Judgment

Webster’s 1828 dictionary, here is one of the definitions of Judgment: 'The faculty of the mind by which man is enabled to compare ideas and ascertain the relations of terms and propositions.'

Strong’s greek lexicon defines Judgment as:  'krē'-sēs'

1) a separating, sundering, separation

a) a trial, contest

2) selection

3) judgment

a) opinion or decision given concerning anything

2 Thessalonians 1:1-10 (NASB)

³ We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; ⁴ therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. ⁵ This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. ⁶For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, ⁷ and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, ⁸ dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

Being human it is easy to accept a mixed gospel.  One that fully sets us free by grace on one hand, and yet still puts us under a position of bondage and condemnation on the other.  It is the false belief that we are going to receive God’s judgment for every careless word or action when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ.  There is nowhere in scripture that supports this notion for those in Christ.  If this mixed Gospel approach were true, then we would have a limited salvation, and Jesus blood and sacrifice would not be enough to save us from the wrath and anger of God for us not measuring up to His high standards.

The passage below is a dialogue between Jesus and the judgmental Pharisees of His day discussing what true Godly Character looks like.  Jesus makes the comparison:

Matthew 12: 33-37 (NASB)

³³ “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. ³⁴ You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. ³⁵ The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. ³⁶ But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. ³⁷ For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

This passage is spoken as a parable by Jesus.  It clearly shows that Jesus is making a distinction between those who are good and produce good fruit, and those who are evil and produce bad fruit.  The distinction can be further defined between those who are in Christ where He is living in their lives and producing fruit with joy, peace and love, (see John 15)  and those who are not.  In Jesus stating “…every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment,”  when read out of context it appears that we are going to answer for every word we have spoken out of either wrong or careless intentions to others when we face Christ on the day of judgment.

If that were the case, if we as Christians are to still stand in judgment for our words and actions, then what did Jesus die for?  Did He die for nothing?

And secondly, if we all are still to stand in judgment for our words or actions after Christ has saved us, then our salvation is limited and cannot save us to the uttermost as it says it can.  

These are arguments taken out of scriptural context, I have heard these types of arguments from well meaning Christians who hold to a mixed gospel.

But there is good news for anyone who has held this mixed view of the gospel, there is a qualifier.  It is in verse 37 “…For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned”     Justification before God comes only from Jesus, it is the free gift that He offers us to make us right with God.  Through faith we confess with our mouth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and it is through faith we reckon His sacrifice to be ours, IT IS PAYMENT IN FULL, He did it all!  We can stand confident before God in the day of judgment and confess that Jesus is our mighty man, our redeemer, and our friend.  That is our position in Christ.  Jesus justified us before God by His sacrifice, and we can stand in that position before God.  Justified, confident, assured, friends of God.  This is Grace.  We do not give an accounting for our careless words or our sins, Jesus bore them all on the cross.

John 8:30-36 (NIRV)

³¹ Jesus spoke to the Jews who had believed him. “If you obey my teaching,” he said, “you are really my disciples. ³² Then you will know the truth. And the truth will set you free.”

³³ They answered him, “We are Abraham’s children. We have never been slaves of anyone. So how can you say that we will be set free?”

³⁴ Jesus replied, “What I’m about to tell you is true. Everyone who sins is a slave of sin. ³⁵ A slave has no lasting place in the family. But a son belongs to the family forever. ³⁶ So if the Son of Man sets you free, you will really be free.

Here is the counter distinction that Jesus was making. Those who are not Christ’s redeemed people will have to give the accounting for their words and lives because they do not have an intercessor to do it for them.  They have not made the confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, they do not have faith placed in their hearts by God for them to believe.  They cannot confess with their mouth that Jesus has become their savior.  God will ask for this accounting.  Why is there a need for such an accounting?  This is why, God does not want to cast off anyone from His presence, He desires that all should be saved.

Ezekiel 18:20-23 (GWT)

²⁰ The person who sins will die. A son will not be punished for his father’s sins, and a father will not be punished for his son’s sins. The righteousness of the righteous person will be his own, and the wickedness of the wicked person will be his own.

²¹ “But suppose a wicked person turns away from all the sins that he has done. He obeys all my laws and does what is fair and right. He will certainly live. He will not die. ²² All the rebellious things that he did will not be remembered. He will live because of the right things that he did. ²³ I don’t want wicked people to die.” declares the Almighty Lord. “I want them to turn from their evil ways and live”.

There is always a way back for anyone who makes the confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.  God will draw out all of those whom He gives the faith to believe and give them a hunger for Jesus.  Jesus’ desire for us is to make His home in our physical bodies so that He may reign through our lives. (our mind will and emotions)  That is the tangible, practical way He expresses His desires in us and through us, by our obedience to Him.  Our part is to immerse ourselves in God’s word and ask Jesus to send His spirit to enlighten us, and help us to make application in our daily lives.  The Spirit also helps us to retain and recall all that we read so that we can remain strong in our faith.

Judgment is passing from death to life if we are in Christ.  For those not in Christ it is something completely different.

If you have held a mixed view of the gospel or God’s grace, I encourage you to receive the freedom that comes from laying down any further expectation from God on your part, or any fear that God will reject you for any misspoken words or miss-deeds, God loves you and wants you to receive from Jesus the real freedom that you were destined to receive as a child of God.  As it says in John 8:36 ...So if the Son of Man sets you free, you will really be free.

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We Will Bow

(Brian Thiessen)

Worthy, worthy

Is the lamb that was slain

To receive glory and honor

All heaven and earth

And every tribe and tongue

Will bow before the King

Will bow before the King

We will bow, we will bow

To our King

We will bow, we will bow

To our King

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The music above is copyrighted by the respective artists, and is demonstrated here for educational purposes only.

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