It would also be very helpful if you could talk about how the end of Matthew 25 ("The Sheep and the Goats" passage), where Jesus apparently draws a direct line between deeds performed and eternal punishment or eternal life, reconciles with the idea of salvation through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).
The answer to your question is found in Matt. 25:37: Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you?
This is the response of those receiving the heavenly blessing (as well as the lame excuse of the unrighteous who failed this endeavor, check verse 44). They are oblivious to their good works as applying directly to this salvation, much less touching our Saviour.
Note well Jesus' point made in Matt. 5:20: But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!
This after His teaching about letting our light shine: In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. (v. 16)
Good deeds happen in the life of faith (it's like breathing, so everyday yet ultimately important). But they never must be regarded as meritorious for salvation, but the life-style of the pious and faithful.
Thanks so much for responding, I appreciate it! :-)
I've struggled with the Matthew 25:31-46 passage for a long time, but maaaaybe I'm starting to get it.
Jesus appears to describe a direct causal relationship between loving one's neighbor (or not) and eternal life/punishment. "Faith" or "belief" is not mentioned.
However, that summary misses that Jesus specifies that in living out love for one's neighbor, one is actually loving God (Matthew 25:40).
And "loving God" *does* sound a lot like the faith described in Ephesians 2 and elsewhere.
Thanks for the video!
It would also be very helpful if you could talk about how the end of Matthew 25 ("The Sheep and the Goats" passage), where Jesus apparently draws a direct line between deeds performed and eternal punishment or eternal life, reconciles with the idea of salvation through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Thanks!
Posted by: Jon Schneider | August 25, 2016 at 11:57 AM
Jon,
The answer to your question is found in Matt. 25:37: Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you?
This is the response of those receiving the heavenly blessing (as well as the lame excuse of the unrighteous who failed this endeavor, check verse 44). They are oblivious to their good works as applying directly to this salvation, much less touching our Saviour.
Note well Jesus' point made in Matt. 5:20: But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!
This after His teaching about letting our light shine: In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. (v. 16)
Good deeds happen in the life of faith (it's like breathing, so everyday yet ultimately important). But they never must be regarded as meritorious for salvation, but the life-style of the pious and faithful.
Posted by: DGFischer | August 25, 2016 at 02:04 PM
Thanks so much for responding, I appreciate it! :-)
I've struggled with the Matthew 25:31-46 passage for a long time, but maaaaybe I'm starting to get it.
Jesus appears to describe a direct causal relationship between loving one's neighbor (or not) and eternal life/punishment. "Faith" or "belief" is not mentioned.
However, that summary misses that Jesus specifies that in living out love for one's neighbor, one is actually loving God (Matthew 25:40).
And "loving God" *does* sound a lot like the faith described in Ephesians 2 and elsewhere.
Thanks again!
Posted by: Jon Schneider | August 26, 2016 at 06:59 AM