Relationship of Judgement, Righteousness, Mercy and Passover

The title today, along with Relationship of Judgment, Righteousness, Mercy, and Passover. There's a relationship between all of these and Passover, and of course, this is not all inclusive even with that. Relationship of Judgment, Righteousness, Mercy, and Passover. If you recall, the Apostle Paul in the early days of his life was called Saul, and Saul was a great persecutor of the church. In fact, when Stephen was stoned to death, they laid their clothes down at the feet of one called Saul, who became Paul. Later, Paul on the road to Damascus, going to Antioch to persecute Christians, was suddenly struck down by a great light and blinded.

God, through Christ and the Holy Spirit, called him into account and commissioned him that he should be one to preach the gospel, especially to the Gentiles, and for that matter, all of Israel. If you turn to Galatians 1, you will note that after the Apostle Paul was struck down, that he went into Arabia for a period of time, and according to biblical and secular history or traditional history, the Apostle Paul was taught by Jesus Christ, the resurrected Christ, for three years in the wilderness.

So we look at Galatians 1, verse 17, "'Nor did I go to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went to Arabia and returned again to Damascus.' So after him being struck down and blinded, then receiving his sight and then being commissioned by God, he preached the gospel for a short period of time.

Then he was led away, apparently, into Arabia for a period of about three years, being taught by Christ." Verse 18, "'Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter and remain with him 15 days.'" So Paul was not among the original 12, and there was continual controversy, if you would be turning to 1 Corinthians 9, continual controversy as to whether or not he was really an apostle since he was not of the original 12.

And one of the requirements for being an apostle was to have seen the Lord. So in 1 Corinthians 9, Paul is giving a defense of his apostleship, and one of the first things he says there in verse 1 of 1 Corinthians 9, "'Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?'" So there are other places, of course, we could turn to where Paul is affirming that he is an apostle by the grace of God and Jesus Christ.

So the apostle Paul, having been taught by Jesus Christ for three years, should surely be one fully equipped to teach us how we should keep the Passover and the preparation thereof. So look at 1 Corinthians chapter 11, forward a few pages, and we'll see those instructions that Paul gave to the Corinthians concerning the keeping of and the preparing for Passover. In 1 Corinthians chapter 11 verse 17, "'Now in giving these instructions, I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse.'" Now the coming together here is for the Passover, as we shall see. For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.

For there must also be factions among you that those who are approved may be recognized among you. So God allows divisions to take place. He doesn't stop them in the tracks because in those situations in which there is division, controversy, oftentimes they will discern and separate the wheat from the chaff. Therefore, when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's supper. As some have said, the Lord's already eaten his supper. There were among the New Covenant churches what they call love feasts in which they would come together somewhat like potlucks that we might have today.

But they really weren't having a potluck. They were bringing food and drink to the Passover, and they were eating their own. The rich were faring sumptuously, and the poor were doing without. Verse 21, for in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others. One is hungry, and another is drunk. Getting drunk at Passover? What do you not have houses to eat and drink in, or do you despise the church of God? Now, the church of God is not the building. The church of God has to do with the members, the called-out ones, the ecclesia, the called-out ones.

And shame those who have nothing. What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you, for I receive. So while in this instruction that Paul received from Jesus Christ among the instructions that he received were these instructions about the Passover. I received from the Lord, that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread.

And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, Take, eat, this is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me. It is a memorial. It is somewhat akin to a funeral in that sense, because we are coming and we're recognizing that through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, through his death, our sins can be passed over, remitted, and removed from us as far as the east is from the west.

