At times churches will work you to death
by running to and fro
trying to bring in another pitiful soul.
Bake-sale & fundraiser go on and on
by works that don't work
from dark to dawn.
They don't want what's in your heart and hands to give
mentally, physically, socially, or spiritually as you daily live.
They want to tell you just how much you shall drop
in the pot on the spot.
For there is only one entrance into the kingdom of heaven
Christ the Lord
not baked goods filled with a bunch of leaven!
Not Money that preachers dance to
Nor entertainment that musicians play
each time you enter the door as your feet touch their floor.
If you didn't come in by the Holy Spirit calling
Run - for you came in the wrong way
and you must not stay
for they are leading you astray!
If your entered a building that's all about
Nickels, Noises, and Numbers
you will eventually end up in a spiritual slumber!
Worn out -- completely drained
as you become buried under the world of work's pain
from all their demands and commands
that are not even God birthed plans.
FOLLOW JOY, HOPE, GRACE, AND FAITH
THEY ALL KNOW WHERE YOU NEED TO GO
TO FULFILL YOUR EMPTY SOUL.
FYI:
There is only one entrance gate to heaven (hint it's not works) it's JESUS -- the Living Word (according to John 1:1) the True source of all Godly wisdom. If we call our self a CHRISTIAN we must not be ashamed of complete gospel truths.
TRUTH is TRUTH! It does not matter if you believe it or not.
Not believing it has nothing to do with the fact that it is TRUTH, and it therefore will not change it remaining being TRUTH just because you choose not to believe that it is TRUTH.
Don't base TRUTH on what you or others think TRUTH is but on what scripture declares.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and THE TRUTH and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
TRUTH is TRUTH! It does not matter if you believe it or not.
Not believing it has nothing to do with the fact that it is TRUTH, and it therefore will not change it remaining being TRUTH just because you choose not to believe that it is TRUTH.
Don't base TRUTH on what you or others think TRUTH is but on what scripture declares.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and THE TRUTH and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
6 If you point out these instructions to the [brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished [through study] on the words of the faith and of the good [Christian] doctrine which you have closely followed.
7 But have nothing to do with irreverent folklore and silly myths. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness [keeping yourself spiritually fit].
8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness (spiritual training) is of value in everything and in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.
9 This is a faithful and trustworthy saying worthy of full acceptance and approval.
10 It is for this that we labor and strive [often called to account], because we have fixed our [confident] hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe [in Him, recognize Him as the Son of God, and accept Him as Savior and Lord].
11 Keep commanding and teaching these things.
11 Keep commanding and teaching these things.
12 Let no one look down on [you because of] your youth, but be an example and set a pattern for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in [moral] purity.
13 Until I come, devote yourself to public reading [of Scripture], to preaching and to teaching [the sound doctrine of God’s word].
14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, [that special endowment] which was intentionally bestowed on you [by the Holy Spirit] through prophetic utterance when the [c]elders laid their hands on you [at your ordination].
15 Practice and work hard on these things; be absorbed in them [completely occupied in your ministry], so that your progress will be evident to all.
16 Pay close attention to yourself [concentrate on your personal development] and to your teaching; persevere in these things [hold to them], for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
Faith and Works
14 What is the benefit, my fellow believers, if someone claims to have faith but has no [good] works [as evidence]? Can that [kind of] faith save him? [No, a mere claim of faith is not sufficient—genuine faith produces good works.] 15 If a brother or sister is without [adequate] clothing and lacks [enough] food for each day, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace [with my blessing], [keep] warm and feed yourselves,” but he does not give them the necessities for the body, what good does that do? 17 So too, faith, if it does not have works [to back it up], is by itself dead [inoperative and ineffective].
