In Isaiah 66:2 the Lord says:
“But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit and who trembles at My word.”
In the light of the New Testament revelation, we can well understand why a man should tremble at God’s Word. For as we read its pages and hear its teaching, we find ourselves, by anticipation, standing before the judgement bar of almighty God. Here, already revealed to those who will receive them, are unfolded the principles and standards of divine judgement for the whole human race. Christ described God’s judgement this way:
“Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” (Matt. 5:18)
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” (Matt. 24:35)
In the closing chapters of the Bible, the veil of the future is drawn aside to reveal what will transpire when, in fulfilment of Christ’s words, heaven and earth pass away, and God’s throne is set for the last great judgement.
“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 dead were judged... every man according to their works.” (Rev. 20:11-13)
At this last great scene Christ has assured us there will be one, and only one, standard of judgement: the eternal, unchanging Word of God. This will be the fulfilment of Psalm 119:160:
“The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgements endures forever.”
Here will be unfolded, in their absolute completeness, every one of the righteous judgements of God’s unchanging Word.
If we can but see it, this revelation that all judgement will be according to God’s Word is a provision of God’s grace and mercy, since it enables us here, in this present life, to anticipate God’s judgement upon ourselves and thus to escape from it. For this reason Paul says:
“For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.” (1 Cor. 11:31)
How may we judge ourselves? By applying to every aspect and detail of our lives the judgements of God’s Word. If we do this, and then by repentance and faith accept God’s provision of forgiveness and mercy, God Himself will never bring judgement upon us. Christ assures us of this.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgement, but has passed from death into life.” (John 5:24)
This assurance is repeated in Romans 8:1.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”
What must we do to escape God’s condemnation? We must hear His Word. In humility and repentance we must accept every one of its righteous judgements as applied to our lives. In faith we must accept its record that Christ took our condemnation and suffered our punishment. Accepting these truths of God’s Word, we are acquitted, we are justified, we pass out from under condemnation and death into pardon and everlasting life.
All this is through God’s Word. Refused and rejected, it will be our judge at the last day. Accepted and obeyed, it assures us already of perfect pardon and full salvation through a righteousness which is not ours, but the righteousness of God Himself.
O Heavenly Father, thank You for the immense privilege that we - as children of You, through Jesus' perfect, fully completed work on the cross, escape Your eternal judgment. Make me a living witness of that truth, so that many others in the world around me will also escape and in the end enter into Your glory. Amen.
