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The writer
“The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day” (John 12:48).
God has appointed His Son, the resurrected Lord, Jesus Christ as judge of humanity, and He shall judge the world in righteousness, with all who fail to repent coming under judgment (Acts 17:30,31). It is the word of God, that is spirit and life, which produces repentance in people. On the Day of Pentecost, Peter told those who heard him proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to repent and be baptized in His name to be saved (2:37,38).
Jesus said that His words testify to the world that its works are evil so it hates Him (John 17:7). For the Holy Spirit uses His word to convict people of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:9). Therefore they either repent upon hearing it and believe in Christ and be made righteous by His blood, or reject it and remain in the judgment which is their due as sinners. Therefore, His word will judge everyone who fails to believe in Him.
The word of God as the truth (John 17:17), reveals the true state of every person to them. It tells them they have sinned and come short of God’s glory (Rom 3:23), and are going to suffer the penalty of death (6:23). It further says that God has made Jesus bear sin and its penalty of death for them so as to give righteousness and life to all who believe in Him.
It is scary to hear the word of Christ and refuse to repent. When Felix, the Roman governor of Judea, heard apostle Paul speak the word of God about faith in Jesus Christ, and reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, he became alarmed and asked him to go away until another time (Acts 24:24,25). Indeed, it is scary to live without a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ!
If anyone refuses to repent and be saved by the word of God, they are left enslaved to sin and live in dread of judgment, so be saved in Christ and be assured of life.
PRAYER: Father, thank you for desiring judgment for no one, so giving your Son to free them from sin and death. May all who want to see life, repent of their sin upon hearing your word, and receive salvation from Jesus Christ. Amen.
By Robert K. Asante
