God’s Judgment
Theological Definition
God’s judgment is God’s right and active evaluation of human life, exposing truth, holding evil accountable, and setting things right. Scripture portrays this judgment as impartial, not swayed by status or heritage, and attentive to what is hidden as well as what is public. Discussions differ on how to relate present experiences of judgment to a final, future judgment, but both ideas appear in the Bible’s storyline.
Key Occurrences in Romans
18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hinder the truth in unrighteousness,
10But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11For it is written, "`As I live,` says the Lord, `to me every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess to God.`"
12So then each one of us will give account of himself to God.
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Read in Context1Therefore you are without excuse, man, whoever you are who judge. For in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things.
2We know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.
3Do you know this, O man who judges those who practice such things, and do the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?
4Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
5But according to your hardness and impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6who "will render to every man according to his works:"
7to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruptibility, eternal life;
8but to those who are self-seeking, and don`t obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will be wrath and indignation,
9oppression and anguish, on every soul of man who works evil, on the Jew first, and also on the Greek.
10But glory and honor and peace to every man who works good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
11For there is no partiality with God.
12For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without the law. As many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.
13For it isn`t the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified
14(for when Gentiles who don`t have the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are a law to themselves,
15in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying with them, and their thoughts among themselves accusing or else excusing them)
16in the day when God will judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, by Jesus Christ.
19Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.
5But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do.
6Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world?
7For if the truth of God through my lie abounded to his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?
8Why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), "Let us do evil, that good may come?" Those who say so are justly condemned.