Topical Bible: The Gospel: Testifies to the Final Judgment

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The Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, is not only a message of salvation and redemption but also a testimony to the reality of the final judgment. This aspect of the Gospel underscores the accountability of all humanity before God and the ultimate fulfillment of divine justice.

Biblical Foundation

The New Testament provides numerous references to the final judgment, emphasizing its certainty and the role of Jesus Christ as the appointed judge. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Himself speaks of the final judgment in the parable of the sheep and the goats: "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 passage highlights the separation of the righteous from the unrighteous, a central theme in the doctrine of final judgment.

The Apostle Paul also affirms the reality of the final judgment in his epistles. In his letter to the Romans, he writes, "For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: 'As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.' So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God" (Romans 14:10-12). This passage underscores the universality of the judgment, where every individual will be held accountable for their actions.

Role of Jesus Christ

Central to the Gospel's testimony of the final judgment is the role of Jesus Christ as the judge. In the Book of Acts, the Apostle Peter declares, "He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead" (Acts 10:42). This appointment of Christ as judge is a critical component of the Gospel message, affirming His authority and divinity.

Furthermore, the Apostle John, in the Book of Revelation, provides a vivid depiction of the final judgment: "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened" (Revelation 20:11-12). This imagery conveys the awe-inspiring and inescapable nature of the final judgment, with Christ as the central figure.

Implications for Believers and Unbelievers

The Gospel's testimony to the final judgment carries profound implications for both believers and unbelievers. For believers, the assurance of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ provides confidence in the face of judgment. As Paul writes to the Thessalonians, "For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:9). This promise of deliverance from wrath is a source of hope and encouragement for those who trust in Christ.

Conversely, the final judgment serves as a solemn warning to unbelievers. The Gospel calls all people to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, emphasizing the urgency of responding to God's offer of salvation. In the Gospel of John, Jesus states, "Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son" (John 3:18). This declaration highlights the eternal consequences of rejecting the Gospel message.

Conclusion

The Gospel's testimony to the final judgment is an integral aspect of its message, affirming the reality of divine justice and the necessity of faith in Jesus Christ. Through the teachings of Jesus and the writings of the apostles, the New Testament presents a consistent and compelling witness to the certainty of the final judgment, urging all people to prepare for that day by embracing the salvation offered through Christ.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Romans 2:16
In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

On the Resurrection of the Flesh
... of the Body Brought to Light by the Gospel. ... the Resurrection of the Flesh at the
Final Judgment. ... Chapter XXXIV.--Christ Plainly Testifies to the Resurrection ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/on the resurrection of the flesh/

Sanctification.
... difficulty has not been, that the gospel has been ... propriety of God's dealing with
him in the final judgment. ... in the same way consciousness testifies of those ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xli sanctification.htm

Of the Modes of Supplementing Satisfaction --viz. Indulgences and ...
... own life or death, as Peter distinctly testifies (Acts 15 ... is offered to us in the
Gospel, all believers ... in the present life, and the final judgment which will ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 5 of the modes.htm

The Gospel of Matthew
... on the church, ch.18; and the final eschatological discourses ... 2) that he himself
elsewhere testifies that Papias ... he says that Matthew wrote the Gospel, and to ...
/.../drummond/introduction to the new testament/the gospel of matthew.htm

Christ's Sermon on the Mount in Manner and Contents it So ...
... in the first fiat or the final dedication of ... turning aside the needy from judgment,
and taking ... mission from the Creator, whilst the Gospel testifies that the ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter xiv christs sermon on the.htm

John and the Gospel of Love.
... He speaks from personal experience and testifies of that ... his preexistent state, and
from the final and perfect ... on the resurrection, as in the Gospel, where he ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section72 john and the gospel.htm

An American Reformer.
... The apostle Peter testifies that "God anointed Jesus of ... Peter, divinely guided, opened
the gospel to the ... to make known the nearness of the final judgment. ...
/.../the great controversy between christ and satan /18 an american reformer.htm

An American Reformer
... The apostle Peter testifies that "God anointed Jesus of ... Peter, divinely guided, opened
the gospel to the ... to make known the nearness of the final judgment. ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 18 an american reformer.htm

Penitence, as Explained in the Sophistical Jargon of the Schoolmen ...
... he sees a prelude to their final doom ... to solace the people of God with Gospel doctrine ...
given public offense by some notable delinquency, testifies his repentance ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 4 penitence as explained.htm

A Letter on the Sin against the Holy Ghost to John Uytenbogard ...
... is committed against the Spirit who testifies that the ... without any hopes of pardon;
but the gospel requires conversion ... to God; and this, when final, condemns a ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/a letter on the sin.htm