WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday December 30, 2018
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THE FINAL JUDGMENT
(JESUS will judge us according to our
reaction to human need)
(Matthew 25:31-46)
In Matthew 25, verses
31-46, as JESUS concluded HIS, now famous, “Mount Olive Discourse” from the
slopes of Mount Olive, HE gives us the answers that we need in order to pass
“the test of life” that GOD has set before us. Here, the ultimate TEACHER,
JESUS, gives us the criterion by which HE will grade all humankind upon HIS
second coming, when “the school of life” as we know it here on earth, is over.
Here
JESUS is speaking of a time immediately following the final tribulations of man
that were foretold by the prophet Daniel during the Babylonian conquest (Daniel
7:25, 9:27, 12:7), and then later, by the Apostle John through his visions from
CHRIST JESUS on the island of Patmos (Revelations 11:2-3, 12:14, 13:5). This
final tribulation period is to last for seven years just prior to what we’ve
come to know as “The Rapture”.
JESUS
tells us that HE will be accompanied by a host of angels, and will be seated on
HIS glorious throne because HE plans to stay for a while (1000 years to be
exact). It is from there, that HE will exercise HIS GOD-given authority to
judge all mankind, and HE will do so, strictly according to “how we reacted to
human need” in our lifetime.
If
we reacted positively to others, showing agape love toward our fellowman, we
passed the test of life, however, if we reacted negatively, and did not show
love and concern for our fellowman, we’ve failed the test, and thereby, cannot
pass into eternal life in Heaven, nor, for that matter, into the earthly
“Millennial Kingdom” which CHRIST will set up immediately following HIS final
judgment.
During
this millennial period (1000 years), CHRIST JESUS will reign over a restored
earth, where there will be “no satanic influence”, because satan will be locked
away for the duration. The prophet Ezekiel tells us that GOD will, quite
literally, take away the remaining sin nature, or desire to sin, from those who
are still seeking GOD in the end (Ezekiel 36:25-33).
Because
of GOD’S generous giving of a new human spirit to those who are allowed to
enter the Millennial Kingdom, there will be no sin, nor desire to sin, during
CHRIST’s reign and beyond. And because there will be no more sin, there can
also be no more sickness and death. Everyone who enters into the Millennial Kingdom
on day one will still be a member of the Kingdom at the end of the thousand
year period, because they will willingly desire only to serve CHRIST JESUS.
In
this passage JESUS makes it pretty clear that anyone who hasn’t accepted HIS
salvation offer by the time HE returns (the goats in this passage) will be sent
away into eternal damnation and punishment. Only those individuals who have
already accepted CHRIST before HE returns (the sheep in this passage) will be
allowed to enter into, and share in HIS Millennial Kingdom. One must have
already taken on the attitude of treating everyone as if they were dealing with
CHRIST HIMSELF, personally, before HE returns. They must actually practice this
behavior in this life, right now, here on earth.
What
stands out in this passage is that no sin, in particular, is mentioned, as a
part of the criterion that JESUS will use for judging us. The reason being is
that, all the sins of man, past, present, and future, have already been covered
by the blood of JESUS when HE died on the cross at Golgotha.
Here JESUS is telling us that we will be judged strictly according to
our reaction to human need, and that salvation is granted only to those who
believe that HE died and took the mandatory death penalty for sins off the
table. Since that time all those who accept HIM as their LORD and SAVIOR will
be saved from eternal damnation.
However,
our faith in GOD has to rise to the level of “Saving Faith” before we can be
motivated to act out that faith in a way that is pleasing to GOD. Real saving
faith manifests itself through GODly deeds and behavior that actually show GOD
our love for HIM and our fellowman. And when GOD looks into our hearts and sees
HIMSELF, HE then sends us to JESUS.
That
is what JESUS means when HE says, “No man can come to ME unless the FATHER draws
them” (John 6:43-45 and 65). As Christians, we must be able to show the world,
through our behavior, that Christianity really does produce the best men and
women. And then, because of the desire we’ve shown to “do” the Word of GOD, GOD
the FATHER will send us to JESUS, and HE, in the last day, will raise us up
from the dead into eternal life with HIM, first, in the Millennial Kingdom, and
then finally, into the Kingdom of Heaven itself.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
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