Introduction:

Very early in the Word of God the fact is established that God will judge all the earth. "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Gen. 18:25). "The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: The Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed." ( I Sam. 2: 10).

One does not have to go as far as the New Testament to determine that the person of the Godhead who will be the Righteous Judge will be none other than Jesus Christ. (Ps. 110).

 

I. THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A JUDGE

A. To be righteous - (Ps. 96:10,13; 97:2)

Two things may be said in the consideration of the Righteousness and Justice of God: first, there is the imposing of righteousness laws and demands, which may be called legislative holiness, and may be known as the Righteousness of God; second, there is the executing of the penalties attached to those laws, which may be called judicial holiness. So that in the Righteousness of God we have His love of holiness, and in the Justice of God, His hatred of sin.

B. To determine the truth-

-The Old Testament judge was to "make diligent inquisition" to find the truth (Deut. 19:16-21)

-The truth finding process is laid down wonderfully in type in (1 Kings 3:16-28), when Solomon exercised the wisdom of God (I Kings 3:28).

- See also (Jn. 8:16,26)

C. To be compassionate-

"Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful" (Ps. 116:5). Nowhere has the righteous mercy of Jesus been better displayed than when He dealt with the adulterous woman in (Jn. 8:1-11).

D. To listen to the defendant.

"Righteous art thou, 0 Lord, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of Judgments:" (Jer. 12:1).

- In (Lk. 19:20-22) the Lord judged the man based on the testimony of his own mouth. "And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth wit! I judge thee, thou wicked servant."

E. To determine motives-

- The rich young man cloaked impure motives with spiritual language (Matt. 19:16-22). - All of (Matt. 23) is a dissertation of Jesus exposing the impure motives of religious Pharisees.

F. To be fair in judgment-

- The widow was poor, but judged fairly by Jesus (Luke 21:1-4). - (See also Isa. 11:4)

G. To reward righteousness-

"Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day, and not me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." (2 Tim. 4:8) - (See also Heb. 6:10)

 

II. HOW THE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE OF GOD IS REVEALED

A. In the punishment of the wicked.

- David reminds his timid advisers, who encourage him to flee, that there is a God who will judge the acts of the wicked men who seek his life. (Ps. 11)

- Pharaoh even recognized his wickedness and stated the plague of hail was justly sent (Ex. 9:22-27). See also (Dan. 9:12-14; Rev. 16:5,6)

How careful sinners ought to be not to fall into the hands of the righteous Judge! No sinner at last will be able to say, "I did not deserve this punishment."

B. In forgiving the sins of the penitent. (1 Jn. 1:7-9)

Forgiveness is based first upon a confession of what we are (Mk. 7:25-30). Secondly, it is based upon the blood of Christ who was judged on our behalf (2 Cor. 5:21). (See also Mk. 2:1-11)

C. In keeping His word and promise to His children - (Neh. 9:7,8)

All of (Heb. 11) is a reminder to us of the faithfulness of God to perform according to His Word.

D. In showing Himself to be the vindicator of His people from all their enemies (Ps. 129:1-4).

E. In judging the works of the saints.

Even salvation does not exempt a person from judgment. (Heb. 9:27) It simply determines which judgment seat they will stand before. The lost will stand before the Great White Throne of judgment (Rev. 20:11-15). The saved will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ (Rom. 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10).

Truly "God is no respecter of persons", for everyone will be judged of Him.