a) Good works are associated with the righteous of that there is no doubt. But what is not made clear here is whether righteousness is a consequence of good works or whether good works are a consequence of rightousness. I suggest that scripture indicates the latter. For example, Paul frequently makes comparisons between the righteous and the unrighteous and in Romans 8:8 we are told that those that are 'in the flesh' (ie: who are not in Christ) CANNOT please God. Good works please God, bad works displease God. But a person who is not of Christ cannot please God thus whatever they might consider their works to be, they are all seen as bad by God. For example "all your (own) rightousness are as filthy rags"
I would interpret Matthew 25 as works before righteousness. I would concentrate on the Matthew passage where Jesus is speaking rather than promote Paul’s beliefs before Jesus’ words. I would say that to propose the latter is to suggest predestination, which I find difficult to accept as it means God created people in the knowledge that they would be eternally damned.
Which would indicate that in order for works to be seen as good by God they must of a type. They must be viewed from a certain perspective. They must be done while a person is in Christ.
But, Matthew 25 doesn’t hint at this, it looks as if Jesus is making general statements about good works. What you suggest, if I have read it properly, is that God is happy to see anyone doing good works but it is only if you have already accepted the Holy Spirit that these good works will be rewarded by God? But that then suggests to me that good works are not really that important. For example, once you have the HS then how many good works are enough?
But if a person is in Christ, we see from Romans 8:1 "there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ.... (and what is the characteristic of these people?)...who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit).
So someone who is in Christ has no motivation to do good works, or are they driven to do good works AFTER they are in Christ?
If no condemnation for a person because they are in Christ then a person in Christ cannot be a goat and thus condemned. So whilst the passage is ambiguous on it's own, Romans shows in Christ is where no condemnation lies. The question then would be I suppose, does one get in Christ by works or not..
It does indeed, and I think that to suggest that people have to be in Christ first smacks of predestination.
b) The passage includes Christ referring to the sheep doing stuff for "these brothers of mine" To be Christs brother one would have to the fathers (adopted) son.
And only certain people are given the right to be called sons of God.
Well I believe that Jesus, being a Jew, would view any Israelite as a ”son of god’ (Deut 14), so this may come down to the difference between this concept in the two testaments.
This passage can't simply be seen in the light of general good works = salvation. The righteous (who are already adopted as sons) did stuff for other (adopted) sons. But when it comes to the goats there is no reference to brothers.
Isn’t this suggesting that ”Christians’ are only blessed when they help other ”Christians’? I really don’t see where there is any discrimination between those who should be helped and those who shouldn’t in Matthew 25.
But, not trying to be awkward here, I really think that Jesus is referring to ”brothers’ when He speaks of the goats. Look at the way it reads:
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.
41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
When you do something for someone then you do it to Christ. This, IMO, means that when you DON’T do something for someone then you hurt Christ. When you do not feed someone you are doing something to them, you are keeping them hungry, and you are keeping Jesus hungry.
I would say that 25:14 is quite unambiguous
” Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
The “least of these” implies that they may not be in Christ, it suggests that they are people who are probably not well thought of or may not even be showing Christ like qualities. I think He sis still referring to brothers from v.40
For those reasons I reckon there is a bit more to this passage than that it is straightforward mechanism of salvation stuff
Oh I don’t believe for a minute that it is straightforward, I also do not believe for a second that anyone who doesn’t believe in Jesus as their Saviour, AND believe in the resurrection will be saved. The idea that an atheist will go to heaven is not something that I believe the Bible promotes, to me belief in your heart that Jesus conquered death will lead to correct works. I don’t think Jesus was as liberal as many people would like Him to have been.
Brian.
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