In the same manner, he also took cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood. This, too, is often you drink it in remembrance of me. In remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread, drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till he comes. So on Passover, you show in order for you to have your sins remitted, Jesus Christ had to die, because why? Because the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Therefore, therefore, in view of that, the big penalty, the big sacrifice that was paid. Therefore, whosoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthily manner. Now the Greek word for unworthily is an axios, A-N-A-X-I-O-U-S, and it means irreverently. Some were faring sumptuously, eating, drinking, and some were drunk. How irreverent can you be? In an irreverent manner will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. In other words, you would be responsible for his death. But let a man examine himself, let him so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

For he who eats and drinks in an unworthily manner, irreverently, eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning. The word discerning was mentioned in the sermon here. It's diacrino, D-I-A. It's a compound word. Di-I in the Greek means you're familiar with diameter. It means all the way through. Creno has to do with judgment. All the way through judgment, thorough, complete judgment, both of the literal body of Jesus Christ and the members of his body wherein his spirit dwells, the church. Despise you the church of God?

We read earlier, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you and many are dead because they did not thoroughly discern the body of Christ. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. Once again, the title of relationship of judgment, righteousness, mercy, and Passover. But when we are judged, we're chasing by the Lord that we will not be judged with the world. We are judged of the Lord so that we will not be judged or condemned with the world. In other words, we are judged for a reason of bringing us to repentance and hopefully so that judgment will not come upon us at the end of the age.

We find ourselves on the wrong side of the water to use the metaphor. Therefore, my brethren, when you come together, eat, wait for one another. But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest, I will set in order when I come.

Focus again on 32. But when we are judged, we're chasing to the Lord so that we will not be judged with the world. Now look at Hebrews 12 and verse 6. I mentioned there that when God judges us as for our own good, He always has our best interests at heart. Remember that God always has our best interests at heart. For those who would come to God must, first of all, believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

So we look at Hebrews 12 and verse 6. For whom the Lord loves, He chastens and scourges every son whom He loves. And if you be without chastisement, then are you illegitimate and not sons. Verse 8, But if you are without chastisement, you become partakers, then you are illegitimate, not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seen best to them, but He for our profit, for our own good, always having our best interests at heart, that we may be partakers of His holiness.

Now, no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful. Nevertheless, afterward, it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who are exercised thereby. So judge yourself. If you don't judge yourself, God will judge you, and He chastens every son that He loves. And God loves every person. In today's world, judgment has become an archaic word. The commandment of the day is, you shall not be intolerant. The watchword of our times is toleration. The commandment of the day is, you shall not be intolerant. The prophet Isaiah speaks of the times we're living in.

Look at Isaiah 59 and verse 8. Isaiah 59 and verse 8, the prophet Isaiah giving a graphic description of conditions. And of course, these conditions have existed from time to time throughout the course of human history, but never like it is today.

I don't think there's ever been a time as lawless as this time, except perhaps that time just before the flood when the thoughts and intents of the heart of man was continually upon evil, as it says in Genesis chapter 6. So in Isaiah 59 verse 8, therefore justice is far from us, nor does righteousness overtake us. We look for light, but there's darkness, for brightness, but we walk in blackness. We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes. We stumble at noon day as at twilight. Where is dead men in desolate places?

The zombies! Verse 14, justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off, for the truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter, so truth fails, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. Oh yeah, if you want to stand up for that which is right. If you want to be pro-life, if you want to be anti-homosexual, go for it, but you will never hold an office unless you're so clever that you can couch what you really believe and straddle the fence and walk gingerly, and maybe you'll get elected.

Then the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. From Adam and Eve to their firstborn son Cain to the present day, humankind has had a problem with judgment, especially a problem with judging themselves. We tend to bristle when someone else would dare judge us. We understand that you cannot be your brother's keeper if you do not make judgments as to what is right and what is wrong. And from the days of Cain to the present day, you know, Cain asked the question, am I my brother's keeper? And the resounding answer from Genesis to Revelation is, yes, yes indeed, you are your brother's keeper.

Look at Leviticus 19 verse 17. Leviticus 19 verse 17. In Leviticus 19, well, let's read this verse 15 first. Leviticus 19 verse 15, you shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be unfair, as it goes on to say, no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor nor honor the person of the mighty.

