God possesses infinite power, which simply means “without limits.” Anyone who reads the Bible can testify about God’s over whelming greatness and authority and how He works in His sovereign will. God is almighty. This truth appears in the many stories written in the Scriptures. Anything that God possesses is His power and attribute.
Being a Judge is one of God’s attributes. He is the only righteous judge mentioned in the Scriptures. (Psalm 50:6) And the heavens shall declare His righteousness; for God Himself is judge. Selah. (Psalm 75:7) But God is the judge; He puts down one and sets up another.
The Bible speaks about our duty and purpose before God, that is, to fear the Lord and obey His commands. He will bring every work we did into judgment and He is the only judge who will evaluate the things that we do whether it is good or bad, secret or revealed. (Eccles. 12:13-14) Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God, and keep His commandments. For this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it is good, or whether evil. (Eccles. 3: 17) I said in my heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
The Bible discloses that Jesus Christ is the Judge who will be revealed at the time of His return. (2 Tim. 4: 1, 8) Therefore I solemnly witness before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is going to judge the living and the dead according to His appearance and His kingdom, Now there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that Day; and not to me only, but also to all those who love His appearing.
The Bible also unveils an appointed day of judgment. On this day, humanity will be judged according to what they did. (Acts 17: 31) because He has appointed a day in which He is going to judge the world in righteousness by a Man whom He appointed, having given proof to all by raising Him from the dead.
As a proof, Apostle John reveals about the judgment day in Revelations 19: 11 – “And I saw Heaven opened. And behold, a white horse! And He sitting on him was called Faithful and True. And in righteousness He judges and makes war. “
But not all people will be judged on that appointed day. In the house of God, judgment is already occurring. (1 Peter 4: 17) For the time has come for the judgment to begin from the house of God. And if it first begins from us, what will be the end of those disobeying the gospel of God?
The house of God is His church, which is the church of God. (1 Tim. 3: 15) But if I should delay, that you may know how you ought to behave in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
How can others assume this God’s attribute?
The Bible gives details about people who instantly judge others. This is prevalent long before, and even until now, the same mind-set can be seen in many people. (James 4: 11-12) Do not speak against one another, brothers. He who speaks against his brother, and who judges his brother, speaks against the Law and judges the Law. But if you judge the Law, you are not a doer of the Law, but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you who judges another?
People see themselves clean and others are not. They don’t see their own mistakes, and all they see are the sins of others. They forget that they commit mistakes too. (Luke 6: 41-42) And why do you look at the splinter that is in your brother’s eye, but do not see the beam that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, Brother, let me pull out the splinter in your eye, when you yourself do not see the beam that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First cast out the beam out of your own eye, and then you shall see clearly to pull out the splinter that is in your brother’s eye.
This is the way of thinking of the scribes and the Pharisees during the time of Christ. They look on themselves as very religious and they are very strict when it comes to the laws of God. They see themselves as the highest members of the society and they see others as the lowly. The same mind-set can be seen today. People think high of themselves because they are religious.
But none of us has a right to judge anyone. We are all equal in God’s eyes and He is the only one who has the right and power to judge us.
Besides judging others, what do others assume of themselves?
The Bible explains that it is only God who has the attribute of giving retribution to anyone. He will pay for everything that we have done be it good or bad. (Hebrews 10: 30) For we know Him who has said, “Vengeance belongs to Me, I will repay, says the Lord.” And again, “The Lord shall judge His people.” God’s power to take vengeance is part of His Godliness and not ours to have. The judge evaluates and weighs things, and will also give payback for our actions.
Many people think that it becomes their right to take revenge when they experience wickedness from others. While many people assume of this way of thinking, neither anyone of us was given the right to do it.
Jesus Christ made sure that this attribute of God would be given emphasis when He made an example about patience, endurance and serenity. Jesus showed that we have to give all the glory and praises to God by recognizing Him as the rightful judge and great avenger.
If we will put ourselves in the character of being the avenger, what honor can we give more to God?
God is fair and just in all His ways. He is not wicked to forget our good works and He doesn’t find joy when someone commits iniquities in His eyes. (Psalms 5: 4-6) For You are not a God that enjoys wickedness; nor shall evil dwell with You. The foolish shall not stand in Your sight. You hate all doers of iniquity.
The Bible reveals that God is a just God and a God who punishes also. In the time of Noah, God punishes all the wicked by taking their lives (Genesis 6: 5-7, 13). In the time of Lot, God consumed them through fire to end their wicked works (Genesis 19: 13) and at the time of ancient Israel, God punished them many times and even turned away from them even if He loves them so much (Romans 11: 20-22).
It is also known in the Bible that God will punish all the wicked in the end times. (2 Peter 3: 7, 10) But the present heavens and the earth being kept in store by the same Word, are being kept for fire until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a rushing noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat. And the earth and the works in it will be burned up.
And He has the power to do it because He is the judge and the avenger at the same time. He is both the God of love and a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12: 29) for also, “Our God is a consuming fire.”
What are the Bible’s advices to escape from God’s punishment?
Jesus says, don’t judge anyone. (Matthew 7: 1-2) Judge not, that you may not be judged. For with whatever judgment you judge, you shall be judged; and with whatever measure you measure out, it shall be measured to you again.
Paul says, “not avenging yourselves, beloved, but giving place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12: 19) Let us be reminded that it is not for us to judge and avenge for every wicked thing done to us by others. Judging and vengeance is for the Lord and no one has the right to take it from Him.
Being a judge and avenger sometimes causes others to stumble and can cause others to be weak in faith. Therefore, we should avoid these traits that only God has the right to possess. (Romans 14: 10, 12-14) But why do you judge your brother? Or also why do you despise your brother? For all shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ. So then each one of us will give account concerning himself to God. Then let us not judge one another any more, but rather judge this, not to put a stumbling-block or an offense toward his brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing by itself is common; except to him who esteems anything to be common, it is common.
Before we speak of and correct other people’s mistakes, let’s try first to correct our own faults.
We shouldn’t even think of avenging for anything wrong done to us. The glory and honor of giving revenge is due only to God alone. And instead of giving back evil to evil, we should bless others because it is the will of God. (1 Peter 3: 9) Never give back evil for evil, or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, giving blessing, knowing that you are called to this so that you might inherit blessing.
In the end we will know that the only thing we can do is to pray for those who wronged us. (Roma 12: 19-21) not avenging yourselves, beloved, but giving place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him. If he thirsts, give him drink. For in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
