If God is so forgiving, and he forgives everyone of their sins, why is there a judgment day?
Matthew 25:32
ESV - 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
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Colin Wong
Supporter
A similar question to this is "if God is a God of love, how can He send people to hell?" This question is often posed when we try to reconcile the image of a loving God that at the same time, is capable of punishing sinners to eternal damnation. The answer is our God is both a God of love *and* a God of justice. Justice and love go hand in hand. A father that does not discipline his children, but instead forgives them of everything, and lets them continue to ruin their lives is an irresponsible parent. The is not the model of fatherhood that our God teaches. Forgiveness does not mean you can do anything you want and then run back and say sorry when you're done. Then go back and do it again. Paul says, "Do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed." Romans 2:4-5 Many churches today rightly focus on salvation by grace through faith. But what is often neglected is repentance. God's forgiveness does not give us the RIGHT to take advantage of His grace. The apostle Paul rightly says that if we think we can get away with this, simply by confessing but not repenting, we have another thing coming. In western culture, we have presumed to take for granted forgiveness. Then we get angry when God gives judgement. How dare a loving and just God judge us? We can accept forgiveness (wiping out our debt), but we cannot accept judgement (held accountable for our debt). Ironically, other cultures have the opposite problem. They have absolutely no problem with a God that punishes evil and rewards the good. They just cannot accept a God that gives grace and forgiveness, where just by following Jesus, all your sins magically wash away, and we are made right in the eyes of God. In fact, I have many friends from asian cultures that cannot reconcile this, with their more familiar concept of karma. The concept of justice, or more specifically divine justice is an extremely important pillar in how we make sense of the world today. We are able to forgive someone of hurting us only if we believe God ultimately punishes the wicked and unrepentant. Tim Keller, in his book, "The Reason for God" says it best. It is the lack of belief in a God of vengeance that "secretly nourishes violence." The human impulse to make perpetrators of violence pay for their crimes is almost an overwhelming one. It cannot possibly be overcome with platitudes like "Now don't you see that violence won't solve anything?" If you see your home burned down and your relatives killed and raped, such talk is laughable - and it shows no real concern for justice. Yet victims of violence are drawn to go far beyond justice into the vengeance that says, "You put out one of my eyes, so I will put out both of yours." They are pulled inexorably into an endless cycle of vengeance, of strikes and counterstrikes nurtured and justified by the memory of terrible wrongs. In other words, if I don't believe that God will eventually deliver justice, then I will "take up the sword and be sucked into the endless vortex of retaliation." Divine justice enables us to forgive and move on. Judgement is not only necessary, but it is the only way we can make sense of right and wrong. For if wrong has no consequences, that what can possibly be so wrong about wrong?
Gene Fowler
Supporter
Judgment day isn't about being judged for your sins. If you truly accepted Jesus as your LORD and savior, you are sinless. The people that (unfortunately) don't accept the gift of the GRACE of GOD will be subjected to the judgment of Revelation 20 first and be cast into hell, then the righteous (through the BLOOD of JESUS CHRIST) will be judged as referenced in Revelation 21. GOD doesn't send anyone to hell, they do it to themselves. If a person doesn't accept GOD'S precious gift after he reaches out his hand to them every day and even sends his SON to die in their place, what could you expect? What would you do if you proposed to someone everyday and that person turned you down and ran after other guys/girls? Or if you told him/her "just come with me! I've got everything under control. You will never have to worry about anything again, JUST LOVE ME" and that person kept turning their back on you? Judgment day is about if you LOVE JESUS WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART, MIND, AND SOUL, and accept him fully and trust his faithfulness. (hope to see you there!) HESED & SHALOM!
Kalasini Nibin
Supporter
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3.17. If your are in Christ and any sinful man/woman is forgiven. Being in Christ does not mean you can commit any sin and know your forgiven. It's being in perfect relationship with God. Judgement is necessary to see His Glory! God accepting us into Heaven or no is His choice. But if your waiting to see the Glory of God you are in perfect relationship with God and He knows your heart! God sees your intention/heart not your action. If your heart is in the Jesus then He has separated you from sin. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.1 Peter 4:8 Love Jesus and you wont have to worry about judgement day for anything, but to see your Heavenly Father Face to Face for His Glory on that day! God Bless You!
