Latest / Reformed Thinking / Gospel and Judgment (Acts 17:30-31) by Charles Spurgeon

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Gospel and Judgment (Acts 17:30-31) by Charles Spurgeon · Reformed Thinking

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  Welcome to Reformed Thinking. You're joining us for another
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  deep dive. Today we're setting our sights
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  on a topic that, well, it really undergirds our understanding of
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  divine justice, God's sovereign hand, and maybe surprisingly,
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  his mercy too. We're talking about the ultimate
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  judgement, and we're focusing keenly on the biblical truth of
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  Christ's unparalleled role as the final judge of all the
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  earth. Our insights today, they spring
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  from a detailed consideration of Charles Spurgeon's powerful
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  sermon on Acts 17.3031. It's titled Gospel and
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  Judgement. So our quest with this deep dive
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  is to try and grasp who is entrusted with this, well,
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  monumental task of judging and the profound reasons why he is
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  judging. And you know what the lasting
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  outcomes of this judgment will be.
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  We're just stealing all this from Spurgeon's work.
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  And this subject, it carries A tremendous weight, doesn't it?
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  And rightly so, because it really stands as a cornerstone
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  in comprehending God's righteous governance over his creation and
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  of course, humanity's ultimate standing before him.
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  So this deep dive aims to bring into sharp relief the specific
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  divine reasons God has ordained his Son for this this huge task.
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  We'll look at the specific qualifications Christ possesses
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  that make him uniquely suited for this role and the far
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  reaching implications this has for every single individual
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  without exception. Is certainly a a serious topic,
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  no doubt about that. But we intend to approach it
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  with absolute clarity and precision, guiding you through
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  these vital truths in a way that's hopefully both accessible
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  and, you know, intellectually stimulating.
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  OK, so let's begin by grounding ourselves in the foundational
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  biblical passage. This is what anchors Spurgeon's
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  sermon. Acts 17 verses 30 and 31 it
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  reads. And this is truly striking.
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  And the times of this ignorance God winked at.
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  But now commandeth all men everywhere to repent, because he
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  has appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in
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  righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained.
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  Wow. OK, so when you first hear that,
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  what immediately stands out, I think, is that God has appointed
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  a day. This isn't just some vague or
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  uncertain future possibility, is it?
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  It's not, you know, some distant, maybe it will happen
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  kind of mark or no. This points to a concrete,
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  specific, divinely set time. It really speaks volumes about
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  God's orderly, deliberate, and utterly sovereign plan for the
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  future, a plan He's actively bringing to pass.
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  Indeed, that phrase appointed a day is just loaded with meaning.
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  It signals a divine decree, doesn't it?
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  A fixed point in the timeline of eternity that God himself has
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  set. There's no ambiguity there.
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  It's a settled matter. And building on your point,
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  what's equally compelling here is not just that a day is
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  appointed, but who is designated as the judge for this ultimate
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  reckoning. The Scripture tells us God will
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  judge the world, yes, but it will be executed by that man
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  whom he hath ordained. Now, this refers explicitly to
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  his Son, the man Christ Jesus, the very one whom God hath
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  ordained to carry out the business of that last tremendous
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  day, the one who will ultimately sit upon that final throne of
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  judgement, is specifically titled the Son of Man.
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  And this divine ordination, well, it isn't a casual
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  selection or some temporary assignment.
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  It is a deliberate, eternal act of God establishing Jesus Christ
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  as the uniquely authorized and fully empowered agent for this
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  final judicial task. It really underscores God's
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  meticulous design and choosing a judge who not only embodies
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  divine righteousness but also perfectly understands human
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  experience because he himself is truly human, having walked among
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  us. That leads us right to what many
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  might consider a central question Why Christ?
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  Why is he specifically the one appointed to judge all of
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  humanity? The source material, Spurgeon's
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  sermon provides a truly compelling answer here.
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  It asserts that Christ's role as judge is involved in his
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  mediatorial office. Uncle.
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  In this mediatorial capacity, Spurgeon explains, the Lord have
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  put all things in subjection under his feet.
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  And this isn't some small localized subjection.
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  It's, well, it's expansive, it's universal dominion, it stretches
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  to angels and authorities and powers being made subject to
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  him. That's just a breathtaking scope
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  of authority, isn't it? Encompassing all creation.
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  It is indeed breathtaking. And this concept of Christ
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  mediatorial office, it's really a cornerstone of Reformed
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  theology, especially concerning his authority and his ongoing
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  relationship with creation. When we speak in the mediatorial
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  office, we're talking about Christ acting as the perfect
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  bridge, you know, the intermediary between a holy God
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  and fallen humanity since the fall, all of God's dealings with
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  us, his grace, his truth, his ongoing governance, and yes,
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  even his judgement, they're all channeled through Christ.
