SPECIAL TOPIC: JUDGMENT IN THE NT

Divine judgment is 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).

  1. The one who judges is (see SPECIAL TOPIC: Judge, Judgment and Justice in Isaiah)
    1. God (cf. Rom. 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 5:22-27; Acts 10:42; 17:31; Rom. 2:16)

  2. 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) and SPECIAL TOPIC: The Day of the Lord (NT)
    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 day of wrath" ‒ Rom. 2:5
    8. "on the day" ‒ Rom. 2:16
    9. also note "the judgment seat of Christ" ‒ Rom. 14:10,12; 2 Cor. 5:10; see SPECIAL TOPIC: The Judgment Seat of Christ
    10. "in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" ‒ 1 Cor. 1:8
    11. "the day" ‒ 1 Cor. 3:13; 1 Thess. 5:4; Heb. 10:25,27-31
    12. "when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven. . ." ‒ 2 Thess. 1:7-10
    13. "the day of visitation" ‒ 1 Pet. 2:12
    14. "for the judgment of the great day" ‒ Jude vv. 6-7
    15. "the great day of wrath" ‒ Rev. 6:17

  3. 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 full list at Gal. 6:7).
    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.

  4. 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: ETERNAL PUNISHMENT

 

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