Anonymous
As I understand 2 Corinthians 5:10, the "judgement seat of Christ" is not to punish us for sin we've committed, but to determine rewards for faithful service.
EL Mohel Castorena
Supporter
If God is so forgiving---- He is!.
Given the context of the bible, if that is the God you are speaking of.
"and he forgives everyone of their sins" ----
In the Old System as some attempt to practice it, we had Yom Kippur High Day of Atonement for the forgiveness of sin for all the nation. Again when Temple worship was in place. However There were those who Decided To Break His Laws and in doing so SIN was inputted. Hence a Fearful stance with God griped the mind and heart knowing that The Breaking Of The Law Is "The Death"! But Atonement could be made to put the person back in the fold when he/she turned to God seeking forgiveness.
"why is there a judgment day?" ---
Yom Hadin = The Day of Judgment (Rosh haShanah) Its The Law! You Break it and Your Name is Not Put into the Book of Life! and The Last thing Anyone wanted was to Die The Death because of unrighteousness.
Hebrews 10:1-10
The old plan was only a hint of the good things in the new plan. Since that old “law plan” wasn’t complete in itself, it couldn’t complete those who followed it. No matter how many sacrifices were offered year after year, they never added up to a complete solution. If they had, the worshipers would have gone merrily on their way, no longer dragged down by their sins. But instead of removing awareness of sin, when those animal sacrifices were repeated over and over they actually heightened awareness and guilt. The plain fact is that bull and goat blood can’t get rid of sin. That is what is meant by this prophecy, put in the mouth of haMashiach:
You don’t want sacrifices and offerings year after year;
you’ve prepared a body for me for a sacrifice.
It’s not fragrance and smoke from the altar
that whet your appetite.
So I said, “I’m here to do it your way, O God,
the way it’s described in your Book.”
When he said, “You don’t want sacrifices and offerings,” he was referring to practices according to the old plan. When he added, “I’m here to do it your way,” he set aside the first in order to enact the new plan—God’s way—by which we are made fit for God by the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus.
The issue is not IF G_D is Love But
It Is Up To The Person. Choose Life or The Death (Hell).
Chris Eleam
Supporter
When and what is Judgment day? The mental picture that many have of judgment day is quite frightening. So many people think that billions of souls will be brought before the judgment seat of God, and standing before God, God's judgment will be passed upon each individual. The judgment could either be heavenly bliss or eternal torment, what is your viewpoint of judgment day? Certainly that could be quite disturbing. If we use the Bible as our guide we can find a very comforting answer to this topic, when and what is Judgment day At 2 Tim 3:16-17 we can use this as a guide in determining the answer to this question “all Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching for reproving for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness and, that the man of God may be fully competent completely equipped for every good work. The apostle John received the revelation while he was on the penal isle of Patmos he wrote at revelation the 20th chapter verses 11 and 12 we read the apostle John's description of judgment day “I saw the great white throne and the one seated on it from before him the earth and the heaven fled away and no place was found for them I saw the dead the great and the small standing before the throne and scrolls are opened. But another scroll was opened; it is a scroll of life. And the dead were judged out of those things written in the scrolls according to their deeds”. Who is the judge described here? The ultimate judge of mankind is Jehovah God; however he delegates the actual work of judging to his son Christ Jesus. As recorded at Acts 17: 31 it states, “Because he has set a day in which he purposes to judge the inhabited earth in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and he has furnished a guarantee to all men in that he has resurrected him from the dead.” When does this time period begin? When does Judgment Day Begin? The war of the great they of God the Almighty spoken of in the book of Revelation and described as the war of Armageddon, also revelation shows that judgment day begins after this war, and Satan's entire system on earth will be destroyed . This will be a time of great relief for mankind because Satan and his demons will be imprisoned in an abyss for a thousand years. And during that time the Bible book of Revelation also reveals that 144,000 heavenly joint heirs will be judged and will serve as Kings with Christ for a thousand years so we can conclude that judgment day is not some hurried event lasting a mere 24 hours, judgment day will last 1000 years. What will take place during this thousand year period? When will judgment take place? Jesus Christ will judge the living and the dead, the living will be the great crowd that survives this cataclysmic event called Armageddon the apostle John also saw the dead standing before the throne of judgment as Jesus promised and John5:28-29 