QUESTIONS & ANSWERS about…

Judgment

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    God is sovereign over all (Eph. 4:6).

 

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

 

1.      Note Paul says that God is “above all.”

2.      This does not indicate His physical location above all.  It means that He has power and authority over all.

 

B.      As sovereign, God has the right to command His creation. 

 

C.     NOTE:  God does not force humanity’s compliance with His commands.  He has given men free moral agency.  In other words, man can choose to obey God or disobey God (Deut. 30:19; Josh. 24:15; I Kings 18:21).

 

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve…

 

D.    As the sovereign God, it is also within God’s authority to hold His creation accountable to His commands.  This will be done at an appointed time called, “The Day of Judgment” (See Matt. 10:15).

 

E.      In this lesson, we are going to look at the subject of Judgment.  The title of our lesson is:  “Questions & Answers about…Judgment.”

 

I.                   IS THE DAY OF JUDGMENT REAL?

 

A.    When men think of final judgment, it is a scary event.  Rather than accept that there will be a final judgment, there are many who deny it.  Thus, we ask:  Is the Day of Judgment real?

 

B.      The Bible tells us that it is real.

1.      Jesus spoke about “the day of judgment” several times (Matt. 10:15; 11:22, 24; 12:36).

 

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

 

2.      When Paul spoke to the Grecian philosophers in Athens, he proclaimed that there will be a Day of Judgment (Acts 17:31).

 

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.

 

3.      Peter spoke of the Day of Judgment (II Pet. 2:9; 3:7).

4.      Jude wrote about the Day of Judgment (Jude 6).

5.      John also noted that there will be a day of judgment (I John 4:17; Rev. 20:12).

 

C.     If God exists, and, if the Bible is the Word of God, then, the Day of Judgment is absolutely certain.

 

II.                WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE DAY OF JUDGMENT?

 

A.    In our introduction, we spoke of the purpose of judgment.  It is the day that God will hold men accountable for their obedience or disobedience to Him (Rom. 14:12).

 

So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

 

B.      There are four broad categories of things for which we will give an account.

1.      Our words (John 12:36)

 

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

 

2.      All the things we have done in our body (II Cor. 5:10)

 

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.

 

3.      Our works (Rom. 2:6)

 

Who will render to every man according to his deeds.

 

4.      All the secret things of man (Eccl. 12:14; Rom. 2:16)

 

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

 

III.             WHO WILL BE IN THE JUDGMENT?

 

A.    God (Rev. 20:12)

 

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.

 

B.      Christ (II Tim. 4:1)

 

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.

 

C.     The angels

1.      The fallen angels (II Pet. 2:4; Jude 6)

 

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.

 

2.      All other angels (I Cor. 6:3)

 

Know ye not that we shall judge angels?

D.    All men, living and dead, when Christ returns

1.      “…who shall judge the quick and the dead…” (II Tim. 4:1)

2.      “And I saw the dead, small and great stand before God…” (Rev. 20:12).

3.      “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ…” (II Cor. 5:10)

4.      …for he cometh to judge the earth, with righteousness shall he judge the world… (Ps. 98:9).

5.      “…he will judge the world in righteousness…” (Acts 17:31)

6.      “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:  and before him shall be gathered all nations…” (Matt. 25:31-32).

 

E.      Satan.  We are not told that Satan will be judged, but we are told that he will be punished that day (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10).

 

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone…and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 

 

IV.             WHAT WILL BE THE STANDARD OF JUDGMENT?

 

A.    When we get to the Judgment, we will not be surprised by the standard that God will apply in the Judgment.  He has not kept it hidden from us.

 

B.      The standard will be the Word of God.

1.      John 12:48

 

He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him:  the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

 

2.      Romans 2:2

 

But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

 

3.      Romans 2:16

 

In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

 

4.      Revelation 20:12

 

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. 

 

C.     Several thoughts:

1.      We know the test come Judgment Day.  If we do not pass, it will be due to our neglect.

2.      The Bible must be understandable.  God would not judge us according to something that we cannot understand.

3.      God will take the Word and will apply it perfectly to each one of our lives.  Remember, God knows exactly what He has revealed.

 

 

 

V.                WHAT WILL BE THE SENTENCES PASSED IN THE JUDGMENT?

 

A.    There will only be two sentences passed at the Judgment.

 

B.      Those who have had their sins paid for by the blood of Christ will hear a very positive sentence.

1.      “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:21, 23).

2.      “…enter thou into the joy of they Lord” (Matt. 25:21, 23).

3.      “Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matt. 25:34).

 

C.     Those who have refused the blood of Christ will have to pay the penalty for their sins.

1.      “Thou wicked and slothful servant” (Matt. 25:26).

2.      “And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness:  there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 25:30).

3.      “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41).

 

VI.             WHAT WILL NOT BE SEEN IN THE JUDGMENT?

 

A.    There will be no respect of persons (Rom. 2:11).

 

B.      There will be no unfairness (Heb. 6:10).

 

C.     There will be no missed evidence (Rev. 2:23).

 

D.    There will be no bargains and deals (Ps. 50:12).

 

E.      There will be no subjectivism, that is, judgment by feelings (Rom. 2:8-9).

 

F.      There will be no mercy for the guilty (Matt. 25:11-12).

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    As we come to the close of this lesson, there are some who probably still doubt whether there will be a Judgment.

 

B.      Let’s go back to Paul on Mar’s Hill (Acts 17:31).

 

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 the at he hath raised him from the dead.

 

1.      The Judgment is just as sure as the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

2.      If you believe in the resurrection, then you would be wise to believe in the Judgment.  The same Lord who triumphed over the grave will be the one who will sit on the Throne of Judgment.

 

C.     My friends, we will all be in the Judgment.  We desperately need to prepare now for then. 

 

D.    Are you ready to stand before God in the Judgment?