I Believe — Jesus Will Come Again to Judge the Living and the Dead

Text: Matthew 25:31-46

Theme: The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats reminds us of the certainty of a coming judgement.

Theme: The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats reminds us that a day of judgment is coming. Through the Apostles’ Creed we confess that Jesus is coming again, that he is coming from heaven, that he is coming to judge, and that he will judge both the living and the dead.

Most of us have probably heard or used some form of the cliché that "there is nothing more certain in life than death and taxes." Those who use this expression do so to under-score the certainty, the inevitability, even the inescapability, of these two realities. Everything else in life is, by contrast, able to be escaped or avoided. But not so these two!

It is important, however, to observe that the Scriptures emphasize another certainty which we are often tempted to minimize or overlook, or in some cases even deny. And that is the certainty of God's judgement upon our lives. The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats reminds us of the certainty of a coming judgement.

Perhaps the chief reason this certainty is neglected or minimized by many is that it suggests something foreboding and disquieting. After all who wants to contemplate the prospect of standing before God's judgment seat, to be examined and judged according to what we have done in this life?! How different this view of God is from the picture so many want to have of Him today! In our culture people want a user-friendly-God — One who is there at their beckon call to fix their problems, but who can be conveniently tucked away until He is needed again. The “God” of the early 21st century is thought of as a kindly, gentle, almost grandfatherly-type figure who winks at sin and easily embraces the sinner. Surely He will not be found in the business of subjecting His creatures to everlasting punishment — would He?

The Apostles' Creed, however, includes judgement in its description of Christ's work; Christ has been appointed to judge the living and the dead when He comes again. We cannot be faithful to the Scriptures, if we are neglectful of this part of the Creed.

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father;

from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

What does it tell us? Christian eschatology, according to this clause of the Apostle's Creed, has four elements to it.

1st, Jesus is coming again

2nd, he is coming from heaven

3rd, he is coming to judge

4th, he will judge both the living and the dead

I. THE CREED CONFIRMS THAT THE END OF THE WORLD IS COMING

1. well isn’t that a cheery though to begin the Lord’s Day with?

a. actually, for believers, it ought to be

1) we know that with the end of the world comes a New Heaven and a New Earth and eternal fellowship with the Godhead and each other

2) at the end of the world believer will see our Lord’s glory

“But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:13, NIV84)

3) at the end of the world believers will be glorified with the glory of the Lord

“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.” (1 John 3:2–3, NIV84)

b. with the end of the world comes the Marriage Supper of the Lamb

“Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) 9 Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”” (Revelation 19:6–9, NIV84)

1) at the end of the world believers will be blessed beyond our imagination

2. the first thing to notice about this part of the creed is that it points to a certain future

a. Jesus has ascended into heaven, and even now is at the right hand of God the Father Almighty

b. and he is returning

ILLUS. In his letter to the Thessalonian believers, the Apostle Paul reminds them the Lord himself will come down from heaven and that believers will be resurrected to be with the Lord forever. He closes by saying, “Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

c. the prospect of Christ’s return ought not fill us with anxiety, but with expectation!

3. with this section of the creed we come to a major turning point; from thence — that is from heaven — he shall come to judge the living and the dead

a. with this clause we have a change in tense

b. so far all other clauses of the Creed concerning the Christ have been in the past tense

1) He was conceived…

2) He suffered ... He was crucified ... He died ... He was buried

3) He descended ... He arose ... He ascended

a) all of these events took place over 2000 years ago and point to a historical event that happened on a Spring weekend in the province of Judah

c. but now, we come to a statement in the present tense — from thence he will come again to judge the living and the dead!

4. Christ’s present location at the Father’s right hand is one which is moving toward its God-appointed goal

a. that goal is the gathering of his people, the judgement of his enemies, and the establishment of his eternal kingdom

b. the fundamental distinction between the old and the new, between the now and the not yet is the difference between this age, and the age to come

1) both Testaments of the Bible testify that there is an age to come

a) it’s inauguration is called the great and terrible Day of the Lord

2) Christians all long for it, and even nature pines for it

A. ALL MEN HAVE AN ESCHATOLOGY

1. whether they know it or not, all men have an eschatology — a view of what happens at the end of history, and the ultimate destiny of humanity

a. the word eschatology comes from the Greek éschatos meaning last and -logy meaning the study of and first appeared in the English language about 1844

1) the Oxford English Dictionary defines eschatology as “the part of theology concerned with death, judgement, and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind”

2. the Church is not the only people who have a view of how history and the end of the world will play out

Science has an eschatology. It is an eschatology driven by the second law of thermodynamics known as entropy — the degradation of all matter and energy in the universe to an ultimate state of inert uniformity. In layman’s terms this simply means that something will become nothing. The universe will simply cease to exist. Like the last faint ember of a dying campfire, the universe will one day simply die out. The end.

