[Due to technical difficulties, we were unable to make a recording of this lesson. Sorry about that! -MRW]
Matthew 25
Matthew 25:1-13 – Parable of the ten virgins
Be ready because you do not know when the bridegroom (possibly the destruction of Jerusalem based on the context from Matthew 24) will come.
Being ready means doing the master’s will, so that you will be in the right position when the time comes.
Matthew 25:14-30 – Parable of the talents
Matthew 25:15 – The master was wise and gave to each according to what he knew their abilities were. Even the man with the least ability was given something. See James 4:14-17. They did not know when the master would return.
Matthew 25:16-17 – Two men immediately started using the money to make a profit.
Matthew 25:25-26 – The man who did nothing was called worthless and lazy. The man said he was afraid and did not act.
Matthew 25:31-46 – Judgment
See II Corinthians 5:10. They were going to be judged based on their deeds. Don’t overlook opportunities to help people.
Colossians 2:9-12 – The parallels between circumcision and baptism. Be careful not to stretch these parallels too far!
I Peter 3:21
What is the proper method for baptism?
Strong: “to immerse, submerge; to make whelmed (i.e. fully wet).”
Zodhiates: “Immerse, submerge for a religious purpose, to overwhelm, saturate”
Mounce: “The verb baptize literally means ‘to put or go under water.’”
Vine describes the word’s use outside of the Bible: It “was used among the Greeks to signify the dyeing of a garment, or the drawing of water by dipping a vessel into another.”
John 3:23
Mark 1:9-10
Acts 8:38
Since we don’t read about pouring or sprinkling in the New Testament, how did they get started?
251 – First recorded case of pouring was on Novation. He was too sick to be immersed, so they put pillows around him on a couch and drenched him in water. This was called “clinic baptism.” It was decided that if the sick person got healthier they should be immersed.
257 – Baptism by sprinkling for adults was first used as an exception for those on sick beds, but it caused great dispute.
753 – Sprinkling for those on sick beds officially accepted.
1311 – Baptism by sprinkling accepted as the universal standard instead of immersion for all, not just the sick. (Council of Ravenna)
Also known as “once saved, always saved” or “impossibility of apostasy.”
“The elect are not only redeemed by Christ and renewed by the Spirit, but also kept in faith by the almighty power of God. All those who are spiritually united to Christ through regeneration are eternally secure in Him. Nothing can separate them from the eternal and unchangeable love of God. They have been predestined to eternal glory and are therefore assured of heaven.” – Steele, Thomas, and Quinn, The Five Points of Calvinism, p. 64
“Many who profess to believe fall away, but they do not fall from grace, for they were never in grace. True believers do fall into temptations, and they do commit grievous sins, but these sins do not cause them to lose their salvation or separate them from Christ.” – Steele, Thomas, & Quinn, The Five Points of Calvinism, p. 64-65
As the Westminster Confession of Faith states, saved people “can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.” – as cited in Steele, Thomas, and Quinn, The Five Points of Calvinism, p. 65
Romans 8:29-30
foreknew ➡ predestined ➡ called ➡ justified ➡ glorified
“We have seen before the ironclad chain of divine work in Romans 8:30 … What is evident from this verse is that those who are effectually called into the hope of salvation will indeed persevere to the end and be glorified. There are no dropouts in this sequence. These are promises of God rooted in unconditional election in the first place and in the sovereign, converting, preserving grace that we have seen before. The links in this chain are unbreakable, because God’s saving word is infallible and his new covenant commitments are irrevocable.” – John Piper, Five Points, p. 65-66
Calvinists misinterpret these verses. Who is predestined here? It’s not individual people but a category of people – those who have decided to obey God.
According to Calvinism
According to the Bible
“According to Romans 8:29-30, God predetermined that certain individuals would be conformed to the likeness of His Son, be called, justified, and glorified.” - gotquestions.org
“God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him” (Acts 10:34-35) “whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16)
Romans 11:16-24 – Jews were removed from the metaphorical tree because of unbelief. Gentiles can be grafted in if they are faithful, but can also be removed just like the Jews if they fall away.
Galatians 3:26-27
Colossians 1:2, 13, 21-22 – Paul is writing to Christians.
Colossians 2:5 – They were stable in their faith.
Colossians 1:23 – Notice the word “if”!
I Timothy 1:19-20; 4:1
Hebrews 3-4
Hebrews 3:1 – This is written to Christians
Hebrews 3:5-6 – “if indeed we hold fast …”
Hebrews 3:7-11
Hebrews 3:12-14 – Don’t fall away!
Hebrews 3:15-19 – They were guilty of unbelief. He is drawing a parallel between heaven and Canaan.
Hebrews 4:1-11
Conclusion
Don’t let this false doctrine make you thing you can disobey God and still go to heaven.
Delivered to tribulation, death, hated by all nations
False prophets arise and mislead
Lawlessness increased
Sun and moon darkened
Stars will fall from the sky
Heavenly bodies will be shaken
Then … “the end will come” (Matthew 24:29)
How to interpret the language of Matthew 24
Context
Pronouns
Figurative or literal language
Where and when
Preceding context – Matthew 21
Matthew 21:23 – Jesus is speaking to Jews in the temple.
Preceding context – Matthew 23
Matthew 23:34-36 – Jesus is still speaking to Jews. Bad things would happen to them because they had done bad things. These things would happen in their generations (Matthew 23:35).
Immediate context – Matthew 24
Matthew 24:32-35 – Jesus is still speaking to Jews. Things would happen in the time of that generation (Matthew 24:34).
Outline of the chapter
Matthew 24:1-4 – Disciples’ questions
Matthew 24:4-44 – Jesus’ answer
Matthew 24:45-25:30 – Three parables
Matthew 24:45-41 – Evil servant
Matthew 25:1-13 – Ten virgins
Matthew 25:14-30 – Talents
Matthew 24:2 – “These things” are the temple buildings in verse 1.
Matthew 24:3 – The KJV here has “end of the world” but the NASB and a number of other translations have “end of the age.” When the Romans destroyed the temple and Jerusalem, the Jewish “age” or “system” as depicted in the Old Testament ceased to exist.
Matthew 24:4-14 – Events leading up to “the end.”
Matthew 24:15-16 – See Daniel 9:24-27.
Matthew 24:29-33 – Compare similar language in other places:
Isaiah 13:9-10 – Isaiah 13:1 shows that this was talking about Babylon.
