UNDERSTANDING "JUDGMENT" BIBLICALLY

As we delve into the scriptures, there are complex topics that often lead to a series of questions. One such subject is God's judgment. It's a topic that's been discussed, debated, and dissected by theologians and laypersons alike. The question of who or what is judged by God is indeed intriguing and one that demands our attention. Who or What is Judged by God? One might think that God judges individuals, but according to the scriptures, this

is not the case. The Bible tells us that God does not judge people but rather, He judged sin. This might come as a surprise to many, but it's a biblical understanding that offers a fresh perspective on the nature of God's judgment. The Message in John John's Gospel gives us some profound insights into the nature of God's judgment. In John 5:19 “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. And verse 22 “Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son.” Jesus explains that the Father judges no one but has entrusted all judgment to the Son. This verse provides a pivotal understanding - that Jesus is the one who judges, and He does so not by His own accord but according to what He sees the Father doing. You have to ask if God judges no one and Jesus does only what the Father tells Him to do, IS IT TRUE Jesus judges no one also? But, What does “God entrusted all judgment to the Son” really mean then? In John 9:39, we find a powerful statement where Jesus says, "For judgment, I have come into this world so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind." Have you ever wondered what the phrase "For, judgment I came into the world" means? Jesus is in the business of opening our spiritual eyes so that we can see what He wants us to see. He excels in this area and is just as good at shutting our spiritual eyes to things that we don't need to see. The downfall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden was due to their decision to eat the wrong fruit, which opened their eyes to the wrong path. They became self-reliant and focused on their own efforts. In contrast, God wants to open our eyes, not through our own effort, but through revelation and relationship with Him. The word “For” is very interesting in Greek it is the word eis. It is pronounced

like our English word ice, like an ice cube. A better translation is "INTO" instead of “For”. Give a much clearer picture of what is being said. So, let’s read it ... "INTO judgment, I have come into this world...” One of the many great reasons Jesus came to this earth was to allow all Judgment due to all of mankind to be placed inside of Him on the Cross. Praise God!!! John 12:31-33 gives us another dimension of Jesus as the judge. Jesus says, "Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." The kind of death Jesus was going to die was to be a judgment on sin. The translators added the word PEOPLE... it’s not there in the original. We need to understand the main subject of this passage is judgment. So instead of people it would be a more accurate translation to replace people with the word judgment. again let’s read it that way..."Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all judgment to myself." The kind of death Jesus was going to die was to be a judgment on sin. Excellent!!! The Message in Romans and Hebrews Paul, in Romans 8:3, echoes the same truth that God judged sin by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. This thought is further expanded in Hebrews 9:24-28, where it is stated clearly that Christ did not offer Himself repeatedly as the high priest does but appeared once and for all to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Hebrews 12:22-24 provides a beautiful picture of God as the Judge. It says, "You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous, made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." Conclusion It's important to note that Jesus' judgment is not about condemnation but about offering life. As John 5:24 says, "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." God's judgment in these terms is about liberating those bound by sin and leading them to eternal life. Understanding God's judgment is not straightforward, but as we delve deeper into the scriptures, we gain a fresh perspective on God's love and His plan for humanity. It's not about condemnation but about redemption; it's not about punishment but about liberation from sin and death. This understanding of judgment offers hope and reassures us of God's unfailing love for His creation. The most famous verse of all time gives the best answer on God’s ultimate plan. John 3:16,17 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one

and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”