18 But someone may say, “You [claim to] have faith and I have [good] works; show me your [alleged] faith without the works [if you can], and I will show you my faith by my works [that is, by what I do].” 19 You believe that God is one; you do well [to believe that]. The demons also believe [that], and shudder and bristle [in awe-filled terror—they have seen His wrath]! 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish [spiritually shallow] person, that faith without [good] works is useless? 21 Was our father Abraham not [shown to be] justified by works [of obedience which expressed his faith] when he offered Isaac his son on the altar [as a sacrifice to God]? 22 You see that [his] faith was working together with his works, and as a result of the works, his faith was completed [reaching its maturity when he expressed his faith through obedience]. 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and this [faith] was credited to him [by God] as righteousness and as conformity to His will,” and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man (believer) is justified by works and not by faith alone [that is, by acts of obedience a born-again believer reveals his faith]. 25 In the same way, was Rahab the prostitute not justified by works too, when she received the [Hebrew] spies as guests and protected them, and sent them away [to escape] by a different route? 26 For just as the [human] body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works [of obedience] is also dead.
Hebrews 6:1-3
Therefore let us get past the elementary stage in the teachings about the Christ, advancing on to maturity and perfection and spiritual completeness, [doing this] without laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
2 of teaching about washings (ritual purifications), the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. [These are all important matters in which you should have been proficient long ago.]
3 And we will do this [that is, proceed to maturity], if God permits.
4 For [it is impossible to restore to repentance] those who have once been enlightened [spiritually] and who have tasted and consciously experienced the heavenly gift and have shared in the Holy Spirit,
5 and have tasted and consciously experienced the good word of God and the powers of the age (world) to come,
6 and then have fallen away—it is impossible to bring them back again to repentance, since they again nail the Son of God on the cross [for as far as they are concerned, they are treating the death of Christ as if they were not saved by it], and are holding Him up again to public disgrace.
7 For soil that drinks the rain which often falls on it and produces crops useful to those for whose benefit it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God;
8 but if it persistently produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.
"Godly Works
The words work or works are translated from the Greek word ergon. Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words defines ergon in the context of believers as “a deed, act” (pp. 683-684). Godly works are deeds or actions that God accepts. Such works are the result of faith and putting the 10 Commandments into action in our lives.
The book of James defines godly works, the deeds or actions God accepts, as obedience to His law as defined in the Scripture (James 1:21-27; 2:8-26). James specifically defines “works” as actions or deeds—and tells us to be a “doer of the work” (James 1:25). He clearly refers to godly works as living by the 10 Commandments and other godly principles as they are amplified throughout the Bible.
Jesus taught His disciples to set a good example by letting their lights shine before all men (Matthew 5:16). Their examples were defined as “good works,” that is, obedience to God’s law.
Paul expounds the concept of good works as the “fruit of the Spirit”—thoughts and actions that are opposite of the “works of the flesh.” These good works produced by God’s Spirit in us are “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Ungodly works
Ungodly works are actions that God does not accept. They are deeds that break His law.
Paul uses the term “works of the flesh” to define unacceptable works: “Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like” (Galatians 5:19-21). These actions are the carnal thoughts and actions of the flesh.
Paul also uses the word works to correct those who believed they could be justified by their actions. Paul shows that obedience to ritual law or, for that matter, any law could not make them upright before God. Paul uses the phrase “works of the law” to describe such attitudes and actions. He explains that the only way to be justified (forgiven of sins so one may be upright before God) is by faith in the sacrifice of Christ. Only the blood of Christ can remove sins—obedience to law cannot do that.
Dead works
Now that we understand how the word works is used in the New Testament, we can analyze the expression “dead works.”
Clark’s Commentary defines dead works as “such works as deserve death—works of those who were dead in trespasses, and dead in sins, and dead by sentence of the law, because they had by these works broken the law” (emphasis added).
This comment agrees with Paul’s statement in Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death.” The apostle John defines sin: “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4). Sin is breaking God’s 10 Commandments and the penalty is everlasting death if the sinner refuses to repent of the sins.
Other versions of the Bible translate “repentance from dead works” in other ways, such as “repentance from acts that lead to death” (New International Version) and “repentance from the deeds which led to death” (J.B. Phillips New Testament).
Repentance from dead works is ongoing
Every human being, excluding Jesus Christ, has sinned. Paul writes, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
The apostle John warns Christians: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:8-10).
Therefore, due to sin, everyone has “dead works” that must be repented of and forgiven by God. Dead works (ineffectual and vain works) preceded conversion. Works that lead to death must be continually repented of and overcome after conversion."
