Topical Bible: Jesus, the Christ: Divinity of God the Judge

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The divinity of Jesus Christ as God the Judge is a central tenet of Christian theology, affirming His role in divine judgment and His nature as fully God. This entry explores the scriptural basis for understanding Jesus as both divine and the ultimate judge of humanity.

Divine Nature of Jesus

The New Testament provides numerous affirmations of Jesus' divine nature. In the Gospel of John, Jesus is explicitly identified with God: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). This passage establishes the pre-existence and divinity of Christ, equating Him with God Himself. Furthermore, Jesus' own declarations, such as "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30), underscore His unity with God.

The Apostle Paul also affirms the divinity of Christ, describing Him as "the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15) and stating that "in Him all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form" (Colossians 2:9). These passages highlight the belief that Jesus embodies the fullness of God, possessing all divine attributes.

Jesus as the Judge

The role of Jesus as the judge is a consistent theme throughout the New Testament. Jesus Himself speaks of His authority to judge, as seen in the Gospel of John: "Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son" (John 5:22). This delegation of judgment underscores the trust and authority given to Jesus by the Father.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus describes the final judgment, where He will separate the righteous from the unrighteous: "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats" (Matthew 25:31-32). This imagery of Jesus as the judge at the end of times reinforces His divine authority and role in executing God's justice.

The Apostle Paul reiterates this role in his letters, stating, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10). This passage emphasizes the accountability of all humanity before Christ, who judges with divine wisdom and justice.

Theological Implications

The divinity of Jesus as God the Judge carries profound theological implications. It affirms the belief in the Trinity, where Jesus is co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. His role as judge highlights His sovereignty and the ultimate authority He holds over creation. This understanding calls believers to live in accordance with His teachings, knowing that they will one day stand before Him in judgment.

Moreover, the divine judgment of Christ is not only punitive but also redemptive. Through His sacrificial death and resurrection, Jesus offers salvation and reconciliation with God, providing a path to eternal life for those who believe in Him. This dual role of judge and savior encapsulates the fullness of His divine mission and the hope offered to humanity through His grace.

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Ecclesiastes 12:14
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
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1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
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2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad.
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2 Timothy 4:1
I charge you therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
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Library

Summary view of the Pre-Existence and Divinity of Our Saviour and ...
... of Scripture which speak of his divinity: "In the ... Word who was in the beginning with
God, and who ... prophets which relate to our Saviour Jesus Christ, and have ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter ii summary view of the.htm

The Gadarene Demoniac. --Christ's Treatment of Him after the Cure. ...
... him"as was generally the case when Christ's Divinity came in ... he was, he could not
bear the presence of Jesus. ... recognizing, with terror, the Son of God as the ...
/.../section 132 the gadarene demoniac.htm

Jesus Charged with Blasphemy
... the trust knit souls to the Incarnate God their Saviour ... He had derogated from the
dignity of divinity, but because ... If Jesus Christ did make such claims, and His ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/jesus charged with blasphemy.htm

The Life-Giver and Judge
... both the present judgment, for which Jesus said that He ... worship, no more emphatic
assertion of divinity, can be ... To worship Christ does not intercept the honour ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/the life-giver and judge.htm

Diverse Things are Spoken Concerning the Same Christ, on Account ...
... crucified, not after the power of the divinity, but after ... that every tongue should
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord ... the judgment, not the form of God, but the ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 13 diverse things are spoken.htm

Christ Our Mediator.
... and God, between earth and heaven, is bridged over in the God-man, Christ Jesus.
His divinity reaches half-way from heaven to earth, and His humanity half ...
/.../ix christ our mediator.htm

Jesus and Abraham.
... he rejoiced in the hope of the revelation of Christ. ... Jesus did not say he had seen
Abraham, but they ... Divinity has no past tense, nor future tense, but always ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/jesus and abraham.htm

Faith in God and Christ
... them recognise the eradiation of the divinity that imparted ... You cannot forget Christ
in order to see ... leads up towards, the perfect revelation in Jesus Christ. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/faith in god and christ.htm

Proofs from the Apostolic Writings, that Jesus Christ was one and ...
... the passage: "Every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come ... those who
wished to separate the humanity of Christ from His divinity, and that ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xvi proofs from the apostolic.htm

'God is no Respecter of Persons'
... in these early discourses neither the Divinity and Incarnation nor the atoning
sacrifice of Jesus is set ... He is the Christ, 'anointed with the Holy ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/god is no respecter of.htm