The Grace & Work Tension

Sheep and Goats Matt 25 Seems to teach that we are saved by works – not by grace via faith. But consider the context: Matt 24:1-35 Signs of the end times Matt 24:36-51 Date Unknown – stay on guard Matt 25:1-13 Ten Virgins – keep watch Matt 25:14-30 Stewards to give account Matt 25:31-46 Sheep and the Goats

Sheep and Goats Matt 25 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. i.e. JESUS WILL COME AGAIN AS JUDGE with GLOBAL AUTHORITY

Sheep and Goats Matt “Then the King will say to those 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. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

Sheep and Goats Matt “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Sheep and Goats Matt “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

Sheep and Goats Matt “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Sheep and Goats Matt 25 Does this parable teach us that we are saved – declared righteous - by our good deeds of service to others? Certainly not! Since this would clearly contradict the rest of the scriptures on this topic. “since creation of the world..” i.e. Before any works were done by us!! Let’s consider other scriptures – scripture casts light on scripture. Interpret the unclear in light of the clear.

The Grace and Work Tension 15 “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles 16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. Gal 2:15-16

The Grace and Work Tension For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. 10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” Rom 3:9-12

The Grace and Work Tension 21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Rom 3:21-24

Jesus Taught the Same 28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” 29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” John 6:28,29

Salvation Not By Works 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. Eph 2:8,9 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2:10

Good Works Are.... NOT the MEANS of our Salvation BUT the EVIDENCE of our Salvation

But What About James? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. James 2:17-19

Righteousness By Faith Not Works 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: Rom 4:2-6

Cause and Effect Is this right? Cause: My good works Effect: My Salvation Or is this right? Cause: My Salvation Effect: My good works

Standing Back to Back Defending the Truth from Two Extreme Errors

So What About You? IF you think or believe that you need to EARN God’s favour... FORGET IT!! NO WAY JOSE! IF you believe that you have been save by God’s grace, through faith... THANK GOD!! GIVE HIM GLORY!

So What About You? If you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?