Chapter 10  Part I

Basics

Sections

The fact that God does and will judge us is one of the Bible’s key teachings, without which the significance of other key Bible teachings is lost – notably that of salvation. An understanding of it is also vital to understanding God himself. Additionally, bear in mind that God’s judgment – being just and righteous – actually gives his people much reason to be encouraged.

God Is the Judge of the World

God is judge – of the whole earth

The heavens declare his fairness, for God is judge.   Psalms 50:6 NET

[Abraham, to God:] You are the judge of all the earth …   Genesis 18:25b CEV

God makes judgments in the world

He is the Lord our God; he carries out judgment throughout the earth.   1 Chronicles 16:14 NET

God makes himself known by his judgment

[God, to the people of Edom:] I will deal with you according to your anger, and according to your envy, by which you acted spitefully against them [the people of Israel]. I will reveal myself to them when I judge you.   Ezekiel 35:11b NET

Reasons for God’s Judgment

God’s judgment is to punish sin and unfaithfulness

[Daniel, to God:] All Israel has broken your law and turned away by not obeying you. Therefore you have poured out on us the judgment solemnly threatened in the law of Moses the servant of God, for we have sinned against you.   Daniel 9:11 NET

[God, pronouncing judgment on King Zedekiah:] I will bring him to Babylon and judge him there because of the unfaithfulness he committed against me.   Ezekiel 17:20b NET

God’s judgment is to discipline God’s people

[Paul, to believers:] But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned with the world.   1 Corinthians 11:32 NET

God’s judgment is to punish the wicked

But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, by being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.   2 Peter 3:7 NET

God’s judgment is also to reward God’s people

[Elders in heaven, to God:] The nations were enraged, but your wrath has come, and the time has come for the dead to be judged, and the time has come to give to your servants, the prophets, their reward, as well as to the saints and to those who revere your name, both small and great, and the time has come to destroy those who destroy the earth.   Revelation 11:18 NET

As well as punishment for wrongdoing, God’s judgment includes reward for godliness.

God’s Judgment Is Just

God judges righteously and justly

This is evidence of God’s righteous judgment, to make you worthy of the kingdom of God, for which in fact you are suffering.   2 Thessalonians 1:5 NET

For he has fixed a day in which he will judge the whole world with justice by means of a man he has chosen.   Acts 17:31a GNT

God judges people with knowledge of all their deeds

[Jeremiah, to God:] You see everything people do. You reward each of them for the way they live and for the things they do.   Jeremiah 32:19b NET

One reason why God’s judgment is just is that he judges people with knowledge of all their deeds – as well as of all their thoughts and motives (as per the following subsection). As such he can make judgments with knowledge of all the relevant information.

God takes into account thoughts and motives

[Jeremiah:] So I said to the Lord, “O Lord who rules over all, you are a just judge! You examine people’s hearts and minds.   Jeremiah 11:20a NET

God judges and repays people according to what they do

[Paul:] But because of your stubborn and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6For he will repay everyone according to what that person has done: …   Romans 2:5-6 ISV

God gives fair warning, allowing for judgment to be avoided

[God:] There are times, Jeremiah, when I threaten to uproot, tear down, and destroy a nation or kingdom. 8But if that nation I threatened stops doing wrong, I will cancel the destruction I intended to do to it.   Jeremiah 18:7-8 NET

What is said here regarding nations is also applicable to individuals.

Pray for persecuted Christians