Does the average person have an expectation of encountering God’s kindness? If we believe there is a holy God who will judge everyone’s actions, thoughts, and words, as the Bible teaches, then we realize that we are sinners and should expect to encounter judgment. Often religious people use the fear of punishment to motivate people to walk the “straight and narrow.” Many try to gain or maintain a right relationship with God by striving to be good enough to get a pass at the judgment seat. As a result of such teaching, many see God as a stern disciplinarian who is just waiting for us to do something wrong.
The Bible tells us that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). So, we are not wrong to expect judgment. But the same verse also tells us that the gift of God is eternal life. This sounds like the exact opposite of judgment.
...the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NLT)
Jesus promised his followers that when we put our faith in him, we will never be condemned in judgment.
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. John 5:24 (NASB95)
The gospel is an encounter with God’s kindness which depends on Jesus’ having absorbed God’s wrath against sin on our behalf.
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, Romans 3:23-25 (NLT)
Since God is not bound by time but exists outside of it, he sees the entire panorama of history – past present, and future – all at once. It is all the same to him.
What Christ accomplished on the cross happened at a certain point in history but its effect is eternal and covers all of time.
The benefits of his death and resurrection go backward in time to cover those who lived and trusted God before Christ and forward to cover all those who would be born and believe the gospel after him. His sacrifice was accomplished once for all time.
And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, 28 so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him. Hebrews 9:27-28 (NLT)
This means that even though we deserve an awful encounter with God’s wrath, we now can look forward to a face-to-face meeting with the kindest Person we will ever know who delights to show us mercy.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4–7 (NASB95)
In John chapter 8, the woman caught in the act of adultery was hauled before our Lord expecting to be stoned to death as required in the Law of Moses. Taking an advance draw from what he would soon accomplish on the cross, he extended mercy to this woman and set her free. When all her accusers departed, Jesus’ words have gone down in history. “Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” 11 “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” John 8:10-11 (NLT) This woman expected to encounter God’s wrath at the hands of men but instead encountered his kindness and mercy.
Every single one of us is just like that woman. We have all sinned and deserve to experience God’s wrath. No one is righteous before God outside of Christ. (Romans 3:10) We all have a “fearful expectation of judgment.” (Hebrews 10:27)
In his mercy and kindness, God sent his Son to encounter his holy wrath against sin on our behalf so that we might come face-to-face with God’s smile.
The only way for us to avoid our appointment with judgment and death is to accept God’s generous offer to be reconciled to him by placing our faith and allegiance in Christ. It’s our choice – judgment or kindness. What will it be for you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, Creator of the universe, I stand before you now well aware that I deserve to encounter your judgment and wrath against my sin. Thank you for sending your Son to die in my place so that I might be forgiven and reconciled to you. Jesus, I receive that amazing gift right now and give my heart and life to you. I acknowledge, Lord, that you died and rose again. I recognize that you are the risen Lord of Lords. Holy Spirit, fill me up and transform me on the inside. Help me to live the rest of my life for Jesus. Thank you for being so kind. Amen.
