2. God will Judge the World In any civilized society, there has to be rules to live by, and an accounting by all to follow those guidelines. There has to be someone to be judge, just as there are those who must make the laws, and those that execute the law. But there is one that has made the law, has executed that law, and will one day judge ALL by that law, GOD. In Acts 17:22-31, Paul tells the philosopher’s of the time to consider the nature and existence of God as well as the laws of life He has given, religion.

3. Acts 17:22-31 22 ¶ Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. 23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. 24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

4. Acts 17:22-31 28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. The realization of judgment is just as important for us today as it was then. Too many live with scant awareness of that great day. We will be called to give an account of our life in that day!

5. Judgment is an Accounting We must give account for the life we lived. 2 Cor. 5:10 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. This poses our most important question in life, “Am I ready for God’s judgment?” There is valuable information there in Acts 17:30,31, about this judgment. We would be wise to learn the great truths revealed here. First, God has “appointed a day” for this judgment, it will not be a happenstance, but is a determination by God, a part of a plan.

6. Judgment is an Accounting We must give account for the life we lived. 2 Cor. 5:10 This poses our most important question in life, “Am I ready for God’s judgment?” There is valuable information there in Acts 17:30,31, about this judgment. We would be wise to learn the great truths revealed here. First, God has “appointed a day” for this judgment, it will not be a happenstance, but is a determination by God, a part of a plan. This plan starts in the beginning with Adam and Eve and continues today with the preaching of the gospel. Gen. 3:15; Rom. 1:16 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. 16 ¶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

7. Judgment is an Accounting We must give account for the life we lived. 2 Cor. 5:10 This poses our most important question in life, “Am I ready for God’s judgment?” There is valuable information there in Acts 17:30,31, about this judgment. We would be wise to learn the great truths revealed here. First, God has “appointed a day” for this judgment, it will not be a happenstance, but is a determination by God, a part of a plan. This plan starts in the beginning with Adam and Eve and continues today with the preaching of the gospel. Gen. 3:15; Rom. 1:16 Second, the judgment is universal, “He will judge the world”. –No one will escape the judgment, everyone who is capable of understanding is subject to God’s judgment. –As Creator, He has the authority to do so. It is His world!

8. Judgment’s Rules Judgment will be according to righteousness. –It will not be unfair, nor partial. The standard has been revealed. Jn. 12:48-50 48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. 49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. The rules came from God. Thus God knows what the rule is, means, and justly judges accordingly.

9. Judgment’s Rules Judgment will be according to righteousness. –It will not be unfair, nor partial. The standard has been revealed. Jn. 12:48-50 The rules came from God. Thus God knows what the rule is, means, and justly judges accordingly. God has told us in His word what He expects of us, Rom. 2, so we are without excuse. 1 Cor. 6:9-11 gives us the general idea of what He has called sin. 9 ¶ Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

10. Judgment’s Rules #1,Judgment will be according to righteousness. –It will not be unfair, nor partial. The standard has been revealed. Jn. 12:48-50 The rules came from God. Thus God knows what the rule is, means, and justly judges accordingly. God has told us in His word what He expects of us, Rom. 2, so we are without excuse. 1 Cor. 6:9-11 gives us the general idea of what He has called sin. The word righteousness simply means that wrong is wrong and right is right, without regard to the lastest social fads. –Remember 1 Pet. 5:8 8 ¶ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: #2, Judgment will be by Christ. God chose Him to accomplish His works, and approved it by His resurrection.

11. Judgment’s Rules #1,Judgment will be according to righteousness. –It will not be unfair, nor partial. The standard has been revealed. Jn. 12:48-50 The rules came from God. Thus God knows what the rule is, means, and justly judges accordingly. God has told us in His word what He expects of us, Rom. 2, so we are without excuse. 1 Cor. 6:9-11 gives us the general idea of what He has called sin. The word righteousness simply means that wrong is wrong and right is right, without regard to the lastest social fads. –Remember 1 Pet. 5:8 #2, Judgment will be by Christ. God chose Him to accomplish His works, and approved it by His resurrection. The resurrection of the Lord is both the proof of and the only source of hope in the face of the judgment. Paul clarifies this saying God commands repentance in the face of the judgment, vs. 30. Christ’s life testifies we can keep His words.

12. Conclusion Bible writers teach that preparation for this judgment includes: –Faith- Rom. 10:17 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. –Repentance- Acts 3:19 19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; –Confession- Rom. 10:9,10 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. –Baptism for remission of sin- Acts 2:38 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Are You Ready?