THE JUDGE
1. There was once a young man who went to law school and became a lawyer.
2. One of his first clients was a man who had been charged with murder.
3. The young lawyer put everything that he had into winning this case.
4. He argued that there were extenuating circumstances.
5. He pleaded with the jury.
6. The attorneys finished all their arguments and the jury began their deliberations.
7. The jury finally came back with a verdict.
8. The man who had been charged with murder was pronounced innocent.
9. The jury said that the man who had been charged with this crime was not guilty.
10. The young defense attorney sat down with his client. He had a long talk with him.
11. He said his client needed to stay from things that are evil and live in the way that God wants.
12. Several years passed.
13. The man who had been charged with murder was charged a second time for this same crime.
14. It was alleged that he had killed someone else.
15. The man who had helped him before was no longer an attorney.
16. This young man had become a judge.
17. He was the judge who heard this second murder case.
18. According to the story this is what the judge said:
“AT YOUR FIRST TRIAL I WAS YOUR LAWYER, YOUR ADVOCATE. TODAY I AM YOUR JUDGE. THE VERDICT OF THE JURY MAKES IT MANDATORY FOR ME TO SENTENCE YOU TO BE HANGED BY THE NECK UNTIL YOU ARE DEAD. MAY GOD BE MERCIFUL TO YOUR SOUL.” THIS EVENT ACTUALLY HAPPENED. THIS STORY IS A PRETTY GOOD DESCRIPTION OF JESUS.
A. At the present time the Lord is like a lawyer (an
advocate, an attorney, 1 Tim. 2:5).
B. A time is coming when He will serve as a judge.
C. This morning we want to think about Jesus from the
standpoint of a judge.
D. In life a judge should be interested in facts.
E. When in a court setting the results of an
investigation are presented to him and perhaps others.
F. We would classify this information as evidence.
G. Judges deal with pieces of factual information.
H. The Bible says that evidence will be presented on
the day of judgment.
I. Two of the passages that describe this evidence are
found in the Corinthians letters.
J. These passages are 1 Cor. 4:5 and 2 Cor. 5:10.
K. I am going to read these in order.
L. READ 1 Cor. 4:5 and 2 Cor. 5:10.
M. According to 2 Cor. 5, the “works done in the body”
will be known.
N. A record of our lives is being kept (made).
O. This record will be available when we stand before
the Lord.
P. Even the “secret things” that people have done (1
Cor. 4:5) will be made available.
Q. If we are guilty of sin, and it has not been
forgiven, that information will not be suppressed.
R. When people appear before earthly judges some
information may not be allowed.
S. There may be some facts that are kept secret from
nearly everyone.
T. The New Testament teaches that Jesus the judge knows
all.
U. What He knows will be presented when people stand
before Him.
V. Some have asked how this evidence will be presented.
W. We do not know.
X. One Bible teacher offered what I find to be an
intriguing thought.
Y. This man used Adolf Hitler as an example.
Z. He proposed that Hitler will cringe in agony as
Jesus lists the names of 6 million Jews.
AA. What if the screams of those people, as they were
being killed, would be replayed?
BB. This would certainly be evidence. It would be very compelling evidence.
CC. The passages from the Corinthian letter indicate
that proof of sin will be made available.
DD. The man who offered this illustration proposed a
second idea.
EE. He pictured abortionists appearing before the Lord
in an unforgiven state.
FF. He suggested that the screams of those innocent
babies might be played for those doctors.
GG. This type of evidence could be presented to almost
anyone.
i). Imagine the people who have been victimized.
ii). Perhaps they were beaten and robbed.
iii). They might have been cheated out of their rent money
or social security checks.
iv). All these things are acts of history that are
actually pieces of evidence.
HH. It is very possible that people will somehow be
reminded of or shown the sins they committed.
II. Suppose we were knocking doors to invite people to
one of our crusades.
JJ. Someone chased us off their property or slammed the
door in our face.
KK. On the day of judgment this person says to God, “No
one ever told me about you.”
LL. Imagine the effect of seeing that scene again.
MM. The Bible says that we are going to be judged by our
works.
NN. Turning a servant of God away from the door is a
work.
OO. Other sins are works.
PP. Religious people who have protested outside of
abortion clinics have had insults hurled at them.
QQ. One man was told, “Get your Christ-garbage off the
streets.”
RR. Another said to him, “Take your Jesus and crawl back
into your holes.”
SS. The Bible says that people will account for their
deeds.
TT. If you think these descriptions are far fetched,
listen to Mt. 12:36 – READ
UU. The day of judgment will be a day of remembrance.
