3 groups exist in Mt c.25:32-46: sheep,goats,my brethren

[Stormcrow]

I would enlarge the group of Christ's brothers who are comforted to mean all disciples of Christ, from the prophet on down to the righteous man, but particularly those who serve on Christ's behalf and are in need of comfort.

I've got no problem with that.

 

[kjb1769]

I believe that there are few saved but this few is relative. There have been billions of people born on earth since Adam and Eve so a few saved (of these billions) would be about how many? Rhetorical question.

Scripture does warn us to strive to be one of these few.


Paul leaves no one in suspense:

2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 .......when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are to obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What is that gospel?

 

[JMJ]

We are to obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What is that gospel?

The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is all/everything that God has commanded through His Son's Church (which is led by His apostles/bishops/disciples).

Matthew 28:16-20 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them. He said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 So you must go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And you can be sure that I am always with you, to the very end." NIV

The Gospel of the Lord is all His commands. His Church's leaders now speak for Him. Luke 10:1-17

 

[smaller]

The Gospel of the Lord is all His commands. His Church's leaders now speak for Him. Luke 10:1-17

And what did 'those leaders' say almost 2 thousand years ago?

Acts 5:29
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

s

 

[Elijah674]

That text didn't prove your point at all. For example, what is the broad way precisely...

What is the narrow gate? It can't be Christ, because Christ is the way the truth and the life, He doesn't lead someone to life, He brings them into life.

AND how many are "many?" Many can be a few thousand, or tens of thousands. But you cannot prove from the context, where Christ's audience is in the hundreds, and Israel as a nation has only a few million in it...that it means billions.

That would be "unhistorical."

The broad road is identified in the context, its obeying the natural meaning of God's Word, against the word of the false prophets:

12 "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
14 "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
16 "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
17 "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 "Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
21 "Not everyone who says to Me,`Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
22 "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?'
23 "And then I will declare to them,`I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
(Mat 7:12-24 NKJ)

AND only by accepting its testimony Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and obediently believing in Him, does one find life.

So the narrow road is the literal meaning of scripture, doing what it says...which is hard.

Yes, many are on the broad road into Hell, nothing I said denied that. But many is a relative term, many in ancient Israel would not be "billions." We must interpret as Christ meant it, and many would then be many of His generation, evil and wicked that asked for a sign:

23 Then one said to Him, "Lord, are there few who are saved?" And He said to them,
24 "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
25 "When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying,`Lord, Lord, open for us,' and He will answer and say to you,`I do not know you, where you are from,'
26 "then you will begin to say,`We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.'
27 "But He will say,`I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.'
28 "There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.
29 "They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. (Luk 13:23-29 NKJ)

So its many of Christ's evil and wicked generation, not from the rest of the world for they will come from the east and the west, and the north and the south, and sit down in the Kingdom.

So the text doesn't support your allegation God will save only a few of all mankind. Indeed, in context it says the precise opposite, apart from many of Christ's generation of Jews in Palestine in the first century, many more will come from the four corners of the earth...

??? Always were only a 'remnant'. The flood picture, S & G picture, Christ's own HOUSE, Matt. 23:38 + Rev. 12:17 Fact!

+ the rebellion of heaven?? (perhaps, huh?) Matt. 25:1's picture with the difference of the Rev. 1/3 being only a small remnant. There are NO :robot to be there, but the tested safe to save 'FEW' ones! Nah. 1:9

--Elijah

 

[smaller]

We are to obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What is that gospel?

Turn from evil within our hearts and do good to unto others as exemplified in Matt. 25.

There is 'no judgment of damnation' unto such.

s

 

[kjb1769]

In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: -2 Thessalonians 1:8

Are these some of things we are to obey today?

And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. -Matthew 19:17
Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. -Matthew 19:21

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: -Matthew 6:19
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? -Matthew 6:25

Peter sure thought so
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. -Acts 2:38
And all that believed were together, and had all things common; -Acts 2:44
And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. -Acts 2:45

 

[JMJ]

And what did 'those leaders' say almost 2 thousand years ago?

Acts 5:29
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

s

The apostles of the New Covenant now speak for God in His Name. The high priests of the Old Covenant in Acts 5:29 no longer have any authority over Christians because they rejected Jesus Christ who is the ultimate Word of God. Christians are bound to obey the Church's leaders' commands.

1 Corinthians 14:37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.

Hebrews 13:17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Hebrews 13:24 Greet all those who rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you.

The apostles and their successors are bishops and they rule over all other church members. They are the God-appointed overseers of both doctrine and discipline for the whole Church.

The church was organized as a hierarchy by the Lord Jesus Christ and He is its ultimate Head. This structure cannot be legitimately changed by any man.

