The Theological Definition

Reflection Paper 2

Shannon B. Payton

Liberty University

Introduction

        Throughout this course in my final studies of Theology 104 I have be challenged beyond measure. The last half my studies dealing with topics of the end times were very enlightening as well as informative.   Because of these studies on various topics of the end times I have chosen to first discuss Judgment. The information was so profound and I have a clear understanding of how my actions as a Christian will be judged. The second topic will be Hope.

Judgment

        The theological definition that will be for judgment is according to the excerpts The Judgments “Where people, nations, and other created beings are being held accountable for their attitudes and actions. With this they will be judged according to the standards that God has established for them.”  There are many definitions for the word judgment but from a biblical stand point when we think of the word judgment it relates to God and His authority to judge our actions and according to Baker’s Evangelical Theology dictionary it can also mean the process whereby a verdict is reached or the verdict itself bound up with the notions of justice and righteousness and it is of fundamental importance for biblical religion.

Biblical Foundation

         The judgment of God began as earlier as Sodom and Gomorrah. The city was corrupt with sin and according to Genesis Chapter 19 the sin was so great to the point that God had to deal with their massive sin nation. There was a penalty to pay and God began to judge Sodom and Gomorrah.  In addition to the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah, according to  The Judgments excerpt  there are at least seven judgments by God and one is the judgment of the Cross. In actuality this was Jesus dying for our sins which according to the excerpt  “the cross was a criminal judgment by God upon the sins  of the world.    When one commits a crime it usually the offender stands before the judge but as Christian we have Jesus who took the crimes we committed to the cross.  According to the Judgment article the cross was a criminal judgment by God upon the sins of the world. It is often known that whatever the crime that was committed there is a penalty for it. Another judgment would be the self-judgment where God judges Christian and give them an opportunity to first deal with their problem (The Judgment excerpt). God offers everyone numerous times to get it right. After reading and studying this topic my Christian life will be changed because after studying the end times and the different judgment according to 1 Corinthian 11:31 that if I judge myself, then I would not be judged (paraphrase). Simply as the Judgment excerpts plainly states “God identifies self evaluation as a means of preventing this divine judgment.”

Practical Application

        In today’s society we are bombarded with live television that displays shows such as Judge Judy, The  Peoples Court, and the Divorce Court to name a few. The one constant in all these shows that each must have a judge  to either pronounce a sentence or give a verdict. In all these shows are giving out judgment based on the information received and how serious the offense is.  Often times enough when watching these shows there is some humor but the crime still has to deal with according to the law.  Have you ever thought about the day that you will have to stand before God and receive his Judgment?   There will be no Judge Judy or People Courts where spectators are watching, laughing at some of the answers. The Day of Judgment is near and God will deal with us according to our sins.  We are often reminded according to Romans 6:23 that wages of sin is death  and God abhors sin to the point that He will judge it with physical and eternal death (excerpt: The Judgments). As stated in Hebrew 9:7; “And just as it is appointed for man to die once and after that to face judgment.” (Holy Bible: The New International Version; Hebrews 9:7).  We will all be judge according to our lives here on earth and God will be the judge and in his court we will stand before him to give an account what we have done for the kingdom (paraphrase) ( 2 Corinthians 5: 10).

Hope

        Theological definition of “hope” To trust in, wait for, look for, or desire something or someone; or to expect something beneficial in the future (Bakers Evangelical Bible Dictionary).  The second definition according to Bible.org “ hope” can also refer to the activity of hoping, or to the object hoped for—the content of one’s hope. It deals with things we can’t see or haven’t received or both. Bible.org also states that  hope in scripture means “a strong and confident expectation.” With that great expectation scripture tells us  “But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?” (The Holy Bible: NIV: Romans 8:24).