How Could a Just God Work for the Happiness of People Who Rebel Against Him?

Cross Training VII

I. God judges by works
A. Covenant of works (Cov = contract with blessings/curses from God) (Gen. 1:27, 28; 2:17) (they weren’t perfect!)
B. Law (Deut. 30:15-18)
C. Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:20-22)
D. Universal reality for people (Rom. 2:6-10)
E. Explains the existence of morality
F. Explains why we try to justify ourselves before God, compare to the sins of others – we know God will judge according to works!
G. We can agree with unbelievers! Good people DO go to heaven!

II. Adam’s sin enslaved the whole world
A. We are all considered guilty (Rom. 5:12-14)
B. We see this in the existence of universal suffering and death(!) (Rom. 5:12-14)
C. We are all by nature rebellious (Eph. 2:1-3)
D. We see this in our inability to really live for God (Rom. 8:7, 8)
E. Why we try to self-justify by saying ‘God is loving’ or ‘forgiving’ – because we know we have at least SOME things to be forgiven for!
F. Thus, the question about God’s love and suffering is moot – we are all worth eternal punishment

III. Judgment day was promised
A. God promised to right every wrong (Isaiah 11:1-9)
B. It means the destruction of the wicked (Is 34:1-8a)
C. That means the vindication of the righteous (Is 34:8b; 51:7, 8)
D. Problem – no one is righteous (Rom. 3:10-12)
E. This answers the question about God’s justice – every wrong WILL be righted
F. However, we are part of that wrong – do we really want everything fixed now? That’d mean our damnation! This is where unregenerate people have trouble – they don’t believe God is worth it(!) To believe it, they must be exposed to the gospel and the Spirit must act.

IV. A new representative (JESUS!)
A. Jesus obeyed God and was considered obedient (Heb 5:7-8)
B. God the Father punished Jesus for sin (Is. 53:5-6; 2 Cor. 5:21a; 1 Peter 3:18a)

V. What is true of believers
A. God does not credit, or count, our disobedience – he counted it to Jesus!
(1 Peter 3:18; 2 Cor. 5:19b, 21a)
B. God credits righteousness – or considers us as if we had obeyed – by considering Jesus in our place (2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:8, 9)

Conclusion – the end time judgment has begun in the person of Jesus. The vengeance of God against sin has been poured out on him completely for all believers – past, present, future. They are now, through faith, considered righteous, and one day will be vindicated and rewarded for Jesus’ righteousness – on the same day in which the rest of the world will be judged for its rebellion.