Don Stewart :: Is God a Judge?

The Bible says that God is a God of judgment. Because He is holy and cannot tolerate sin there must be some way to judge wrongdoing. His holiness demands justice for sins that are committed. It was our sin that separated us from the holiness of God. God's word says:

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you (Isaiah 59:2).

The Penalty Of Our Sins Were Placed Upon Christ

This is the reason God placed the penalty of the sins of the world upon Jesus when He was crucified on our behalf. God the Father was unable to look upon His Son when He was crucified on Calvary's cross. Jesus said.

About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46).

Paul wrote.

For he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:21).

His holiness has been satisfied with the death of Christ. We can now enter into God's presence based upon the sacrifice Christ made on the cross.

God Judged Both Individuals And Nations

The judgment of God for sin will be on both an individual and national level. He will judge individual for private sins and nations for their corporate sins. Jesus spoke of judgment against the inhabitants of certain cities.

Then he began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles were done, because they did not repent. "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. "Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. "And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. "Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you." (Matthew 11:20-24).

Jesus spoke of the judgment of individuals

Friend, he asked, how did you get in here without wedding clothes? The man was speechless. Then the king told the attendants, Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are invited, but few are chosen (Matthew 22:12-14).

He Is The Righteous Judge

The Lord is a righteous judge.

For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes (Deuteronomy 10:17).

Moses wrote.

He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he (Deuteronomy 32:4)

The Will Be A Final Judgment

Scripture speaks of a final judgment for the wicked.

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15).

Summary

God is a God of love, but He is also a God of justice. For those who reject God's offer of salvation there awaits a judgment. Scripture speaks of judgment in a number of different ways. First there are instances where God judges individuals. Scripture also records God judging the inhabitants of entire cities. In addition, there is the record of the Lord judging entire nations. The Bible also speaks of a final judgment. Believers will not be judged for their sin. Their sins were judged by the death of Jesus Christ on Calvary's cross.