Rev14:7 "Fear God and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come..."
The gospel is also known as the good news, or good tidings. (Compare Luke 4:18 and Isaiah 61:1). But what is so good about judgment?
It seems like whenever judgment is spoken of, it is in a negative context. Christians are reminded frequently, "the Bible says 'don't judge'." Even in an earlier post it was noted that God judged his creation by sending a flood. I guess a conclusion that can be made is that in order to share the good news, you have to share the bad news. But it also might be that there exists a misunderstanding of God's judgment.
First, just as the Bible does say, "judge not," (albiet often used out of context) there is a verse that tells us how to judge.
John 7:24 "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment"
Who judges righteously. God does. Jesus says this in John 5:30
"I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me."
So what about God's judgment? It is interesting to consider that those who do not know God cannot know His judgments.
Ps 147:19 "He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD."
Ps 10:5b "...thy (God's) judgments are far above out of his (the wicked's) sight:"
But for those who are known by God...
Deut 4:8 "And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
And what about God, the judge?
Deut 32:4 "He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he."
Here is another way to look at God's judgment...
Ps 19:9-11 "The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward."
1. God's judgments are true and righteous
2. God's judgments are more desirable than much fine gold.
3. God's judgments are sweeter than honey
4. God's judgments can lead to great reward
How is that for good news!
The gospel is also known as the good news, or good tidings. (Compare Luke 4:18 and Isaiah 61:1). But what is so good about judgment?
It seems like whenever judgment is spoken of, it is in a negative context. Christians are reminded frequently, "the Bible says 'don't judge'." Even in an earlier post it was noted that God judged his creation by sending a flood. I guess a conclusion that can be made is that in order to share the good news, you have to share the bad news. But it also might be that there exists a misunderstanding of God's judgment.
First, just as the Bible does say, "judge not," (albiet often used out of context) there is a verse that tells us how to judge.
John 7:24 "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment"
Who judges righteously. God does. Jesus says this in John 5:30
"I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me."
So what about God's judgment? It is interesting to consider that those who do not know God cannot know His judgments.
Ps 147:19 "He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD."
Ps 10:5b "...thy (God's) judgments are far above out of his (the wicked's) sight:"
But for those who are known by God...
Deut 4:8 "And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
And what about God, the judge?
Deut 32:4 "He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he."
Here is another way to look at God's judgment...
Ps 19:9-11 "The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward."
1. God's judgments are true and righteous
2. God's judgments are more desirable than much fine gold.
3. God's judgments are sweeter than honey
4. God's judgments can lead to great reward
How is that for good news!
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