"God's Righteousness in Judgment"

Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 4

Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 4 May 11 2003 AM

     A. We have learned of our misery; we have not yet learned of the consequences of our sinfulness
     B. But who wants to talk about consequences of sin—punishment? Yet this is Scripture: God is just judge

                                                        "GOD'S RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS"
I. God is a Righteous Judge Against Sinners

A. Scripture testifies to the judgments of God for sin

1. This is a rare-sounding message today, surprising to many.

2. But it is a vital ingredient in the gospel that we are called to preach

3. Proof:

a. II Peter makes this plain

b. Christ Himself preached this truth

c. Reformed confessions testify to this biblical truth

B. When God judges sinners, God's judgments are just

1. God's judgment is not wild rage, or cruelty

2. God's judgment is righteous and just

II. God is a Terrible Judge Against Sinners

A. God judges man in body and soul, in time and eternity; and the OT judgments are examples for the church to consider

B. God judges man already before he dies, both physically and outwardly, as well as inwardly

C. Bad as the temporal judgments are, they do not exhaust the judgment of God. Eternity comes.

IlI. God is a Righteous Judge With Gospel Purpose

A. The gospel purpose is to exhibit the mercy of God in Jesus Christ for all repentant, believing sinners

B. The gospel purpose is to exhibit the justice of God to all who go on in their sins...

Creed Parallels: Lord's Day 4

Belgic Confession, Article 20

That God hath manifested his justice and mercy in Christ Jesus.

We believe that God, who is perfectly merciful and just, sent his Son to assume that nature, in which the disobedience was committed, to make satisfaction in the same, and to bear the punishment of sin by his most bitter passion and death. God therefore manifested his justice against his Son, when he laid our iniquities upon him and poured forth his mercy and goodness on us who were guilty and worthy of damnation, out of mere and perfect love, giving his Son unto death for us.…

Canons of Dort, Head 2, Articles 1-2

Article 1. God is not only supremely merciful, but also supremely just. And his justice requires (as he hath revealed himself in his Word), that our sins committed against his infinite majesty should be punished, not only with temporal, but with eternal punishment, both in body and soul.…
Article 2. Since therefore we are unable to make that satisfaction in our own persons, or to deliver ourselves from the wrath of God, he hath been pleased in his infinite mercy to give his only begotten Son, for our surety, who was made sin, and became a curse for us and in our stead, that he might make satisfaction to divine justice on our behalf

Canons of Dort, Heads 3&4, Rejection of Errors 1

The true doctrine having been explained, the Synod rejects the errors of those who teach: That it cannot properly be said, that original sin in itself suffices to condemn the whole human race, or to deserve temporal and eternal punishment. For these contradict the Apostle, who declares Rom. 5:12. And: “The judgment came of one unto condemnation," Rom. 5:16. And: "The wages of sin is death," Rom. 6.23.

Westminster Confession of Faith, Larger Catechism, Question and Answers 28-30

Q28: What are the punishments of sin in this world?
A28: The punishments of sin in this world are either inward, as blindness of mind, a reprobate sense, strong delusions, hardness of heart, horror of conscience, and vile affections; or outward, as the curse of God upon the creatures for our sakes, and all other evils that befall us in our bodies, names, estates, relations, and employments; together with death itself.
Q29: What are the punishments of sin in the world to come?
A29: The punishments of sin in the world to come, are everlasting separation from the comfortable presence of God, and most grievous torments in soul and body, without intermission, in hell fire forever.

Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 2, Article 1

There is but one only, living, and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection the rewarder of them that diligently seek him; and withal, most just, and terrible in his judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty.

Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 33, Articles 1-2

I. God hath appointed a day, wherein he will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ.... In which day, not only the apostate angels shall be judged, but… all persons that have lived upon earth shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to give an account of their thoughts, words, & deeds; and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil.
II. The end of God's appointing this day is for the manifestation of the glory of his mercy, in the eternal salvation of the elect; and of his justice, in the damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient. For then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fullness of joy and refreshing, which shall come from the presence of the Lord; but the wicked who know not God, and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast into eternal torments, and be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.