By Guest Pastor David Houston with Every Nation Churches
For both believers and those exploring faith, this statement is true: The doctrine of eternal judgment is important, because it is the only way to know how much Jesus loved us and how much He did for us.
The fact that God is angry every day with the unrepentant sinner should make us appreciate, all the more, that every day God withholds judgment, is a day of unspeakable mercy and patience. Every day He allows the sinner to live is a day he does not deserve.
"The earth, O Lord is full of Your mercy." (Psalm 119:64)
The Bible clearly teaches that believers who repent of their sin and trust in Jesus for salvation will not be judged for their sin. We will only be judged for the good deeds we have done and what rewards we are to receive.
“...Why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment...Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that His kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.” (Romans 2:3b-5)
1. Paul is obviously driven by urgency. He declares that there is a window of opportunity for every person to change, but that window will close; and it will be too late.
2. Paul declares that God has been kind, tolerant, and patient, and that should lead you to repentance.
3. Stubbornness and refusal to turn from sin and receive God's forgiveness and mercy will result in terrifying, righteous justice.
4. God's judgment is being stored. God's righteous anger is not like ours; it is not an emotional outburst. It is precise, just, and fair.
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that will he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:14)
God will judge sinners, because He hates sin. It is offensive to His holy nature. It is abhorrent to a Holy God. He hates sin, because it is a cancer that destroys people He created in His image.
In Romans chapter one, Paul declares three times that “God gave them up,” or “God gave them over.” In other words, God will not strive with a person forever, but will eventually give them their desire, however self-destructive that may be.
“So we declare therefore, that sinners are determining their own fate. They have said ‘No’ to God’s love and forgiveness, and He has given them their own stubborn will.” -C.S. Lewis
Concerning the Doctrine of Hell:
"the worst and fairest punishment God can give a person is to allow their sinful heart's deepest desire. What is that? The desire of the sinful human heart is for independence. We want to choose and go our own way.” (Isaiah 53:6) -Tim Keller
"Scripture sees Hell as self-chosen. Hell appears as God's gesture of respect for human choice." -J.I. Packer
This is why God warns:
“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” (Romans 3:7)
“God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day.” (Psalm 7:11) This should build a holy fear in unrepentant sinners. God sees every act and every motive.
God is patiently delaying justice and judgment, but do not mistake this patience for a lack of determination. “All things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” (Hebrews 4:13)
“Think how we feel when we see someone we love ravaged by unwise actions or relationships. Do we respond with benign tolerance as we might toward strangers? Far from it...Anger isn’t the opposite of love...God’s [anger] is not a cranky explosion, but His settled opposition to the cancer....which is eating out the insides of the human race He loves with His whole being.” -Becky Pippert, Hope Has Its Reasons
If God did not judge sin, He would not be just. If God is not just, He would not be worthy of worship. If God did not judge mankind, there would be no ultimate justice on our planet.
“God made us to love, honor, and obey him in thought, word, and deed. Every time we fail to do that perfectly, we accrue a debt to God.
Every person has sinned against God, and hell is the eternal prison for spiritual debtors who have stolen from God by living sinful lives.” -Mark Driscoll, Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe
“For God made Him, who knew no sin, to be made sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God, in Christ Jesus.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
“To whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” (Luke 7:47)
“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17)
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but shall have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
Second City Church- Chicago Fire Sermon Series 2014