Repentance From Dead Works
by Don Waterhouse
“Repentance from dead works” is listed as a fundamental doctrine in the New Testament. What are “dead works”? Must we repent of those works today?
The book of James defines godly works, the deeds or actions God accepts, as obedience to His law as defined in the Scripture (James 1:21-27; 2:8-26). James specifically defines “works” as actions or deeds—and tells us to be a “doer of the work” (James 1:25). He clearly refers to godly works as living by the 10 Commandments and other godly principles as they are amplified throughout the Bible.
Jesus taught His disciples to set a good example by letting their lights shine before all men (Matthew 5:16). Their examples were defined as “good works,” that is, obedience to God’s law.
Paul expounds the concept of good works as the “fruit of the Spirit”—thoughts and actions that are opposite of the “works of the flesh.” These good works produced by God’s Spirit in us are “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Ungodly works
Ungodly works are actions that God does not accept. They are deeds that break His law.
Paul uses the term “works of the flesh” to define unacceptable works: “Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like” (Galatians 5:19-21). These actions are the carnal thoughts and actions of the flesh.
Paul also uses the word works to correct those who believed they could be justified by their actions. Paul shows that obedience to ritual law or, for that matter, any law could not make them upright before God. Paul uses the phrase “works of the law” to describe such attitudes and actions. He explains that the only way to be justified (forgiven of sins so one may be upright before God) is by faith in the sacrifice of Christ. Only the blood of Christ can remove sins—obedience to law cannot do that.
Dead works
Now that we understand how the word works is used in the New Testament, we can analyze the expression “dead works.”
Clark’s Commentary defines dead works as “such works as deserve death—works of those who were dead in trespasses, and dead in sins, and dead by sentence of the law, because they had by these works broken the law” (emphasis added).
This comment agrees with Paul’s statement in Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death.” The apostle John defines sin: “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4). Sin is breaking God’s 10 Commandments and the penalty is everlasting death if the sinner refuses to repent of the sins.
Other versions of the Bible translate “repentance from dead works” in other ways, such as “repentance from acts that lead to death” (New International Version) and “repentance from the deeds which led to death” (J.B. Phillips New Testament).
Repentance from dead works is ongoing
Every human being, excluding Jesus Christ, has sinned. Paul writes, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
The apostle John warns Christians: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:8-10).
Therefore, due to sin, everyone has “dead works” that must be repented of and forgiven by God. Dead works (ineffectual and vain works) preceded conversion. Works that lead to death must be continually repented of and overcome after conversion."
Repentance From Dead Works
by Don Waterhouse
“Repentance from dead works” is listed as a fundamental doctrine in the New Testament. What are “dead works”? Must we repent of those works today?
https://lifehopeandtruth.com/.../repentance-from-dead-works/
"Traditional Works
Now before I get started I don’t want to imply that I’m disregarding the traditional view of works. There are things we do that are destructive to ourselves and those around us. These things are certainly not life giving by any means. And there are things we do that are obviously good because they lift up others and edify people as well.
This is how most people view works if you ask them about it, whether they are believers or not. I’m not saying this view is wrong. Rather I think it’s missing something crucial.
Dead Works
In the Bible the phrase “dead works” is only found in the book of Hebrews.
Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits.— Hebrews 6:1-3
Repentance from dead works is a foundational thing. Repentance means to change the way we think. We need to change the way we think about dead works.
From the outside looking in we can’t tell the difference between dead works and good works. They can look very much the same outwardly. They can be the same works, but they have different motives.
Praying can be a dead or good work.
Attending church can be a dead or good work.
Reading the Bible can be a dead or good work.
Telling others about Jesus can be a dead or good work.
That’s why Jesus said:
Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’— Matthew 7:22-23
Prophesying, casting out demons, performing miracles in the name of Jesus are all outwardly good things. But Jesus will reject “many” who do those things. Why? Because their hearts are wrong. These people have the wrong motivations for the things they do.
Dead works – Any attempt to find favor, earn acceptance or be made righteous before God by one’s own effort, ability or willpower.
