- HubPages»
- Religion and Philosophy»
- Christianity, the Bible & Jesus
John 5:27 Jesus is our Judge; Why would a loving God allow us to be judged?
Purity of God
Deuteronomy 32: 3-4 – “I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! 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.”
Exodus 33:20 – “But He (God) said, “You cannot see my face, for no man can see me and live!”
John 5:27 - 30 - “and he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out-those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgement is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.”
Nobody likes to be judged. The idea of God judging us is offensive to many people. They will ask, “How can a loving God allow judgment?” Or “How can a loving God allow anyone to suffer?” Some people work so hard to be good, they can’t imagine that God would judge them. But what if it’s not just about us? Maybe there is more to it; perhaps we don’t understand everything that God is. We have a God who is so pure, so holy, and so perfect that our sin can’t even exist in his presence. It’s hard to grasp. The sheer power of his glory obliterates every imperfection he comes in contact with. God does not judge us because he is mean and hateful. It is his perfection and goodness that leaves him no choice. It’s not what he wants for us, and he has a solution.
2 Peter 3:9 –“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
There was a commercial on television, when I was a child, for a wonderful product called OxiClean. This amazing product could eliminate dirt in seconds. I remember a very excited announcer with a dirty sock that had been rolled in dirt and mud so much that you could barely tell it was supposed to be white. He would put it in a bucket of water, swoosh it around until the water was grey and the sock was grey and it was clear that this was an impossible laundry dilemma. Ah, but we should not fear, Oxiclean was here! Just a splash of this miracle cure and the sock was as clean as new, sparkling white and blemish free. This stuff could dissolve dirt like magic. I was fascinated.
God is like Oxiclean on steroids. The dirt of our imperfections and sin cannot exist in the presence of his purity. We would be destroyed. It would cost us our lives to be near him. This is where God’s love comes in. He wants to have a relationship with us; he wants us to be able to be near to him. So he provides us with protection, a substitute to take on our sin and die in our place. His solution is Jesus. Jesus was a perfect sacrifice; able to take on our sin and the punishment of death for us. Accepting his sacrifice is like taking that dirty sock of ourselves and putting it in a Ziploc bag so the super Oxiclean holiness of God can’t destroy us. The ultimate judgment of spiritual death is eternal separation from God. This is as much an act of mercy as it is a punishment for anyone who hasn’t asked to have their sins forgiven and accepted the protection of Christ’s sacrifice.
.
We will be held accountable for our actions
2 Corinthians 5:10 – “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what id due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
God is also a just God and whether we spend our eternity in God’s presence or away from it; we are still accountable for our actions. I am not saying that we can earn our way into God’s kingdom. That is based on our decision to accept or reject what Jesus did on the cross. But our actions will be judged and what a better judge than someone who actually walked on the earth as one of us. Jesus understands what it is like to be in our shoes and has so much compassion and love for us that he has already paid our penalty. He knows everything good and bad about us and understands the motivations for all of our actions and still he loves us. This gives him the ability to not only be just and fair but merciful and compassionate as well.
That is how a loving God can judge.
Related
Comments
I voted up and interesting, but to be fair it seems quite preachy. I guess we need that.
- Author
Thank you Eric, that's good input. I was hoping that it was short enough to avoid sounding preachy and I am glad you let me know it still is. I will try to do better in the future.
Be careful in change, be kind to yourself. I am still thinking about your oxiclean metaphor.
- Author
Thank you, let me know what you think about that, I was more worried about that being offensive.
I decided I like it. But in theory doesn't Jesus launder us so that we are presentable and not destroyed? On the other hand maybe we just stay in that baggie. Clearly if I deny my sins, there is not hope for me. But if I admit them, repent and ask Jesus, are they not washed away? Oh yea, not at all offensive, unless someone thinks they are a brand new sock without Christ.
Good job April. Amazing how God can execute judgment of our sin all the while acting merciful by providing His lamb as our sacrifice. Pastor Joseph Prince recently said that at the cross God's justice and mercy meet to form the perfect kiss. I fully agree how we are fully accountable for our actions. Reminds me of a C.S. Lewis quote, "In the end, either we will say to God, Your will be done, or He will say to us, your will be done." Keep up the good work.
- Author
Yes, they are washed away when we are covered by his blood. The baggie is to represent the covering protection. I'm glad you liked it.
- Author
Thank you Michael! Well said "at the cross God's justice and mercy meet" It is perfect.
The question here is, how will we be judged?
John 8:10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Heb 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being,
Has it occured to anyone that the adulterus is symbolic for us all, and we all will leave our sinful life^
Don't get me wrong here, I do not claim to be free of sin. But I write for a living. And I do some preaching and teaching. I like being judged. Maybe I just grew to like it because it was reality. I am constantly judging myself as I believe Jesus would, He is in me. I failed an extremely advanced technical writing test Monday. I was judged not worthy. I am sorry I did not study well enough. Next time I will do better Lord. Judging sets a benchmark. I can use all the help I can. As for the final judgment, I can I go wrong if I love and try.
Good morning April.
I like your comparison of oxi clean to God and the important point that salvation needs to lead to nurturing a relationship with God and serving Him.
Yes God is a judging God and we will all answer for our deeds. Those that we have repented of, those we did not and the service we have done in His Holy name.
God bless you.
- Author
Thank you teacherjoe! I am glad you liked the comparison, I know it's not perfect and I hope people don't find it offensive.
I just want people to see that God is both just and loving.
What is God's justice?
Old testament or New?
Lets try the new.
- Author
I am so sorry gentlemen, I have totally overlooked these last comments. Please forgive me.
I see 3 main judgments taught in the Bible. First,the natural consequences of the choices we make.
Galations 6: 7&8 – “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
Second, Where we spend eternity based on our decision to accept Christ’s sacrifice for our sin or not.
Revelation 20:15 & 21:27 “Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” “Nothing impure will ever enter it(heaven), nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
Finally, rewards and punishment for our choices on earth.
2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
I agree with your first point, but your 2nd point is of a carnal understanding, and the 3rd point was what I meant as the adulterouse judgement.
Here is something to consider.
It could be considered that when Jesus said: Matthew 5:17 (NIV)
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. “to fulfill the Law” Fulfill -- bring to completion or reality
In Spanish Hacer or realidad, which helps us to understand.
What Jesus meant was that the law and the judgment of those under it was to be completed during his being on earth both before and after resurrection.
So that now when we speak of judgment it is under a new covenant which is not about judgment from God but from ourselves. Free will thus being raised to the elevation and glory of judgment. How we exercise our free will allows us to judge ourselves. Christ then becomes the intercessor between our harsh judgment of ourselves and that which wants to forgive who is God. Under the new it is we who judge and He who forgives.
Perhaps we should read John 5:27 more in line with Mathew 9:6,, judgment not being so much about condemnation but forgiveness.
- Author
Interesting comments. I am confident that God knows our hearts and judges us with love.
Good for you Eric. I can remember saying that Jenifer Lopeze and Mark Anthany were not strong enough when I heard of their seperation, and my own words judged me. Shortly latter , my marriage with my wife was challenged, and it took every ounce of strength and much prayer to save it. Today, I hold the attitude of "walk a mile in their shoes" when I look at someone.
What do you say the teaching of jw? Do they have the truth as they claim?
- Author
Hello Gagava,
I studied with the Jehovah's Witnesses for three years and found very little of their teaching that agreed with the Bible. In fact, they told me that people who already study the Bible before talking to them virtually never become Jehovah's Witnesses. I think that speaks for itself.
22