Sex, judgement and the gospel
“Most preachers and most composers of prayers today treat the biblical doctrine of the judgement of God very much as the Victorians treated sex. It is there, but it must never be alluded to because it is in an undefined way shameful.”
So said an early 20th Century theologian - and one of the preachers at the Reach Australia Conference this week. A number of our staff team are away together at the conference on the Central Coast, thinking about the place of sharing the gospel in our lives and in our church.
We’ve been reminded that the reality of today’s world is that the air we breathe demands the absolute affirmation of the individual and redefines God so that love is welcomed but holiness and judgement are given inhospitable treatment. It is all but immoral to declare that the greatest problem for humanity is that our sin has left us under the judgement of an angry God.
All this turns the volume down on mission. It turns the volume down on our personal need to share life. It turns the volume down on our zeal to see people saved.
J. I. Packer devoted a chapter of his classic Knowing God to the wrath of God, and in it he asked a worthy question:
Clearly, the theme of God’s wrath is one about which the biblical writers feel no inhibitions whatever. Why, then, should we? Why, when the Bible is vocal about it, should we feel obliged to be silent?
Here is reality. The final judgement by Jesus will be of every person who has lived, across all time in all nations. The heart of every person will be evaluated and the question asked, have you come to trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Those who trust Christ will be welcomed into everlasting life (John 3:16). Those who do not will be sent to everlasting destruction (John 3:36). Jesus is worthy of all the honour and praise and glory from every person on the earth irrespective of their tribe, nation, language or tongue.
Gloriously, the Lord Jesus Christ does not perniciously delight in the destruction of humanity - no - in obedience to the Father he laid down his life for lost that many might be saved. He loves us and wants us to believe in him and so not perish. And not just us but everyone for he wants everyone to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. God our saviour wants all people to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4).
With all this in mind, a Christian cannot praise God or contemplate judgement without remembering that we are called to speak forth the gospel, to answer questions with gentleness and respect and to call people to repentance and faith with great patience and careful instruction. Real people I know and love are under a curse, destined for eternal judgement, and that is a thought I can barely contemplate. So I am praying afresh this week that the fruit of my praise might be lips that carry the gospel to those lost to God and destined to miss everlasting life. John 3:16 is compelling.
For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only Son that whoever…
I have paused today to look again at who is on my “whoever” (name) list.
Who is on your whoever (name) list?
Pray for them.
Take opportunities to speak with them.
Live a Christ shaped life around them so they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he comes.
Pray for me in this. I am praying for you.
