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‘The day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.’
Rom_2:16
I. There is a day of judgment.—A fixed and definite time. When, is not known: but the fact is certain.
(a) Scripture testimony ample, varied, peremptory and express.
(b) Conscience confirms Scripture.
(c) Our natural sense of justice. Man’s instinctive feeling is that, if the world is under moral government, there must be a day of retribution and redress and recompense.
II. The matter of judgment.—‘The secrets of men.’ Apparently only a part; yet the chief part, and virtually the whole matter of judgment is men’s secrets. This embraces not only the inward and hidden things, but also the outward things as effected by the inward.
(a) Secrets. The things we have kept in our inmost heart.
(b) Outward actions will be tested and judged by the ‘secrets.’ It will be seen how far the inward and the outward corresponded, and a true moral value will be assigned to the outward deed, according to its ‘secret’ spirit. Many showy deeds will shrivel up and become only pieces of pride, vanity, selfishness, meanness. Many insignificant actions and endurances, unnoted of men, will be invested with unspeakable grandeur from the inner Christian principle from which they sprang.
III. The judge is God.—As Creator and Lawgiver He is Judge; but His judicial function He has delegated to Jesus Christ, the Mediatorial King (Joh_5:22-27). He judges by Christ Jesus. Therefore—
(a) There will be a visible transaction in judgment. It will be no invisible act, such as the judgment which a man’s conscience now passes on him; but a veritable, literal, matter-of-fact occurrence patent to all.
(b) There will be impartial justice.
(c) There will be no appeal. If God judges by Jesus Christ alone, the great white throne is the highest and last judgment-seat, from which a case cannot be carried to God Himself. If His judgment is impartial and according to truth, how can there be an appeal from His bar? How trying a position for impenitent sinners to face the Son of Man, Who came to save sinners! With what boldness and confidence may saved sinners face their Saviour as Judge!
IV. Judgment part of the gospel message.—It is the gospel to warn sinners of the coming judgment of their hidden thoughts, and to comfort saints by the prospect of the full revelation of their true character, and vindication of their righteousness. The gospel involves the idea and fact of a day of judgment as a fundamental element. Did not Christ come to save us from the condemnation of sin? ‘Abide in Him, that when He shall appear we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.’