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  Now, this isn't just a theological nicety.
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  It's a profound act of divine wisdom, placing the world under
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  the governance of the Mediator rather than direct, unmediated
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  deity. And Spurgeon clearly states the
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  ultimate purpose behind this, that he might deal with us in
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  mercy. This introduces A vital and I
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  think often misunderstood tension, doesn't it?
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  Right, judgement and mercy together.
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  Exactly that judgement and mercy, far from being
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  contradictory, coexist within God's sovereign plan, perfectly
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  administered through Christ. Now, as Mediator, Christ holds a
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  trifold office, fulfilling distinct yet interconnected
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  roles. He is prophet, priest, and king.
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  Think about how these three roles uniquely qualify him as
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  prophet. He perfectly reveals God's truth
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  and well, so his judgement is rooted in absolute knowledge and
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  understanding of divine law. As priest, he offered the
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  ultimate perfect sacrifice for sin, so he understands the
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  immense weight of human transgression and the cost of
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  reconciliation. And it is his kingship
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  particularly that gives him the absolute right to judge.
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  Spurgeon says a King's rule would be shorn of its glory if
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  the king had not the power of life and death, and the power of
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  holding court and judging his subjects.
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  Without that, judicial authority at King's reign isn't truly
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  complete. It lacks its ultimate expression
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  of dominion and enforcement. So it becomes really clear then,
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  because all power has been given unto him in heaven and in earth,
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  and that's a truly sweeping declaration of universal
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  authority. As the mediatorial King and
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  sovereign, He will take unto himself his great power at the
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  last and will judge the nation's.
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  This powerfully illustrates that his kingship isn't merely
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  ceremonial or just a title bestowed upon him.
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  It's not some symbolic reign. Rather, it is an active,
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  dynamic, and ultimately judicial kingship.
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  It includes the ultimate say, the final binding verdict that
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  just cannot be overturned. This isn't a king who, you know,
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  delegates all judgment. It's a king who personally
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  presides over the final accounting.
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  Exactly. His mediatorial kingship
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  absolutely necessitates this judicial aspect to be truly
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  complete. It's not an add on, it's an
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  inherent, defining attribute of his His dominion.
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  His rule extends not just to those who willingly submit, but
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  also to those who resist. And this judicial prerogative is
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  the ultimate expression of that universal rule.
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  It speaks to a level of sovereignty that while human
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  kings can only ever dream of, this king not only reigns, but
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  he also rectifies, separates, and justly decides the eternal
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  state of all his subjects. And this specific understanding
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  of Christ's kingly office, culminating in his role as
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  judge? It's a hallmark of Reformed
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  theology, emphasizing his active, continuous and absolute
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  sovereignty over all things right until the very end.
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  OK, here's where it really captures your attention, I
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  think, because the source material points to another
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  crucial reason Christ judges, and this one feels deeply
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  personal to his redemptive work. This role is awarded to our Lord
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  as an honor from the Father. And what's truly moving is the
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  primary purpose of this honor. It is by which shall be wiped
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  away every trace of the shame and dishonor through which he
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  passed among the sons of men. Just think about that for a
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  moment. The ultimate judgement isn't
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  just about humanity's accountability, but it's also
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  about Christ's vindication. That is a fascinating and, I
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  agree, often overlook aspect of the judgment.
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  What's so compelling here is the dramatic, almost cosmic reversal
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  of earthly judgments this final judgment represents.
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  Imagine the scene, those who once proudly sat in judgment and
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  condemned him, the very ones who mocked Him, scourged Him,
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  orchestrated his crucifixion. They will now stand as humble
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  defendants before him to be judged.
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  The source makes his reversal breathtakingly explicit.
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  It states that kings of the earth who judged him shall stand
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  before him to be judged, and rulers who conspired against
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  him, thinking they held all the power, shall stand at his bar to
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  be themselves condemned. Spurgeon doesn't hold back.
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  He named specific historical figures to make the point really
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  stark and vivid. He mentions Pontius Pilate and
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  the chief priests who had that immediate earthly sway over him
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  alongside Caesar and all Caesar, Czars, emperors, kings and
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  Princess from throughout history.
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  These figures of immense earthly power will do homage before him
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  in lowliest manner by standing before his judgement seat as
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  prisoners to be tried by him. This is a complete and utter
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  overturning of all earthly status, all human authority.
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  The mighty of this world, who thought themselves above
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  reproach, will be profoundly humbled before the very one they
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  scorned and rejected. This isn't just a shift in
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  power, it's a definitive declaration of who truly holds
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  ultimate authority. And Spurgeon's language here is
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  just so evocative. He doesn't just state this
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  reversal, he paints this vivid picture, the very symbols of
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  Christ's suffering being transformed into symbols of his
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  ultimate glory. Think about it.