Marxism has an eschatology. It is an eschatology driven by equality of outcome. The goal is a utopian “worker’s paradise” where no one has more or less than their neighbor and everybody has enough. Democratic socialism believes this can be achieved peacefully through the transformation of a culture via redistribution of wealth. Communistic socialism assumes violent revolution is the only way to accomplish the same goals. (This is exactly what ANTIFA and BLM are calling for)

Environmentalists have an eschatology. It is an eschatology driven by the near worship of “mother Earth.” It’s a goal is the liberation of nature from the evil domination of homosapien. Industrialization must end, use of fossil fuels must be eradicated, and it would be very helpful if about 5 ½ billion people would simply cease to exist.

Totalitarian governments have an eschatology. It is eschatology driven by the supremacy of the state. Everything and everyone within a society exist solely to advance the state with its policies and agendas. The goal is the eternal existence, and supreme authority of the state at whatever the cost.

The Church of Oprah has an eschatology. It’s eschatology is driven by “Can’t we just all get alone?” It’s goal is simply to embrace the inner light and discover your own spiritual path, and if you do we will all see each other in heaven on the other side. It’s an eschatology accepted be millions.

B. CHRISTIAN ESCHATOLOGY TEACHES THAT GOD WILL JUDGE THE WORLD THROUGH THE SON

“For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgement to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.” (John 5:21–23, NIV84)

1. this doctrine is detestable to many

ILLUS. In 2008 British author and screen writer Ian McEwan, one of the most influential authors and literary figures of our day, and an convinced atheist, wrote a major essay appearing in London’s The Guardian newspaper. In it he described his “fear” of living among a people who have an eschatology. McEwan is quite convinced that people who believe that history will end with divine judgement are dangerous — probably very dangerous. He was, of course, referring to Christians who dare to believe that history will end in God’s judgement of humanity. He said here’s the problem, “People who believe that history will end in judgement tend to be judgmental — believing that they know something of how that judgement will take place.” McEwan is amazed that so many American Christians still take the Book of Revelation seriously! Speaking from the secularist viewpoint he writes that the idea that, at the end of time, God will separate humanity into two groups, one of them to be condemned, and the other to be commended, is repugnant.

1. I would submit to you this morning that there is something scarier — living in the midst of a people who do not believe that any judgement is coming; that there will be no accounting, no settling for the behavior of one’s life

a. this is where most of Western culture is today

2. we need a God who judges

a. if there is no Judge; if there is no final judgement between right and wrong, then who’s to say that one action is more meaningful than another?

b. if there is no Judge; if there is no final judgement between good and evil, then who’s to say that killing 10 million Jews was wrong?

ILLUS. By 1939 Nazi Germany needed Lebensraum — “living space”. If there is no judge who’s to say that their conquest of surrounding nations was wrong since they needed space for their own population?

c. if there is no Judge; if there is no final judgement between righteousness and unrighteousness, then who’s to say that my forging your name on a home title and borrowing $150,000 against your house and sticking you with the bill is wrong?

d. if there is no Judge; if there is no final judgement between holiness and wickedness, then why not kill another 70 million babies over the next 50 years?

1) the common response to all of these scenarios is, “Well, society says it’s wrong”

2) yeah, but what happens when society changes its mind?

ILLUS. There was a time in Western culture when almost everyone agreed that abortion was wrong, and that the whole-sale slaughter of millions of children in the womb was unthinkable. Now it’s legal, and even celebrated by most as a fundamental right.

ILLUS. A mere six years ago same-sex marriage was illegal, considered by thevast majority of Americans as immoral, and from a biblical perspective… Evil. Today, if you oppose same-sex marriage, which is now legal, you are considered, at the very least, bigoted, and on the wrong side of history, and at the worst … Evil.

e. if life is all about getting away with what you can get away with, then by all means do anything and everything you can get away with — especially if there is no Judge or final judgement

3. but the bible teaches that Someone is watching, and for lack of a better way of saying it, that Someone is “keeping score”

4. put simply, the Christian story unravels unless ...

unless God brings the entire course of human history under His visible and perfect judgement,

unless God's justice is perfectly displayed,

unless the Christ is revealed in glory so that every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father [Phil. 2:11],

unless Christ claims His redeemed people,

unless God's triumph in Christ over death, sin, evil, and injustice is made universal

unless every eye is dry and every tear is wiped away

a. there is no Christian Gospel if history simply unwinds into a meaningless puddle, if the cosmos simply escapes into a cataclysmic black hole, or if the universe finally dies of exhausted energy

1) without belief in a biblical eschatology, there is no Christian hope

2) without a sense of perfect moral judgement in the end, the human heart is homeless and hopeless

