Bible Readings:
Joel 3:1 – 21
Matthew 25:31 – 46
Sermon Outline:
1 – The Son of Man will judge the sheep and the goats on the Last Day;
John 5:21–23 (NKJV)
21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.
22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
2 – The sheep inherit the kingdom by grace alone:
a. sourced in the Father’s blessing;
b. an inheritance (testament);
The Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter VII
IV. This covenant of grace is frequently set forth in the scripture by the name of a Testament, in reference to the death of Jesus Christ the testator, and to the everlasting inheritance, with all things belonging to it, therein bequeathed.
c. grounded in predestination.
Romans 9:10 (NKJV)
10 And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac
Matthew 25:34 (NKJV)
34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
3 – The Lord Himself vindicates His own work in His people by bringing forth the evidence of:
Matthew 25:40 (NKJV)
40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
a. faith and its fruit;
b. unbelief and its fruit.
The standard in the final judgement will in the first place be the gospel; but that gospel is not opposed to, and cannot even be conceived apart from, the law. The requirement to believe, after all, is itself grounded in the law, and the gospel is the restoration and fulfilment of the law…. In the final judgment, therefore, the norm will be the entire Word of God in both its part: law and gospel.
Herman Bavinck