Judgment

In the biblical context, judgment refers to the divine assessment and decision-making process regarding human actions, thoughts, and intentions. It is a central theme throughout Scripture, reflecting God's holiness, justice, and righteousness. The concept of judgment is multifaceted, encompassing both temporal judgments within history and the ultimate eschatological judgment at the end of time.

1. Divine Judgment in the Old Testament: The Old Testament frequently depicts God as the righteous judge of all the earth. In Genesis 18:25, Abraham appeals to God's justice, saying, "Far be it from You to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?" . God's judgments are often manifested through natural disasters, wars, and other events, serving as both punishment for sin and a call to repentance.

2. Judgment in the Law and Prophets: The Mosaic Law contains numerous statutes and ordinances that reflect God's standards for justice and righteousness. The prophets frequently warned Israel and the surrounding nations of impending judgment due to their disobedience and idolatry. For instance, the prophet Amos declares, "But let justice roll on like a river, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream" (Amos 5:24), emphasizing the need for societal justice in alignment with God's will.

3. Judgment in the New Testament: The New Testament continues the theme of divine judgment, with a particular focus on the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus speaks of a future judgment where all people will be held accountable for their actions. In Matthew 25:31-32, He describes the separation of the righteous from the wicked: "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats" .

4. The Final Judgment: The Book of Revelation provides a vivid depiction of the final judgment, where God will judge the living and the dead. Revelation 20:12 states, "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books" . This ultimate judgment underscores the accountability of all humanity before God.

Division

Division, in the biblical sense, often refers to the separation or distinction between groups or individuals based on spiritual, moral, or doctrinal lines. While division can be seen as a negative consequence of sin and disobedience, it also serves a purpose in God's redemptive plan.

1. Division as a Consequence of Sin: The fall of humanity introduced division into the world, as seen in the separation between God and man, and between individuals. Genesis 3 recounts the disobedience of Adam and Eve, resulting in their expulsion from the Garden of Eden and the introduction of enmity and strife into human relationships.

2. Division Among Nations and Peoples: The Tower of Babel narrative in Genesis 11 illustrates how God divided humanity by confusing their language, leading to the formation of different nations. This division was a response to human pride and rebellion, yet it also set the stage for God's plan to bless all nations through Abraham's descendants (Genesis 12:1-3).

3. Division in the Ministry of Jesus: Jesus' teachings and actions often resulted in division among His listeners. In Luke 12:51, Jesus states, "Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division" . This division was not due to a lack of love or compassion but was a natural outcome of the truth confronting a fallen world.

4. Division in the Early Church: The early church faced divisions over doctrinal and practical issues, as seen in the letters of Paul. In 1 Corinthians 1:10, Paul urges the church to unity, saying, "I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction" . Despite these challenges, division also served to clarify and solidify core Christian doctrines.

5. Eschatological Division: The final judgment will result in a permanent division between the righteous and the wicked. This eschatological division is depicted in the parables of Jesus, such as the wheat and the tares (Matthew 13:24-30) and the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46), highlighting the eternal consequences of one's response to God's call.