“Coram Deo” What's The Big Idea?
The "big idea" of Christianity is to live under the authority of God Almighty in everything you do. It's understanding that our lives are being weighed and likely to be found wanting. This is the essence of life, this is God governance, this is the big idea. This is the way Christ establishes his kingdom. It is about loving God more than you love yourself.
John 14:15 Jesus said:
“If you love me, obey my commandments."
Not in the absence or defiance of God, but by spiritually growing in his presence. Not resting on your own shoulders of belief, but living the gospel. Whatever you are doing and wherever you are doing it, you are acting under the observation of God. Is he searching your heart for unbelief? Absolutely yes. Is that the measure for inheritance he articulated in Matthew 25? Absolutely not.
So again, God is watching everything we do in faith. Yup that's right, that thing you just did, He's watching you. Even if you're not looking to Him. And he decides, because he gets to decide, that what you did and did not do, for his brothers and sisters, the least among us, you did or did not do for him (Matthew 25:40).
Colossians 3:17
"whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father."
But don't take that Christian liberty and freedom so far that your liberality becomes a stumbling block and sin for sins sake.
1 Corinthians 10:23–24
“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor."
The "big idea" is, we must see and serve “the least of these” because in this we can better know that our service is rendered to God for love of him and for his glory, and not our own self interest. It qualifies the work for God to know our true intent. Not self serving, but full of grace. It's not to say serving those who are not in need is wrong, all acts of kindness and mercy are necessary for the Christian faith, even if the person who receives the offering is able and willing to repay the debt. But God is watching particularly those moments when you act for those who cannot compensate you in any way.
Notice something...In the parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25), neither the sheep nor the goats expected the response they got from the master. The sheep were just as surprised that they were serving Christ by serving the least of these, as the goats were surprised that they were failing Christ by failing the least of these. Jesus views some (the least of these) as "brothers and sisters of mine” and others as goats, (not the greatest of all time). Jesus is keenly interested in how you treat his brothers and sisters, but how are we to know the difference? Well honestly we can't. So the big idea (Coram Deo) is to do all things and render all service to all people for the glory of God and the sake of the Gospel at all times in every situation. Yes even among your enemies is likely to be a brother or sister of Christ.
All we need to know is; if they're hungry feed them, if they're homeless house them, if they're ill or imprisoned visit them. This is the gospel response expected...no not just expected...DEMANDED!
The inheritance God promises is issued to those who did these things. He said it. It's not humans endeavoring to achieve salvation by works. It's humans fulfilling his commands and doing his gospel works obeying him, and his teachings, living the faith that brings salvation. Revealing the faith that brings hope. Sharing the faith that converts the sinner. Being the faith that encourages the weak. All actions and all works of faith unto salvation.
Jesus said “whatever you did…” is being weighed. And he said the goats (those who did not) will not inherit the kingdom. This signifies belief vs unbelief, faith vs faithlessness. Doing the word vs not doing the word. The goats, the faithless, failed to do the word. They were weighed and found wanting.
True believers live their lives in Christ and unto him, Coram Deo. And apparently they hardly knew they were doing it. Probably best least they should boast. It sounds a little upside when seen through the lens of worldly ambition, but it's the way of things in God's kingdom. So...either like it or lump it, he gets to decide what salvation looks like.