God’s Mercy and Judgment

The cross and judgment both reveal that God is just and merciful. The broken law demands the death of the sinner. Justice declares, “The wages of sin is death.” Mercy responds, “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23, NKJV). If God’s law could be changed or abolished, it would be totally unnecessary for Jesus to die. Christ’s death establishes the eternal nature of the law, and the law is the basis of judgment.

“The fact that the acknowledged people of God are represented as standing before the Lord in filthy garments should lead to humility and deep searching of heart on the part of all who profess His name. Those who are indeed purifying their souls by obeying the truth will have a most humble opinion of themselves. The more closely they view the spotless character of Christ, the stronger will be their desire to be conformed to His image, and the less will they see of purity or holiness in themselves. But while we should realize our sinful condition, we are to rely upon Christ as our righteousness, our sanctification, and our redemption. We cannot answer the charges of Satan against us. Christ alone can make an effectual plea in our behalf. He is able to silence the accuser with arguments founded not upon our merits, but on His own.” — Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, Pages 471, 472.

How do we see, in her words, the inseparability of the gospel from the judgment?

In the words of Ellen G. White from Testimonies for the Church, the inseparability of the gospel from judgment is evident in several ways:

1. Humility and self-examination: Recognizing our sinful condition and the need for Christ’s righteousness should lead to humility and self-examination. This reflects the judgment’s role in prompting introspection and repentance, which are essential aspects of the gospel.
2. Conforming to Christ’s image: The closer we come to Christ, the more we desire to be like Him. This demonstrates the transformative power of the gospel and its connection to the judgment, as both processes lead to spiritual growth and purification.
3. Relying on Christ’s righteousness: We cannot defend ourselves against Satan’s accusations, but Christ can make an effective plea on our behalf. This illustrates the vital role of Christ’s sacrifice and righteousness in both the gospel and the judgment. We are not saved by our own merits but by Christ’s atoning work on the cross.
4. Christ as our sanctification and redemption: The gospel and judgment are inseparable because Christ is the foundation of both. He is our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, enabling us to stand before God in judgment, not in our own filthy garments but clothed in His righteousness.

The hope we can take away from this link between the gospel and judgment is that, despite our sinful condition, we can find forgiveness, redemption, and transformation through Christ’s atoning work. The gospel assures us that Christ has already paid the penalty for our sins, and through faith in Him, we can stand confidently in judgment, knowing that He is our advocate and righteousness. This gives us hope not only for ourselves but also for sharing the message of salvation with others, assuring them of God’s love, mercy, and grace in both the gospel and judgment.

Psalm 51:1-4 reads as follows:

1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!

3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against you, you alone, have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence
and blameless when you pass judgment.

These verses are part of David’s prayer of repentance, which he composed after the prophet Nathan confronted him about his sin with Bathsheba and the subsequent murder of her husband, Uriah the Hittite. In this context, the verses help shed light on the meaning and purpose of judgment in several ways:

1. Recognition of God’s mercy and steadfast love: David appeals to God’s mercy and love, acknowledging that he has sinned and needs God’s forgiveness. This demonstrates that the purpose of judgment is not solely to condemn but also to provide an opportunity for repentance and restoration.
2. The need for cleansing: David recognizes the need to be cleansed from his sins, asking God to wash him and remove his iniquities. This highlights the purpose of judgment as a process of purification and spiritual renewal.
3. Personal accountability: David admits his own culpability, acknowledging that he has sinned against God. This demonstrates that judgment is a time for individuals to take responsibility for their actions, recognizing the impact of sin on their relationship with God.
4. God’s righteousness in judgment: Verse 4 is particularly important, as David states that his sin is against God alone and that God is justified in passing judgment. This reveals the purpose of judgment as a means to uphold God’s righteousness and justice, ensuring that sin is acknowledged and dealt with appropriately.

Overall, these verses show that the purpose of judgment is to provide an opportunity for repentance, cleansing, and restoration, while upholding God’s righteousness and justice. It highlights the importance of personal accountability and demonstrates that God’s judgments are fair and rooted in love and mercy.

The gospel and the judgment, both parts of the first angel’s message, are inseparably intertwined. Were it not for the “everlasting gospel,” we would have no hope in the judgment. In fact, as we will see, the “everlasting gospel” is, indeed, our only hope in the judgment. There is no question that part of the content of the gospel is the announcement of judgment.