyful return to His bosom.
As we have children, even when they do wrong we do not turn away but love them still more, so our God who is love defined will not leave nor forsake us living in sin. Such is the love man has never known but is the very power that raises us from the dead, and gives us eternal life -- all because He laid down His own on the cross and washed our feet with His blood. Amen
James
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