In righteousness, you shall judge your neighbor. In righteousness, you shall judge your neighbor. You shall not go about as a tail-bearer among your people, nor shall you stand against the life of your neighbor. I am the eternal. You shall not hate your brother in your heart. Now, in 1 John 3, hate is equated with murder. Hate is equated with murder in 1 John 3. We'll read it in just a second. You shall not hate your brother in your heart.

You shall surely rebuke your neighbor and not bear sin because of him. In other words, if you refuse to be your brother's keeper, you are as guilty as he is. What we're going to do, what we're talking about here today is, can we approach to it? I don't think very many people in the course of human history have really approached to it or attained it, including myself. God has called us to obey what he has written, inspired in his word.

Look at 1 John 3, 12. You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall anyways rebuke your brother and not bear sin for him. So look at what 1 John 3 says. Look at verse 11. Where this is a message that you heard from the beginning that we should love one another. And of course, love is not just some emotional feeling. Of course, emotion plays a vital part in it, and we should have feelings and passion.

But there's more to it. Not as Cain, who was the wicked one and murdered his brother, and why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous because he was jealous and because Cain did not judge himself.

Cain brought a thank offering. Abel brought a sin offering. Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer. It's the Bible. And you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

By this we know. I think there are five places in 1 John where it says, by this we know. If you want to know if you are in the faith, you could look at those, by this we know. By this we know because he laid down his life for us, and we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. In other words, be willing to be your brother's keeper.

Where there is no law, there can be no righteous judgment. Righteousness is defined by God's commandments. God and Christ judge according to the Word of God, according to the law of God. Now look at Psalm 119 verse 172. Psalm 119 verse 172. Here you see that righteousness is defined by the commandments. Psalm 119 verse 172. Psalm 119, 172, My tongue shall speak of your word, for all your commandments are righteousness.

All your commandments are righteousness. Do you know and understand that time after time scripture links judgment and righteousness? Judgment and righteousness. Now listen to this. The principal Hebrew and Greek words that are translated as righteousness basically means right standing with God. Right standing with God. You are viewed as forgiven. Mercy has been extended. There is no debt held against you, and it is implied that you should continue to live righteously, that is in right standing, with God and Christ and each member of the body of Christ.

In Hebrew justified and righteousness are closely related. In fact, both words, justified and righteousness, are taken from the same Hebrew root word. Same is true in Greek. Justified and righteousness. Each one is taken from the same Greek word, the Greek root word. So let's note some of the many places in which judgment is mentioned in conjunction with righteousness. We're not going to take the time for you to turn to each one of these.

I'm going to read a few of these, and you can write down the scripture, but better yet, with your concordance or whatever online Bible help you use, you can easily put judgment and righteousness and do a search. Judgment and righteousness. You'll be amazed at the number of verses that come up that have both of these words in it.

In Psalm 94 verse 15, but judgment shall return unto righteousness, and all the upright in heart shall follow it. Psalm 94 verse 15. This is Isaiah 127. Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, bought back with judgment, and her converts with righteousness. Remember, Zion symbolizes the church. The Hebrews 12, 22, 23, but you are come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the church and the symbol of the firstborn. This is Isaiah 16.5, and in mercy shall the throne be established, and he shall set upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging and seeking judgment and hastening righteousness.

In Jeremiah 33 and verse 15, in those days, and at that time, will I cause the branch of righteousness to grow up unto David? The branch of righteousness to grow up unto David, and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. This is Jeremiah 33, 15. In those days, and at that time, will I cause the branch of righteousness to grow up unto David? He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. So who is the branch of righteousness? So let's turn to Isaiah 11. It says that he shall grow up unto David. He is the son of David.

Please turn to Isaiah 11. Isaiah 11 is one of the great millennial Messianic prophecies in the whole Bible. The old emblem that we used to have of the Lamb with the Lion and the Lamb and the Child together is taken from Isaiah 11. We're looking here to Isaiah 11. There shall come forth a rod from the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow up out of its roots. Of course, David was one of the sons of Jesse, and Jesus Christ descended from Jesse and David.

