Worship Helps for Last Judgment
Title: Last Judgment
Artist: Melanie Schuette, Avignon
Worship Theme: Lord, keep us mindful
of the Judgment! He will come to judge the living and the dead. We
confess it every Sunday, but often live like those are empty words. Moses’
psalm on the mortality of man shakes us from our spiritual slumber. Number your
days aright and gain a heart of wisdom! Today the Church prays that God keep us
ever mindful of the Last Judgment that we might be found in faith, fruitful in
both word and deed. Then there’s no need to fear Judgment Day; rather, we can
look forward to the day of our redemption.
Old Testament: Daniel 7:9-10
"As I looked,
"thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His
clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His
throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. 10 A
river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands
attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was
seated, and the books were opened.
1. Daniel sees a vision of the Lord God seated on his
throne with the title of the Ancient of Days. What does all the imagery in
Daniel’s vision mean?
2. What are the
books that were opened?
Epistle: Romans 2:2-11
Now we know that God's
judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So
when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you
think you will escape God's judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for
the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's
kindness leads you toward repentance? 5 But because of your
stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against
yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be
revealed. 6 God "will give to each person according to what he
has done." 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek
glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for
those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will
be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every
human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10
but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then
for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.
3. There are some who are not touched by certain sins
(described in 1:26 ,27) and whose
lives are not marred by the penalties attached to them. What do these people
often do? (2:1) What does God say about their attitude? (2:2-41-4) When will
God punish them? (2:5)
4. At first glance, in verses 7-11 Paul seems to be
teaching work-righteousness. Compare these verses to Matthew 25:31-46. How does
Jesus there say the same thing Paul says here?
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46
"When the Son of
Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne
in heavenly glory. 32 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. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the
goats on his left. 34 "Then the King will say to those on his
right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the
kingdom prepared for you since the creation 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
needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in
prison and you came to visit me.' 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 When did we see you a stranger and invite
you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you
sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40 "The King will
reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these
brothers of mine, you did for me.' 41 "Then he will say to
those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire
prepared for the devil and his angels. 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, I needed clothes and you did not
clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' 44
"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a
stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45 "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do
for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' 46 "Then
they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal
life."
5. In the picture of the sheep and the goats, Jesus links
our faith with our deeds and we are judged on the basis of what we do. The
deeds spoken about in this section have often been interpreted as general works
we do in response to what God has done for us. However, it seems best to refer
to them as the works we do for others because they are members of God’s family.
Each deed has a strong element of confession attached to it. Evaluate each work
in view of that interpretation.
6. With the above question in mind, what is the
significance of the phrase “the least of these brothers of mine” (verse 40)?
7. The Son of Man came once as a humble baby, but will
return as a glorious king with angel armies at his side. He will sit on his
throne, and all the nations will be brought before him to be judged. Jesus’
judgment is clear. It is very black and white. How many shades of gray does Jesus
allow for in his judgment?
Answers:
1. Daniel sees a vision of the Last Judgment that is
filled with fire and thrones and books. God the Father is seated on his throne
with fire beneath him and flowing out from him—fire that metes out punishment
for the unrighteous but refines believers like gold with the dross removed. The
Lord is seated on one throne. However, Daniel mentions “thrones.” The Son of
God has a throne there (Psalm 110). So do the apostles (Matthew 19:28 ). Yes, the same Jesus who died for us
will be there to advocate for us; the same apostles who preached Jesus Christ
risen for the forgiveness of sins will be there to call us part of their
Church. Look at Revelation 20:11-15 and see the rest of the story. The Lord is
called the “Ancient of Day” referring to his eternal nature. His clothing and
hair are white referencing his holy nature.
2. There are two kinds of books: books of deeds that
record what each person has done, and a book that holds only names. Unbelievers
are judged on the basis of their deeds, but believers are judged on the simple
fact that their names are written in the book of life.
3. Paul says that other Christians will condemn those who
are suffering under God’s wrath. They conclude that since their lives are not
marred by these sins or their attendant problems, they are innocent. Yet in
condemning others, they are condemning themselves. Also, they are putting
themselves under God’s just condemnation. They fail to realize that God has
spared them because he wants them to repent. They should contrast God’s
gracious treatment of them with their sinful behavior. If they don’t repent,
they will in time get the judgment they deserve.
These are serious words. Paul aims to leave no soul
unindicted, but to make the whole world accountable to God (Romans 3:19 ). As long as man still has the
righteousness and pride and strength to judge his fellowman, he is not ready
for the beggary of faith; he is not ready to receive the radical rescue of the
righteousness of God (Franzmann).
4. Paul talks about our faith from the standpoint of how
faith shows itself in our lives, just as Jesus does. People who believe cannot
but fit Paul’s description in verse 7, and those who do not believe cannot but
fit his description in verse 8. God will give according to what each person has
done—but the point here is the motive, not the actions themselves. Those who
live in faith seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness—their actions give
evidence of the faith that moves them, and they receive eternal life. Those who
live without faith seek only themselves—their actions give evidence that faith
is lacking, and they receive wrath and anger. Lord, keep us mindful of the
judgment that we might be found in fruitful faith!
5. Christians were being persecuted. Their homes and money
were confiscated; they had to flee; they were thrown into prison. To support a
persecuted Christian with money or food, to invite a fleeing Christian into
your home and give him or her sanctuary, and to visit a jailed Christian were
all dangerous acts, yet they were bold confessions of faith. To offer the kind
of help Jesus was referring to was not just to do a good deed. It was more. It
was to confess your faith in Christianity. It was a deed that was also a creed.
6. Christians who did such things for fellow Christians
were doing so because they shared a common faith. Unbelievers who refused to do
such things were not just being unloving, they were avoiding Christians because
of their faith. Their lack of deeds was a rejection of Christ.
7. In this judgment, there are no shades of gray: you are
either a sheep or a goat—there is no third option. You will either be judged
righteous and brought to heaven or condemned and sent into eternal fire.
In our present world we see so many shades of gray, but at the judgment the
contrast between believer and unbeliever will be stark. Jesus’ judgment on
unbelievers will be a just one, yet completely opposite of what he had wanted.
Hell was never meant for humans; it had been prepared for the devil and his
angels. When children of Adam are sent to hell on Judgment Day, they will enter
a realm never meant for them. From the creation of the world, God had prepared
an inheritance for the sons of Adam, a kingdom that becomes ours not by merit,
but by grace. Both sheep and goats fail to see how their earthly lives could
possibly merit their eternal fate. In fact, they speak the same words. The
contrast, however, is stark: the sheep had faith in Christ that gave evidence
of itself in the world; the goats had neither faith nor true fruits. Both
receive an eternal judgment—life for the sheep and punishment for the goats.
Lord, keep us mindful of your coming judgment that we might be found in faith,
judged by your grace, and gifted with eternal life!
Putting your faith
into action
1] Also they teach that at the Consummation of the
World Christ will appear for judgment, and 2] will
raise up all the dead; He will give to the godly and elect eternal life and
everlasting joys, 3] but ungodly men and the
devils He will condemn to be tormented without end.
4] They condemn the
Anabaptists, who think that there will be an end to the punishments of
condemned men and devils.
5] They condemn also others who are now spreading
certain Jewish opinions, that before the resurrection of the dead the godly
shall take possession of the kingdom of the world, the ungodly being everywhere
suppressed. – The Augsburg Confession, Article XVII, Of Christ’s Return to
Judgment (paragraphs 1-5)
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