While the judgment in Matthew 25, as in Ezekiel 20, is based on outward works, it is true here as elsewhere in Scripture that works are taken as evidence of salvation. The good works of the “sheep” in befriending the “brethren” (the Jewish people) is an act of kindness which no one but a believer in Christ would perform during the tribulation when Christian as well as Jew is hated by all the world.
I do not believe the 'works' are evidence of salvation...I believe they are a requirement for salvation, along with faith...
No where do these people pass the muster by faith alone...The emphasis is on works...
As per the goats:
Mat 25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Mat 25:44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
These guys recognize Jesus as the Lord...There is no mention of Eph. 2:8,9 but everything is 'works'...
The judgment of the Gentiles is an individual judgment, though some premillenarians have seen in it a description of national judgment. This misconception has arisen from the English translation where the Greek word ethne is rendered “nation.”
I am one of those...I do not believe it is a 'misconception'...And it does make for interesting discourse...
But overall, I'm right with ya....
No one is ever saved by works or faith+works in the OT, NT or end times. I agree with Walvoord, the works mentioned are the fruits of salvation by God’s Grace effecting regeneration of the believer.
There is only one Gospel and it was preached by all the apostles (1 Corinthians 15). There are no other gospels out there.
Where we sometimes get wrapped around these passages of “the righteous” or “those doing good” entering the Kingdom is because we don’t read Paul’s epistles fully. He spends a good amount of time telling us that those saved by Grace are conformed to the Image of the Son. That is only possible by Christ abiding in us and we in Him. This means doing what Christ told us to do. We do so because He paid for us with such a price.
Our earthly fathers do not measure their love for us in the chores we do for them. They are, however, well pleased at our love back, our earnest work showing them we believe their example and strive to imitate it. That is faith in action not works.
For if at some point the Gospel changes then that means it is no longer Grace but works.
Sorry for the length but even gentlemen like Walvoord warned us of the hyper dispensationalism even in his time. The type which asserts Peter et al. preached a different Gospel than Paul. One Gospel, One Body of Christ.
If they were a "requirement for salvation" then the all sufficiency of the sacrifice of Christ would be nullified.
Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
The law is by definition works since the Greek word used indicates the requirement for some sort of action on man's part. That would give man the opportunity to claim salvation for actions he took. Jesus also defined what the "works" of God are.
John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Salvation is a free gift from God. The so called "works" or "deeds" being talked about are the results of the working of God through the saved person. Thus, salvation precedes the deeds.