An Article of Faith

God’s judgments (or disciplines) can be divided into two categories: (1) Eternal Judgments and (2) Temporal Judgments.
Eternal Judgments are rulings that separate God’s people to heaven and all others to hell for eternity (see Revelation 20:11-15). Temporal Judgments are correction and punishment that occurs in this lifetime (see 1 Corinthians 11:31-32).
Someday soon Jesus is going to return to claim His own and take them to heaven for eternity. At the end of history God will judge all people:
“But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt?” asks Paul. “For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
For it is written, ‘As I live, says the LORD, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.’ So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:10-12).
The judgments in the end times will be eternal. Our destiny in heaven or hell will be settled as God separates the “sheep” (His people) from the “goats” (those who do not belong to Him; see Matthew 25:31-46).
In this article we are not dealing with eternal judgment, but God’s temporal (or earthly) judgments – those that occur in this lifetime. These disciplines and judgments are intended to correct us or to punish us. Because God is loving and patient, His correction almost always comes first. Only after that fails to bring change do more severe punishment and His wrath come. However, God is sovereign. He can do what He pleases. His judgments are always just, fair, and right. He will never give us greater punishment than we deserve.
Temporal discipline and judgment in this life are of two types: (1) Remedial Judgment and (2) Final Judgment.
Remedial Judgment is discipline or judgment intended to correct us and point us back to a right relationship with God. Final Judgment is judgment or punishment that ends life or usefulness because of prolonged rebellion or severe sin.
God intends remedial judgments to correct us or discipline us. They are to guide us back to a right relationship with Him.
Final judgments come when God displays His wrath. He sometimes destroys or removes life as punishment. When final judgment comes, no opportunity for repentance is left. Final judgments usually come after prolonged periods of sin without repentance. Sometimes, however, God uses a final judgment because the nature of the sin is so great. He uses final judgments at other times because the sin could have great influence on others if He did not deal severely with it (see Acts 5:1-11).
Have you ever experienced God’s remedial judgment – His corrective discipline? Thank God that He loves you enough to correct you. Ask the Lord to help you be responsive to His disciplines so that you can hurry back to Him anytime you drift away. Pray that God will give the gift of discernment to spiritual leaders so that they will understand God’s discipline and correctly interpret it to God’s people.
“Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness” (Hebrews 12:10 NIV).

(Jessie J. Charpentier Sr. is pastor of Jenkins Memorial Baptist Church in St. Martinville.)