The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge, and of the fear of the Lord. His delight is in the fear of the Lord, and he shall not judge by the side of his eyes, nor decide by the hearing of his ears. But with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth. He shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and of the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.

Righteousness shall be the belt of his loins, and faithfulness the belt of his waist. Of course, that is speaking of Jesus Christ. So one of the main missions of the branch is to judge righteous judgment. His judgment will be based on the law of God. As we have seen from Scripture, the commandments are equated with righteousness. Once again, Psalm 119 verse 172, all your commandments are righteousness.

So why are judgment and righteousness linked together? As we have noted, the basis for the branch's judgment is the law of God. So let's explore the question of why our judgment and righteousness link together. There will be no favoritism in the judgment of the Messiah. There is no favoritism in the judgment of God and Christ.

There will be no high-powered lobbyist who has paid thousands of dollars trying to influence their judgments, the judgment of the branch of righteousness. The Word of God clearly reveals that judgment, mercy, and faith stem from God's immutable spiritual law. Look at Matthew 23 in verse 23. Once again, judgment, mercy, and faith stem from God's immutable spiritual law.

I think people read over this and don't really connect the dots, as they say when they read it.

Matthew 23, 23. In this chapter, the whole chapter, basically, Christ is taking the scribes and Pharisees to task because they judged everybody but themselves, and they feigned righteousness and omitted the weightier matters. Matthew 23, 23. Woe to you scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites, for you pay tithe the men, Annas, and coming, the little tiny minute things, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, the weightier matters of what? The law! If it's the weightier matters of the law, it thus stems from the law, justice or judgment, and mercy and faith.

These you ought to have done without leaving the other undone. God and Christ are perfect reflections of judgment, mercy, and faith. God and Christ are perfect reflections of God's commandments since they live them perfectly and perfectly fulfill them. Note Christ's words in John 15.10. A few pages forward there to John 15 and verse 10. John 15 verse 10, where Jesus Christ here is speaking, and note what he says concerning God's law. This is John 15 verse 10. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my father's commandments and abide in his love.

Note the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans chapter 7 verse 7. Romans chapter 7 and verse 7. Of course, they accuse the Apostle Paul, they being the Jews and others who accuse Paul of doing away with the law of God. And of course, we have in the world today a whole branch of what's called Christendom, in which they claim that the law of God is done away with.

In Romans chapter 7 and verse 7, the Apostle Paul writes, what shall we say then? Is the law sin?

Is the law itself sin? We even have preachers who will say that the law itself, that bad old Old Testament law. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not. On the contrary, I would not have known sin, except through the law, for I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, you shall not covet. The law of God is perfect, converting the soul, the psalmist writes in Psalm 19. As I said earlier, Paul was accused of doing away with God's law because he taught that righteousness is achieved by faith and not by law keeping alone. Now we get into the nitty-gritty of the great question, really, that separates what is really Christianity and that which is not, to a large degree, in Romans 3, 21.

But now the righteousness of God, apart from the law, is revealed being witnessed by the law and the prophets. In other words, the law and the prophets taught this, but somehow they did not understand it, that the Messiah would come and that through the Messiah our sins could be remitted. Hold your place right there and just look at Isaiah 53, just for a moment. Isaiah 53, and if you really think on this, meditate on it, and it sinks in and convicts, as it should, they should have understood that there was coming a suffering Messiah who would pay for the sins of the world. In Isaiah 53, a description of the Messiah is given in some of the things that he would do. Verse 4, Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted, for he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our lawlessness. The chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his stripes were healed. All we like sheep have gone astray. We turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord has laid upon him the sins of us all. Verse 10, Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him. He has put him to grief when you make his soul, an offering for sin, his life essence. You read all of that chapter, and it really sinks in to the conclusion of what he did and what was prophesied. I just read right here. Read 3.21 again, But now the righteousness of God, apart from the law, is revealed, being witnessed by the law and the prophets. Isaiah, of course, was one of those prophets with regard to this. Can you imagine the change, whereas Israel, the Jews, for centuries were taught that righteousness is of the law? So they offered sin offerings, the blood of bulls and goats.

