THE JUDGMENT OF GOD!

TEXT:  ST. JOHN 12:31 “Now is the judgment of this world:  now shall the prince of this world be cast out”.

Judgment is from the root word kri’sis, meaning, a decision for or against; a tribunal (a decision making body); justice (spec. divine law):  accusation; condemnation; damnation).   It denotes the process of investigation, the act of distinguishing and separating.  It comes from kri’ma, which is a passing of judgment upon a person or thing: a decision (the function or effect for or against); it also comes from kri’no, meaning to distinguish ie to decide mentally or judicially; to try; condemn; punish: - judge, determine, go to law, call in question, esteem, avenge, conclude, damn, decree, ordain, sentence to.

NOW is an adverb, meaning, at the present time; immediately!

This verse lets us know that the judgment happened at the time Jesus said it, and what sealed it was when He got up out of that borrowed tomb!  Jesus has already defeated the devil, but it’s only by our faith that we totally overcome!

I’ve heard it preached that when a person dies, if they’re saved, they will go to heaven.  But if they’re not saved, they will go to hell.  Then when the “judgment” day comes, they will have to stand before God and be judged, and those that didn’t live right will burn in hell eternally; those saved will “walk around heaven all day”.  But when was the trial is my question?  Something is wrong with that picture.

In these United States, there are Federal courts and the State courts.  These courts are government agency’s with the power to settle disputes between individuals or organizations in the presence of Judges and other persons.

Within this system one is presumed innocent until proven guilty.  The thing about this is a person is never “sentenced” without first having a trial.  My question for “religion” is, “How does a person that is unsaved, or saved for that matter, go to heaven or hell without first “standing before God”?   (Standing before God is another lesson).  In other words, “Why do you want to sentence people without first giving them a trial?"

Romans 13:1 “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.  For there is no power but of God:  the powers that be are ordained of God.  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God:  and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation”.

If God allowed people to go to “hell” without first giving them a trial, He too would be unjust!  But our God is a “JUST” God! 

Jesus is not going to “come back” and judge the devil.  Jesus is come, and the devil is judged already!!  John 17:4 “ 'I have glorified thee on the earth:  I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do'."  John 19:30 "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, 'It is finished':  and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost".

FINISHED in John 17:4 is teleio’o, meaning to complet, accomplish, or consummate:  make perfect, fufill, consecrate.  (This word means to “make perfect”)!!

FINISHED in John 19:30 is tele’o, meaning to end, complete, execute, conclude, discharge (a debt):  fulfill, pay, perform, make an end.  [This word means to terminate a thing; to carry out a thing to the full; or to fulfill]!!  It comes from another root word tel’os, which is to set out for a definite point or goal; the point aimed at as a limit, in relation to the conclusion of an act or state (as a termination; result; purpose).  So Jesus perfectly fulfilled or completed all that His Father sent Him to do, terminating the plots and plans of the devil, rendering them null and void!!  1 John 3:8 “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.  For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil”.  Colossians 2:13-15 “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it”.

Jesus has defeated the enemy for us so we must by faith operate in the power, dominion, and authority God has given us through Christ to put and keep him (the devil) under our feet!  “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy:  and nothing shall by any means hurt you”. (Luke 10:19)

While people are alive, they are already “standing before God”!  He sees and knows all that is going on concerning us right now!!  If there was a “judgment day” such as being preached to us now, when would you get to “stand before God”?  There’s only 24 hours in a day; 60 minutes in an hour; 60 seconds in each minute.  When you add this time up, it will equal out to 86,400 seconds in a day.  There are billions of people who have already gone on or died.  And if only 144,000 are going to make it, those slots have already been filled, because there are billions ahead of you; and there are only 86,400 seconds in a day.  So with “religious” teaching all of the 144,000 won’t make it in either.

Think about the day President Obama was inaugurated.  There was over a million people there.  Even if they wanted to talk to him individually for a few minutes each, there wouldn’t have been enough time in the day for them to do so.  Then think of all the people that were watching by television and wanted to be there.  Somebody will say, “Well, God can do anything”.  Yes our God can.  But we must be realistic here.  I’m talking about “judgment” in relation to the way it’s being preached.  I heard this for years, but when you step back and look at the picture that’s painted, something is wrong with it in respect to man’s idea of it.

