Individual Judgment is all Inclusive

     All those who hide secrets in their heart, be prepared to be totally transparent on that appointed day.

     Paul was teaching that a man shouldn’t attempt to judge another man; in fact a man should not even attempt to judge himself.

     “…with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human…in fact, I do not even judge myself…He who judges me is the Lord.  Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels (motives) of the hearts…” 1 Corinthians 4:3-5

     Paul is explaining that a man is totally impotent for self judgment or to judge another.  Only God can search hearts and understand motives.  And we’ll see that everything about a person will be brought to light ‘in that day.’

     The thought that death will seal sin and secure secrets forever is Biblically foolishness.

     In the gospel according to Matthew, Jesus taught that every non- constructive word one speaks will be judged.

     “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.”  Matthew 12:36

     Again, those that think that death is the ultimate freedom need to reconsider their false security.

     Jude, the half brother of Jesus, also addressed the issue.

     “Behold, the Lord comes…to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds…and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”  Jude 15-16

    All ungodly deeds done by ungodly men will be judged, as will all blasphemy spoken against Christ.  It is reminiscent of the mocking Ishmael did against Isaac when Isaac was weaned.  Remember Paul said that such mocking existed into his day two millennia later.  He further proclaimed that God’s chosen have nothing in common with the son born according to the flesh.  The bond woman and her son were to be cast out.

     In his letter to the Christians in Rome, Paul explained that those without the written law have the knowledge of the law written in their hearts by way of their conscience.

     “…when Gentiles…who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them…in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ…”  Romans 2:15-16

     Paul explains that God’s presence and omnipotence are displayed by His creation, man’s conscience, or by the written law.  In other words, man has no excuse to ‘forget’ God.

     The above passage confirms that God will judge the secrets of men by His Son Jesus Christ including their thoughts as well as things presumed to remain hidden.

     And then recall how Solomon summarized his wisdom in his concluding thoughts on life.

     “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.  For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”  Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

     Therefore, total transparency awaits every man.  Every thought, word, and deed, including their underlying motive, will be brought to light before the Judge Jesus Christ.

     Ironically, in this present generation the United States has different levels of courts, including the Supreme Court, which is supposed to enact justice.  But justice is meted out in accordance with man’s concept of right and wrong.

     During the recent presidential campaign, one of the nominees was accused of mishandling confidential data.  She was not indicted for the reason that the FBI could not prove intent to do harm or damage.

     Such will not prevail before the righteous Judge to come who will search the hearts of all to reveal secret motives and thoughts.

     Nothing will remain hidden in the Day of Judgment.  That being the case, it is a mystery why such Biblical truths are not priorities.  Nearly the entire presidential season excluded the one certainty; which is that all nations and individuals will be judged at the appointed day.

     It appears that naiveté, indifference, or haughtiness reigns.

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God has delegated all judgment to His Son

     The Bible is very clear that Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Son of man, has been given total authority by His Father to judge all nations and their inhabitants. 

     Such authority was introduced in the Old Testament approximately 700 years before the rightful Judge was born.

     “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse…The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge…”  Isaiah 11:1-2

     Jesse was the father of David.

     The ‘Rod from the stem of Jesse’ is Jesus Christ.

     And recall Jesus’ proclamation in the final chapter of the Bible:

    “I am the Root and the Offspring of David…”  Revelation 22:16b

     Isaiah continues by describing the way in which the ‘stem of Jesse’ will judge.

     “…and He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears; but with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.”  Isaiah 11:3-4

     The benchmark by which Christ will judge the earth and its inhabitants is the immutable righteousness of God established 1445 years before His earthly birth.

     There will be no popular votes or Supreme Court interpretations; all judgment will be done in accordance with God’s standard of righteousness.

     The phrase ‘rod of his mouth’ will become reality when Christ returns to judge the earth.

