Bible Study

“The theme of God’s judgment spans the length of human history and is as marvelous as it is sober. It is both awesome and frightening, wonderful and terrible, just and merciful.” – Daniel Kolenda

Have you ever played a word association game?
Word association is an interesting way to see how someone categorizes and connects ideas, feelings, experiences, and information. So if I say a word, what is the first thought that comes to your mind? For instance, if I say “dog” you might think “cat.” If I say “heart” you may think “love.” If I say “fur” you might think “coat. “But what if I said “judgment”?

What comes to your mind? Almost certainly you would associate negative thoughts with judgment. In fact, our modern world hates few ideas more than judgment. The one Bible verse that most unbelievers seem to know is, “Judge not so you will not be judged” (Matt. 7:1). Even many Christians now ignore—or even reject—the idea of judgment altogether.

It is true that human judgments are flawed at best and corrupt at worst. And there is nothing more repulsive than chronic criticism and judgmentalism. But when it comes to God’s judgments, they are as wonderful and perfect as He is. That means we should not avoid the theme of God’s judgments. Rather, as true followers of His Son, we should understand and appreciate them.

One of the reasons for confusion around this topic is that, for many people, the subject of God’s judgment seems to contradict other doctrines they hold dear. For example, didn’t Jesus say, “Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (John 5:24)? And yet Paul says explicitly, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Cor. 5:10). Both statements are true without any contradictions because they are not referring to the same event, but to different judgments. In fact, Scripture describes a number of distinct judgments—past, present, and future.

Even though Christians are exempt from the final judgment by the blood of Jesus, it is important for us to consider God’s judgments for two reasons. First, they reveal the profound mystery of His character. David declares, “Your judgments are like a great deep” (Ps. 36:6). They display the unfathomable fusion of righteousness and mercy in God’s nature. “He will judge the world in righteousness and will execute judgment for the peoples with equity” (Ps. 9:8). Yet in the very next verse, “The Lord also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble” (Ps. 9:9).

That is why, even in the New Testament, God’s judgments are actually celebrated. They are not relics of the past, belonging exclusively to the Old Testament. They reveal His glory even under the New Covenant. Remember that Jesus said the Father has “given all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22) and “in righteousness [Jesus the King] judges and wages war” (Rev. 19:11).Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the One who died on the cross and whose blood was shed for the salvation of the world, is now the great Judge, and the Father has given all judgment into His hand. Since all judgment now and in the future is the domain of Christ, there could be nothing more “New Covenant” than this theme. I realize that this contradicts the easy-go-lucky, hippy flower child version of Jesus that so many modern Christians believe in. But the Scriptural Jesus (the only true Jesus) is quite different than most people understand. Listen to how John describes Him in Revelation.

“His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength. When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man…” (Revelation 1:14-17)

This is the Jesus that is sitting at the right hand of God—the Judge and King of all the earth. The theme of God’s judgment spans the length of human history and is as marvelous as it is sober. It is both awesome and frightening, wonderful and terrible, just and merciful.

Second, Christians should consider God’s judgments because, in one way or another, it is a subject that directly affects all of us. We will all in fact stand before “the judgment seat of Christ” in order to have our works evaluated as we enter the glory of the age to come. Yes, we are justified by faith and should have no fear of damnation. But we should be very sobered by the fact that the burning eyes of Christ will analyze our “deeds done in the body” to see if they are fit to follow us into His eternal Kingdom. This theme is not at all popular today, but that does not mean it is not true. As you will see, it is very important and merits earnest consideration.

“Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.” (1 Pet. 1:17, NIV). As followers of Jesus, we are wise to reflect on the severity of God’s justice while celebrating the sweetness of His mercy. So in this email-Bible-Study, we will take a step back and consider some of God’s awesome judgments throughout biblical history. Then we will focus on the judgment that applies to us as believers: the judgment seat of Christ. This will help us to live with joyful anticipation, as well as careful sobriety, as we journey toward eternity.