The point I’m making is this, “the judgment” is already going on!  Every day you set your feet on the floor you are in a court room, or you are on “trial”.  God is the Judge; Jesus is the Defense Attorney; and the devil is the prosecutor.  What you tell your attorney is what He is going to present to the Judge!  The prosecutor (devil) will say you’re guilty!  You tell your Defense Attorney (Jesus), you’re innocent.  He relays to the Judge that you (His client) are innocent!  The devil might say that you’re sick!  You tell your Defense Attorney that you’re healed.  He relays to the Judge (God) that you (His client) are healed!   Matthew 12:36 “But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment”.  That’s when you are going through a trial or test.  Do you claim to be the victor or the victim?  (Vs 37) “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned”.  When your Attorney (Jesus) tells the Judge (God) you’re the victor, He hits His gavel on the bench and says, “CASE DISMISSED”! 

Because of what Jesus did on that Cross and through the power of His resurrection, and we accept the efficacy of all He did, the judgment has passed!!  That’s why we must get to the place of living a sinless life!  If one is just saved, they can sin.  But if one is born, they cannot sin!  1 John 3:9, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him:  and he cannot sin, because he is born of God”.

Once we take on the new birth, the judgment has passed!  Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now (presently; immediate) no condemnation (katakrima –adverse sentencing) to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit”.  (Vs 2)”For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath (already, not up yonder) made me free from the law of sin and death”.

People are being judged now by what they say and what they do!  John 3:17-18, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn (krino – punish, judge) the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  He that believeth on him is not condemned:  but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God!  Not when you get “up there”, but right now!  John 12:48, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him:  the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.  That last day is “Christ” Himself - not the end of the world! 

This earth isn’t going anywhere!  Psalm 104:5 ”Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed forever”!  Isaiah 45:18 “For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited:  I am the LORD; and there is none else”!  The “world” that comes to an end is that which you have arranged and organized for yourself, and when Jesus is introduced into the equation as your Savior, He rearranges things and that “ends” your (world) agenda and things begins anew with Christ!  “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:24).  “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:  old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

John 16:7-11 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away:  for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:  [the Comforter is the Holy Ghost (John 14:26); He is come; and the Holy Ghost is the Father and the Son all in ONE]; Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged”.

We are so busy trying to judge others, until we don’t see what’s going on with ourselves.  Matthew 7:1-5 “Judge not, that ye be not judged.  For with what judgment ye judge, you shall be judged:  and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again.  And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?  Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and behold, a beam is in thine own eye?  Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye”.

Romans 2:1”Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest:  for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things”.

Whatever it is someone judges in another, that same thing is in them!  That’s why they can so readily identify the “wrong”.  They are acquainted with it themselves!  AWESOME!!  That’s why we should “love” one another!!  Because the thing you point your finger at and wag your tongue about in relation to someone else will come and knock at your door!  Jesus help us Lord!!

With these verses, it shows us that the “judgment” should start with one’s self, and it does when you think about it.  When you first got saved, the first thing you did was start judging yourself.  You stopped going to certain places.  You stopped cursing, smoking, drinking, etc.  You did everything you could to stay free of all the things that people would judge you for!  All the things we have thought, done, or said wrong, or might do, God already knows about it!  So why would we have to wait in line on the “judgment day” to tell Him about it? 

People today are saying the same thing Martha said to Jesus.  John 11:23 ”Jesus saith unto her, 'Thy brother shall rise again'.  (Vs 24) Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise agin in the resurrection at the last day.  (Vs 25) Jesus said unto her, 'I am the resurrection, and the life:  he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.  (Vs 26) And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.  Believest thou this'?"

See, Martha to believed in “that great getting up morning” (the judgment day).  People today are still saying the same thing.  Because Jesus is the “resurrection”, we can be resurrected right now!  You don’t have to experience the RESURRECTION by way of the grave!  HALLELUJAH!!  All you have to do is receive the revelation and move into Christ and just have Christ in you (2 Corinthians 5:17).  The message of the Gospel of the Kingdom will resurrect you: cause you to stand up in the light, love, and life of Christ!!

