Bible Training Center
Section 12.0 – the righteous judgment of god
introduction & articles
introduction
But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each person according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. – Romans 2:5-8
god’s justice system
God’s system of justice is called The Righteous Judgment Of God, and it is very much an essential part of His blood covenant with mankind. Part of the blood covenant ceremony when performed between men was the declaration of the curses and the blessings of the covenant. The purpose of the curses and blessings was to assure that each partner of the covenant would keep the terms and conditions of the pact.
Another way they would proclaim their great intention to be a faithful covenant partner is by walking between the pieces of a sacrificed lamb. A lamb or goat would be split down the middle from head to tail. The two pieces would then be laid side by side. The slain animal would be lying in a pool of blood. The covenant-making partners would then walk in a figure eight around and between the pieces of the animal. As they walked they would declare that it is their desire that what happened to the animal and more would happen to them if they broke the covenant. Recall that when God made covenant with Abraham this very thing occurred.
9 So He [God] said to him [Abram], “Bring Me a three year old heifer, and a three year old female goat, and a three year old ram, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”
10 Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, and laid each half opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds.
11 The birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.
12 Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him.
17 It came about when the sun had set, that it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces.
18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.” (Genesis 15:9-12, 17-18)
When God created the heavens and earth, He found it to be very good. There was no evil in the creation. An angel named Lucifer became filled with pride and sought to take God’s place on the throne. Sin had entered that which was very good. A physical counterpart to the spiritual creation came into existence. God’s plan was and is to use the physical side of the counterpart pair as a testing ground, a wilderness. The idea is for all who enter the Abrahamic covenant through Jesus Christ will be tested and refined until there is no doubt they will forever stand true to the covenant. In this way, God ensures that there will never be another revolt in His heavenly kingdom.
Thus the curses and blessings of the covenant. The righteous judgment of God is God’s system of justice through which He disperses His judgments on all of a person’s deeds whether good or evil. Please understand this process of executing justice is carried out in real time, it is not postponed for some time in the future.
God’s judgments are carried out ‘according to’ the deeds committed, blessings for the good and curses for the bad. We see in this method God’s fairness, impartiality and especially mercy. Every sin deserves a sentence of death. Paul wrote, “For the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23a) If everyone were to be stricken dead for every sin, everyone would be dead at an early age. However, God’s goal is for none to die, but for all to receive the greatest blessing of all — eternal life.
30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct,” declares the Lord GOD. “Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you.
31 “Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel?
32 “For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord GOD. “Therefore, repent and live.” (Ezekiel 18:30-32)
God desires that we would all choose life. Those who do will walk in the blessings of God’s righteous judgment.
Section 12.0 - Articles
The phrase, Righteous Judgment of God, appears only twice in the New American Standard version of the Bible.
But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. (Romans 2:5)
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. (2 Thessalonians 1:5)
In spite of the infrequent appearances of the phrase, it is of critical importance to Bible understanding.
God’s Law, the Old Covenant and now the New Covenant, is still very much alive since it is eternal. Further, it is complete, having been fulfilled by Jesus Christ, who through one act of sacrifice, brought justification to all the people in the world (Romans 5:18). And we now know you receive that justification by entering into a blood covenant relationship with Jesus Christ. Further, we know that securing this relationship is accomplished through repentance, i.e., returning to the Lord with all your heart. Your new relationship with Jesus is maintained by walking the walk of sanctification. Further, it is understood that you cannot walk in sanctification except by the power and leading of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit defines God’s righteous judgment in Paul’s letter to believers in Rome. He begins the second chapter of the book we call Romans by declaring God’s impartial judgment.
1 Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
[The very act of judging, i.e., condemning not discerning, is in itself an overstepping of the authority of people. The sin that brought judgment on the people as stated in chapter 1 of Romans was not honoring God as God. To step into God’s place as judge is to not honor Him as God, for He has reserved judgment for Himself. Therefore, those who step into God’s place as judge do not honor God just as those described in chapter 1.]
The judgment of God is a difficult topic to discuss. The common understanding of the Biblical concept of judgment is that it is a one-sided activity. Mention the word judgment and most people are likely to form mental pictures of fire and brimstone, anger and wrath, desolation and destruction, pestilence and death. Defense of such an understanding of judgment is easily developed with chapter and verse from the Bible. Death was almost always the penalty for intentionally breaking the Old Covenant Law. Even following the resurrection of Jesus, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the dawning of the New Covenant built on better promises, Paul would still declare that, “The wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23a)