“…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.”
This is the last half of the last sentence of the sermon that Paul gave at Mars Hill in Athens. And, in this verse Paul spoke of two important matters.
The first is that a day of judgment is coming. It is an appointed day that the Lord has set, and it is known only to Him. While many details of it are described in scripture, particularly in the Revelation, the day of it is not known to us. It has been nearly 2,000 years since Paul said this to the people of Athens. The passage of time may make it seem that God is not really going to judge. But the delay does not mean that at all.
According to this verse, that day of judgment will be presided over by “that Man Whom He (God) hath ordained…” From scriptures it is certain that the Man that God ordained is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself said in John 5:22, 23: “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.”
Revelation 19 provides some details of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. In verses 11-16 John wrote, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
What a spectacular event that will be. Revelation 1:7 says that every eye shall see Him. And, in Revelation 20:11-15 John wrote, “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Yes, God is a God of justice. He will judge, and the day of judgment is certain. And Jesus is the Judge He has ordained.
Quoting from the above verse, the second matter of which Paul spoke is, “…whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” In the context of the promise of judgment, Paul spoke of assurance, or confidence. How can anyone have confidence before God when faced with His wrath? Especially with the words of Revelation 20 which talks about the lake of fire? The answer is that God has raised Jesus from the dead. The same One to Whom God has committed judgement has been raised from the dead! To be raised from the dead this One had to have died. Why would that happen?
God’s plan from before the creation was to provide a way to reconcile mankind to Himself. Philippians 2:5-8 reveals that Jesus came in obedience to His Father to carry out that plan. Verse 8 tells us that He was obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. But since He was never guilty of any sin, death could not hold Him. As Paul said it, “He has raised Him from the dead…”
Romans 5:7-9 says, “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” And so, we can have assurance in that day of judgment!
Each of us needs to realize that Jesus died for them. Each of us needs to realize that we need this kind of intervention by God. Each of us needs to see that this is a gift from God for the taking (Ephesians 2:8). If He hadn’t intervened, we would still be under His wrath, awaiting the promised coming of Jesus to earth, and certain, fearful looking for of judgment, which shall devour the adversaries in the eternal lake of fire.
’Tis not by works that we have done,
Our souls redeemed will be;
But by the blood of God’s dear Son,
Who died on Calvary.
Refrain
By grace are ye saved,
By grace are ye saved thro’ faith,
And that not of yourselves,
It is the gift of God.
By grace are ye saved,
By grace are ye saved thro’ faith,
And that not of yourselves,
It is the gift of God.
’Tis not by works that we can do,
Our righteousness is vain;
But by what Christ Himself hath done,
Eternal life we gain.
Refrain
’Tis not by works of ours that we
Can know our sins forgiv’n;
But by the living word of Him
Who pleads for us in Heav’n.
Refrain
’Tis not our works, but Christ’s alone,
Then rest thy anxious soul;
For safe thou art on Him, thy rock,
While endless ages roll.
Refrain (Fanny Crosby)