Faith in Action: The Urgency of Genuine Trust

This morning, hearts were united in worship and in mission, as we sent out three skilled men to North Carolina to help rebuild homes devastated by last year’s hurricane. Their service is a living example of how God’s blessings are meant to flow through us to others in need. As we turned to Matthew 25:31-46, the focus shifted to the ultimate reality of Christ’s return and the final separation of all humanity. Jesus paints a vivid picture: when He comes in glory, all nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate people as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. This is not a parable, but a metaphor for a literal event—one that will divide all people into two groups, with eternal destinies.

The passage challenges the comforting but unbiblical idea of universalism—the belief that God’s love will eventually bring everyone into heaven. Jesus Himself is clear: there will be a great separation. The sheep, those who have truly trusted in Him, will inherit the kingdom prepared for them. The goats, those who have not, will be sent away into eternal punishment. The criteria Jesus gives are not works that earn salvation, but the evidence of a transformed heart. The acts of compassion—feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, visiting the sick and imprisoned—are the natural outflow of genuine faith and grace at work in a believer’s life.

Salvation is by grace through faith alone, not by works. Yet, true faith always produces fruit. The way we treat others, especially those who cannot repay us, reveals the reality of our relationship with Christ. Jesus is the exclusive way to salvation; there is no other name by which we must be saved. Hell was not created for people, but for the devil and his angels. Yet, those who reject Christ will share in that fate—not because God desires it, but because they have not trusted in the only One who can save.

This is a sobering truth. Many may think they are saved because of a prayer, a raised hand, or a lifetime in church, but unless there is genuine trust in Jesus’ finished work, there is no assurance. The call is urgent: examine your heart, trust fully in Christ, and let the evidence of His grace flow through your life to others.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The blessings God gives are not meant to stop with us, but to flow through us to others in need. Our acts of service—whether rebuilding homes, feeding the hungry, or visiting the imprisoned—are tangible expressions of Christ’s love and a reflection of His heart for the world. When we serve others, we participate in God’s mission and demonstrate the reality of our faith. [03:01]
• 2. Jesus’ return will bring a final, irreversible separation of all humanity. There are only two groups: those who have trusted in Christ and those who have not. This division is not based on our preferences or cultural ideas, but on the unchanging truth of God’s Word. The question is not whether we like this reality, but whether we are prepared for it. [26:13]
• 3. The evidence of genuine faith is seen in how we treat others, especially the vulnerable and marginalized. True salvation by grace through faith will always produce a transformed life, marked by compassion and selfless love. Our works do not save us, but they reveal the authenticity of our relationship with Jesus. [40:54]
• 4. Jesus is the exclusive way to salvation; there is no other path to eternal life. This truth is divisive in a world that values inclusivity, but it is the clear teaching of Scripture. Trusting in Christ alone is the only way to have our names written in the Book of Life and to inherit the kingdom prepared for us. [45:10]
• 5. It is possible to be religious, moral, and even active in church, yet still be lost if there is no genuine trust in Christ. Salvation is not about reciting a prayer or following rituals, but about a wholehearted reliance on Jesus’ death and resurrection. The call is to examine ourselves honestly and respond with true faith, so that we may have assurance and not regret in eternity. [53:55]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [02:16] - Mission Moment: Sending Relief to North Carolina
• [03:44] - Prayer for the Mission Team
• [04:03] - Greeting and Fellowship
• [21:03] - Opening and Series Conclusion
• [22:38] - Introduction to Matthew 25 and the End of Time
• [23:18] - The Story of Rescue and Our Need for Salvation
• [24:25] - The Reality of the End and the Myth of Universalism
• [26:13] - Jesus the Divider: The Great Separation
• [27:38] - The Sheep and the Goats: The Criteria of Compassion
• [29:27] - The Return of the King and the Final Judgment
• [31:22] - The Metaphor of Sheep and Goats Explained
• [33:14] - The Urgency of Preparation, Not Prediction
• [36:49] - The Reward of the Righteous
• [40:54] - Evidence of Faith: Compassion in Action
• [44:20] - The Exclusivity of Christ for Salvation
• [45:43] - The Rejection of the Rebellious and the Reality of Hell
• [53:55] - The Danger of False Assurance
• [54:44] - How to Have Your Name Written in the Book of Life
• [56:16] - Prayer and Invitation to Trust Christ

Bible Reading

Matthew 25:31-46 (ESV) —
> 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Observation Questions

1. According to Jesus in Matthew 25:31-46, what are the two groups into which all people will be separated at the end of time? What criteria does Jesus use to describe these groups?
2. What kinds of actions does Jesus mention as evidence of a transformed heart in this passage?
3. In the sermon, what examples were given of practical ways the church is serving others in need? ([41:53])
4. What does Jesus say about the eternal destinies of the sheep and the goats?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus use the metaphor of a shepherd separating sheep from goats to describe the final judgment? What does this teach about the nature of the separation? ([31:22])
2. The sermon says that the acts of compassion listed by Jesus are not what earn salvation, but are evidence of a changed heart. Why is this distinction important? ([39:32])
3. How does the teaching of Jesus in this passage challenge the idea that everyone will eventually be saved (universalism)? ([25:49])
4. What does it mean that Jesus is the exclusive way to salvation, and why is this message considered divisive in today’s world? ([44:20])

Application Questions

1. The sermon emphasized that God’s blessings are meant to flow through us to others. In what specific ways have you seen this happen in your own life, or where do you sense God prompting you to let His blessings flow through you to someone in need? ([03:01])
2. Jesus says that the way we treat “the least of these” is the way we treat Him. Who are the “least of these” in your daily life, and what is one tangible way you can serve them this week? ([40:54])
3. The message warned that it’s possible to be religious, moral, and active in church, yet still not have genuine faith in Christ. How can you honestly examine your own heart to see if your trust is truly in Jesus and not just in religious activity? ([53:55])
4. The sermon described acts of compassion like feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, and helping the imprisoned as natural outflows of faith. Which of these do you find most challenging, and what is one step you could take to grow in this area? ([40:54])
5. Jesus’ teaching about the final separation is sobering. How does this reality affect the urgency with which you share your faith or serve others? ([36:25])
6. The sermon said that hell was not created for people, but for the devil and his angels, yet those who reject Christ will share that fate. How does this truth impact the way you view God’s justice and mercy? ([45:43])
7. If you have assurance of your salvation, how can you encourage others who may be struggling with doubt? If you are unsure, what steps can you take this week to seek clarity and assurance in your relationship with Jesus? ([54:44])