FINAL JUDGMENT - ITS NECESSITY AND CERTAINTY

NECESSITY AND CERTAINTY OF FINAL JUDGMENT

• Declared in Scripture

The O.T. lays emphasis on present life; but final judgment is taught.

Dan. 12:2-3 "Some to everlasting life" - "some . . . to everlasting contempt."

The N.T. corresponds.

2 Tim. 4:1 "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;"

2 Pet. 3:7 "But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."

• Demanded by the character of God

Hab. 1:13 "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil."

Psa. 50:21 "Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne."

Cf. Psa. 89:14 "Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face."

•  Attested and Foreshadowed by the Moral Conscience of Mankind

Rom. 2:1-2 by Judging sin in others. "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things."

Rom. 2:15-16 by Judging sin in oneself. "Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel."

• Anticipated in the judgments of history. Haman; Ahab.

Gal. 6:7 Operates many times in the present life, but not always. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

• Required by Inequalities of this Present Life

Psa. 73:1-18 The prosperous wicked enter suddenly into judgment.

Luke 16:25 God balances life's inequalities. "But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented."

• Made Certain by the Cross

John 12:31, 33 argument If the judgment of God fell on Christ who bore our sins, then surely it will fall on those who elect to bear their own sins.

"Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out."

"This he said, signifying what death he should die."

• Guaranteed by Resurrection of Christ

Acts 17:31 God has committed all judgment into the hands of his Son (John 5:22, 27) and has raised Him from the dead to carry out this charge.

"Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead."

"For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:"

"And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man."