ON JUDGMENT SUNDAY

Matt. 25:31 "Shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:"

The end of the world is coming. Christ is coming to conduct the final judgment. We don't know the day, the year or the century. The Apostles already said: "In these last days" (Hebr. 1:2, Acts 2:17, 1 Pet. 1:20, 1 John 2:18, James 5:3). From that time on the signs of the end of the world have been visible and have been increasing. When Christ comes, everyone will see Him. His coming will not happen in secret. "An hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; those who did the good deeds, to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment" (John 5:29). All the dead will be raised at the same time. The judgment will begin; also our judgment.

To those on His right, Jesus will say: "Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matt. 25:34). An amazing judgment! No mention of sin, of sins committed or of sins of neglect. The Savior speaks only of the good works with which His own have served Him.

Where, on Judgment Day, can we find people like this?

Everyone's faults are plainly visible here on earth. No one is perfect. Nevertheless the number of the saved is so great that they cannot be counted.

The answer to the riddle is this: They are "blessed of My Father". The Father has blessed them in such a way that they are no longer sinners. They have been glorified. Here on earth they have been sinners like the thief on the cross or the publican who beat his breast. The Father has blessed them by drawing them unto Himself. They have received the gift of faith, have placed their trust in God's grace in Christ. "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1). They have believed this word: "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law" (Rom. 3:28).

The good works of the saved will be mentioned on Judgment Day. These works will be the proof that they have had a genuine saving faith, which is a living and effective faith. They have not earned salvation by their works, but rather "those who believe are blessed" (Gal. 3:9). The judgment of the believers is a judgment of grace. Oh, that all of us will have a judgment like this! And we will, if only we believe God's word, that Jesus has atoned for our sins. This is how simple is the matter of faith.

To those on His left Christ will say: "Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matt. 25:41).

These are the ones who have not believed in Jesus, but have trusted in their own works. These works have been a deceptive foundation, for the Judge will announce that they have neglected to do good works. They have had no love for the "least" of Christ's brethren. The "least of His brethren" are those who have believed in Him and proclaimed His Word. "He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward... And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you he shall not lose his reward" (Matt. 10:41,42).

Jesus exposes the unbelief of those who are damned, by pointing to their works. But to what works?

In general, not to the work of helping people in less fortunate circumstances. Many unbelievers are more zealous in this respect than believers. But when the world ridicules and persecutes, no one but a believer, "in the name of a disciple", helps another believer.

While living here on earth, those who are damned, have boasted of their works. On Judgment Day, however, they will have no works, that have been done for Christ to offer. They will be condemned according to the demand of the Law: "For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse... Now that no one is justified by the Law is evident; for the righteous man shall live by faith" (Gal. 3:10,11).

We too will be condemned if we remain under the Law. Let us therefore flee to Christ, where we will be under grace, and accept salvation in Him while we are still living in the time of grace.