those in the Memorial tombs will hear Christ voice and come out by means of the resurrection, an interesting question that needs to be addressed is what is the basis that these individuals will be judged. Let's go back to the vision that the apostle John saw about scrolls being open and ask a very important question, since the dead were judged out of these things written in the scrolls according to their deeds, are the scrolls a record of people's past deeds? No the judgment will not focus on what people did before they died. Why do we say that? How do we come to that conclusion? Because the Bible says in Romans the six chapter verse seven “he who has died has been acquitted of his sin”. So then those resurrected start off with a clean slate so to speak, so these scrolls represent Jehovah God's requirements during this thousand year reign. To gain everlasting life the Armageddon survivors and those that are resurrected will have to live by these requirements during this thousand year reign of Christ Jesus. So the basis of judgment for each individual will be on what they do during that Judgment Day or thousand year period. What is Judgment Day? Judgment Day is a time when righteous hearted people need not fear. It will be a time when billions will have an opportunity to conform to Jehovah’s divine will, and live forever in the promised paradise earth forever. This happy prospect awaits all who survive the end of this judgment time and will have “come to life” fully as perfect humans. Judgment Day will thus see the restoration of mankind to its original perfect state, just as God originally purposed the earth to be. The Bible’s promise: “The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.” (Psalm 37:29) So when and what is Judgment Day? Yes, Judgment Day will be a blessing to all faithful mankind!
Denise Mobley
Supporter
Yes, He is so forgiving. But that forgiveness of sin is not granted unless the person repents (is sorry for and does not want to repeat said sin). From the beginning of creation, forgiveness has been granted through repentance, offering of a blood sacrifice and having faith that God would forgive. But the Old Testament rituals were incomplete. Hebrews 10:4 - "For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." Enter Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God who willingly offered Himself as the "once for all" sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins, which we receive by repenting and accepting by faith the sacrifice He made. Read Hebrews 9 and 10.
Gregory Tomlinson
Supporter
No one gets forgiveness or out of accountability for their action unless they sincerely humble themselves and ask and turn from their sin.
Then and then only are they added to the book of life, and are exempt through him, Jesus having taken their punishment upon himself.
The world has a choice to make: believe and turn or don't. Other wise every violation/sin will receive a just punishment. To help with this choice He told the end in the beginning that we might know He is God and besides Him there is no other. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy maranatha.
Allyse C
Supporter
Where in the WHOLE Bible does it say that everyone has their sins forgiven currently? The answer to that question that I just asked is simple; nowhere does it say this. The point of Judgement Day is to separate the righteous from the unrighteousness (Matthew 25:32-33). If you think about God's plan and purpose with the earth (Number 14:21), then why would unrighteous people be included in the perfection of God's glory? I'll repeat my answer to your question. The righteous is supposed to be separated from the unrighteous ones.
TJ Horsman
Supporter
If a person thinks they are right and God is wrong, forgiveness becomes impossible - they won't want it, and God won't be able to give it as they won't be sorry! So God forgives everyone who seeks it. In my view those who do seek forgiveness are already submitting themselves to God's judgement by measuring their actions according to his Word and recognizing they are wrong. Those who don't are rejecting or trying to escape God's judgement in this life, and he has given us that freedom to reject his way and pursue our own paths. But as his values are eternal and cannot be destroyed, there will come a day when you will face the judgement you rejected, and that is judgement day. I expect the 'goats' separated out on judgement day will be people who deliberately chose to reject God and the logical consequence will be being separated from God forever. But I find the prophecies on judgement very mysterious, so admittedly this is my human understanding which may well be in error.
STANLEY S. DRANE
Supporter
I'm glad you asked, we see in Matthew 25:31-46 (Life Application Bible Notes) God will separate his obedient followers from prentenders, and unbelievers. The real evidence of our belief is the way we act. To treat all persons we encounter, as if they were Jesus is no easy task. What we do for others, demonstrates what we really think about Jesus' word to us: Feed the hungry, give the homeless a place to stay, look after the sick. Jesus used sheep and goats to picture the division between beleivers, and unbelievers.
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