Bible Study - Identity (5) - Life in the Community - Matthew 25:34-40 - May 21, 2017

Bible Study – Identity (5) – Life in the Community – May 21, 2017

This is lesson five (5) in our series entitled “Identity: My Life of Faith.”

Our focus scripture is Matthew 25:34-40.

Loving JESUS means personally helping those in need.

Most of us know that mankind needs food, clothing, shelter and water in order for the human body to live upon earth and sustain physical life. There is another need that sustains mankind eternally. Every person has a human body/soul/spirit, which we call the trinity of mankind.

The body is that which we all see. It is what I refer to as our earth suit. The human spirit is the life force or the force that gives the body physical life. The human spirit absent from the human body means physical death.

The soul is the manifestation of the essence of the combination of the human spirit and the body. When the body rules, it reflects the manifestations of the desires of the flesh, which can range from good to the most heinous debauchery. When the spirit (not the Spirit) rules it manifests itself in various ways from good to evil depending upon ancestral attributes we have inherited and community/family influences. 

[The lower case “s” refers to the human “spirit” and the uppercase “S” denotes the born-again “Spirit” which still dwells with the human body until physical death. It is the born-again Spirit that goes to Heaven to dwell with GOD which will be housed in a special body, crafted by GOD, for Christians to be in until they return with JESUS at HIS second coming. At that instant all born-again Christians will receive their eternal Glorified bodies.]

This leaves each human vulnerable to life choices based upon heredity and community/family influence. So what can change that destiny? It must be a power greater than the will of the flesh, which involves the human spirit. That is why GOD allowed JESUS to come to earth in the flesh.

JESUS was born in the flesh. HE lived upon earth as a human, was tempted as all humans are tempted, yet without sin. HE was subject to physical death. HE willingly gave HIS physical life upon the cross by the shedding of HIS blood to pay in full the penalty for sin and was buried. GOD raised HIM from the physically dead on the third day to receive HIS Glorified body to confirm that both sin and death had been conquered through JESUS. The resurrection of JESUS demonstrated to all who place their faith in JESUS, that GOD has the power to resurrect the physically dead. 

Thus, JESUS stated in John 11:25-26:

25 Jesus said to her (Martha), “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;

26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

So what does that do for humans? When we place our faith in JESUS and what JESUS did to conquer sin and eternal death a miracle takes place in the life of each person. He or she is born for the second time; Thus the term “born-again.” 

The second birth is a Spiritual birth into GOD’S family. The human spirit is transformed from “spirit” to “Spirit” by the transforming power of GOD. Each person born into GOD’S family not only has eternal life but GOD gives each born-again person the Holy Spirit to indwell his or her human body to confirm and guarantee that GOD and JESUS are real and the person receiving JESUS as his or her Savior belong to GOD’S family.

Both the “spirit” and the “Spirit” live on beyond the death of the human body or what I refer to our “earth suit.” If our “spirit” has not been born-again by the power of GOD through faith in JESUS the person will face judgment by GOD. 

The person that has not been born-again is referred to as a goat in our lesson. The person whose “spirit” has been born-again “Spirit” by that person placing his or her faith in JESUS is a sheep in our lesson. Which are you? The choice is yours to make. Your decision has eternal value either to be in Heaven with GOD and JESUS eternally or separated from GOD eternally.

At the moment of salvation, the process of sanctification begins in the lives of Christians. Sanctification is to be set apart to serve GOD and is an earth life/Spiritual process.  

The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12: 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Every person has a choice: (1) Whether or not to receive JESUS as his or her Savior (2) Whether or not to allow JESUS, through the indwelling Holy Spirit to lead, direct, empower, enlighten his or he life. Each born-again person has the choice of self-rule or Holy Spirit rule. Once a person is born into the family of GOD, HE does not take away his or her right to choose. GOD’S desire is for each born-again believer to yield his or her will to HIM and be willing to obediently serve HIM as directed by the Holy Spirit.

Often, we worry that GOD will ask us to do something that we would not want to do. What does that reveal? It is a trust issue between the person and GOD. It indicates there is work yet to be done in the area of trust. GOD calls HIS children to be plumbers, computer experts, garbage collectors, doctors, mechanics, pipe fitters, lawyers, CEO’S, business men and women, pastors, 

missionaries and the list goes on.

Life upon earth is a training ground to build a loving, intimate, knowing, relationship with GOD through JESUS as empowered by the Holy Spirit.

So what does all this mean? In light of our lesson, the question is, are you a sheep or a goat?

Let’s explore!

Let’s read Matthew 25:31-33: (Lead in scripture)

The Sheep and the Goats

31 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.

