Just Judgment (Listen or Read)
CHAPTER THREE: PURPOSE DRIVEN JUDGMENT
We went through fire…but You brought us out to rich fulfillment. (Ps. 66:12)
Is there any positive purpose to God’s Gehenna judgment? What
purpose does it serve? According to the prevalent theology, its only purpose is to inflict pain. This view refuses to acknowledge that God’s judgment has any remedial effect and instead presents it as a perpetual prison from which its victims can never escape. I intend to show in this chapter that: First, this view is simply unjust and Scripture does not support unjust punishment of any kind; Second, Scripture affirms death as no obstacle to God in accomplishing His purposes in anyone; Third, God is just, and His justice satisfies even our human understanding of justice; Fourth, the Bible provides clear examples that all of His judgments are driven by a positive purpose.
Justice vs. Infinite Penalty
Many say sinners must suffer infinitely because a Holy God cannot allow sin in His presence. To believe this is to deny the DEITY of Christ. He kept company with sinners and took the world’s sin upon Himself (Lu. 7:34; Jn. 1:29; 2Co. 5:21)! Is Christ not Holy? God’s holiness does not reject sinners outright, but eternally seeks to cleanse and save them! (Ps. 136). But they say, “finite sins merit infinite penalty because they are committed against a Holy and infinite God.” If this were so, why does Scripture not state it? Is this not of greatest importance? Why no explanation? There is none because Scripture does not teach such a doctrine. It teaches the Mosaic code of justice (Ex. 21:23-5). Read the code! See how God works in judgment. But this horrific philosophy of injustice does not come from the heart of a loving God, but from the corrupted minds of men!
Justice does not come solely from punishment, but from punishment with a view toward restitution. If someone steals your wallet, justice is served when your wallet is returned and the thief is punished. Justice for sin against a Holy God requires repentance and reconciliation. We as parents know the hurt we feel when slighted by a child. God, in the ultimate sense, is Father of all. “All souls are Mine” (Ez. 18:4). Infinite punishment would inflict infinite pain on a God who “IS” Love (1 Jn. 4:8, 16; Mt. 23:37; Lu. 15:20). That would be the highest conceivable injustice!
Also, is it just that Satan keeps forever what He robs from God? It would be especially unjust to Christ who “appeared for the very purpose of undoing the devil’s work”(1Jn. 3:8 NEB).
How can justice require infinite penalty from creatures born in sin through no fault of their own, prone to sin by an inherited weakness (Adam’s curse), created with imperfect knowledge, surrounded by demons tempting on every side, and all in light of Christ’s propitiation for the sins of the whole world (1Jn. 2:2; Jn. 1:29)?
¨ What Scripture teaches such a travesty?
¨ Whose conscience is not violated at the thought?
¨ Would not a single sentence of infinite penalty outweigh the guilt of the whole race?
¨ What constructive purpose could it possibly serve?
Infinite penalty cannot satisfy justice by definition. For at the point at which it satisfies justice, the penalty must end. Because what is infinite cannot end and Scripture affirms just penalty (Col. 3:25; He. 2:2), “just infinite penalty” is an oxymoron – like a square circle, an utter impossibility. If justice requires infinite penalty, then these verses are senseless:
¨ Speak comfort to Jerusalem… for she has received from the LORD double for all her sins (Is. 40:2) (See also Jer. 16:18). How can what is infinite be doubled? Whatever led God to double this penalty, one thing is clear: the penalty is measurable and limited.
¨ His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning (Ps. 30:5). What possible comfort could “a moment” and “a night” offer anyone tormented by the threat of infinite penalty? It would be a mere mockery. This further suggests that just penalty is for a limited time.
¨ Renders to each according to his work (Ex. 21:24; De. 25:3; Ps. 62:12; Mt. 7:1-2; Ro. 2:5, 6). Penalty “according to his work” is something measurable and unquestionably just. How does infinite penalty accommodate varying levels of guilt? “It shall be more tolerable for Sodom than for you” (Mt. 11:24; Lu. 10:14). Such wording implies the penalty referred to is measurable.
¨ You laid affliction on our backs.…We went through fire…but You brought us to rich fulfillment (Ps. 66:10-12). This penalty was given to bring the sufferer to rich fulfillment; that is, it had a positive purpose. What positive purpose is served by infinite punishment? In addition, would God, the epitome of all justice and impartiality, inflict purposeful penalty for some and only purposeless for others?
¨ The Lord will not cast off forever. Though He causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. For He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men (La. 3:31-33). Though He causes grief, “yet” there is purpose. What happens to “yet,” when you contemplate infinite penalty? It becomes a meaningless word. “Yet” assures us the penalty is not infinite.
References: See Bibliography page.