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  The scepter of Reed, that fragile, humiliating mockery of
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  his kingship. It will be completely forgotten,
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  as he shall break his enemies with a rod of iron.
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  There will be no marks of the thorn crown that pierced his
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  brow. Instead, on his head shall be
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  many a diadem, multiple crowns symbolizing his universal and
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  varied dominion. His visage sadly marred by grief
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  and shame. The face of the man of tears,
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  who knew such sorrow. It will undergo A radical,
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  glorious change. His eyes shall be as a flame of
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  fire and his countenance as the sun, shining in its strength.
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  This is the visage of absolute, unassailable divine authority
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  and purity. Spurgeon declares with
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  absolutely no ambiguity, that whatever shame was associated
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  with the cross shall be wiped out forever among the sons of
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  men. It's a complete, public and
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  eternal vindication. It's a restoration of His
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  rightful place, far beyond anything human beings could ever
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  bestow or frankly, understand. It is a profound vindication
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  indeed, and the source makes it unequivocally clear why Christ
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  deserves this honor. The Father designed to put this
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  honor upon him, and he have right, well deserved it.
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  This isn't some arbitrary gift, It's a fitting and just reward.
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  This glory, this ultimate judicial role, is presented as
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  the reward of that labor of life and death by which he hath
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  redeemed his people. It's the fruit of his obedience
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  into death, the suffering, his sacrifice.
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  And it's crucial, I think, to distinguish this specific glory,
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  this judicial honor given to him as the God man, the Incarnate
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  Mediator, from his pre-existing eternal glory as God Co equal
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  with the Father and the Spirit. This vindication, the specific
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  honor of judgement, is a direct consequence of his earthly
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  humiliation, his perfect obedience, and his atoning work
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  on the cross. It is the Father's way of
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  publicly acknowledging and elevating the one who emptied
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  himself and bore the sins of his people.
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  Ultimately, this honor ensures a universal, inescapable
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  acknowledgement of Christ's true identity and lordship.
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  God has sworn that every knee should bow before him and that
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  every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
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  To the glory of God the Father, this divine oath guarantees His
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  supreme and unchallenged dominion will be acknowledged by
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  all, whether willingly or unwillingly.
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  It's a declaration that just reverberates throughout all
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  creation and eternity. So with such an overwhelmingly
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  powerful judge presiding over an event of such ultimate
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  significance, a natural and, I think critical question arises
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  for us. How can we, mere finite beings,
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  be absolutely sure of his impartiality?
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  Is there any guarantee that this judgement, despite its grandeur,
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  will be truly fair? The source provides a clear and
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  well, perhaps unexpected answer, stating that it is as Son of man
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  as well as Son of God that our Lord will judge the world at the
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  last great day. This dual nature, His
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  simultaneous perfect deity and perfect humanity, is presented
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  as the very guarantee of His absolute impartiality.
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  That is precisely the theological genius here, isn't
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  it? And it's a point that merits
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  close attention. His dual nature allows for what
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  the source calls an intense sympathy coupled with absolute
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  justice. Think about it this way.
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  As God, he stands in perfect alignment with the King, the
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  Father, and His immutable law. He embodies divine righteousness
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  and absolute truth, ensuring that every verdict handed down
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  is utterly just, consistent with God's holy character, and based
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  on perfect knowledge. There's no flaw in his divine
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  understanding, no error in his divine judgement.
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  But then, as man, having willingly manifested his grace
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  even to the rebellious, having made himself of no reputation
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  and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the
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  likeness of men, he possesses perfect sympathy with his
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  subjects, with humanity itself. He knows first hand the human
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  condition, our weaknesses, our temptations, our struggles.
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  Because he lived a sinless human life, he experienced hunger,
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  thirst, sorrow, even death. Spurgeon drives this point home
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  with a really powerful rhetorical question.
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  If we could have the election of a judge, what being could we
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  suppose more impartial, or so impartial as the Lord?
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  This question really underscores his unique suitability, doesn't
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  it? A suitability that stems through
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  his voluntary humility, his suffering, and his complete
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  identification with both the divine and human perspectives.
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  His judgement, therefore, is never arbitrary.
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  It is rooted in perfect understanding, perfect truth,
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  and perfect empathy. He truly sees from all angles,
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  having both divine omniscience and human experience.
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  It is a judgement that is simultaneously divine and
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  profoundly human, ensuring ultimate fairness.
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  That distinction is truly remarkable, and it gives us such
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  a deeper understanding of the fairness of this final
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  judgement. So let's now turn our attention
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  to the absolute nature of the verdict itself.
