Charles Simeon Commentary - Romans 14:10 - 14:12

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Charles Simeon Commentary - Romans 14:10 - 14:12


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DISCOURSE: 1916

THE FUTURE JUDGMENT

Rom_14:10-12. We shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

THERE is in the morality of the Gospel a sublimity of which even the godly themselves have a very indistinct perception. We are apt to lay down broad principles of action, without taking into consideration other principles which should influence us in the application of them. For instance; where the calls of duty seem to interfere with each other, we are apt to lean to one side or the other with an exclusive preference, instead of studying how the two may be made to harmonize, in just order and mutual subordination. To most persons it would appear an unquestionable truth, that if one thing be right, its opposite must be wrong; whereas, if an action be in itself indifferent, the doing or forbearing of it may be equally right, and equally acceptable to God. This was the case with regard to the eating of meats forbidden by the Jewish law, and the observance of particular days which had been held sacred under the Mosaic dispensation. There was nothing morally good or evil in these enactments: they depended on the will of Him who had imposed them: and, when they were abrogated, they remained as purely matters of indifference, as if nothing had ever been enjoined respecting them. But the contending parties in the Church at Rome could not see this: those who had been educated in Jewish habits, not only maintained their own forms, but judged and condemned the Gentiles who rejected them: those, on the contrary, who knew that those ordinances were abrogated by the Christian dispensation, not only asserted their own liberty, but held in contempt the persons who were yet in bondage to their forms. Now, both of these parties acted right in complying with the dictates of their own conscience; but wrong, in presuming to sit in judgment upon each other. To mark the true line of duty in this matter, was the Apostle’s object in this part of his epistle. He shews, that, provided a man endeavoured in such matters to approve himself to God, doing only what he really judged to be right, God accepted him; and that, whilst we commend ourselves to the judgment of our God, we should also leave to his judgment those who differ from us; assured, that in the last day he will dispense to all, not according to our narrow views, but according to what he knew to be the real disposition of their minds.

Leaving, for the present, the primary subject of the chapter, namely, candour in judging one another, I shall draw your attention to that which is here incidentally introduced; namely, the certainty and awfulness of the future judgment.

I.       Its certainty—

There shall be a day of future retribution—

[Reason itself might tell us this: for how else are the inequalities of the present state of things ever to be rectified? At present, “all things come alike to all;” or rather, the ungodly triumph, and the godly are oppressed. But can we suppose, that God will never recompense to his servants the troubles they sustain for his sake, or to their enemies the injuries they inflict? No: there shall be a time when God will deal with men in a way of perfect equity; and he has fixed a day for “the revelation of his righteous judgment.” To this the Scriptures bear ample testimony. They even declare, with great precision, the very mode in which the judgment shall be administered. They declare that Jesus Christ shall be the Judge; (for “the Father hath committed all judgment to the Son [Note: Joh_5:22.]:”) that, at a period fixed in the Divine counsels, “he will come in his own glory, and in the glory of his Father, with myriads of his holy angels,” and will sit upon the throne of his glory; and that “before him shall be gathered all nations [Note: Mat_25:31-32.]:” that “the books,” in which the transactions of the whole human race are recorded, “shall be opened,” and “every one be judged according to his works [Note: Rev_20:11-15.]:” that, for this end, “all who were in their graves shall come forth” in their own proper bodies; “some to a resurrection of life, others to a resurrection of damnation [Note: Joh_5:28-29.].”]

Of this God has assured us, with a most solemn oath—

[The Apostle quotes a passage from the prophecies of Isaiah. This passage speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Apostle tells us, and as the whole context in the prophet clearly shews. The person spoken of in that passage is He to whom we are to “look for salvation;” He “in whom alone a sinner can have either righteousness or strength;” and “in whom all the seed of Israel must be justified, and shall glory [Note: Isa_45:22-25.].” To him shall all submit, either voluntarily in this present life, or involuntarily at that great and awful day. His dominion shall extend over all. But many resist it now: and therefore there must be a day when they shall be able to resist it no longer; and when those who would not bow to the sceptre of his grace “shall be broken in pieces by him, as a potter’s vessel, with a rod of iron [Note: Rev_2:27.].” This has God declared with an oath. And here I cannot but notice how clearly and indisputably this passage declares the Godhead of Christ. Again and again does the prophet proclaim the proper Deity of the person of whom he is speaking:— “Look unto me, and be ye saved! for I am God; and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone forth in righteousness, and shall not return, that unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Surely shall one say, In the Lord (Jehovah) have I righteousness and strength; unto him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.” Let these expressions be compared with the application made of them in my text, and it is impossible to avoid the conclusion, that Christ is God; and no subordinate kind of Deity, but “God over all, blessed for evermore.” Hear then Almighty God pledging his own life and immortal perfections, that such a day shall arrive, and that such shall be the issue of it; every creature that has ever existed being summoned before the Lord Jesus; and being constrained, whether willing or not, to acknowledge Christ as his rightful Lord, and as the only Saviour of the world.]

