Tell City Nazarene Church's Biblical Journey
With Pastor Charles Areson
Today's reading is Matthew 25-28
Matthew 25 contains three of the more familiar parables of Jesus: The Ten Virgins, The Talents, and The Sheep and the Goats. The first speaks of being ready for Christ's return, the others speak of being faithful until He returns.
Christians understand that salvation can't be bought but only accepted. So being ready isn't a matter of doing something but having something the Spirit of God (oil is a symbol of Him). It isn't something you can buy but it is something you can receive.
This being said it isn't just having the Holy Spirit (or claiming to) but being faithful in life and this is seen in the next two parables. The actions, as I read this, isn't something the stewards or the sheep are doing to their salvation but in faithful response to what they have been given and flowing naturally from their lives.
I note here the stewards don't come across as prideful but as just doing their jobs. The sheep are actually surprised that their actions count as works pleasing to God but were doing what they naturally do. Both seem to be like the apple tree who is praised for growing apples and asks, "Why praise me? This is what I do."
Salvation is free and given by grace, we can't and don't earn it. However, Jesus living in us will cause us to begin to act differently and be different. It is a transformation.
Photo by Liana Mikah on Unsplash
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| Apple trees produce apples. (Deep, isn't it?) |
Matthew 25 contains three of the more familiar parables of Jesus: The Ten Virgins, The Talents, and The Sheep and the Goats. The first speaks of being ready for Christ's return, the others speak of being faithful until He returns.
Christians understand that salvation can't be bought but only accepted. So being ready isn't a matter of doing something but having something the Spirit of God (oil is a symbol of Him). It isn't something you can buy but it is something you can receive.
This being said it isn't just having the Holy Spirit (or claiming to) but being faithful in life and this is seen in the next two parables. The actions, as I read this, isn't something the stewards or the sheep are doing to their salvation but in faithful response to what they have been given and flowing naturally from their lives.
I note here the stewards don't come across as prideful but as just doing their jobs. The sheep are actually surprised that their actions count as works pleasing to God but were doing what they naturally do. Both seem to be like the apple tree who is praised for growing apples and asks, "Why praise me? This is what I do."
Salvation is free and given by grace, we can't and don't earn it. However, Jesus living in us will cause us to begin to act differently and be different. It is a transformation.
Photo by Liana Mikah on Unsplash
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