VV. Even the “idle words” that people spoke will be used
as testimony against them.
WW. Somehow people will recall or be shown what they
said and did.
XX. This is the first point to bear in mind when we
think about the Judgment Day.
2. WHEN THIS TIME COMES GOD WILL HAVE A FULL RECORD OF OUR DEEDS. IF WE HAVE NOT BEEN FORGIVEN OF OUR SINS WE WILL BE REMINDED OF THEM.
A. Evidence will be presented against people.
B. What we did in the body (2 Cor.
C. Careless words (if they are unforgiven) will be used
against us (Mt.
D. Even the word of God will be used to convict the
unsaved.
E. In Jn.
F. What we say and how we respond to God are possible
sources of indictment.
G. These sources will not be the only means used to
convict people of sin.
H. In the Bible we read that elders watch on behalf of
those who worship in a congregation.
I. This suggests that elders will be a witness against
people.
J. If elders tried to help Christians take the right
road and God’s people refused,
K. The eldership’s attempts to help will be proof that
people willfully rejected the wrong way.
i). Someone may say, “Can this really be used as
evidence?”
ii). Listen to Mt. 23:34-35 – READ
iii). The Jews rejected the people God sent to help them.
iv). This rejection was part of the basis for their guilt
and condemnation.
v). Knowing this helps us draw a conclusion about
elders.
vi). Not working with them and rejecting their help will
be one means to convict people of sin.
L. On the Day of Judgment some may say that the
Christian way was too hard.
M. It was impossible to live the Christian life.
N. The people who lived faithful lives will prove that
this charge is false.
O. Others will provide overwhelming testimony that
living as a Christian was possible.
P. Peter, Paul, and the first century Christians will
show that faithfulness was possible.
Q. Think of the three men who received talents.
R. One of these men buried his talent.
S. The actions of the other two men showed that this
man was lazy and faithless.
T. He could have done a little something with the money
that he had been entrusted with.
U. He didn’t.
The actions by the other two men served as proof against him.
V. By the way, the talent story is in Mt. 25, the same
chapter that deals with the final judgment.
W. The Lord has multiple types of evidence available
for His use at the judgment.
X. When someone is classified as a goat (unsaved) there
will be no question about that verdict.
Y. Unforgiven sins will require Jesus the judge to
render an unfavorable verdict.
Z. This verdict is described at least two times in the
book of Matthew.
AA. I find it in Mt. 7:23 and 25:41.
BB. Those who are not forgiven will hear these
words: “Depart from me.”
CC. As the judge Jesus has the authority to remove
people from the courtroom.
DD. He has the power to remove people from His presence.
EE. Those who are not in the presence of the Lord can
only go to one place.
FF. Jesus identified this place as “everlasting fire”
(Mt. 25:41).
3. Some don’t believe that this will really happen.
4. There are those who scoff at the idea of a coming
judgment.
5. The information about a coming judgment is either
true or false.
6. If it is false, we should not be concerned about it.
7. If it is true, those who make jokes about it are
going to get the surprise of their life.
8. I use the word “surprise” because of what Jesus said
in Jn. 5.
A. In Jn. 5 Jesus appealed to several “witnesses.”
B. He repeatedly affirmed who He was and the type of
power He had.
C. One of His illustrations is based upon the coming
judgment.
D. Jesus said He has been given all authority to judge
people (Jn. 5:22).
E. He then claimed this – VERSES 27-30 – READ.
F. Did Jesus tell the truth or did He not?
G. If He did He is the judge. He is the judge of all people.
H. He will help raise people from the dead and then
judge everyone.
9. He will (as Mt. 25 describes) separate people into
two groups.
10. The saved are compared to sheep and the lost are
compared to goats.
11. Jesus will then render a verdict that is
irrevocable.
12. For most of us that may be difficult to comprehend.
A. We live in a time when people can make appeals.
B. Verdicts are overturned.
C. New evidence is brought forth.
D. People receive new trials.
E. Mistakes are made in the judicial process so people
get a second chance.
13. The eternality of the verdict is hinted at in Mt.
25:46 – READ.
14. One day we are going to be judged.
15. This is not complicated material; it is the milk of
the word.
16. It is easy to understand but it is some of the most
important material we will ever hear.
17. Are we ready to go to His courtroom?
18. Are we in Christ, freed from our sins, and have
Jesus as our attorney?
19. Time is running out . Our days are numbered.
20. If we have not become a Christian how much longer
will we wait?