32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

33 He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on the left.

JESUS was referring to the final judgment and HE is the Judge. Sheep are those who have placed their faith in JESUS and the goats are those who have not. JESUS told the sheep or righteous to go to HIS right. JESUS’ right is the favored position of power, strength and blessings. JESUS instructed the goats to go to HIS left.  JESUS’ left refers to the non-favored position of weakness, terrible judgment and darkness.

All will be judged by JESUS. JESUS stated in John 5:24:

24 "I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.

What is JESUS Word? Let’s read what JESUS said as recorded in John 14:6:

6 Jesus told him (Thomas), "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

At the instant a person receives JESUS as his or her Savior, he or she has eternal life and will not come under judgment. What will Christians receive? They will receive the rewards for obedience to the leadership of the LORD. King JESUS will say -----

Let’s read Matthew 25:34-36:

34 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.

JESUS issued an invitation to those on HIS right “to come” and to “inherit” the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

Do you remember Ephesians 1:3-4? - 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, in Christ;

4 for He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love

All are called to salvation. Some will accept and some will reject. GOD did not make us robots but HE gave us all freewill to choose. How do you choose? GOD chooses you, do you choose HIM?

“Kingdom” as used here refers to the final kingdom where GOD rules.

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 took Me in;

36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you took care of Me; I was in prison and you visited Me.'

Salvation cannot be earned by the works we do. But when we become Christians our Spiritual eyes are opened to the needs which are around us. 

Christians work as a natural outflow of their changed hearts. It is natural that JESUS pointed out that they ministered to HIM in these various ways – hungry and HE was fed, thirsty and HE was given drink, stranger and took HIM in, naked and clothed – sick and cared – prison and visited HIM.

I see these different ministries as those of us who know the truth ministering to those who need the truth and that need is manifested in various forms physical and Spiritual. There are those who need salvation and those who need to be encouraged and mentored along their life’s journey. Ponder each of these examples JESUS states and consider what they mean to you. Often, we have to meet the physical needs before we can minister to a person’s Spiritual needs. 

Then there are those who are in ministry and we need to minister to them as well. The Holy Spirit will guide and direct our paths. 

When Christians minister it flows naturally from their changed hearts. They do not see it as a chore but as a natural part of their new lives in JESUS and being a child of GOD. When Christians see GOD at work; that is our invitation to join HIM in that work.

Let’s read Matthew 25:37-40:

37 "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink?

The righteous are the born-again believers through faith in JESUS and as such they are righteous. Righteous means to be in right standing with GOD; justified; just-as-if-I-never-sinned. Do you remember 2 Corinthians 5:21?

 21 He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Christians are not made righteous by the works they do but by what JESUS willingly did for all who will place their faith in JESUS.

Works of obedience comes from the natural outflow of the Christians new life in JESUS through the renewing of their mind. Christians do not do what they do to receive a reward but to meet a need – physical or Spiritual – as led by the Holy Spirit.

38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or without clothes and clothe You?

39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit You?'

40 "And the King will answer them, 'I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.'

Ministering to others as led by the Holy Spirit is ministering to JESUS. It is not ministering just to those of prominence, position or stature but to the very least. All people need salvation.

Let’s read Matthew 25:41-46:

41 Then He will also say to those on the left (goats/unsaved), '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 didn't take Me in; I was naked and you didn't clothe Me, sick and in prison and you didn't take care of Me.'

44 "Then they too will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help You?'

45 "Then He will answer them, 'I assure you: Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me either.'

46 "And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

We who have the light of JESUS are to share the light of salvation through faith in JESUS with those who are lost in sin and under the penalty of sin, which is eternal death. Those who do not know the truth have only what the world has to offer which does not satisfy. We who know the truth are not to hide the light of salvation but we are to be the sweet fragrance to those who are dying eternally. 

Let’s read in 2 Corinthians 2:15:

15 For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.

How do you smell to others?

It is time for us as Christians to take off our old clothes and to put on our new clothes and live as JESUS desires for us to live among the people of the world. 

Let’s read Ephesians 4:21-24:

21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.

22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;

23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;

24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Christians it is time that we stop trying to live as the world wants us to live but it is time for us to be all that JESUS desires for us to be in a world of people who are lost and in need for the message of salvation.

Allow the indwelling Holy Spirit to renew our minds and create within each of us, as Christians, the desire to share the Good News of JESUS in our community. Christians are not where they are by accident but by design to minister to the community in which they have been planted.

How do we define community? Is it family, families, towns, cities, states, work places, churches, socials, nursing homes, hospitals, prisons, other countries and the list goes on. Or is it a combination of where people live, 

work and socialize?

Only the Holy Spirit can bring the proper perspective to where we, as Christians, are to obediently serve. GOD calls all Christians to serve. Each one of us will choose whether or not to serve. Will you step up to the plate when GOD calls you to serve? Will I? Christians are vital to the community in which they live.

Blessings!!!