Week 35 The Judgment of the Lord
“If you live in such a manner as to stand the test of the last judgement, you can depend upon it that the world will not speak well of you.”
Alistair Begg
Passage
7But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.
8Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me.
9I will bear the indignation of the Lord Because I have sinned against Him, Until He pleads my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me out to the light, And I will see His righteousness.
10Then my enemy will see, And shame will cover her who said to me, “Where is the Lord your God?” My eyes will look on her; At that time she will be trampled down Like mire of the streets.
Micah 7:7–10 (NASB95)
"Bible and scale of justice" by kelpiesailing is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.
Background
Quote-Alistair Begg (born May 22, 1952) is the senior pastor of Cleveland's Parkside Church (located in Bainbridge Township, Geauga County, Ohio), a position he has held since 1983. He is the voice behind the Truth For Life Christian radio preaching and teaching ministry, which broadcasts his sermons daily to stations across North America through over 1,800 radio outlets. He is also the author of several books.
Begg believes in the inerrancy and supremacy of Scripture, and in the saving power of Christ alone. He has said that the core belief of Parkside Church is "that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has died as an atoning sacrifice for our sins, and that to know Him is to know life, both now and forever Jesus Christ is the only Savior, because Jesus is the only one who is qualified to save." Begg is especially known for compelling oratory and a style of teaching that makes frequent reference to Biblical passages.
Passage-The book of Micah is a Prophetic Oracle. The prophet Micah wrote it 742-686 B.C. shortly before the Northern Kingdom’s fall in 722 B.C. Key personalities are all the people of Samaria and Jerusalem.
The purpose of the book of Micah was to proclaim warning and judgment to both the Northern and the Southern Kingdoms. His message was similar to that of Isaiah and was written at about the same time. Micah described the impending judgment that would eventually exile the nation.
Lesson Notes
Opening Statement
We make judgment calls every day. We decide things all the time. We choose between what we think is good and bad without even thinking about it. Perhaps we should think a little more about it from time to time?
Ask: Do you think you have good judgment?
Point: Most people answer yes instinctively.
Ask: Why do you believe you have good judgment?
Point: For one, you’re still alive meaning you haven’t made so bad a decision that it has cost you your life.
Ask: Do you always make the correct decision meaning is your judgment always right?
Point: No.
Ask: Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
Point: It is a good thing if and only if one thing is true.
Ask: What is the one thing that has to be true to mean that our bad decisions are actually a good thing?
Point: We have to be able to learn from our mistakes.
Ask: How do we demonstrate we have learned from our mistakes?
Point: Change. We don’t make those same choices meaning we judge what is good for us and bad for us differently.
Ask: Has authority been given to me to judge another person?
Point: Only if that person puts themselves under my authority by inviting my opinion.
Ask: Who has authority to judge other people then?
Point: First Reading John 5:25–29 (NASB95)
Ask: Am I going to have to stand before Jesus and get in trouble for the decisions someone else makes?
Point: No.
Second Reading Romans 14:11–13 (NASB95)
Ask: Does that mean we are never to make decisions about someone else?
Point: No it does not but it does mean we should be very careful about it.
Third Reading Matthew 7:1–5 (NASB95)
Ask: If we are going to be judged by the way we judge others what is the best measuring stick by which we should train our own judgment?
Point: Re-read verse 9 of today’s Passage.
Ask: How does verse 9 of today’s passage relate to the judgment I should use for myself and others?
Point: If it is based on what God thinks is good and bad, right and wrong then I am judging well. Anything else puts me in danger.
Closing Statement
31“Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.
32“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
33“If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
34“If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount.
35“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.
36“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
37“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.
38“Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”
Luke 6:31–38 (NASB95)
Questions for the Week
Question 1 On what do you base your judgments today?
Question 2 If it takes you a minute to figure out Question 1 is it actually God's opinions or Man’s opinions you use to base your judgments?
Question 3 How can you tell the difference for Question 2?
Question 4 What, if anything will you do differently or approach differently in your life based on this week’s lesson?
Scripture
First Reading
25“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
26“For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself;
27and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.
28“Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice,
29and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.
John 5:25–29 (NASB95)
Second Reading
11For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall give praise to God.”
12So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.
13Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.
Romans 14:11–13 (NASB95)
Isaiah 45:23
Third Reading
1“Do not judge so that you will not be judged.
2“For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
3“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
4“Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?
5“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
Matthew 7:1–5 (NASB95)
Definitions
Judgment
juhj-muhnt
noun
An act or instance of judging.
The ability to judge, make a decision, or form an opinion objectively, authoritatively, and wisely, especially in matters affecting action; good sense; discretion: a man of sound judgment.
The demonstration or exercise of such ability or capacity: The major was decorated for the judgment he showed under fire.
The forming of an opinion, estimate, notion, or conclusion, as from circumstances presented to the mind: Our judgment as to the cause of his failure must rest on the evidence.
The opinion formed: He regretted his hasty judgment.
Law
A judicial decision given by a judge or court.
The obligation, especially a debt, arising from a judicial decision.
the certificate embodying such a decision and issued against the obligor, especially a debtor.
A misfortune regarded as inflicted by divine sentence, as for sin.
Judgment. Last Judgment.