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[[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/de/doku.php/jn_de_2016_02_11|Deutsche Version]] [[Start|| Wiki Start]]
[[topics_collection_viii|| Topics Collection viii ]]
======Judgement is Coming ...======
Thursday, Feb 11, 2016. Sometimes we long for judgement. We long for someone who
is strong enough to stop war. We long for someone who can stop people from doing
evil, from hurting others! When we look into the political landscape in many
countries, into the fighting, into injustice and suffering, we long for someone
who can restore peace! Many political movements have taken advantage of such feelings,
by making promises which they could not keep. Let us look into the promise
which the bible makes. But before that, we need to think a little further about
the need for judgement, and the role of freedom.
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**Freedom and Judgment ...**
How does freedom and judgement go together? Can we be free, and still not fall under
judgement? Yes of course we can. As long as we do well, as long as we do what is
needed, there is no jugdment. If we do good, we are ok! And of course, if we do not
do good, if we do evil, we fall under judgement. That is also clear, and our own
perception of justice demands that evil needs to be judged.
Some people say: I did not do wrong. I always tried to keep the law. I did not hurt
anyone, I just tried to live my life. And as far as it is up to the New Testament,
that is all good. If you followed the commandments, which have been passed down by
Moses already many thousand years ago, you are on a good way. But also consider
th following:
Do you want to know God? Do you want to live with him? Do you want to acknowledge
that he is source and creator? Do you want to know more about him, about the word
that he is love and truth and joy? Then come, and explore faith. There is a huge
promise made by Jesus to those who come to him, who discover him to be the son
of God, filled by the holy spirit.
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**Jesus about Judgement ...**
19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. 25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
(John 5, 19ff)
We are free to say no to God. But we also need to know that this freedom has consequences. As Jesus says in the text above: if we do not acknowledge reality as it
is - with Jesus being the son of God and his eternal sacrifice, we force God to put
us into what he calls "the coming judgement". We will be judged, and it would be
a deception if I would say that it will not happen. It will! And the big question
is: can we stand on the day of judgement? How can we stand with our ignorance? With
us not acknowledging the creator and his purity, his love, his truth?
The New Testament tells us that it is a dangerous game we play, when we believe we could
stand with our own justice. But Jesus also gives us the promise that who ever believes
in him is already judged, and that he faces eternal life. In him, his death and
resurrection, all our judgement is taking place already. God offers mercy, he offers
judgement, love, life and an eternal perspective to all of us in Christ Jesus.
(RWEP)
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