God the Judge

INTRODUCTION:

We have learned many things about God. Most would want to think of God as our Father, as our Friend, as our helper, etc.

The Bible also reveals God as our Judge.

When interceeding for Sodom, Abraham stated in Genesis 18:25 : 25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

Jephthah against the Ammonite invaders declares:
Judges ??
27 Wherefore I have notsinned against thee, but thou doest me wrong to war against me: the LORD the Judge be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon.

Other Schriptures declare God to be the Judge:

Psalm 75:7
7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
Psalm 82:8
8 Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.
Hebrews 12:23
23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

THE FACT OF DIVINE JUDGMENT IS SET FORTH

Adam and Eve - expelled from the garden & cursed - Gen. 3

Flood of Noah's day - Gen. 6-8

Sodom and Gomorrah, Gen. 18-19

Egyptian's for their treatment of Israel, Gen. 15:14 (10 plagues, Ex.7-12)

Golden calf worshippers - Ex. 32:26-35

Nadab and Abihu - offering strange fire, Lev. 10:1-3

Korah, Dathan, and Abiram - rebellion,

Achan for taking the devoted things - Josh. 7

Israel for unfaithfulness, Judge 2:11-15; 3:5-8; 4:1-3

Assyrian & Babylonian captivity - 2 Kings 17; 22:15-17; 23:26-27

Nebuchadnezzar - Dan. 4:5-27, 34

Belshazzar - Dan. 5:5-6, 23-28, 30

Ananias and Sapphira - Acts 5:1-10

Herod for his pride - Acts 13:8-11

Jews for their rebellion against the Christ, Mtt. 21:43-44, 1 Thes.2:14-16

Most of these are illustrations of temporal judgments - not the final judgment that determins the eternal situation - but even in these judgments it is fairly obvious what the final judgment holds for these people.

The Prophets

The prophets spent much more time pronouncing judgment then predicting the Messiah!Ecclesiastes - God will bring you to judgment!

Ecclesiastes 11:9
9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

Ecclesiastes 12:14

14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

The New Testament continues this thought:

James 5:9
9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
1 Peter 4:5
5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
2 Timothy 4:8
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Acts 10:42
42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
Acts 17:31
31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Romans 2:16
16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
John 5:22 22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: John 5:27-29
27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
2 Corinthians 5:10
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

THE JUDGE IS A PERSON WITH AUTHORITY

1. God the father - as creator as authority over ALL, He is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the sovereign ruler of all the universe.

2. Jesus, as the Christ, given ALL authority in heaven and earth - Mtt. 28:18, Eph. 1:

THE JUDGE IS A PERSON IDENTIFIED WITH WHAT IS GOOD AND JUST

God is no respector of persons -

Righteousness and Judgment are the basis of his throne (rule) -

Psalm 97:2
2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
Psalm 89:14
14 Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
Psalm 9:7-8
7 But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.
8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.

THE JUDGE IS A PERSON OF WISDOM - TO DISCERN TRUTH

God is ALL KNOWING - God will judge according to the thoughts and intents of the heart -

THE JUDGE IS A PERSON OF POWER TO EXECUTE SENTENCE

As demonstrated in the 'temporal judgments' at the beginning of this lesson, so God has the power to bring all before his judgment seat and to carry out the sentence. Mtt. 25: 2 Thess. 1:8-9f

God's judgment will be 'retribution' 1. Retribution is to reward according to works, to give what is deserved -

Matthew 16:27
27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Revelation 20:12-13
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
John 5:28-29
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
2 Corinthians 5:10
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Romans 2:6-11
6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

It has its frightening implications for godless men, it is true; but its main thrust is as a revelation of the moral character of God, and an imparting of moral significance to human life.

CONCLUSION:

2 Corinthians 5:10-11

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.