Sermon Notes
Pastor Jeff Stanfill

"Good News about the Judgment"
October 15th, 2006 - PM Service

GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE JUDGMENT
TEXT: ACTS 17:30-31
INTRO:
Mark Twain wrote that two things are certain - death and taxes. He was correct but incomplete. Death, taxes, and judgment are certain.

Our text is of interest, not only in its statement of judgment to come, but its context, too. Paul preaches this to a group of unbelieving Gentiles with no knowledge of the OT as the Jews had. He also preached this to Roman governor Felix as part of presenting the Gospel. The fact of a day of accountability gives hearers of the Gospel a jolting realization that one's eternal destination is at stake.

Scripture is unequivocally clear that there will be a final judgment for every human being. Every person will stand before God in resurrected bodies to face His review and declaration of their lives. This event will be entirely different for believers and unbelievers but is still as inevitable for both.

What we should see is that the judgment does not declare God as judgmental but as just. He rewards righteousness and punishes unrighteousness. He blessed the faithful as Abel, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and David. He sent judgment upon those who persisted in disobedience and unbelief as the flood, the Tower of Babel, Sodom and Gomorrah. Even nations and angels face judgment (Isa. 13-23; 2 Pt. 2:4).

I. WHEN COMES THE FINAL JUDGMENT?
Different frameworks of theology see the timing of the judgment differently.
1. Dispensationalism sees more than one judgment. The first comes at the end of the tribulation and the beginning of the millennial reign. They see this as a judgment of nations as how they related to the Jewish people during the Tribulation Period. The second is a judgment of believers when they will receive their rewards. The third is a "great white throne judgment" when unbelievers will receive their declaration of eternal punishment.

2. Other theologies (non-dispensational) see the passages supporting the above view as revealing only one judgment after the millennial reign when all will be judged.

3. The real point is that there will be a final judgment that both believers and unbelievers will face. The criteria and outcome will be greatly different for each, however.
II. WHAT'S THE NATURE OF FINAL JUDGMENT?
1. Christ will be the judge (2 Tim. 4:1). Paul calls Jesus the one who is to judge the living and the dead. Peter says that Jesus is "ordained by God to be the judge (Acts 10:42). The Father has given the Son the authority to judge (John 5:26-27).

2. Unbelievers' judgment. Rev. 20:12 John saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne for judgment.
· Criteria: Works of unbelievers. The unbeliever's eternal destination is declared but here their degree of punishment will be determined. Therefore, the criteria will be the works of unbelievers. Rom 2:8. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. Let's not misunderstand and think that if one has done enough good works they will receive salvation at judgment. The destination of one's soul is set at death. But according to one's work the punishment received will be just.
· Outcome: Degrees of punishment. Jesus told the Chorazin and Bethsaida that judgment will be "more tolerable" for Tyre, Sidon, and even Sodom than for them. He said that the scribes would be punished most severely (Lk. 20:47). These indicate to us that some unbelievers will face a greater punishment than others.
Which opens the question that if salvation only comes through Jesus Christ, what of those who die without a witness of the Gospel? Is it just for God to punish them? Luke 12:48. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Increased knowledge and increased opportunity equal increased responsibility. Dead unbelievers who have heard the Gospel will face a far greater punishment. Those who never heard will be judged by the light they have.
· Let's remember, first, God is just. While we do not know everything of His ways we know He is a just God.
· Second, that God has not left Himself without a witness (Acts 14:17). His existence is attested in creation itself for those who want to see (Rom. 1:19-32). Everyone has enough information from creation to know God exists. And moral law witnesses to God and condemns everyone. Rom 2:14-16. (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
· Third, a person is not condemned on the basis of their rejecting Jesus Christ but on the basis of violating their own moral standards regardless of how base. Rejection of Christ is not the only ground for condemnation; if so then we would be foolish to tell others of Him, simply let them die in ignorance and therefore be saved.
· Fourth, there is no indication of any sort in the Bible that a person can be saved apart form Jesus Christ. Those who have not heard the Gospel still face judgment and the degree of their punishment will be according to the witness of God they accepted or rejected as well as their keeping of the moral law of human conscience. ILLU: Terry Long, "God has a plan for them but it doesn't relate to you. You have heard."

3. Believer's judgment. Romans 14:10, 12 state clearly to the believers in Rome that each will stand before God's judgment. He also tells this to the Corinthians (2 Cor. 5:10). For the believer, judgment will be a fatherly judgment (1 Pt. 1:17). God will look at us with the love and understanding of a wise, all-knowing Father. But it will be judgment and must be thought of with gravity and sobriety.
· Criteria: Stewardship of our gifts, talents, opportunities, and responsibilities. Eternal condemnation has been removed from us by the life and death of Jesus Christ. "There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus!" Jesus parable of Luke 19:11-26 tells of the nobleman who gave ten of his servants a measure of money. He later called them to account for what they did with what he had given them. They were rewarded according to their stewardship. Their reward was more responsibility and commendations as good and faithful servants.
· Outcome: Rewards. READ 1 Cor. 3:12-15. The rewards we receive at the judgment will be commensurate with the durability of what we have done. As there are degrees of punishment, there are degrees of reward. But we must not become mistaken of what God has prepared for us in eternity. Though our rewards will vary according to our stewardship, our joy will be complete and full. Wondering now how that can be simply underscores how our present ideas of joy and happiness depend upon possessions, recognition, and status. (Maybe this is why we are so offended when our contribution is not recognized - we are out of synch with God's timing for rewards!) Our happiness and joy will be Him, not us. Grudem, pg. 1145, "Rather than making us competitive with one another, it would cause us to help and encourage one another that we all may increase our heavenly reward, for God has infinite capacity to bring blessing to us all and we are all members of one another (1 Cor. 12:26-27)."

III. WHAT GOOD NEWS IS THERE IN THE JUDGMENT?
1. Our sense of the need for justice will be satisfied. Col 3:25. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism. God's universe is fair. He keeps accurate and complete records. This verse is in the context of Paul telling slaves to be submissive to their masters. We can endure injustice, lies, wrongs, unfairness because we know it is only for a short time. God will make it right at the judgment.

2. There are rewards that await the righteous. Working for greater reward is a theme through the NT. Jesus' parables often carry that thought. We are motivated to live righteously. Jesus told us to lay up for ourselves treasures in Heaven and those treasures are beyond the reach of moth, thief, or decay. Is it proper to be motivated like this? Obviously, or God would not be doing it!

3. A restraint for evil is available. This is more for the unbeliever. In a society where there is a widespread belief or even 'suspicion' that every person will one day be held in account for their deeds, there is restraining influence. This is what we can think of as a "fear of God" that is present in most cultures. From #2 and #3, believers can be comforted and unbelievers confronted.

4. There is help available to forgive. When we are wronged we want vengeance. Rom 12:17-21. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
· First, we are responsible to do what is possible to be at peace with others (V. 17, 18).
· Second, God recognizes that there are some people you will not be able to get along with (V. 18).
· Third, the human inclination for revenge or vengeance is to be denied (V. 19a).
· Fourth, God is to be trusted to bring justice (V. 19b).
· Fifth, we can forgive by trusting that God will not let them get by with what has been done. 1 Peter 2:23-24. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

CONCL:
Are you ready to face God?

Are you living to be rewarded?

Do you trust God to be just with your offenses?

Do you need help to forgive?