Separation

All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats Matthew 25:32 (NKJV).

INTRODUCTION: Sin was the reason for separation.

In the parable of the wheat and the weeds (Matthew 13:24-30), Jesus had talked about a final separation at the Last Judgment. The sheep and goats grazed together; the wheat and weeds grew together. At the end, however, Jesus, the Judge, will separate people one from another. While all “nations” are before him, he will separate individuals, for each individual is responsible for his or her own salvation as seen in the parable of Wise and Foolish Virgins (Matthew 25:1). This “separation” became a picture for the Last Judgment. The gathering and separating, part of the shepherd’s duties, further united the concept of the Son of Man as both Shepherd and Judge.

Christ is now sitting on the throne at the right hand of God. There is a difference between the throne of grace and the throne of judgment pictured in this passage. We can now come to the throne of grace for help (He. 4:16). But when Christ returns in glory, it will be too late to receive help. His throne will be a throne of judgment to which there will be no approach apart from judgment.

THERE NEEDS TO BE A SEPARATION TODAY. 2 Cor. 6:14-18
In the matter of marriage that is the saved should not marry the unsaved. 2 Cor. 6:14
In businesses or lodges that is the saved should not have an alliance with the unsaved.
In religious convictions that is separated from those who have erred from the faith. 1 Tim. 6:12; 2 Cor. 6:14-18

THERE WAS A SEPARATION IN NOAH’S DAY. Gen. 6:5-15
Separation because of man’s depravity. Gen. 6:5, 11-13
God separated or spared Noah. 2 Peter 2:5
God destroyed the unsaved. Luke 17:27

THERE WAS A SEPARATION IN LOT’S DAY. Gen. 19:12-14
Separation because of the grievous sins of Lot’s day. Gen. 18:20
God separated those that believed from those that didn’t believe. Gen. 19:12-14
God destroyed the unbelievers. Gen. 19:24-26

THERE WAS A SEPARATION IN MOSES’ DAY IN THE LAND OF EGYPT. Ex. 12:12-13
Sin was the reason for separation.
The blood was the means to save the believers. Ex. 12:12-13
The first born of each unsaved died.

SEPARATION TODAY IN THE TIME OF DEATH.
Separation of the soul from the body, is physical death. 2 Cor. 5:6-8
Separation of the soul from God is Spiritual Death. Rev. 20:14-15
In Luke 16:19-23 Lazarus died physical death and the rich man died both physical and spiritual death.

THERE WILL BE A SEPARATION WHEN JESUS COMES.
At the rapture a separation of the saved from the unsaved. Luke 17:34-36
At the revelation. 2 Thess. 1:7-9
The tares separated from the wheat. Matt. 13:29-30

THERE WILL BE A SEPARATION OF THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS. Matt. 25:31-46
The basis of this judgment is those that receive or reject. vv. 40-45
Those on the right enter the kingdom. v. 34
Those on the left cast into Hell. vv. 41-46

CONCLUSION:
All the emotional movement in your life (loves found and lost, loved ones dying and new ones born) reflect the need we all have to find a stable place to build our lives. That stable place is a person, the Lord Jesus.

You are God’s plan. Since the very moment of creation, the wonderful kingdom of God—you included—has been the goal that now comes to its fullness and finality. You have been part of the world’s most important movement—faithfully living as a disciple of Jesus—and now you are part of the world’s biggest celebration. You are God’s plan.

Judgment is coming. It is inevitable; it cannot be avoided nor evaded. No person can escape the coming judgment of God. God is going to judge the world by His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son (John 5:22).

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: (2 Timothy 4:1)

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