God’s judgement is governed by His love and mercy.

A common question that arises in conversation about the Christian faith is about God’s judgement. People wonder why a loving God will also act in judgement against evildoing. This lesson addresses this question by beginning with the affirmation of God’s love and mercy. These qualities of God govern Hid judgement. This lesson examines the righteousness of God’s judgement, as well as why God judges. This topic necessarily emphasizes that because God is righteous, His will is for righteousness to prevail everywhere, in all people. Therefore, God provides for people to be made righteous by trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.

Deuteronomy 32:4  He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

GOD IS MERCIFUL AND LOVING

A. God’s Faithfulness

Psalm 86:15  But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

…….What person can disagree with this scripture statement? Who can evaluate their past and find that God has dealt a bad hand of cards? Who can say, I deserved much more grace and mercy than what was given? The answer would be none! David wasn’t reminding God that He was full of compassion, gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth, he was reminding himself. It is imperative that we remind ourselves often of how great God has been to us.

86:16  O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.

……. it is much harder to lovingly reward the child who never realizes how good the parent has been to them. For the child that has been always thankful for everything, this child is continuously rewarded with joy. Who here feels comfortable with asking the Lord for a blessing? It’s not so hard when we’ve been openly thankful for the blessings of the past.

B. Testimonies of God’s Love and Mercy

Ephesians 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great (largest number, mostly, more in quantity) love wherewith he loved us,

2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

…….Why did He save us from our sins? Because He loved us from the very beginning of our creation. How hard is it for we as people to show mercy to those who live continuously in self destruction? Why? Because we can’t see their future and the potential they hold. God doesn’t see us ultimately for where our failures have taken us, but only where His mercy can bring us to! Why? Because He truly loves us with “great” love.

1 John 4:7  Beloved, let us love (agapao) one another: for love (agape) is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

…….The first love mentioned is of the word agapao: to love after, or a result of agape. The second love mentioned is agape: a feast of love. In all essence if we are feasting from the love of God then we will naturally be full of love for others.

4:8  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

…….The saying “you are what you eat” is more than true. If we are feasting from the things of the world we will reflect our worldly appetite. If we are feasting from the things of God we will reflect righteousness.

4:9  In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

4:10  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation (satisfactory payment) for our sins.

…….God used love in such a way that it cost Him tremendously! There is nothing else that can satisfy the debt that sin creates besides the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. God loves us that much.

GOD’S RIGHTEOUS AND PERFECT JUDGEMENT

A. Choices and Consequences

Exodus 20:4  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

20:5  Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

…….God said that He is a “jealous” God, meaning that he requires our undivided devotion to him. To say that God is jealous may seem surprising if we know that jealousy can lead to much sin. With God being perfect, the only way He can be jealous is with a loving jealousy. He loves us in such a way, as does a husband and wife, that it causes deep hurt when we neglect His love by cheating on Him with sin, because His sacrifice was so great.

We must not be confused by the saying generational curses. This scripture simply means that as long as the sin continues so will the judgement. It is our duty to live wholeheartedly before our children. It is nature for the child to follow the steps of the children. When we live Holy in front of them, nature will take its course. If we live sinfully, nature will as well take its course.

20:6  And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

…….This is the contrary promise of God. Though the consequences of sin are great, the consequences of loving God are much greater!

B. The Final Judgement

Revelation 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

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.

20:13  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.

20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

22:12  And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

22:13  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

22:14  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

22:15  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

22:16  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

WHY DOES A LOVING GOD JUDGE?

A. Because He Is Faithful

Deuteronomy 32:4  He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

Psalm 7:10  My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.

7:11  God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

…….Many will ask, “how can a God full of grace and mercy also be of judgement?” Because with Judgement comes good and bad. Without judgement, good will never be rewarded. God has set promises to judge all men for all things. He is a rewarder and a keeper of promises. 2 Corinthians 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.

B. Because God Is Holy

Matthew 13:41  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

13:42  And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

13:43  Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

…….The fear of the Lord is to hate evil (Proverbs 8:3). It is easy to look at this world and be disappointed, but the Lords judgement and reward will eliminate the thoughts of this world’s persistent evil. The righteous will have a day where the sidetracking ways of sin will never have its place in our lives again. The effects of sin and unrighteousness will disappear and the glory of God within us will shine like the sun!

2 Peter 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

In considering the love and justice of God, let us take a moment to examine whether or not we are embracing a biblical view of his love and justice. Genuine love cannot be accommodating and permissive of evil. Genuine justice cannot be vindictive and spiteful, but must be truthful, fair, and impartial. Love and justice work together in the rendering of God‘s judgment. We also ought to take care that we do not mistake gods patience for permissiveness. He works patiently to bring people to repentance, thus making his goodness known (2 Peter 3:9). As believers in Christ, let us make the most of God’s patience by being witnesses of our Lord Jesus.