God's Sovereign Judgement

I finally finished Knowing God by J. I. Packer.  Again, I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know God more fully and accurately.

In the final chapter Packer breaks down Romans chapter 8.  Packer believes that Romans chapter 8 is the climax of all Scripture.  I don't know whether or not that is true, but it's easy to argue that point.  Romans 8 is so rich (although it can only be understood in light of Romans 1-7) so take time to read through this wonderful chapter now.

Packer makes many beautiful points in his final chapter of this book, but I want to look at just one of them.

Paul, in Romans 8, reminds us of God's sovereignty in judgement.  "It is God who justifies.  Who is he that condemns?"  What Paul is saying is that God justified us and that's the end of our trial.  There is no higher court to appeal to; God has the final say and He says we are justified because of Christ's propitiatory sacrifice.  No one, not Satan or anything in all creation, can overturn God's decision.  God is sovereign in His judgement.

What this means is that no one can uncover more depravity and sinfulness to make God change His mind.  God has already rendered His final verdict.

Beyond that, Packer writes an amazing truth... "He (God) knew the worst about you at the time when He accepted you for Jesus' sake; and the verdict which He passed then was, and is, final."

Amen!

Hallelujah!

God's judgement is final, but there is still more to this truth.  God, as the king judge, is the champion and protector of the justified.  In Paul's day, and ours, the king/government had to protect a person that was justified so that he/she wouldn't be lynched.  God does the same for us.  Packer writes... "The sovereign Lord who justified you will take active steps to see that the status He has given you is maintained and enjoyed to the full."

Often times we see God's sovereignty in judgement as something to be scared of; and if you're on the wrong side of this judgement it is terrifying.  But if you are among the justified, the sovereign judgement of God is very good news.  It is Gospel.  So, celebrate the fact that God's sovereign judgement is truth.  Rest assured in His sovereign judgement today.