Introduction: Would you want to be hauled before a court? I
assume not! We hate to have to go to court even on routine
traffic charges. On the other hand, when we have a
controversy with someone else that we cannot resolve, we
want to have the right to go to a court to resolve the
dispute, right?
Is it that same way with God’s final judgment? Do we fear
being judged, but at the same time want a final judgment on
sin? This week we turn our attention to the final judgment.
Let’s dive in to see if we can avoid the final judgment!
- The End of Sin?
- Read John 19:30. What event is being described in
this verse? (Jesus’ crucifixion.) - Do you remember that during the last two weeks
we have been discussing the earthly and
heavenly sanctuaries? We decided two things
about the death of the sacrificial lamb in the
earthly sanctuary. First, that this pointed to
Jesus dying to take away our sins. Second, the
death of the lamb in the earthly sanctuary was
not the end of things. The end came with the
Day of Atonement. If that is true, what do you
think Jesus is talking about when He says in
this verse, “It is finished?” - Is the sin problem over?
- Is the controversy between Jesus and
Satan over? - Is the decisive battle, but not the war,
over? - Read Hebrews 9:26-29. What does this text say Jesus
finished at the cross? What does this text say
Jesus did not finish at the cross?(Verse 27 is the
key. It tells us to look at our own life to learn a
lesson. We die once, and then we face a final
judgment in the future. This tells us that Jesus
also died once, and He will be involved in the
final judgment. What He finished at the cross was
(v.28) redeeming us (taking away our sins). What He
will do at the final (“end of the ages”) judgment
(v.26) is to put an end to sin.) - The Judge
- Read John 5:22, 26-28. Who is our Judge in the
final judgment? (Jesus) - Verse 27 says that because Jesus “is the Son
of Man” Jesus will judge us instead of the
Father. What does it mean that Jesus is the
“Son of Man?” - Why does that qualify Him to be our
Judge?(This is another aspect of what was
finished at the cross. At the cross, Jesus
showed that Adam did not have to sin – God’s
law was just. At the cross, Jesus showed that
God was willing to uphold the law by dying in
place of man. This vindication of the law and
this demonstration of God’s unbelievable love
shows everyone that Jesus is, indeed,
qualified to judge us!) - Read John 5:28-29. When is the judgment of our
Judge executed? (When Jesus comes a second time to
raise the dead. This accords with the statement in
Hebrews 9:26-28.) - Judgment of the Righteous
- Read John 5:24. What is the standard for the
judgment? - Are the righteous judged? (It seems that they
are on some basis. Jesus’ statement that the
righteous “will not be condemned” assumes they
are judged – and acquitted.) - When do the righteous begin eternal life? (The
timing is very interesting. Jesus appears to
say that when you believe you immediately
cross over from “death to life,” but the
actual judgment comes later.) - We just read John 5:28-29, but I want us to
look at it again. What standard for the
judgment is given here? (Our works.) - How can you reconcile that statement with
the standard we just read in John 5:24?
(On the surface these texts seem
completely contradictory. Verse 24 speaks
of belief alone and verse 29 speaks
solely of works. Since Jesus would
obviously not contradict Himself in
essentially the same breath, I believe
this should be understood to mean that
the measure for the judgment is whether
our life truly reflects our beliefs. We
are not justified by works, but belief is
not simply a matter of empty words.) - Read Romans 8:1. What does this text teach about
the righteous being judged? (Like John, it does not
say we will escape judgment, it simply says we will
escape condemnation.) - Let’s read on. Romans 8:2-3. How was Jesus sent
“in the likeness of sinful man?” (Jesus was NOT
sinful, but He came down to live like us. He came
as Adam – no propensity to sin, but fully able to
sin. This text is similar to the John 5:27 “Son of
Man” text that we just read.) - Why is Jesus referred to as the “sin
offering?” (This is what we have been studying
the past two weeks. Jesus died on our behalf
to forgive our sins – just as the Old
Testament sanctuary service “predicted.”) - How did Jesus “condemn sin in sinful man?”
(Jesus showed that man (Adam and Eve) did not
have to sin. That God’s law was just.) - Read Romans 8:4. I’m having us break up sentences,
but I think it makes this clearer. How does Jesus’
sacrifice on our behalf allow us to go through the
judgment with a verdict of (v.1) “no condemnation?”
(Because (v.4) “the righteous requirements of the
law” are now “fully met in us” because of Jesus.
Friend, this is the best news you will ever hear.
Jesus meets the requirements of the law for us.
Just as the lamb was killed instead of the person
in the Old Testament sacrificial system, so Jesus
died in our place. But more than that, His sinless
life is imputed to us so that we fully meet the
“righteous requirements of the law!”)(To read more
about how we should then live, continue reading the
rest of Romans 8.)
- Turn to Revelation 20:11-12. How many books do you
find in these verses? (At least two.) - What are they? (Verse 12 speaks of “books”
involved in the judgment and also refers to
“another book” “which is the book of life.”) - Are the names of those who are judged found in
the book of life? (It does not seem that way.) - What is the basis for the judgment of those
whose names are not written in the book of
life? (They are judged by their deeds. This
recording of all their deeds probably accounts
for (v.12) the reference to “books” while at
the same time there is only one book of life.) - As you consider these two verses, does it seem
to you that the righteous are judged? (This
suggests the same thing as the earlier verses
in John and Romans. Those whose names are
written in the book of life (see also
Revelation 3:5) are not condemned. Instead,
their true belief in Jesus allows them to
escape the final judgment. They come to this
judgment with their names already written in
the “no condemnation” book of life. Those
sinners who have not accepted Jesus as their
“Sacrificial Lamb” are judged for what they
have done. The record of their sins is still
present for everyone to see.) - Read Revelation 20:15. What is the final
destiny of those whose names are not written
in the book of life? (Eternal death.) - Friend, do you want to be judged based on what you
have done during this life? Or, do you want to be
judged based on the perfect life of Jesus? Those
are our only options. I invite you today to accept
Jesus as the “Lamb” sacrificed for your sins so
that you may cross over into eternal life. - Next Week: The Remnant
