The connection between judgment and salvation

Judgment and deliverance in the past

When God brings judgment his purpose is always to save and deliver his people and to teach the wicked righteousness: “For only when you come to judge the earth will people turn from wickedness and do what is right” (Is 26:9).

The Flood (Genesis 6-9) was a divine act of judgment on a society that was corrupt and full of violence. In this act of judgment Noah found favour with God who declared that Noah was a good man of integrity. Therefore Noah was told to build an ark which he and his family were to enter in order to be rescued from the coming punishment. The flood that destroyed the world separated and delivered all the creatures in the ark from destruction wrought by the water of judgment. The act of judgment brought destruction on the ungodly and salvation for the godly.

Likewise when God delivered his people out of slavery in Egypt, he did so through severe acts of judgments (Exodus 3-14). God told Moses: “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will free you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with mighty power and great acts of judgment” (Ex 6:6). By bringing judgment on Egypt God delivered his people from their bondage and declared them righteous.

We find that when judgment means destruction for the proud, the ungodly and wicked individuals and nations, it means help for the weak and oppressed, salvation for the afflicted and needy, and grace and mercy on the humble and righteous. “I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak. But I will destroy those who are fat and powerful. I will feed them, yes—feed them justice (judgment)”! (Ezek. 34:15-16).

God’s act of judgment on the cross of Christ

We have already seen in our presentation of the gospel as the message of the cross, that through his death Jesus Christ ransomed us, made atonement and was an expiation for us (see page ??), taking our punishment upon himself. Now we will look at another aspect of what God achieved by letting his very Son die on the cross.

The world and its ruler was brought to judgment

When Jesus was about to be crucified he said:

“The time of judgment for the world has come, when the prince of this worldwill be cast out. And when I am lifted up on the cross,I will draw everyone to myself.” (John 12:31-32)

And when he (the Holy Spirit) comes, he will convince the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.The world’s sin is not believing in me/disbelief in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the prince of this world has already been judged. (John 16:8-11)

Jesus’ death on the cross was an act of God’s judgment on the world and its ruler. The cross was the means of Satan’s defeat. His dominion over men, or his power to enslave and so to ruin them, was destroyed. On the cross God judged or judicially overthrew the devil with all his demons. He was cast out or expelled from his usurped dominion (Hebrew 2:14; 1 John 3:8; Colossians 2:15). The paradox of the crucifixion is that it appeared that Christ had been defeated by this world, but in reality the power of Satan was broken. The expelled Christ expelled the one who drove men to reject him. Christ is now, after this apparent defeat, actually in a position to draw men to himself by the power of his sacrifice. He is now able to draw all men to himself. People from every tribe, language, race and nation will know the pull of his redeeming love. The devil can no longer deceive or lead the nations astray (Revelation 20:3). The good news of God’s act of judgement on the cross will now find universal acceptance when proclaimed in the power of the Holy Spirit to the nations of this world. The judgment on Satan brings to men the liberty to be holy, to be transformed from servants of the devil into sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty.

The law of Moses could not save us, because of our sinful nature. But God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful. God destroyed sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. (Rom. 8:3)

Through the death of Christ God pronounced judgement on sin, and brought its claim and authority over man to an end. God actually condemned sin to loose its power over people. Once and for all the power of sin has been broken through the eternal judgment of God on the cross.

The work of the Holy Spirit is now therefore that of a “prosecutor” of the world to convince people of their sin of unbelief, of the righteousness of Christ and the judgment on the world and its ruler. Because of this the world is now on trial as God calls people to repent and receive forgiveness or end up in condemnation (John 3:16-18). For those in Christ there is no condemnation because they have accepted the judgment of God on sin, the world and the devil.

The eternal judgment wrought in Christ on the cross has a liberating effect on all those who believe.

Exercise:

What is the connection between judgment and salvation?

How was the death of Jesus an act of judgment?

Continue to memorise the previous Bible verses, and add this one to your list:

For the Lord is our judge, our lawgiver, and our king. He will care for us and save us. (Isaiah 33:22)