     “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse.  And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war…Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with He should strike the nations.  And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron.”  Revelation 19:11, 15

     The gospel according to John confirmed the truth relative to the Son having total authority to execute judgment on the earth.

     “For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son…because He is (also) the Son of Man” John 5:22, 27b

     In the same passage Jesus reaffirmed that His judgment would be according to God’s immutable standard of righteousness. 

     “I can of Myself do nothing…My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”  John 5:30

     The gospel according to Matthew likewise describes the judgment of the nations at the return of Christ.

     “When the Son of Man comes in His glory…He will sit on the throne of His glory.  All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.”  Matthew 25:31-32

     The criterion for this judgment is how the inhabitants of the nations treated God’s chosen during Christ’s absence after His ascension to His Father. 

     Those who showed compassion for God’s Chosen will hear the wonderful words of the judgment of righteousness. 

     However, those who ignored the suffering and persecution of Christ’s brethren will hear words of condemnation.

     After Christ’s ascension and the birth of the Church, Peter preached with great boldness the truth of the judicial authority given to Christ.

     “And He (Christ) commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.”  Acts 10:42

     After Saul became Paul he caused great conflict as he mightily preached the Judgeship of Christ to anyone who would give ear. 

     In his famous address to the men of Athens who were curious of his teachings, Paul said:

     “…He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained.  He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”  Acts 17:31

     Therefore, if anyone claims to believe the Bible, they must agree that the resurrected Jesus Christ will return to judge the earth and all its inhabitants at the appointed day.

The Creator is the Avenging Judge

     As would be expected, the One who created all things and established the standard of conduct for His created, is the rightful Judge for non-compliance to His standards. 

     There are numerous examples in the Bible that provide warnings of God’s absolute, impending, required judgment.  That implies His created did not live up to His standards.  That is an understatement.

     “Let the heavens declare His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge.”  Psalm 50:6

     King David, who began his rule in 1010 BC was said to be a man after God’s own heart.  David had much to say about the future judgment, even in times of celebration and joy.

     After the ark was taken to Jerusalem and placed in the tabernacle, David expressed his joy in a song of praise to his God.  Within this song, the future judgment of the earth by God is acknowledged.

     “He is the LORD our God; His judgments are in all the earth...Then the trees of the woods shall rejoice before the LORD, for He is coming to judge the earth.”  1 Chronicles 16:14, 33

     Note that even the creation itself, i.e. the trees of the woods, shall rejoice before God when He judges all things and restores His creation to its intended purpose.

     The Hebrew noun for ‘judgment’ means ‘sentence’ or ‘verdict.’  It could be either good or bad.  The verdict could be either condemnation or vindication.   The concept of repayment and retribution is prevalent.  The Hebrew verb for ‘judge’ generally means to ‘arbitrate’ or ‘litigate.’

     David is also quoted in numerous Psalms where he declares the inevitable future judgment by the sovereign and righteous God.

     “…For He is coming to judge the earth.  With righteousness He shall judge the world, and the peoples with equity (uprightness).”  Psalms 98:9

     God’s judgment is always described as righteous; which means according to His standards.  The ‘world’ in this verse refers to the people populating the earth.

    Both of the above passages use the same terminology, i.e. ‘for He is coming to judge the earth…’ and its inhabitants. 

     Just as in the New Testament, the righteous chosen ones of God in the Old Testament will rejoice at justice and vengeance for the wicked.

     “The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked, so that men will say, ‘Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely He is God who judges in the earth.’”  Psalm 58:10-11

     Judgment in this verse is likewise administered to both the earth and all mankind.

     Many do not believe a loving God could seek vengeance.  The Hebrew for ‘vengeance’ in Hebrew does in fact mean revenge, retaliation, and punishment.  Vengeance is required of a holy God.  All disobedience must by necessity be dealt with. 

     In another Psalm, David explains that man has brought on their own judgment.

