What will Christ say to the just?

Christ will say to the just: "Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you."

Explanation

At the Last Judgment, those who have remained faithful to God and died in his grace will be welcomed into the fullness of eternal life. Christ's words to the just reveal God's desire to share his kingdom with those who have loved and served him. Salvation is entirely a gift of God's grace, yet Christians are called to cooperate with that grace through faith, hope, charity, prayer, and obedience. The judgment described by Jesus highlights the importance of loving God and neighbour in practical ways. The righteous are praised for acts of mercy because genuine faith produces works of charity. These words of welcome are among the most comforting in Scripture because they reveal the destiny God desires for every human person. Christians should therefore live with hope, trusting in God's mercy while striving to remain faithful to Christ until the end of their lives.