Judgment part 1
I ended the last Rant series kind of talking about God's judgment. How it is appointed unto men ONCE to die, and THEN the judgment. And about how Jesus (and us IN Jesus) kept that appointment. How God's judgment was not a death sentence (the judgment came AFTER the death), but an eternal LIFE sentence. God's judgment--AFTER the death of His Son on the cross--was to raise Jesus back to life. To show that death has no power over us. To totally and completely disarm the enemy that could only threaten us with death. Now, because of that second death (the death of death), and because of the judgment of God (being raised to abundant, everlasting, eternal, Resurrection Life) we don't have to worry anymore. Look at 1 John 4:17, "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." God judged JESUS. We were along for the ride. We don't have to fear... anything. Expecially not an angry God. God is not mad AT you, He is mad ABOUT you. Head over heels in love with you. Guys. When God looks at you He sees Jesus, and when He looks at Jesus He sees you. Because we live in Jesus and Jesus lives in us! As He is, so are we in this world. The New Living Translation of 1 John 4:17 reads like this, "And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world." Again: We have nothing to fear. Let me drive that point home with some of the red letters; the words of Jesus Himself. "The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out" (John 12:31 NLT). The time of judgment had come. Back then. On the cross. When the world was judged, and Satan--the accuser--was cast out. Which, to be frank, always makes me wonder why so many "Christians" struggle with "Satan" or "the devil" or... really any "enemy" on a daily basis. It drive me nuts hearing stories about "the devil's fighting me." Or, "Satan is really attacking right now." How? He was cast out. All he could ever do was accuse you of breaking the law and threaten you with death. But the law doesn't apply to dead men. And neither does death. I want to say this as clearly and as strongly as I can: First came death... THEN came the judgment. The ruler of the world was cast out when death died. When Jesus rose from the dead and proved that death had no power and no hold over Him... or us! God's judgment is never against us. It is always for us. All of His promises in Christ Jesus are Yea and amen! God is on our side. He judged the world, and the ruler of the world, and He set up His Kingdom! The Kingdom of God is the Kingdom of love! THAT is God's judgment. That, friends, is the only thing God has. God IS love. What else could He say and what else could He do? What else could His judgment possibly be? God is not out to get us. On the cross... He got us. When Jesus was lifted up from the earth and drew all men into Himself... God got us. All throughout the Old Testament God said over and over that He wanted to be our God and He wanted us to be His people. Then we get to Revelation--an in-depth look at the cross--and we see, "I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: "Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They're his people, he's their God" (Revelation 21:3-4 MSG). God got what He wanted. His judgment is that we ARE His people and He IS our God! Not a death sentence, but an everlasting, eternal, abundant, Resurrection Life (of love) sentence!