     “The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made; in the net which they hid, their own foot is caught…The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands.”  Psalm 9:15-16

     The absolute truth is that the nations (heathen) are totally responsible for their impending judgment because such judgment is directed to ‘…all the nations that forget God.’

     And then David implores God to remind those created in His image that they are just men and not God.

     “Arise, O LORD, do not let man prevail; let the nations be judged in Your sight.  Put them in fear, O LORD that the nations may know themselves to be but men.”  Psalm 9:19-20

     Following David’s forty year rule, his son Solomon ruled.  Solomon’s rule ended in 931 BC when the nation of Israel was divided.

     As previously mentioned Solomon penned 3,000 proverbs.  Judgment was one of the topics Solomon addressed in his wisdom writings.

     “Rejoice, O young man…and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; walk in the ways of your heart…but know that for all these God will bring you into judgment.”  Ecclesiastes 11:9

     Solomon’s advice?  Enjoy your days, but live your life within the bounds of God’s word, for it is by this word that mankind will be judged.

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Judgment - the Inevitable Future

     One of the more unpopular subjects that nations and individuals would like to avoid is the future judgment awaiting the earth and its inhabitants.

     The future judgment is required by a Holy God; is universal, and absolute.  This judgment will be based on how nations and men have obeyed God’s immutable standard of righteousness.

     The final judgment is explained in detail immediately preceding the last two chapters in the Bible.

    “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it…The sea gave up the dead… and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them.  Then death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire…And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”  Revelation 20:1a, 13-15

     However, the words immediately following the final judgment introduce the renewed heaven and earth.

     “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away…there shall be no more death…”  Revelation 21:1, 4b

     Before proceeding, it needs to be stated that those ‘found written in the Book of Life’ referenced above have already been judged by way of the vicarious death of Jesus Christ.  They are, therefore, exempt from the great white throne judgment.  We’ll address that issue later when the Bema Seat of Christ is discussed.

     Universal judgment is spoken of throughout the Bible and is not a mystery kept hidden until the final pages of God’s word.  Universal resurrection and judgment is required by the Creator of all things; however, universal bliss is heresy.

     There are basically two categories of judgment found in the New Testament as illustrated below.

     “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.”  Hebrews 9:27

     The Greek word for ‘judgment’ in this verse is krisis with many synonyms including ‘sentence, condemnation, and final.’

     The concept of universalism is noted.  All mankind are appointed to death, while universal judgment is noted by ‘the.’

     But the use of the word ‘judgment’ in another verse in the book of Hebrews carries a different meaning. 

     “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection (maturity), not laying again the foundation of repentance…the doctrine of baptism…and of eternal judgment…”  Hebrews 6:2

     The word for ‘judgment’ in this verse is from the Greek dikaiosune meaning righteousness in regard to God and His word.  It is righteous judgment provided by Christ fulfilling the law on the behalf of God’s chosen.

     So then, one major definition of ‘judgment’ applies to those without Christ, while the other major definition means justification provided by Christ.  The context needs to be studied in order to understand what the writer is saying.

     The writer of Hebrews explains that the doctrine of eternal judgment is an elementary principle and believers need to grow in wisdom of the oracles of God.

     “For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.  But solid food belongs to those who are of full age (mature)…”  Hebrews 5:13-14a

     In the book of Acts Luke describes Paul’s witness to the Roman governor Felix who was involved in unscrupulous activities with his third wife Drusilla.

     Felix felt that he couldn’t live up to Paul’s gospel message concerning faith in Christ.

     “Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, ‘Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.’”  Acts 24:25

     Felix wasn’t willing to repent from his lifestyle to receive the righteousness of Christ which would have resulted in his justification.

     Solomon, the writer of 3,000 proverbs and over 1,000 poems (hymns), summarized the issue succinctly.

     “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: ‘Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.  For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.’”  Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

     The Hebrew word for ‘judgment’ in this passage has several meanings including verdict (either favorable or unfavorable), due, sentence, or retribution.

     Judgment of all things is inevitable and imminent. 

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