“For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son; that all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father” (John 5:22-23a).

It is a great comfort to the believer in the LORD Jesus Christ to know that the same One Who is our Savior, our LORD, is also our Judge. The same One Who justifies the believer by faith as Savior, is the same One Who will declare the believer righteous in the Day of Judgment as Judge.

In the Day of Judgment the believer will find “Grace, Mercy and Peace” from God, our Father, and Jesus Christ, our LORD (cf. 1 Timothy 1:2).

For the unbeliever this happy circumstance will not be, however; rather there will be “a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries” (Hebrews 10:27).

Why this unhappy state for the unbeliever? The unbeliever, by refusing to believe in Christ as Savior, has forfeited the only hope, and only remedy for obtaining eternal salvation for his soul. The unbeliever is left, not to be freely justified by grace through faith; but to justify himself by his own righteous deeds before a holy and sinless Judge whose only standard for righteousness is sinless perfection. This self-righteous justification is an impossibility before a Righteous Judge, for every man is born into sin from our father, Adam.

Jesus clearly set forth in John 3 the terms and conditions for salvation, stating “God so loved the world He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Jesus made the further declaration: “For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but, that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes on Him is not condemned; but, he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the Name of the Only Begotten Son of God. This is condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:17-19).

Your Savior is your Judge. He Who saves us by His death, declares the believer righteous by His life. His righteous decree and divine order is sealed forever in the Courts of Heaven.

The Savior and Judge will make a mighty declaration in that Day; yes, “the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live. For as the Father has Life in Himself; so, He has given to the Son to have Life in Himself. The Father has given the Son authority to execute Judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Marvel not at this. For the hour is coming in which all that are in the graves shall hear His Voice. They shall come forth! They that have done good, unto the Resurrection of Life; and they that have done evil unto the Resurrection of Damnation” (John 5:25-29).

Friend, this is the plain and simple Gospel of the LORD Jesus Christ. Repent of your sins, believe in the only sacrifice for sin God, the Father accepts as an Atonement for sin, the blood of His Only Begotten Son, “the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

One day you will stand before the Judge of all the earth to give an account of your life. Make sure right now that the Judge before Whom you will stand is also your Savior. Peace.

_________________________________________