But the blood of bulls and goats, as it says in Galatians 3, was a schoolmaster to bring them to Christ. It was symbolic, a type of a figure until the real spiritual sacrifice came and paid for the sins of the world. So people get confused with regard to this righteousness. You see, no amount of commandment-keeping will pay for sins that are passed.

Now you look at Romans 3.23, For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

In chapter 1, Paul takes the Gentiles to task. In chapter 2, he takes the Jews to task.

The summary verse is, All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

So how is that penalty that has been incurred there going to be paid for? The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. So they didn't understand, at least a lot of them didn't. In fact, the majority, that it is through faith and the sacrifice of Christ after judging oneself and repenting, that you can be declared righteous. Even if at some point you were to start keeping the commandments perfectly, it would not pay for sins that are passed. Verse 24, Being justified freely by His grace through the buying back power, the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propituation. Propituation means He went in our stead. Instead of us having to die, He died for us. Whom God set forth as a propituation by His blood through faith to demonstrate His righteousness. See, righteousness also has the element of faithfulness, keeping one's word because in His forbearance God has passed over the sins that were previously committed.

To demonstrate at the present time His righteousness that He might be just and a justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Whereas boasting then it is excluded by what law of works know but by the law of faith. That law of faith is that through repentance and faith in the sacrifice of Christ, the sins can be remitted. Even under the Old Covenant, as we already noted, they offered a sin offering which was in effect judging oneself and confessing sin and bringing in an offering. Now they're told that the path of righteousness can only be truly attained through faith, repentance, in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. It is a great paradigm shift, a great shift.

Obedience to the law will not justify a person. No amount of law keeping will pay for the sins that are passed because of the wages of sin as death. However, a person cannot be justified if he or she refuses to repent and obey God's immutable spiritual law. Listen to what I'm saying.

Law keeping will not in and itself justify you, but failure to repent and to obey the law of God will keep you from being justified. On the other hand, if God and Christ were to forgive a person of their sins apart from repentance, then they would be the minister of sin.

So, just to say, do you believe in Jesus Christ that he died for the sins of the world? Yes, I believe. But in believing, you believe the whole gospel story. The whole gospel story is summarized on the day of Pentecost. Peter preached that sermon in verse 37. This is Acts 2, 37. They said, "'Men and brethren, what shall we do?' And Peter said, "'Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins that are passed, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" In other words, this free gift is dependent upon repentance and faith in the sacrifice of Christ. Otherwise, Christ would be the minister of sin. Christ came to save you out of your sins, not to save you in your sins, and we are to take the Passover free from sin, not in our sins.

Let that sink in. We are remembering, apart from the sacrifice of Christ, we would still be in our sins.

This, due as often as you eat and drink of this, due in remembrance of me, because you do show the Lord's death until he comes. In other words, if that had not taken place, we would still be in our sins. When Paul taught justification through faith in the sacrifice of Christ, some jumped to the other side of the ditch and accused Paul of doing away with the law, but that was far from what he was teaching. Now, you look at Romans 3, the last verse, Romans 3, the last verse, 31. Do we then make void the law through faith?

Certainly not! God forbid! The Old King James is better. This is the first time I've used this New King James Bible. I'll have to get an Old King James like this. I like the print here. But certainly not, or God forbid, on the contrary, we establish the law. How do you establish the law through faith? Because if the law were not effect, the death penalty would not be on your head, and you would not need a Redeemer. But since the law is in effect, and the wages of sin is death, you need a Redeemer to buy you back from sin and death. Thus, you establish the law.