 

[smaller]

The apostles and their successors are bishops and they rule over all other church members. They are the God-appointed overseers of both doctrine and discipline for the whole Church.

The church was organized as a hierarchy by the Lord Jesus Christ and He is its ultimate Head. This structure cannot be legitimately changed by any man.

We're a long ways from the Apostles today. In fact I've yet to meet or even hear one who can speak even remotely truthful to Paul's personal disclosures.

go figure.

s

 

[JMJ]

We're a long ways from the Apostles today. In fact I've yet to meet or even hear one who can speak even remotely truthful to Paul's personal disclosures.

go figure.

s

This is your own personal opinion and personal judgment and it is based upon your own personal interpretation of the Scriptures.

I do not agree with your personal opinion and personal judgment, but such is life.

 

[smaller]

This is your own personal opinion and personal judgment and it is based upon your own personal interpretation of the Scriptures.

I'll have to settle with my reflections. Nobody else can logically do that for me.

I do not agree with your personal opinion and personal judgment, but such is life.

Like you have a clue about what that might be? lol

s

 

[JMJ]

I'll have to settle with my reflections. Nobody else can logically do that for me.



Like you have a clue about what that might be? lol

s

I determine what a person believes by what s/he writes on this forum, but it is true that I have no idea what you are thinking about or reflecting on at this very moment.

 

[thethinkingrebel]

The sheep are those who helped christians during the tribulation.

Goats are the persecutors, there will be lots.

It has to be the trib cos these people are alive and being dealt with prior to, the great white throne judgment (Jesus is referring to the kingdom, not the new earth here). It also explains why we are priests and ministers in this kingdom. We are ministering to the sheep! :D

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

 

[smaller]

The sheep are those who helped christians during the tribulation.

Goats are the persecutors, there will be lots.

It has to be the trib cos these people are alive and being dealt with prior to, the great white throne judgment (Jesus is referring to the kingdom, not the new earth here). It also explains why we are priests and ministers in this kingdom. We are ministering to the sheep! :D

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

Every person who reads that scripture set and more importantly, is honest within about the roles, can easily see themselves in all 3 roles. Doing goat works (by NOT doing sheep works) being a receiver from someone else and doing sheep works.

s

 

[thethinkingrebel]

The apostles of the New Covenant now speak for God in His Name. The high priests of the Old Covenant in Acts 5:29 no longer have any authority over Christians because they rejected Jesus Christ who is the ultimate Word of God. Christians are bound to obey the Church's leaders' commands.

1 Corinthians 14:37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.

Hebrews 13:17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Hebrews 13:24 Greet all those who rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you.

The apostles and their successors are bishops and they rule over all other church members. They are the God-appointed overseers of both doctrine and discipline for the whole Church.

The church was organized as a hierarchy by the Lord Jesus Christ and He is its ultimate Head. This structure cannot be legitimately changed by any man.

Are you catholic dude? If so, I would recommend you reevaluate your spiritual life, give it up and get yourself out of there. That place is evil man. God bless pm me if you want to talk.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

 

[JMJ]

Are you catholic dude? If so, I would recommend you reevaluate your spiritual life, give it up and get yourself out of there. That place is evil man. God bless pm me if you want to talk.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

Jesus Himself started the Catholic Church and that is why I belong to it. His Church cannot possibly be evil since He is its Head and always will be its Head. Certain leaders in it have been evil throughout its history, but then even Jesus had Judas to contend with in His own time. Judas did not change Christ's doctrine, he just didn't live up to it.

I'd be happy to have further discussion with you about this topic in a one on one forum since other persons here also may be interested in this topic. If you'd like to discuss this, please start the thread and pm me with the link. Thank you.

 

[reba]

Thank you JMJ for being aware of the ToS on this topic...

TOS Discussion of Catholic doctrine will be allowed in the One on One Debate Forum and End Times forum only. RCC content in the End Times forum should relate to End Times beliefs. Do not start new topics elsewhere or sway existing threads toward a discussion or debate that is Catholic in nature.

totopic

 

[crossnote]

Our works added to our faith ensure the reality of the calling and election we have received through our faith in Christ and in turn act as a guarantee of our safe passage into the kingdom.

How much works until we are assured a safe passage?

 

[T. E. Smith]

The sheep = the brethren.

 

[crossnote]

The sheep = the brethren.

Seems to me what is being referred to is Christ’s brethren, the Jews, reflecting how they were treated during the great tribulation…

Set up on earth after the tribulation…

Matthew 25:31,32,40 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, (Gentiles) and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

[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, (Jews) you did it to me.'

set up in heaven…

Revelation 20:11 ESV
[11] Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.