"And the King shall answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these My brothers, you have done it to Me." Matt. 25:40
When one is a genuine Christian, that is born again and has the Holy Spirit abiding within him, he will help others. And there are multitudes of ways of helping others, especially those who are the least. By least I think our Lord states it fair enough: Those who are poor, in prison, and sick.
And the genuine Christian helps others for the glory of Christ, and for the praise of His grace and mercy, which is the Gospel of Christ.
There are two groups of people, I believe, where the true Christian stands between.
First group: Jesus says there will be those in the last Day who come to Him and say, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name? and in Your name have cast out devils? and in Your name done many wonderful works?" And the Lord Jesus will say, "I never knew you: depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness".
So the first group are those who call themselves Christians, "and with their lips do honour" the Lord, "but have removed their heart far from" the Lord.
The second group are those who do good things, like feeding the poor, healing the sick, helping others in many ways, and show kindness for people, and yet live ungodly lives at the same time. They may not even acknowledge the Lord at all, or they may simply lump Christianity in with all the other false religions: Mormonism, Buddism, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism (without Christ), etc.
Paul says, " .. though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, ... and have not love, it profits me nothing". (1 Cor. 13:3)
And this love is not just any love, it's a love that is fruit from God's Spirit alone.
Paul also says, "And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given Himself for us an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becomes saints;
... For this you know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who ia an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things comes the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience." (Ephesians 5:2-6)
So, the true Christian will love Christ, and love others, especially the least of others, and will surely sin, but when he sins he will hate it, and fight against it, and repent, and have faith in Christ for His forgiveness. He shall not be someone who practices sin, but he will practice living a godly life, as he trusts in His Lord for strength to do so. (1 John 3:6-7)
Also, the authentic Christian will have a heart after God; a heart that loves Christ. His religious duties for his Lord, and all he does in his life, will not simply be a show; a put-on, but will be real; from a heart that is Christ honoring, and a mind that is Christ-focused.
The Lord sees our hearts, and knows us better than we know ourselves. So be sure that you are indeed on the strait and narrow, and you can be assured that Christ our Lord will keep you on the strait and narrow, for He is faithful.
For there are many on the broad way, whether they be those who try and live a good life and live in sin, and who think sin is fine and Christ is fine, but so is Buddha and all the other religions as well; or those in the Church who try to be good, and be about all their religious ways, and yet it's all for nought, for it's an outward show, and the heart is callous still.
Finally, I feel I need to say, salvation is of Christ alone. He comes to seek, and to save, His lost ones.
He is the Good Shepherd, and He seeks out all His lost sheep, and none shall perish, for He laid down His life for each and every sheep.
And these same sheep shall have fruit in their lives for the Shepherd; the fruit of loving their Shepherd through loving other lost sheep into the fold, and caring for these same sheep, who are the "least of these".
All glory to His Cross, and to Him. Galatians 6:14
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