... the Creed Confirms That the End of the World Is Coming

II. THE CREED’S CONFIRMATION OF HOW THE WORLD WILL END

1. the Apostles’ Creed reminds of four essential truths about Christ’s coming

A. HE IS COMING AGAIN

1. the last article concerning the ministry of our Christ reminds us of the certainty of Christ’s return

a. virtually since the ink dried on the apostle John’s Book of Revelation Christians have debated about when Jesus is coming, and the signs that precede his coming

b. what Christians have virtually never debated is that he is coming again

2. as Christians we are to live accordingly

a. we are to live with the conviction that the Christ who returned to the Father and sits at his right hand will come in the same way in which he went to the Father

b. we must obey the scriptural exhortation to be prepared for Christ’s return

3. he came the first time in reference to sin

a. he came as the suffering servant of Isaiah to be crushed for the sins of his elect

b. he came as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world to be a propitiation for our sin

c. he came the first time in humility — taking upon himself human flesh, becoming like us dying on a cross

4. but he is coming a second time

“so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:28, NIV84)

B. HE IS COMING FROM HEAVEN

1. he is coming as the Sovereign Creator of the universe

2. he is coming as Lord of lords and King of kings, and is bringing with him his angels and all the saints who have gone into heaven before us

3. He is coming in glory and splendor

a. this frames the Christian hope

b. when he comes in his glory we will receive our glory

“I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”” (1 Corinthians 15:50–54, ESV)

4. the great division of humanity is between those who eagerly await a Savior in confidence and courage and hope, verses those who expect no such return, and even ridicule it

C. HE IS COMING TO JUDGE

1. when Jesus comes the second time he will not come as he came before

a. this same Jesus who the disciples saw ascending into heaven is coming again as the reigning Lord of heaven and earth

b. this same Jesus who was judged so wrongly by humanity will now come to judge humanity

c. this same Jesus who was judged by other will be the judge of all

2. it is the great and terrible day of the Lord, and Jesus is the agent of God’s judgement — the Father has given all judgement to the Son

“Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,” (John 5:22, NIV84)

a. his judgement will be fierce because men have trampled underfoot the name of Jesus

1) the Book of Revelation tells us that men will cry out for the mountains to fall upon them to hide them from the wrath of the Lamb

b. his judgement is warranted because men have profaned the blood of the covenant

1) even when men know who it is that is judging them they will refuse to repent

c. his judgement will be final and without mercy

“Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:28–31, ESV)

d. this kind of language is not commonly heard today, not even in the church

1) but is is the language of the Apostles’ Creed which in turn echoes the language of the Scriptures

2) it is simply impossible to read the Scriptures, and ignore it’s message of coming judgement

3. God’s judgement will not be carried out in order to discover who will be saved or condemned

a. rather, it will be carried out in order to reveal and to vindicate God’s justice in the salvation of His people and the condemnation of the wicked and unbelieving

D. HE IS COMING TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD

1. Jesus is coming to claim his church — yes ... He is coming to claim his own — yes ... He is coming to reward those who have come to him by faith — yes ... He is coming to rescue his own from this evil age — yes ... But he is also coming to execute judgement upon the lost

a. living or dead — no one gets a pass

2. in our modern Western culture people read this and confess, "I don't want to have anything to do with that kind of God."

a. there are Christian ministers who flinch at preaching this part of the gospel — who are embarrassed by it

b. but Matthew 25 reminds us there is a dual destiny for men — one for goats, and one for sheep

3. you can minimize judgement you can deny hell, but you do so at your eternal peril

a. God's judgement will be so perfect that the Bible tells us every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord

b. no unrepentant sinner cast into the lake of fire will believe that there punishment is unjust

c. one of the horrors of hell will be the knowledge that you absolutely deserve to be there, but that you didn't have to be there

4. only in this present age there is the opportunity to snatch sinners from the evil one

III. RESPONDING IN FAITH TO THE END OF THE WORLD

1. Be Spiritually Alert

a. we sing the hymn What If It Were Today?

1) in it the chorus rings out ..

Glory, glory!

Joy to my heart 'twill bring;

Glory, glory!

When we shall crown Him King.

Glory, glory!

Haste to prepare the way;

Glory, glory!

Jesus will come someday.

c. what if we really believed it could be today?

1) how would it change our attitudes, our actions, our relationship?

2. Be Mission Urgent

a. the gospel must be shared ... it is a sinner’s only hope

3. Be Forgiving

a. in this world we are often called to accept injustice

b. in those moments we are commanded by our Savior to forgive, knowing that he will set all things right

4. Be Hopeful in Your Suffering

a. the promise of the second coming shows us that the good ole days are always ahead of us

Unfortunately, the certainty and lively expectation of Christ’s coming again has declined within the contemporary Christian church, particularly in the West. The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats reminds us of the certainty of a coming judgement. The parable reminds us that the God of the Bible is not a “user-friendly-God”. He is not the kindly grandfather who smiles and winks at the indiscretions of the children. The inclusion of this article in the apostles Creed reminds us that Christ’s return is an indispensable component of our confession of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He is coming again to judge the world.

Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly!