Judgment or evaluation is either Favorable or Unfavorable based upon our behavior. Writing God’s law on a Christian’s heart (Heb 8:10) means that our conscience can be our guide, Rm 2:15. Love (Patience and Kindness, 1 Cor 13) fulfills the law, Rm 13:9. God judged the pre-flood world by a flood of water.
2Pe 3:6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for “fire” until the Day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly men. The Day of the Lord is not the end of the world but a time of evaluation.
Post flood individual judgment is referred to as “fire” in 2 Peter 3:7. The purpose of post-flood judgment as it regards Christians is “correction” through fire, 1 Cor 11:32. Unfavorable Post flood Judgment can take four forms. Eze 14:21 (BBE) For this is what the Lord has said… when I send my four bitter punishments on Jerusalem (God’s People) – 1. Sword 2. Need of food 3. Evil beasts 4. Disease. All have sinned (Rm 5:12), so we have all had experience with the Unfavorable judgments of God, Heb 12:6.
God judges and extends grace. Sin can be a mistake or a willful repetitive act. Sin is the sting of death (Ez 18:4 & 1 Cor 15:56). Before Jesus came God’s people were forgiven of sins through a sacrifice, and thus continued to “live”, Rm 10:5. Grace came thru Christ (Jn 1:17). Now God’s Grace teaches us to deny the behavior (willful sin) which brings about the judgment of God against the unloving behavior, Tit 2:11-12.
Key Doctrine of Lesson, “Christ judges” – 1Co 11:32 But when we (followers of Christ) are judged by the Lord, we are chastened so that we may not be condemned along with the world (unbelievers).
1Co 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the Day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is, Deut 8:2.
1Co 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward, Pr 10:22.
- The “work” which abides the “fire” is that of maintaining faith in Jesus throughout the trials.
When the Disciples asked Jesus what “work” they should do He told them to believe, Joh 6:29. Jesus answered and said unto them, this is the “work” of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
- Christians must maintain faith through fiery trials (Acts 14:34) to receive a Favorable judgment and gain the Kingdom of God, which is the reward, Matt 25:21. The Kingdom is the ability to do what is right in Joy and Peace, Rm 14:17. These attributes increase with a Favorable evaluation.
Jude 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. (KJV) The “fire” is here said to be eternal. Eternal fire overthrew the sinful people.
Am 4:11 I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
The result of being “overthrown” (Unfavorable Judgment) by eternal fire is similar to a fire brand in the fire, resulting in – continual burning. The “fire of God” is designed to foster repentance in the followers of Christ so they will return to obedience and choose to Love (be Patient and Kind, 1 Cor 13), Gal 5:14-15. By cooperating with God’s grace (denying ungodliness), and not resisting God’s Grace (continuing in ungodly behavior and attitudes), Christians are plucked or removed from the fire, 1 Cor 11:32. Repentance from ungodliness restores the kingdom to the Israel of God, Acts 1:6, Mr 9:12, Rm 2:28, 9:6.