Some accuse Paul of teaching the doctrine of the Nicolae Iotans. Nicolae Iotans were saying that go ahead and sin, because it is God's glory to pass over a transgression. So the more you sin, the more God's glorified, the more he has to forgive. Look at chapter 3 again in the first verse. Once again, the Nicolae Iotans were saying that Paul was teaching that the sinner's lawlessness glorifies God, since all he has to do is believe in Christ, and his sins will be blotted out. Thus, God's glory is increased, since it is God's glory to pass over a transgression. So we look at Romans 3 and verse 1. Romans 3 and verse 1.

What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the prophet of circumcision, being a Jew, or being a convert, proselyte, much in every way, chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God? On the way to the promised land, for what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? We'll see, as we've already read later in this chapter, God is faithful. He kept his word. I'm going to send you a Messiah, and he did. Certainly not, or God forbid, as I like better or stronger, indeed let God be true, and every man a liar as it is written, that you may be justified in your words and may overcome when you are judged. But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, in other words, if I'm teaching what you say I'm teaching, that go ahead and sin because the more sin, the more God has to forgive, and it's God's glory to forgive sin and pass over it. But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say then? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? I speak as a man.

Certainly not. For then, how will God judge the world? If there is no standard, how would God judge the world? Well, you would be back to where we are today. The law of toleration, that is, the only commandment is, thou shall not be intolerant. You can do whatever you want to do. I can't judge you. You'll have to judge yourself. Whereas God says, and Paul is saying, God is going to judge you by his immutable spiritual law.

So we see clearly, at least we should, that law is a basis for judgment. Remember the two great commandments, where this one came and asked Jesus, Master, what is the greatest commandment in the law? And Jesus answered and said, You shall love the Lord your God, who loath your heart, all your mind, all your soul.

This is the first and great commandment, and the second is like unto it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two, these two little commandments, little, love God with all your being, love your neighbor as yourself, hang all the law in the prophets. Everything hangs on that. God is love, and we show our love for God and our neighbor by keeping his commandments.

1 John 5 and verse 3. Let's turn there and read it. Hopefully we haven't memorized, but let's turn there and read it. The more you can get that information into your being through the five senses, the more likely you are to be able to recall it. In 1 John 5 and verse 3. See, I believe that's why the kings of Israel were supposed to copy out the whole law by hand. Once you write out something, you use the kinesthetic laws of motion. You use your eyes. You're probably saying it to yourself.

More likely to remember it. 1 John 5 and 3. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome or not grievous.

They teach us how to love. Now let's continue to explore why judgment and righteousness are linked together. We should now understand that judgment must precede mercy, forgiveness, and righteousness. You have to make the judgment first. The judgment is based on the law. I would hasten to add that even though God grants forgiveness upon repentance and faith in the sacrifice of Christ, we may still have to live with the consequences of sin, which may include punishment. I remember in the days of Ambassador University, of course, we had certain rules that if you break, there was only one or two, or so, that if you broke that one, you would be dismissed.

I mean, you were going to be dismissed if you did that.

Other things you may not. But students would often say, well, God has forgiven me.

Why haven't you? And you would say, well, I have forgiven you, but there are oftentimes consequences for sin, even though you have been forgiven. Now, we'll illustrate from the Scripture this in a way that hopefully you'll never forget. That even though you judge yourself, you repent, you exercise faith in the sacrifice of Christ, and you are forgiven.

Murder can be forgiven. Adultery can be forgiven. Numbering Israel can be forgiven.

Now, look at 2 Samuel chapter 12. 2 Samuel chapter 12 is very sobering. It is very sobering to me.

2 Samuel chapter 12 is after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. This is after David had sent Uriah to the front lines where he knew he would be killed. And David seemed like life was great, going fine. God sent Nathan the prophet.

2 Samuel chapter 12 verse 7. Then Nathan said to David, You are the man.

Thus says the Lord God of Israel, I anointed you king over Israel.

See, David was a man after God's own heart, or God's own choosing. People chose Saul. God chose David.

Now, many of the things that David did were not after God's own heart.

I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been too little, I also would have given you much more.

I mean, David basically had it all.

Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord to do evil in his side? You have killed Uriah, the Hittite, with the sword. You have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. Now, therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house.

There are consequences. The sword shall never depart from your house.

One of his sons raped his sister. One of his sons killed the man that raped his sister. Because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah and the Hittite to be your wife, thus says the Lord, Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house.

I will take your wives before your eyes, give them to your neighbor.

He shall lie with your wives in the sight of this son. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel before the son. So David said to Nathan, I have sinned against the Eternal. And Nathan said to David, The Lord also has put away your sin. You shall not die.

However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Eternal to blaspheme, the child also is born to you shall surely die. Then Nathan departed to his house, and the Lord struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, became ill. And of course, David pleaded that it would live, but it died. Not only this, but David later numbered Israel, and thousands of Israelites died. So yes, God can forgive and will forgive.

But there may be consequences. Sadly, even though David was forgiven, he left a trail of carnage that is hardly equal in the annals of Israel's history. So a very sobering thing. Remember the definition of sin, 1 John 3, 4. Whosoever transgresses the law, commits sin, for sin is a transgression of the law. So when we sin, we are convicted by the word and spirit of God. Feelings of guilt are laid upon our mind and upon our heart, and we are urged from within the knowing within our conscience to do something about it. This knowing from within is our conscience. When we sin, there will be pings of guilt and remorse unless our conscience has been seared. And of course, Paul talks to Timothy about those who have had their conscience seared. The conscience is seared by quenching the spirit. That is, by refusing to do what you know to do is right.

It's amazing and revealing that God had to sin the prophet Nathan to awaken David's conscience regarding his grievance sin. So when we sin and we have the pings of guilt, we judge ourselves, confess our sins, and cry out for God's mercy and forgiveness.

See, once again, the title that we have today, Relationship of Judgment, Righteousness, Mercy, the relationship of that to pass over and much more.

So when we sin, we have pings of guilt, we judge ourselves, confess our sins, and cry out for God's mercy and forgiveness. Upon repentance and faith in the sacrifice of Christ, God extends his mercy. And we are viewed as sinless, and we are viewed as righteous.

Look at 1 John 1, beginning in verse 5. 1 John chapter 1 and verse 5.

John is writing also to combat Gnosticism in 1 John. We won't focus much on that, or if any, but 1 John chapter 1, pages after, separating. Verse 5. 1 John chapter 1 verse 5. This is the message which we have heard from him and declare to you that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. The Gnostics taught that there were bands of light extending from God, and eventually darkness and the Prince of Darkness, the Demiurge, created the earth. But of course, God created everything through Christ, and with him there is no darkness.

If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Confessing our sins is the same as judging ourselves. Just like the publican, two men went up in the temple to pray Pharisee, and the publican, the Pharisee said, I thank God that I'm not like other men. I fastwise in the week I give alms to the poor, and on and on, extolling his righteousness.

And the publican, not so much as lifting up his eyes, heaven said, have mercy on me, O God, a sinner, which man went to his house justified.

Verse 9 again, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

This process that we have just described should help us to understand how mercy glories against judgment. We want to explore that for just a moment. Look at James chapter 2. I think it's verse 13. Look at James back a few pages to James chapter 2. I believe it's verse 13.

If not, I'll find it. In James 2, in verse 13, for judgment is without mercy to those who show no mercy. Mercy, and here the new key James says triumphs over judgment. You can say triumphs. I like glories better because it's God's glory to pass over a transgression. Mercy glories against judgment. Mercy triumphs over judgment. How so? As we noted, sin and judgment results in feelings of guilt and negative feelings from within. But when we repent and cry out for mercy, God and Christ forgives our sins. We just read it. Faithful and just forgive us. Verse 10 of 1 John chapter 1.

God then views us as righteous, and thus mercy glories against judgment. Explore it a little more. How does mercy glory against judgment? Judgment defines the sin and the penalty, and it forcefully brings it to our attention, the weight and consequences of sin.

