Chapter 10

God’s Judgment

Sections

1. Basics
   1. God Is the Judge of the World
      • God is judge . . .
      • . . . God is the judge of the whole earth
      • God makes judgments in the world
      • God judges nations
      • God judges individuals – including rulers
      • God judges his own people
      • God judges evil spiritual powers
   2. Reasons for God’s Judgment
      • To punish sin and unfaithfulness
      • To discipline and cleanse God’s people
      • To punish the ungodly . . .
      • . . . and to exact just vengeance
      • To save God’s people
      • To vindicate God’s people
      • To reward God’s people
      • Note: God’s judgments serve as examples and warnings to others
   3. God’s Judgment Is Just
      • God judges with justice
      • God judges righteously
      • God does not show favoritism in his judgment
      • God judges people with knowledge of all their deeds
      • God takes into account thoughts and motives
      • God’s judgments are correct
      • God judges and repays people according to what they have done
      • God repays people’s deeds with fitting recompense
      • God gives fair warning of punishment for not obeying him . . .
      • . . . Thus God allows for repentance and for punishment to be averted
      • Note: In effect, it is people’s own actions that brings God’s punishment on themselves
   4. God’s Judgment Reveals God
      • God makes himself known by his judgment
      • God’s judgment shows his might and his sovereignty . . .
      • . . . God’s judgment makes known that he is the Lord
      • God’s judgment evidences his glory – and also brings him glory
      • God’s judgment reveals his holiness
      • God’s judgment displays his anger
      • Note: God’s restraint of his judgment shows his compassion and love

2. The Manifestation of God’s Judgment
   1. Means of God’s Judicial Retribution
      • Angels
      • Nature
      • Rulers . . .
      • . . . and nations
      • God’s own people
   2. Characteristics of God’s Judicial Retribution
      • Awesome power . . .
      • . . . and irresistible
      • Inescapable
      • Terrifying . . .
      • . . . causing great grief and anguish
      • Horrific consequences . . .
      • . . . even complete devastation
   3. The Wicked and God’s Pending Judgment
      • The wicked often prosper
      • God shows goodness to the wicked – even their prosperity ultimately comes from him
      • Questioning of God’s apparent lack of judgment regarding the wicked
      • However, the situation of the wicked is precarious
      • God does not leave the guilty unpunished
      • In due time God does take action . . .
      • . . . God’s silence in the face of wickedness is followed by his judgment
      • God destroys the wicked
      • The destruction of the wicked is often sudden
      • Note: “The day of the Lord” will bring God’s judgment, with its destruction of the wicked
   4. Repayments for the Wicked and the Righteous
      • The wicked reap what they sow . . .
      • . . . The wicked are brought down by their own evil deeds
      • In contrast to the wicked, the righteous reap what is good
      • God blesses the righteous
      • God takes care of the righteous, in contrast to the wicked
      • The future of the righteous contrasts with the end of the wicked . . .
      • . . . This will be most evident in the afterlife
      • The wicked and ungodly are bereft of hope
      • Discourses on perils that the wicked typically face
      • Note: Further contrasts between the righteous and the wicked
   5. Epilogue: God’s Judgment of Israel – and His Mercy
      • Many times God called and warned his wayward people, through his prophets
      • Eventually God determined to bring destruction on unresponsive Israel
      • The temple and Jerusalem were destroyed
      • God’s judgment on unfaithful Israel culminated in exile from the promised land
      • However, God would not completely destroy Israel . . .
      • . . . God promised to spare a remnant of Israel
      • God also promised to return people of Israel to the land
      • Jews did return to the land – rebuilding the temple and Jerusalem’s walls
      • Note: Because God remembers his covenant with Abraham, God cares for and is merciful to Israel

 ➜Major headings in: 10. God’s Judgment (and all of Unit B)

Pray for persecuted Christians