The Biblical idea of judgment

This week we will look at the foundational teaching of eternal judgment. According to Hebrews 6:1-3, this teaching is part of what we first learned about Christ. Therefore the teaching about eternal judgement is closely related to Jesus Christ.

The meaning of judgment

Often the term “judgment” has negative connotations for people as it is often associated with condemnation. During this week we will come to learn that the Biblical teaching of Christ on eternal judgment is a liberating truth that brings assurance, comfort, confidence and strength to the believer.

The word “eternal” should not make us think of something in a distant future, but rather of the quality in which God exists. We have already experienced eternal life through faith in Christ by being born again by the Holy Spirit. Eternal judgment is part of the immediate and continuing quality of life in God’s kingdom.

In the Bible we discover that to rule and to judge are two sides of the same coin as the Hebrew word sometimes is translated to rule and sometimes to judge. Ruling and judging go together (1 Samuel 8:20; 2 Samuel 15:4). To bring justice is part of the function of government. In judgement the point is not only to reach a decision but to restore a relationship (Genesis 16:5).

Also fundamental to judgment is the idea of separating. We see a glimpse of that when God created the world (Genesis 1:1-4). God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that it was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. God separated that which obeyed his will, the light, from that which ignored his commandment, the darkness. Throughout the Bible and history we see God separating light from darkness, good from evil, righteousness from wickedness, right from wrong, life from death. Eternal judgment is the capacity of God to separate in perfect righteousness.

God is the judge of all the earth

God is the Creator of the world. That gives him the right to rule and judge the entire world. Therefore he is portrayed throughout the Bible as the judge of all the earth.

God is our Lawgiver and Judge

He is the one who gives the Law and hold his creation accountable to keep his Law. He watches over the relationships of the people acting in accordance with the Law against enemies of the Law. As the Ruler of his people, God is also their Judge. His judging manifests his Lordship and gives it an ethical orientation. When God says “I am the Lord your God”, it means that God has taken the initiative and bases covenant commandments on the covenant promise. As Judge, God is also the guardian and helper of his people against their enemies (Judges 11:27). The victories of his people are his judgments. His protection of his people is the universal establishment of his just rule.

The judgment of God as a relationship

Divine judgment is not just a legal principle or moral form. It regulates the relationships in the covenant community. God is involved with his people. He is concerned both to keep his promises and to enforce the observance of his ordinances (judgments). His decisions (judgments) serve his covenant purpose, which is a purpose of salvation by bringing people into a covenantal relationship with himself and his righteous people.

The ethical meaning of the judgements of God

In bringing people into his covenant, God makes the people his own people: “I will be your God, and you will be my people.” The revelation of the judgements of God underlies the obligations, but also the claims, that arise for the whole people of God and for each individual within it. The judgment of God cannot be separated from his law-word. In the Bible we find that the covenant people rejoice in his word and in his judgments, in his statutes and his ordinances (see Psalm 119). The prophets emphasise the concrete ethical implications in helping the people to differentiate between right and wrong (Micah 3:1-4; Isaiah 1:17), or in championing the cause of the poor and needy (Amos 5:10-13; Jeremiah 5:25-29).

Exercise:

What are the basic Biblical ideas of judging?

What gives God the right to judge?

What has judgment to do with relationships?

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)