Acts 17:31 Because he has appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he has ordained… I. THERE SHALL BE A DAY OF JUDGMENT. 1. "A particular judgment." At the day of death the soul hath a judgment passed upon it (Hebrews 9:27; Ecclesiastes 12:7). 2. "A general day of judgment"; which is the great assize, when the world shall be gathered together (Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 12:36; Psalm 96:13). II. WHY THERE MUST BE A DAY OF JUDGMENT. 1. That God may execute justice on the wicked. Things seem to be carried here in the world with an unequal balance (Job 29:3; Malachi 3:15). Diogenes, seeing Harpalus, a thief, go on prosperously, said [that] surely God had cast off the government of the world and minded not how things went here below (2 Peter 3:3, 4). Therefore God will have a day of assize to vindicate His justice; He will let sinners know that long forbearance is no forgiveness. 2. That God may exercise mercy to the godly. Here piety was the white which was shot at (Romans 8:36). God will therefore have a day of judgment, that He may reward all the tears and sufferings of His people (Revelation 7:9). III. WHEN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT SHALL BE. It is certain there shall be a judgment; uncertain, when (Matthew 24:36). And the reason is — 1. That we may not be curious. There are some things which God would have us ignorant of (Acts 1:7). "It is a kind of sacrilege," as Salvian speaks, "for any man to break into the Holy of holies, and enter into God's secrets." 2. That we may not be careless. "God would have us live every day," saith Austin, "as if the last day were approaching." This is the use [which] our Saviour makes of it (Mark 13:32, 33). IV. WHO SHALL BE THE JUDGE? The Man who is God-man. We must take heed of judging others; this is Christ's work (John 5:22) There are two things in Christ which do eminently qualify Him for a Judge — 1. Prudence and intelligence, to understand all causes that are brought before Him (Zechariah 3:9; Hebrews 4:13). Christ is "a Heart searcher"; He doth not only judge the fact, but the heart, which no angel can do. 2. Strength, whereby He is able to be revenged upon His enemies (Revelation 20:10). V. THE ORDER AND METHOD OF THE TRIAL. 1. The summons to the court (1 Thessalonians 4:16). (1) The shrillness of the trumpet. It shall sound so loud, that the dead shall hear it. (2) The efficacy of the trumpet. It shall not only startle the dead, but raise them out of their graves (Matthew 24:31). 2. The manner of the Judge's coming to the bench. (1) It will be glorious to the godly (Titus 2:13). (a) Christ's person shall be glorious. His first coming in the flesh was obscure (Isaiah 53:2, 3). But His second coming will be "in the glory of His Father" (Mark 8:38). (b) Christ's attendants shall be glorious (Matthew 25:31). (2) Dreadful to the wicked (2 Thessalonians 1:7, 8). 3. The process or the trial itself. (1) Its universality. It will be a very great assize; never was the like seen (2 Corinthians 5:10). Kings and nobles, councils and armies, those who were above all trial here, have no charter of exemption granted them. They who refused to come to "the throne of grace" shall be forced to come to the bar of justice. And the dead as well as the living must make their appearance (Romans 20:12); and not only men, but angels (Jude 1:6). (2) Its formality. Which consists in the opening of the books (Daniel 7:10; Revelation 20:12). (a) The book of God's omnisciency (Malachi 3:16). (b) The book of conscience. Men have their sins written in their conscience; but the book is clasped (the searing of the conscience is the clasping of the book); but when this book of conscience shall be unclasped at the great day, then all their hypocrisy, treason, atheism, shall appear to the view of men and angels (Luke 12:3). (3) Its circumstances. (a) Impartiality. Jesus Christ will do every man justice. The Thebans did picture their judges blind, that they might not respect persons; without hands, that they might take no bribes. Christ's sceptre is "a sceptre of righteousness" (Hebrews 1:8). He is no "respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34). (b) Exactness of the trial. It will be very critical (Matthew 3:12). Not a grace or a sin but His fan will discover. (c) Perspicuity. Sinners shall be so clearly convicted, that they shall hold up their hand at the bar, and cry, "guilty" (Psalm 51:4). The sinner himself shall clear God of injustice. (d) Supremacy. Men can remove their causes from one place to another, but from Christ's court there is no appeal; he who is once doomed here — his condition is irreversible. VI. THE EFFECT OF THE TRIAL. 1. Segregation. Christ will separate the godly and the wicked as the fan doth separate the wheat from the chaff, as a furnace separates the gold from the dross. 2. The sentence. (1) The sentence of absolution pronounced upon the godly (Matthew 25:34). (2) The sentence of condemnation pronounced upon the wicked (Matthew 25:41). The wicked once said to God, "Depart from us" (Job 21:14); and now God will say to them, "Depart from Me." "Depart from Me, in whose presence is fulness of joy." 3. The execution (Matthew 13:30). Christ will say, "Bundle up these sinners; here a bundle of hypocrites; there a bundle of apostates; there a bundle of profane; bundle them up, and throw them in the fire." And now no cries or entreaties will prevail with the Judge.Conclusion: 1. Let me persuade all Christians to believe this truth, that there shall be a day of judgment (Ecclesiastes 11:9). How many live as if this article were blotted out of their Creed! Durst men swear, be unchaste, live in malice, if they did believe a day of judgment? 2. See here the sad and deplorable estate of wicked men. (T. Watson, A. M.) Parallel Verses KJV: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. |
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