But when we repent and cry out for forgiveness, the judgment against us is removed. And thus, mercy blots out the judgment. We are redeemed. We're brought back. We're justified through repentance and faith in the sacrifice of Christ. And mercy glories against our triumphs over judgment.

So after reconciliation with God, Christ, each member of the body of Christ, there comes over one a sense of liberty and peace that surpasses all understanding.

James the Lord's brother explains it as the perfect law of liberty. Here we are in James. Look at chapter 1. James 1, 21. Therefore, lay aside all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive the implanted word which is able to save your soul. I mixed old King James with the new King James there, but I memorized the old King James today. Okay, verse 22. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror. Of course, the word of God is God's spiritual mirror. Like Hebrews 4, 12 says that the word of God is powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, dividing us under the thoughts and intents of the heart of man. That's our spiritual mirror. For he observes himself and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty, the perfect law of liberty, see, if you are doing what God says to do, you are set free. And even if you do sin, mercy can glory against judgment if you repent and exercise faith. For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror. For he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this one shall be blessed in what he does.

And so you have this perfect law of liberty. Now let's turn to Philippians chapter 4 and go one step farther with this. You go farther and you think further. They're oftentimes confused. In Philippians chapter 4, here's the point we want to reach in our lives. And I wonder how often we reach it. If we could live in this state, how wonderful it would be. So James talks about the perfect law of liberty.

See, when you judge yourself and repent, you are set free in mind and spirit.

Really, I want to read. Hold your place there. Let's read 1 John 3.19 first. 1 John 3.19. We're talking about now to being totally set free. And of course Passover was the event when the firstborn of the Egyptians were killed where Pharaoh set them free and they were able to go. Of course, he pursued them. You know the rest of that story. 1 John 3.19.

And by this we know, another one of this, by this we know, that we are of the truth and shall assure your hearts before him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things. See, if this guilt is upon you, God knows it.

Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.

And we've talked about the process for removing that guilt.

And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment. We should believe on the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another as he gave commandment.

Now, he who keeps the commandments abides in him, and he in him. And by this we know that he abides in us by the Spirit which he has given us. Now, quickly to Philippians 4.

So, through the process of exercising the weightier matters of the law, we are set free.

Our heart does not condemn us. We can walk in the perfect liberty of the law.

And through this process, we can not only make peace with God, but we can experience the peace of God. As noted here, Philippians 4.4, Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say, rejoice.

Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing.

Be anxious, overly concerned. See the four enemies of faith. Anxious care, fear, doubt, and human reasoning. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will grant your hearts and minds, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The peace of God. All is well with the world. I would call the peace of God the pinnacle of spiritual exaltation and state of being.

Remember, the weightier matters of the law are judgment, mercy, and faith.

Judgment of oneself can lead to repentance, mercy, forgiveness, and righteousness if one lives by faith. And we can take the Passover free of sin if we do this. This process leads us to reconciliation with God, with Christ, and the members of the body of Christ. We're all baptized into one body. By one Spirit, we're all baptized into one body.

That's 1 Corinthians 12 verse 13. We are members one of another. That's Romans 12.5. When we take the Passover, here's what we are affirming. Look at 1 Corinthians chapter 10. 1 Corinthians chapter 10. This is quite sobering. I wonder if how many of us have really through the years and this year will truly be affirming this in every facet of what we have covered here today. Of course, I include myself in 1 Corinthians 10 verse 15. I speak as a wise man. Judge for yourselves what I say.

The cup of blessing which we bless is not the communion of the blood of Christ.

The bread which we break is not the communion of the body of Christ. For we, though many, are one bread and one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread.

And when we partake of that bread, we are affirming that reconciliation with God, Christ, and each member of the body of Christ has taken place.

If we understand and apply what we have read here from God's Word today, we'll be able to enjoy the peaceable fruits of righteousness and experience the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding. And we can take the Passover in right standing with God.

Right standing with Christ, each member of the body of Christ.