EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/13/2025 9:06 PM
My Worship Time Focus PT-2 Introduction to:”The Coming Judgment on Apostates”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Jude 14-16
Message of the verses: “14 It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, 15 to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him." 16 These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.”
I begin with this quote to show where I am going this evening: “The New Testament’s treatment of future judgment is especially clear and includes at least seven primary features.” In my last SD I looked at the first feature and stated that I would then continue to quote from John MacArthur’s commentary this evening with the second primary feature on judgment from the New Testament.
“Second, this judgment will be general and public. For instance, at the sheep and goat judgment (which immediately precedes the millennial kingdom), Christ will call to account all the nations on the earth:
31 "But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 "All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left,” (Matt. 25:31-33).
“No one anywhere will be able to hide his or her sins or escape responsibility for them (Matt. 10:26; Mark 4:22). The Great White Throne Judgment, as the end of earth’s history, will be even more extensive—as all of God’s enemies from every age are brought before Him for final sentencing (Rev. 20:7-15).
“Third, God’s judgment will be just and impartial (Rom. 2:11; Gal. 2:6; cf. Gen. 18:25). The apostle Paul declared that neither the openly wicked (Rom. 1:21-31) nor the self-righteous (2:1-3) will escape the judgment of God—judgment which God the Father has delegated to His Son, Jesus Christ (John 5:22, 27; cf. Matt. 16:27; Acts 10:42). Only God (in His triune glory) is fit to judge, because only He is perfectly holy and righteous (Ex. 15:11; 1 Sam. 2:2; Ps. 47:8; Isa. 6:3, 57:15; Luke 1:35; Acts 4:27; Heb. 7:26; Rev. 3:7; 4:8).
“Fourth, the promise of divine judgment is intended was as a warning. The Lord designed it to produce fear of His wrath (Ex. 20:20; 2 Cor. 7:1; Heb. 10:27; 11:7; cf. John 19:8; Acts 24:25), as Jesus warned in Matthew 10:28, ‘Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.’ By warning men of His wrath, God graciously offers the lost an opportunity to repent (cf. 2:Pet. 3:9).” I will do one more this evening because the last one is longer and I will start the last two in my next evening SD.
“Fifth, God’s judgment is based on His law (Deut. 27:26; Rom. 2:12; 3:19; Gal. 3:10; James 2:10). Because their hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9; Rom. 3:10-18; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 2:1-3), people are not only unable to keep God’s law (Eccles. 7:20; Rom. 7:5; 8:7); they are also willfully disobedient of it (Ps. 78:10; Isa. 30:9; Jer. 9:13). Everyone has violated the law of God (Rom. 3:23; James 2:10); consequently, everyone deserves God’s wrath (cf. 2 Thess. 1:6-8). But God extends forgiveness to those who genuinely believe in Jesus Christ (Rom. 10:9-10). Believers will not face God’s final wrath because they have been saved through faith in the atoning work of Christ (Luke 18:13-14; Acts 3:19; Rom. 3:23-28; 4:3-5; 5:9; Eph. 1:7; Col. 2:13; 1 John 1:7), and their names are written in the Book of Life (cf. Rev. 3:5; 20:12; 21:24-27). On the other hand, those who persist in breaking God’s law, showing no signs of true repentance, will be judged for their rebellious unbelief.”
8/13/2025 9:35 PM
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