Such is the certainty of that day. Let us next consider,

II.      Its awfulness—

In that day, “every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Not one shall be absent; not one be able to resist, or elude, the summons. The most formidable monarchs will then be on a footing with the meanest beggar: and every one shall, not merely be reminded of the things which he has done, but shall confess them, and “give an account of” them,

1.       Generally, as to his demeanour on the whole—

[Then shall we give an account of our time. It ought to have been dedicated altogether to the Lord, and not consumed in sloth or vanity. The use we have made of it will form a subject of most serious inquiry: not a day or an hour passes, but it shall be then reviewed. Our talents, too, our property, our station, our intellectual powers, our influence of every kind, must then be accounted for. They were the Lord’s; and ought neither to have been wasted, nor hid in a napkin, but to have been augmented by a diligent application of them. And what shall I say of our advantages, particularly the unspeakable advantage of a preached Gospel? Must not those also be accounted for? Yes, verily, they are most signally noted by Almighty God, and will form a very important ground of approbation or displeasure, according as they have been neglected or improved. Our habits altogether will then come under the strictest scrutiny; whether we have abounded in the exercises of prayer and praise; or whether we have passed over in a formal way the duties of the closet, finding no delight in communion with God: whether we have put away all our besetting sins; or have “retained iniquity in our hearts” unmortified and unsubdued. Every thing, even every idle word, will come under review, to receive its appropriate reward [Note: Mat_12:36.]: nor shall so much as a secret thought escape the sentence of our God [Note: Ecc_12:14.]; for “he will bring every secret thing into judgment, and make manifest the counsels of the heart [Note: 1Co_4:5.],” as subjects of praise or dispraise, according to their intrinsic quality.]

2.       Particularly, as to his conduct towards the Lord Jesus Christ—

[It will be remembered, that the passage cited by the Apostle refers, in the first instance, to the dominion of Christ, which shall be established over every child of man: but, forasmuch as that is not accomplished now, it shall be accomplished hereafter, when all “his enemies shall become his footstool.” Hence the Apostle justly quotes them, as declarative of a future judgment: and hence we conclude that our submission to him will be a subject of special inquiry. Then shall it be clearly seen whether we have “looked unto Christ for salvation;” whether we have sought “in him our righteousness and strength;” and whether we have “gloried in him” as “all our salvation and all our desire.” These things are disregarded by us now, as of small moment; and we make little account of any thing, except of our conduct towards our fellow-men. But we may be perfectly assured that our conduct towards the Lord Jesus Christ will not be found a point of secondary importance then. It is not so light a matter to “trample under foot the Son of God, and to do despite to the Spirit of his grace,” that it should be overlooked in that day. Let me therefore most affectionately remind you all, that every one of us, without one single exception, shall give account of himself to God, and especially respecting his treatment of the Saviour, whom to disregard is death, and “whom to know is life eternal.”]

St. Paul, speaking of the day of judgment, says, “Knowing, therefore, the terrors of the Lord, we persuade men.” Permit me then to improve the subject, and to persuade you,

1.       In reference to the main subject of the context—

[We have before observed, that the Apostle is speaking respecting candour in judging; and, of moral subjects, there is scarcely any that is of greater importance than that. Our blessed Lord enjoins us strictly in relation to it: “Judge not, that ye be not judged; for with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again [Note: Mat_7:1-2.].” Think for yourselves, and act for yourselves; and regard not the uncharitable judgment of others, when you are “fully persuaded in your own mind.” But concede to others the liberty which you claim for yourselves. Leave others to exercise their own discretion: and, instead of sitting in judgment upon them, leave them to the infallible judgment of their God. Believe that they may be right, as well as you; and that they may be right, though they differ from you. You yourselves, as well as those whom you judge, will shortly appear before the judgment-seat of Christ: there will every man receive according to his works. On the side of charity you may safely err: but if you indulge uncharitableness towards others, you can expect nothing but what God has expressly declared; that they “who have shewed no mercy shall themselves have judgment without mercy [Note: Jam_2:13.].”]

2.       In reference to the passage we have been insisting on—

[You have seen that Christ will surely triumph at the last. Respecting those who pertinaciously reject him, he will say, “Bring hither those mine enemies who would not that I should reign over them, and slay them before me.” Lay down, then, the weapons of your rebellion, and humble yourselves before him. Think not that he will forget his oath: for he will surely fulfil it. He is able so to do; and he “will not repent” of any word that he hath spoken. “Hath he said, and shall he not do it? Has he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” Seek then, without delay, to have his whole work accomplished in you; and be assured, that, if you serve him faithfully, according to his word, the time is not far distant when he will address you from his throne of glory, “Well done, good and faithful servants; enter ye into the joy of your Lord.”]