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  Once Christ renders his judgement, the source states
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  with unmistakable clarity, his verdict will be final and
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  irreversible. What does this truly mean for
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  those who stand before him? Well, it means there will be no
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  appeal. There's no higher court, no
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  higher authority to petition. It also means no suing out of a
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  writ of error. And for those perhaps less
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  familiar with that legal term, it basically means you can't ask
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  a higher court to review and correct mistakes from a lower
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  one. In the context of the final
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  judgement, it means that no such review is even possible, because
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  no error can be found. And critically, it means no
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  reversal of the decree. This verdict, once delivered, is
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  absolutely it. There's no amending it, no
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  changing it, no escaping its implications.
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  It stands for eternity. Precisely the finality of this
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  judgement is absolute, and the source drives this home by
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  drawing directly from Jesus's own words, quoting Matthew
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  25.46, which is stark in its clarity.
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  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the
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  righteous into life eternal. This verse, pronounced by the
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  judge himself, immediately highlights 2 distinct and
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  utterly lasting destinies. There's no middle ground, no
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  third option, and no transition between these two states.
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  Furthermore, Spurgeon emphasizes that there will be no delay in
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  execution of the judgement and no escape from the doom once it
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  is pronounced. This isn't a sentence that might
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  be commuted or pardoned later on.
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  He goes on to say there will be no stealing of the heart to
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  endure it, meaning no amount of internal fortitude or defiance
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  will alleviate the consequences and crucially, no out living the
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  doom. This punishment, the separation,
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  will not simply run its course and end.
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  The judgement will last on in all its terror.
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  This is a sobering truth. And yet there's this powerful
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  and arresting juxtaposition, isn't there?
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  This final verdict of the Judge of all the earth is pronounced
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  by the Christ of love. The same One who embodied
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  perfect love and grace throughout his earthly ministry
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  is the one who will deliver this unchangeable verdict.
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  This speaks to the harmony of God's attributes.
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  His love and His justice are not at odds, but are perfectly
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  fulfilled in Christ. That contrast the Judge of all
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  the earth, the Christ of love, delivering a final, irreversible
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  verdict. It truly makes you pause.
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  So understanding this coming judgement with its absolute
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  finality and it's perfectly impartial judge, it connects
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  directly back to God's present command to humanity.
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  Spurgeon, through Acts 17.30, reminds us of God's incredible
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  patience, that God winked at times of ignorance, maybe
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  overlooking certain periods of humanity's wandering without
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  full revelation. But the tide has turned.
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  But now commandeth all men everywhere to repent.
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  This isn't merely a suggestion or an option.
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  It is a universal divine command, and it is directly and
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  inescapably related to that appointed day of judgement.
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  It's an urgent call for all to turn from their present course
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  because the future reckoning is certain.
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  Indeed, it's a profound call for universal accountability.
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  Regardless of 1's earthly status, wealth, nationality, or
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  past actions, whether they were kings of the earth or the most
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  humble servant, all individuals will be subject to this
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  judgement. The divine oath, which we
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  touched on earlier, is reiterated here with its full
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  weight. Every knee should bow and every
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  tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
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  This is not just a theological statement, it's a declaration of
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  a future reality that will encompass every single being.
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  So for you, our listener, given the extraordinary qualifications
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  of this judge, his perfectly righteous method, and the
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  unchangeable, lasting outcomes of his verdict, what is your
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  present response to God's clear and universal call to repent?
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  What specific aspects or insights from this truth about
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  Christ is Judge particularly stand out to you and resonate
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  with your understanding of God in your own life?
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  It's a question worth sitting with, I think.
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  Yeah, the reality of Christ is the final judge of all the earth
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  truly places the weight of our choices, our lives, and indeed
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  our very repentance into a clear, sharp, inescapable focus.
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  It moves beyond just abstract theological discussion to a
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  deeply personal truth, one that bears on every moment, every
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  decision, every aspiration. It's not just knowledge to
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  acquire, is it? It's truth to live by.
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  And it reveals in brilliant clarity God's just character in
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  Christ's supreme authority, reminding us that every
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  attribute of his being, his deity, his humanity, his
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  redemptive work, his mediatorial office, they all collectively
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  qualify him for this ultimate and righteous role.
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  It's the grand culmination of his work in his reign, as
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  Charles Spurgeon, with such heartfelt conviction pleaded in
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  his sermon. May the Holy Ghost impress it
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  upon your minds. Thank you for joining us for
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  this deep dive into the profound truth of Christ's final
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  judgment. We invite you to continue your
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  own reflection on these vital truths, allowing them to shape
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  your understanding and your life.