Does God bring judgement on people because of sin?

Is there judgement for sin?

(Among the many qualities of God portrayed in the bible, he is shown to be the entire embodiment of Truth, Righteousness and Justice. He also desires to be in relationship with people and to ‘dwell’ among them. Yet we as humans, whether individually or collectively, tend to fall short in many areas, including those mentioned above. This causes a problem for God, as well as for us, which the bible describes as the problem of ‘sin’.

As shown in earlier pages on this site, God has an enemy who makes accusation before Him of all our shortcomings, as well as reminding God that his integrity cannot allow mercy to merely ‘overlook’ them. Whether our indiscretions be great or small, justice demands they cannot remain unpunished if he is to oversee a perfect world (or ‘Kingdom’) of the kind we all long to see, a dominion that will function in blissful and rewarding harmony, free from injustice and suffering.

Because of his perfect nature and attributes, and in terms of what comprises ‘sin’,  God is also well qualified (and the only one qualified) to be the one making judgements about what are and are not the standards that apply in a realm that is perfect in every respect.)

References:

God is a righteous judge and a God who feels indignation
each day. Psalm 7:11 BSB

Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness. Psalm 96:13 NIV

For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil cannot dwell with you. Psalm 5:4 CSB

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 NIV

But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, Slow to
anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth. Psalm 86:15 NASB

Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. John 14:23 NIV

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony . . . Revelation 12: 10‑11 NIV84

For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Romans 8: 19‑25 NIV

Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. Romans 5: 16‑19 NIV

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(Many voices that oppose belief in the Christian faith tend to overlook these aspects about God when asserting or implying that ‘if’ there is a God he should be doing something to ‘stop’ the evil and suffering that is happening in this world. As has been outlined on the previous page, God has, in fact, already done something (other than merely obliterating everyone and everything) by sending Jesus to pay on our behalf the (just) penalty for our sin and sinfulness. Through the
suffering and death of his own innocent son God freed us from the grip of the enemy and the inevitable and irreversible consequences we had faced. This has set in place a timetable for God’s final plan to provide for himself and his people a ‘new heaven and a new earth’ made available to all.

Jesus himself clearly stated that because of his coming there is now ‘no condemnation’ toward any person. He also described this world as a place where God sends his ‘rain’ (meaning his provision and blessing) on the ‘just and the unjust’ alike. Although there continues to be consequences in this fallen world from sin having entered, Jesus made clear (in reply to a specific question from his disciples) that tragic
circumstances are not personal judgements or particular reprisals being meted out by God upon individuals for some personal failure or transgression. Rather, it is his enemy who tries to get us to blame God for these things so as to undermine our trust and confidence (i.e. our hope and faith) to believe and receive from Him comfort, deliverance and relief in times of extremity.)

References:

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17 NIV

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8: 1‑4 NIV

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbour’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. Matthew 5: 43‑45 NLT

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6: 35‑36 NIV

As [Jesus] went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. John 9: 1‑7 NIV

Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” Luke 13: 1‑5 NIV

But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Hebrews 9: 26‑8 NIV

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without
cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. Revelation 21: 1‑7 NIV

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(Rather than condemning, Jesus demonstrated that he came to help people with the problems that come from living in this ‘fallen’ world. Yet Jesus strongly appealed for his hearers to heed his message and access the power of his words so as to avoid even more significant and eternal consequences – an inevitable end, unable to be negated if the message of his rescue mission to humankind is ‘not believed’ and dismissed through wilful stubbornness. Even in such circumstances Jesus said that he still did not condemn, but that the words themselves that he had spoken would become judge to the choices people have made.)

References:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NIV

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does
not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. John 3:18 NIV

The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them. John 3: 35‑36 NIV

“If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who
sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.” John 12: 47‑50 NIV

But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels
in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father”. Matthew 24:36 NIV

Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the
holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Saviour through your apostles.

Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and
destruction of the ungodly.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to
perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our
dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. 2 Peter 3: 1‑9 NIV

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(Jesus provided considerable discourse about the eventual coming of God’s ‘final solution’, and its consequences, for which he continually warned that people need to be ready. To usher in God’s reinstated world of harmony and perfection will require a sorting of who may or may not be able to enter it – a situation concerning each one of us that will put Jesus directly in the ‘hot seat’, as it were, of ‘judgement’, i.e. with him and his words of truth becoming our judge in this separating process.

This means that when God brings evil and suffering to a final end, Jesus’ role, in that moment, will change from Saviour / Redeemer to Judge. It is not purely like having a judge in a court of law passing sentence, but includes a process of determining or distinguishing, such as when judging takes place in a competition.

It is important, therefore, to know exactly what it is that
will be judged in seeking to qualify for entry into the ‘Kingdom of God’, or what is known colloquially as the ‘pearly gates’. It is commonly assumed that this judgement will be about the good or bad deeds that a person has done or the good or bad life they have lived, and that the good should be considered to outweigh any bad. But this is a human way of thinking and is quite different to what we are told by Jesus, where it is belief vs. unbelief that is under judgement, about which he constantly tries to give warning - that we should hold firm to our ‘faith’ so as to be found ready and not caught unawares. It is those who have accepted and believed who may enter into his presence, and who will then receive rewards based on their deeds and actions.)

References:

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. . .

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. . .

“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the
righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25: 31‑46 NIV

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. John 3:18 NIV

The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them. John 3: 35‑36 NIV

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 NIV

They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your household." Acts 16:31 NIV

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(Jesus foreshadowed that when he returns to bring his own into his presence, the ‘books will be opened’ and we are told that the hidden things of our lives and the intents of our hearts will become known. However, it is whether our names are found in the ‘Lamb’s Book of Life’, having not been blotted out, that will determine our destiny. For something so important, you may wish to know how our names may be found there. Jesus said that it will be determined by whether we have ‘believed’ in him, or in other words, what attitude we have adopted with regard to him and the words he has spoken and the sacrifice of himself that he has made on our behalf.)

References:

“For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man
brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be
condemned.” Matthew 12: 34‑37 NIV

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever
does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:16 NIV

The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. Revelation 3:5 NIV

But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found
written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Daniel 12: 1‑2 NIV

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20: 11‑15 NIV

Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is
nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden, that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God.” Luke 12: 1‑8 NIV

[Jesus]replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10: 18‑20 NIV

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(It is our faith that will be the determining factor when we face judgement and it will be about whether we have chosen to acknowledge the truth of our own unworthiness and to plead the ‘righteousness of Christ’ instead. This will be in contrast to those who have pursued their own thinking about having tried their best, or done better than others, or who have considered that surely more cannot be expected and that the good they have (undoubtedly) done should
outweigh any bad and swing things in their favour, or that there was insufficient ‘evidence’ for them to have known differently. In facing our ‘judge’, however, it will not be our ‘deeds’ that are judged but the state of the heart that we present.

Certainly, Jesus spoke considerably about choices in life that will bring reward in the afterlife, but these were not designated as being the means of gaining entry. He described that as being like a ‘narrow’ pathway, hard to find, and one that following the crowd will not lead us into.)

References:

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him
we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2: 8‑9 NIV

“However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith
on the earth?” Luke 18:8 NIV

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! Romans 5: 6‑9 NIV

For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. Colossians 1: 19‑23 NASB

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you
evildoers!’ Matthew 7: 21‑23 NIV

Each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. 1 Corinthians 3: 13‑15 ESV

I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the
moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendour into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honour of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Revelation 21: 22‑29 NIV

Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will
proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.” Exodus 33: 18‑23 NIV

Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We
are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the
Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3: 12‑18 NIV

Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.

Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honour the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honour the Son does not honour the Father, who sent him.

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. John 5: 19‑27 NIV

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a
few find it. Matthew 7: 13‑14 NIV

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