SPECIAL TOPIC: JUDGMENT IN THE NT

  1. Divine judgment is
    1. certain (cf. Ps. 9:8; 96:13; 98:9; Matt. 12:36; 25:31-46; Acts 17:31; Heb. 9:27; 10:27; 2 Pet. 2:4,9; 3:7; Rev. 11:18; 20:11-15)
    2. based on repentance and faith in Christ (Rom. 2:16; see D. below)
    3. based on one's life choices, which show their spiritual orientation (cf. Deut. 30:1,15,19; Job 34:11,25; Ps. 28:4; 62:12; Prov. 12:14; 24:12; Eccl. 22:14; Jer. 17:10; 32:19; Ezek. 33:20; Matt. 16:27; 25:31-46; Rom. 2:6; 14:12; 1 Cor. 3:8; 2 Cor. 5:10; Gal. 6:7-10; 2 Tim. 4:14; 1 Pet. 1:17; Rev. 2:23; 20:12; 22:12)

  2. The one who judges is
    1. God (cf. Rom. 1:18; 2:2-3; 14:10,12; 1 Pet. 1:17; 2:23; Rev. 20:11-15)
    2. Christ (cf. John 9:39; Matt. 16:27; 25:31-46; Acts 10:42; 17:31; 2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Tim. 4:1)
    3. the Father through the Son (cf. John 3:17-18; 5:22-27; Acts 10:42; 17:31; Rom. 2:16)

  3. The NT uses several different words and phrases to describe this theological certainty.
    1. "that day" ‒ Matt. 7:22; 2 Tim. 1:12,18; 4:8; see SPECIAL TOPIC: That Day (OT)
    2. "in the day of judgment" ‒ Matt. 10:15; 11:22,24; 12:36; Luke 6:23; 10:12; 2 Pet. 2:9; 3:7; 1 John 4:17
    3. "the judgment" ‒ Matt. 12:41,42; Luke 10:14; 11:31,32
    4. "the last day" ‒ John 6:39,40,44,54
    5. "the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and dead" ‒ Acts 10:42; 2 Tim. 4:1
    6. "He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed ‒ Acts 17:31
    7. "the wrath of God" ‒ Rom. 1:18; 5:9; 12:19; E ph. 5:6; Col. 3:6; 1 Thess. 1:10
    8. "the day of wrath" ‒ Ps. 110:5; Rom. 2:5
    9. "on the day" ‒ Rom. 2:16
    10. also note "the judgment seat of Christ" ‒ Rom. 14:10,12; 2 Cor. 5:10; see SPECIAL TOPIC: The Judgment Seat of Christ
    11. "in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" ‒ 1 Cor. 1:8; SPECIAL TOPIC: The Day of the Lord (NT)
    12. "the day" ‒ 1 Cor. 3:13; 1 Thess. 5:4; Heb. 10:25,27-31
    13. "by nature children of wrath" ‒ Eph. 2:3
    14. "when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven. . ." ‒ 2 Thess. 1:7-10
    15. "the day of visitation" ‒ 1 Pet. 2:12
    16. "for the judgment of the great day" ‒ Jude vv. 6-7
    17. "the great day of wrath" ‒ Rev. 6:17

  4. Judgment is an unpleasant subject, but a recurrent theme in the Bible. It is based on several bedrock biblical truths. See Millard Erickson, Christian Theology, 2nd ed., pp. 1207-1209
    1. This is a moral universe created by an ethical God (we reap what we sow, see A. 2. above).
    2. Humanity is fallen; we have rebelled (see SPECIAL TOPIC: The Fall of Mankind).
    3. This is not the world God intended it to be.
    4. All conscious creations (angels and humans) will give an accounting to their Creator for the gift of life. We are stewards.
    5. Eternity will be permanently determined by our actions and choices made in this life (see SPECIAL TOPIC: Eternal Punishment).

  5. Judgment will be related to knowledge. Knowledge affects responsibility (cf. Rom. 5:13). Repentance (see SPECIAL TOPIC: Repentance [NT]) and faith (see SPECIAL TOPIC: Faith, Believe, Trust) in Jesus is the only way to the Father (cf. John 10:7-9; 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Tim. 2:5; 1 John 5:10-12).
    1. for those who clearly hear and understand the gospel (see SPECIAL TOPIC: The Gospel) only severe judgment remains (see SPECIAL TOPIC: The Unpardonable Sin and SPECIAL TOPIC: The Sin Unto Death)
    2. What about those who have never heard the gospel?
      1. they are responsible for natural revelation (cf. Ps. 19:1-6; Rom. 1:19-23; 2:14-16)
      2. all humans have rebelled against God and His revealed will and deserve judgment (cf. Rom. 3:9-18; 23)
      3. some humans are not able to hear the gospel
        (1)
        young children (see SPECIAL TOPIC: The Age of Accountability)
        (2)
        aborted children
        (3)
        retarded humans
        (4)
        live where thg gospel was never heard or taught

  6. Judgment is always related to the basic, unchanging, merciful character of God (see SPECIAL TOPIC: Characteristics of Israel's God [OT]). We see His mercy in
    1. Naaman, a Syrian general ‒ 2 Kings 5
    2. Nineveh, the captial of Assyria ‒ Jonah 3:10
    3. King Manasseh of Judah ‒ 2 Chr. 33:10-20
      YHWH will be merciful to those who never heard the gospel. How/when is not revealed in Scripture (i.e., Heb. 9:27)

  7. Should Christians judge one another?  This issue must be dealt with in two ways.
    1. believers are admonished not to judge one another (cf. Matt. 7:1-5; Luke 6:37,42; Rom. 2:1-11; James 4:11-12)
    2. believers are admonished to evaluate leaders (cf. Matt. 7:6,15-16; 1 Cor. 14:29; 1 Thess. 5:21; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; and 1 John 4:1-6)
      Some criteria for proper evaluation may be helpful.
      1. evaluation should be for the purpose of affirmation (cf. 1 John 4:1 ‒ "test" with a view toward approval; see SPECIAL TOPIC: Testing (peirazō and dokimazō)
      2. evaluation should be done in humility and gentleness (cf. Gal. 6:1)
      3. evaluation must not focus on personal preference issues (cf. Rom. 14:1-23; 1 Cor. 8:1-13; 10:23-33)
      4. evaluation should identify those leaders who have "no handle for criticism" from within the church or the community (cf. 1 Timothy 3)

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE AGE OF ACCOUNTABILITY

SPECIAL TOPIC: ETERNAL PUNISHMENT

SPECIAL TOPIC: WHERE ARE THE DEAD?

 

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