Religion puts the emphasis on doing right. In contrast, Jesus and the apostles put the emphasis on believing right, because when we believe right we will naturally do right as a consequence.
If we can’t tell outwardly, then how do we know what a good work is?
A good work is when we do the will of God as a response to his love, mercy and our new identity of righteousness in Jesus Christ. In our New Covenant with God, grace is the ruling factor.
Grace and truth have come to us through Jesus. (John 1:17) Truth is the law. And the problem with the law is our flesh, our fallen nature.
Grace – Godly ability, the divine influence which works in the heart of man making him able. It is God’s perfect provision for man’s every need.
It takes both truth and grace for good works. We need truth to know what the action of good works are. And we also need grace in order to have the proper motivation for good works.
The term “fallen from grace” doesn’t mean that someone has fallen from sin. Rather it means they no longer have access to God’s ability in them. They have left grace and are fixated on truth alone, and are trying to do good works in their own ability.
But what they get in that case is nothing but dead works instead." Author unknown
https://newcreeations.org/good-works-vs-dead-works/
Dead Works
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam
"Twice in Paul’s epistles he refers to “dead works”. In Hebrews 6:1 he writes about “repentance from dead works”, while in Hebrews 9:14 he declares that the blood of Christ avails to “purge the conscience from dead works to serve the living God”.
Mark well, these references are not to wicked works but to dead works. These “dead works” are the so-called “good works” (whether moral or ceremonial) which men did — and still do — to make themselves acceptable to God. They are “dead” because they are not the product of regeneration or spiritual life, but the mere attempt on the part of unregenerate sinners to justify themselves before God.
Paul himself, once zealously religious, but wholly unsaved, had to repudiate his “dead works” and count them “loss” to find salvation in Christ, through whom alone he could produce good works which God could accept. (See Philippians 3:4-9).
This is why he later declared by divine inspiration: “For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast, for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works…” (Eph.2:8-10).
“Dead works” are not only unacceptable to God, but an evil substitute for the faith He desires, “for without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb.11:6). But “he that believeth on the Son of God hath life” and this life is bound to bear fruit— the good works with which God is truly pleased.
The difference between the “good works” of the unregenerate man and the “good works” of a true believer, then, is that the former are “dead works” while the latter are the precious fruit of life possessed.
No man can please God while he denies the truth of His Word or rejects His Son, so graciously given to die on the cross as our Saviour. To try to win His favor by “good works” while rejecting Christ is like sending a gift to a man whose beloved son you spurn and despise.
“The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hands. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. And he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:35,36)."
Bill Johnson - The Resting Place - VERY POWERFUL MESSAGE
Now before I get started I don’t want to imply that I’m disregarding the traditional view of works. There are things we do that are destructive to ourselves and those around us. These things are certainly not life giving by any means. And there are things we do that are obviously good because they lift up others and edify people as well.
This is how most people view works if you ask them about it, whether they are believers or not. I’m not saying this view is wrong. Rather I think it’s missing something crucial.
Dead Works
In the Bible the phrase “dead works” is only found in the book of Hebrews.
Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits.— Hebrews 6:1-3
Repentance from dead works is a foundational thing. Repentance means to change the way we think. We need to change the way we think about dead works.
From the outside looking in we can’t tell the difference between dead works and good works. They can look very much the same outwardly. They can be the same works, but they have different motives.
Praying can be a dead or good work.
Attending church can be a dead or good work.
Reading the Bible can be a dead or good work.
Telling others about Jesus can be a dead or good work.
That’s why Jesus said:
Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’— Matthew 7:22-23
Prophesying, casting out demons, performing miracles in the name of Jesus are all outwardly good things. But Jesus will reject “many” who do those things. Why? Because their hearts are wrong. These people have the wrong motivations for the things they do.
Dead works – Any attempt to find favor, earn acceptance or be made righteous before God by one’s own effort, ability or willpower.
Religion puts the emphasis on doing right. In contrast, Jesus and the apostles put the emphasis on believing right, because when we believe right we will naturally do right as a consequence.
If we can’t tell outwardly, then how do we know what a good work is?
A good work is when we do the will of God as a response to his love, mercy and our new identity of righteousness in Jesus Christ. In our New Covenant with God, grace is the ruling factor.
