The Merciful Judge

[!NOTE] Primary Scripture Reading: Hebrews 4:11-16

I. A knowledgeable judge (Chart 1)

A. Knows all that we have done

B. Matthew 12:36-37 – Things we have said James 5:9 – Sins committed against others “Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be £condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!” He knows all that we have done; things we are proud of and things we want no one to know about.

C. Knows things done in secret

D. Bad things: Luke 12:1-3 Good things: Matthew 6:3-4, 6 – Good deeds There will be no missing evidence for or against us.

E. Knows the thoughts and intents of the heart

F. Hebrews 4:11-13 – Intimate knowledge Romans 2:15-16 – Knows the secrets of men He does not have to guess at our motives for He knows our intent, whether good or evil.

II. An unbiased judge (Chart 2)

A. No prejudice for or against us

B. Romans 11:19-24 – Olive tree analogy He did not decide for or against us in the beginning, as predestination proponents would suggest.

C. Judges in righteousness

D. John 7:24 – “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” Psalm 9:8 – “He shall judge the world in righteousness, and He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness” Psalm 96:13 – “For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with His truth.”

E. How will we be judged?

F. Luke 19:22 – Parable of the talents: “And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow.” John 12:48 – “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.” Romans 2:1-11 – Our deeds determine our destiny (Chart 3)1 Peter 4:1-5 – Give an account of deeds Acts 17:30-31 – “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” Revelation 20:11-15 – Book of life (Chart 4) James 1:22-25 – Compare your life to the law that gives life

III. A merciful judge (Chart 5)

A. Must respect and fear God’s judgment

B. Hebrews 10:30-31 – Fearful thing Luke 12:4-5 – Fear Him who can destroy

C. God can sympathize with us

D. Hebrews 4:14-16 – Come boldly for He can sympathize with us Jesus lived as we lived and can sympathize with our weakness and temptation though He did not sin. We sometimes judge harshly when we have not been in someone’s situation. God has been in our situation and will be fair with us (though not lenient).

E. Hears our pleas

F. Job 9:15-16 – It is a wonderful thing that God hears our plea. We are completely at God’s mercy for our eternal hope. None can deliver us from His hand.

G. God satisfies the penalty of sin with the death of Jesus

H. Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Isaiah 53:4-6, 11 – He bore our sins and paid the penalty of death1 Peter 2:24-25 – Bore our sins so we could live

I. God will forgive those who are penitent

J. God is rich in mercy if we seek forgiveness. Exodus 34:5-7 – God proclaims His mercy and justice Acts 10:42-43 – Judge who offers remission of sins2 Timothy 4:8 – Those who loved His appearing will be forgiven God is willing to forgive but we must repent. He will not absolve us of sin unless we seek His mercy.

K. We must be merciful to others

L. James 2:12-13 – “So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” Matthew 18:21-35 - Parable of the Debtors How can we who are blessed by God’s mercy not show mercy to others? Do we not realize what a blessing forgiveness is?

IV. Prepare for judgment

A. Acts 13:46 – To the Jews: “Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.”

B. Prove yourself, 2 Corinthians 13:5-6

C. Do not reject an opportunity for mercy from one who wants to forgive you of your sins.