Someone will say, “Well, we’ve all got to stand before the judgment throne of God”.  Let’s take a look at that.  2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad”.

Both words, “judgment & seat”, are from the same root word, bema, meaning to step (synonym – pace; walk; action); a tribunal (court setting).  It goes to another root word, basis, meaning (to walk); a pace; a step).  How is your “walk” with God?  Is it pleasing to Him or is it displeasing?  Are you walking in innocence or guilt?  Are you walking in the freedom of God’s Spirit or are you walking (living) in condemnation?  Colossians 2:16 “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days”!  Again I say, God already sees and knows what is going on concerning you and me.  It is the TRUTH that is going to free us (John 8:32)!

The question is asked, “What about the great white throne of judgment”?  First of all this “seat” and this “throne” is not a “high back chair” sitting up in heaven.  Keep in mind God is Spirit (John 4:24), and to understand His Word, we must have a spiritual mind (1 Corinthians 2:10-14).  The throne is from the root word thron’os, (to sit) [or be established]; power or authority; a potentate.  The Word of God that is in you is the fire of God burning in us to purify all that’s in us that is not like God!  That’s why Jesus has given us the Holy Ghost and fire!!  Fire does one of two things:  it will purify or destroy.  If we yield to and obey God’s Word, it will purify us, but if we fight against it, it will consume us!  

 Many people are already in hell being in the situations they’re in.  I’ve heard people say, “I went through hell today”!  They didn’t drop down in the center of the earth.  That hell could be on your job, in your home, even in some churches - whatever is an adverse situation that is working against you!  But know this:  “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). 

Why is it (the throne)“white”?  It is “white” because it is leukos, or “light”.  1 John 1:5 “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all”!  That’s why God judges “righteously” because it is the “light” that exposes everything.  Nothing is hidden from Him!  He is Omniscient (all knowing); Omnipotent (all powerful); Omnipresent (everywhere)!

That’s why Jesus said in John 12:46-48, “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.  And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not:  for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.  He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him:  the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day”.

Anyone that does not obey the word of God, the Word itself, who is God, will consume them!  That’s the “judgment fire” of God.

Isaiah 11:1-3, “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:  And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD:  and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:  But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with  equity for the meek of the earth:  and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.  And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins”.

God’s judgment is righteousness and that makes it fair.  When we, His bride, put on our proper attire, which is righteousness, we to will judge righteously.  Revelation 19:8, “And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white [the light]:  for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints”!

1 Corinthians 2:15, “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man”.

People of God, if you are walking after the Spirit and not after the flesh, the judgment is passed for you!  John 5:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life”!

John 5:28-29 “Marvel not at this:  for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation”.  He’s talking about that “grave” (that body) of the “old man” or “old nature” we need to put off so that we can put on the “new man”, “CHRIST”!  The voice is the message of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God with the revelation (awareness) that the kingdom is in you, not off up beyond the blue!  The message that we shall live and not die, and declare the works of the Lord!  The message that Jesus is already here, living in you!! 

When we get hold of these truths, we come forth into the “resurrection of life” NOW!!  Those that fight the “kingdom message” or the truth of God’s Word, are already walking in the resurrection of damnation NOW!!  “Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:9-10)!!!!!

Religion has everything off up yonder in the blue, but for us to have what God has put in place for us through Jesus Christ, we must do as the “lost son” did in Luke 15 who left his father’s house.  He came to himself!  That’s what we must do.  We must “come to ourselves”!  1 John 4:4 “Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world”.

Webster defines condemnation as "to pronounce as wrong"!  Jeremiah 31:33-34 “But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.  And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD:  for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD:  for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more”.  2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him”.

Walk in the freedom of the Holy Ghost, people of God, and do not live under a cloud of condemnation!  For whom the Son has made free is free in deed (John 8:36).  Galatians 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage”!

~ Apostle Gracie Perry