Grace and truth have come to us through Jesus. (John 1:17) Truth is the law. And the problem with the law is our flesh, our fallen nature.
Grace – Godly ability, the divine influence which works in the heart of man making him able. It is God’s perfect provision for man’s every need.
It takes both truth and grace for good works. We need truth to know what the action of good works are. And we also need grace in order to have the proper motivation for good works.
The term “fallen from grace” doesn’t mean that someone has fallen from sin. Rather it means they no longer have access to God’s ability in them. They have left grace and are fixated on truth alone, and are trying to do good works in their own ability.
But what they get in that case is nothing but dead works instead." Author unknown
https://newcreeations.org/good-works-vs-dead-works/
Glen Allred - We'll Work 'Til Jesus Comes [Live]
Dead Worksby Pastor Cornelius R. Stam
"Twice in Paul’s epistles he refers to “dead works”. In Hebrews 6:1 he writes about “repentance from dead works”, while in Hebrews 9:14 he declares that the blood of Christ avails to “purge the conscience from dead works to serve the living God”.
Mark well, these references are not to wicked works but to dead works. These “dead works” are the so-called “good works” (whether moral or ceremonial) which men did — and still do — to make themselves acceptable to God. They are “dead” because they are not the product of regeneration or spiritual life, but the mere attempt on the part of unregenerate sinners to justify themselves before God.
Paul himself, once zealously religious, but wholly unsaved, had to repudiate his “dead works” and count them “loss” to find salvation in Christ, through whom alone he could produce good works which God could accept. (See Philippians 3:4-9).
This is why he later declared by divine inspiration: “For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast, for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works…” (Eph.2:8-10).
“Dead works” are not only unacceptable to God, but an evil substitute for the faith He desires, “for without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb.11:6). But “he that believeth on the Son of God hath life” and this life is bound to bear fruit— the good works with which God is truly pleased.
The difference between the “good works” of the unregenerate man and the “good works” of a true believer, then, is that the former are “dead works” while the latter are the precious fruit of life possessed.
No man can please God while he denies the truth of His Word or rejects His Son, so graciously given to die on the cross as our Saviour. To try to win His favor by “good works” while rejecting Christ is like sending a gift to a man whose beloved son you spurn and despise.
“The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hands. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. And he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:35,36)."
https://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/dead-works/?fbclid=IwAR22vAZcV3x91uZdQvRquwVNLYRwMHOdqvdIeXZlIprg2Z0P_j6K48J0IGc
Prophecy against the Shepherds of Israel
34 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to them, the [spiritual] shepherds, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Woe (judgment is coming) to the [spiritual] shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock? 3 You eat the fat [the choicest of meat], and clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the best of the livestock, but you do not feed the flock. 4 You have not strengthened those who are weak, you have not healed the sick, you have not bandaged the crippled, you have not brought back those gone astray, you have not looked for the lost; but you have ruled them with force and violence. 5 They were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the predators of the field. 6 My flock wandered through all the mountains and on every high hill; My flock was scattered over all the face of the earth and no one searched or sought them.”’”
7 Therefore, you [spiritual] shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 8 “As I live,” says the Lord God, “certainly because My flock has become prey, My flock has even become food for every predator of the field for lack of a shepherd, and My shepherds did not search for My flock, but ratherthe shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock; 9 therefore, you [spiritual] shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 10 ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will demand My flock from them and make them stop tending the flock, so that the shepherds cannot feed themselves anymore. I will rescue My flock from their mouth, so that they will not be food for them.”’”
The Restoration of Israel
11 For thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I Myself will search for My flock and seek them out. 12 As a shepherd cares for his sheep on the day that he is among his scattered flock, so I will care for My sheep; and I will rescue them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day. 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries and bring them to their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams, and in all the inhabited places of the land. 14 I will feed them in a good pasture, and their grazing ground will be on the mountain heights of Israel. There they will lie down on good grazing ground and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I will feed My flock and I will let them lie down [to rest],” says the Lord God. 16 “I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bandage the crippled, and strengthen the weak and the sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong [who have become hard-hearted and perverse]. I will feed them with judgment and punishment.
