The Role Of Judgement In The Bible

The Bible, in contrast, begins its consideration of suffering not with innocence but with guilt. It reminds us that we live in a fallen world, a sinful world that “groaneth and travaileth in pain” (Rom 8:22) under God’s curse and judgment. God had promised death to both Adam and Eve on the day that they disobeyed Him and ate the forbidden fruit. However, ‘death’ in a final sense was postponed when Adam was allowed to live on earth for 900 years. Hence, for as long as we live in this sin-cursed world, the series of mini-judgments which are visited upon us arising from the sin of Adam should be seen as previews of the final judgment awaiting mankind. Pastor Terry Johnson says, “these mini-judgments, because they fall short of eternal death in hell, are, in effect, gracious stays of execution.” He adds, “This means that every moment that each of us exists on this side of hell is a problem. How is it that a just and true God can tolerate evil and let it go on existing? How can he delay his warning that ‘the soul that sinneth, it shall die’ (Ezek. 18:4)? The problem is not a problem of pain but of pleasure. Strict justice lands each of us in hell. Anything less than that – sickness, injury, poverty, hunger, or heartbreak – is mercy.” On one occasion, Jesus …show more content…
We live in a fallen world that is under judgment. The remarkable thing is not that there is suffering but that there is pleasure. Once one understands what Jesus is saying, the issue is no longer one of explaining why God allows suffering but why He shows mercy and grace. Jeremiah adds, “Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?” (Lam. 3:39) Hence, any pain and suffering less than the flames of eternal fire in hell must be seen as a merciful reprieve from God. Rather than questioning why we suffer, Pastor Johnson says we should instead be asking why we do not suffer