Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the men pulled it ashore. Then they sat down and sorted the good fish into containers, but threw the bad away. So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous Matt 13:47-49
I was at the Springfield art fair on Saturday with Joe, John, Connie, and Kim. There was a guy and his wife holding signs warning about hell and preaching in the style of sinners in the hands of an angry God. But nobody paid much attention.
In our study of Matt5-13, I've been enjoying discovering new facets of truth. Jesus starts out saying "blessed are the poor, who realize their need for God - for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. Jesus then spends a lot of time talking about what the Kingdom of heaven is and how the righteous and wicked respond to it.
The kingdom of heaven will be free from sin - it's source, lure, and consequences (Rev 20:7-15). Jesus has already accomplished this and is continuing it's accomplishment today. I was reflecting on Geysers, planters and pruners: How people are born into and matured in the Faith with the realization that I can't "bring" anyone to faith. I can however pray to God who is able to do more than I can ask or imagine. So that what I do. I pray for my family, friends, co-workers, city, state, country, and world. "your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." This give me a new perspective and I get to see God is working and I can see the light. "In your eyes" sung as a worship song to God is pretty amazing, they guy at the end is "speaking in tongues."
- Fellowship, and good announcement: be made right with God (Matthew 6:1-18)
- Worry is a dark thought that is cured with heavenly insight (Matthew 6:19-34)
Separation is to life or destruction
- Matthew 3:12 - His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Separation after resurrection is predicted
- Daniel 12:2 - And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt
- Matthew 25:32-33 - All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. / He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.
- Ezekiel 34:17-22 - This is what the Lord GOD says to you, My flock: ‘I will judge between one sheep and another...
- John 5:28-29 - Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice / and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
Separation of the unprepared from the prepared
- Matthew 22:10-14 -So the servants went out into the streets and gathered everyone they could find, both evil and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. / But when the king came in to see the guests, he spotted a man who was not dressed in wedding clothes. / ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But the man was speechless. ...
- Luke 6:47-49 - I will show you what he is like who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them: / He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid his foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the torrent crashed against that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. / But the one who hears My words and does not act on them is like a man who built his house on ground without a foundation. The torrent crashed against that house, and immediately it fell—and great was its destruction!”
Seperation of the abiding children of God (heirs of the Kingdom), from workers of lawlessness
- Matthew 7:22-23 - Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ / Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’
- Romans 2:6-8 - God “will repay each one according to his deeds.” / To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life. / But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger.
- Luke 13:24-30 - “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. / After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ / Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ ...
- John 15:6 - If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.
- 2 Corinthians 5:10 - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
Separation from sin's source, lures, and consequences is our best life
- Revelation 20:12-15 - And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And books were opened, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books. / The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds. / Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. ...
- Revelation 21:27 - But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Ezekiel 20:38 - And I will purge you of those who rebel and transgress against Me. I will bring them out of the land in which they dwell, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
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