17 “And as for you, My flock, thus says the Lord God, ‘Behold, I judge between one sheep and another, between the rams and the male goats [between the righteous and the unrighteous]. 18 Is it too little a thing for you that you [unrighteous ones who are well-fed] feed in the best pasture, yet you must trample down with your feet [of wickedness] the rest of your pastures? Or that you drink clear [still] water, yet you must muddy with your feet [of wickedness] the rest [of the water]? 19 As for My flock (the righteous), they must feed on what you trample with your feet and drink what you muddy with your feet!’”
20 Therefore thus says the Lord God to them, “Behold, I Myself will judge between the [well-fed] fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Because you push with side and shoulder, and gore with your horns all those that have become weak and sick until you have scattered them away, 22 therefore, I will rescue My flock, and they shall no longer be prey; and I will judge between one sheep [ungodly] and another [godly].
23 “Then I will appoint over them one shepherd and he will feed them, [a ruler like] My servant David; he will feed them and be their shepherd.24 And I the Lord will be their God, and My servant David will be a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken.
25 “I will make a covenant of peace with them and will eliminate the predatory animals from the land so that they may live securely in the wilderness and sleep [safely] in the woods. 26 I will make them and the places around My hill (Jerusalem, Zion) a blessing. And I will make showers come down in their season; there will be [abundant] showers of blessing (divine favor). 27 Also the tree of the field will yield its fruit and the earth will yield its produce; and My people will be secure on their land. Then they will know [with confidence] that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bars of their yoke and have rescued them from the hand of those who made them slaves. 28 They will no longer be prey to the nations, and the predators of the earth will not devour them; but they will live safely, and no one will make them afraid [in the day of the Messiah’s reign]. 29 I will prepare for them a place renowned for planting [crops], and they will not again be victims of famine in the land, and they will not endure the insults of the nations any longer. 30 Then they will know [with assurance] that I the Lord their God, am with them and that they, the house of Israel, are My people,” says the Lord God. 31 “As for you, My flock, the flock of My pasture, you are men, and I am your God,” says the Lord God.
Satirical Rephrasing of Mathew 25: 31-46
"I was famished and you formed a humanitarian club to discuss my hunger. I was imprisoned and you crept off quietly to your church to pray for my release. I was naked and you debated the morality of my unseemly appearance. I was sick and you knew it, yet did nothing but thank God for your own health. I was homeless and you preached to me of the spiritual shelter of the love of God. I was lonely and you left me by myself while you went and prayed for me. You seemed so holy, so close to God; but I'm still very hungry, desolate, and cold!"
"I was famished and you formed a humanitarian club to discuss my hunger. I was imprisoned and you crept off quietly to your church to pray for my release. I was naked and you debated the morality of my unseemly appearance. I was sick and you knew it, yet did nothing but thank God for your own health. I was homeless and you preached to me of the spiritual shelter of the love of God. I was lonely and you left me by myself while you went and prayed for me. You seemed so holy, so close to God; but I'm still very hungry, desolate, and cold!"
Matthew 25:31-46 Amplified Bible (AMP)
The Judgment
31 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory and majesty and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him [for judgment]; and He will separate them from one another, as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right [the place of honor], and the goats on His left [the place of rejection].
34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father [you favored of God, appointed to eternal salvation], inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me [with help and ministering care]; I was in prison, and you came to Me [ignoring personal danger].’ 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38 And when did we see You as a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39 And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 The King will answer and say to them, ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it for Me.’
41 “Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Leave Me, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels (demons); 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me [with help and ministering care].’ 44 Then they also [in their turn] will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or as a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will reply to them, ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these [my followers], you did not do it for Me.’ 46 Then these [unbelieving people] will go away into eternal (unending) punishment, but those who are righteous and in right standing with God [will go, by His remarkable grace] into eternal (unending) life.”
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Disclosure: Much of what is in my posts are things I have compiled through the years and I do not know if they have copyrights. What I do know about origin or website I give credit and have tried to always post a link to the origin. I do not market anything in any way on this blog -- I merely hope it will encourage and inspire others.
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