What We Forget about God's Judgment

Ultimately Jesus is the one who bears God's judgment for us. This is what we forget all the time. After we explore the pronouncements on Israel's sin in Isaiah 1-3 we come to chapter 4 and hear hints of great hope for the people even now. 

Isaiah 4:2–4 (ESV) In that day the branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. 3 And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, 4 when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning.

The branch imagery in Isaiah refers to the Lord Jesus Christ. The beautiful and glorious one who comes to restore what remains in Jerusalem after centuries of her devastation. The promise of verse 4 is "the Lord shall have washed away the filth." Indeed that is what Christ does for us. He washes us from our stains. And notice how it will be done in verse 4? By "a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning." Fire cleanses by burning away what is impure. And Christ has done this for us. 

So the Lord arrives in the land of Israel, foretold by John the Baptist who picks up on this imagery in Isaiah 4 with his dire warnings of fiery judgment. 
Matthew 3:11 (ESV) “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Luke 3:17 (ESV) His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

John the Baptist is sent to prepare the way for Christ. When he warns people, many hearts are opened to the ministry of Jesus. But when Jesus started healing and casting out demons and welcoming sinners, John was confused and in Matthew 11, we see him send messengers to see if Jesus was indeed the Christ. 

Jesus responds by sending word of his works of mercy to those who come to Him. And then Jesus turns His attention on the unrepentant right after. 
Matthew 11:20 (ESV) Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.

John and Jesus worked well together with the same message of judgment and hope as foretold by the prophets. For those who harden their hearts, there will be a fire to come. But for those who repent and seek Christ, the fire is not judgment but power in Him. He speaks of this in Luke 12

Luke 12:49–50 (ESV) “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!

What is the fire Jesus sets on the Earth? The fire of the Holy Spirit descended as tongues of fire on the 120 on Pentecost. But what did that mighty gift require? Jesus had to be baptized in the fire of suffering for us. That is what it cost for us to have the Holy Spirit. And what a great sacrifice was made for us to have Him. 

Back to Isaiah 4 and the prophet picks up on Exodus terminology. 
Isaiah 4:5–6 (ESV) Then the LORD will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory there will be a canopy. 6 There will be a booth for shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain.

In the wilderness, God's people were guided day and night by the Lord in the pillar of fire and cloud. Now, the new covenant people have that same guidance in the person of the Holy Spirit. He is our light and our covering from the heat of the world. Through Him, we have shelter from storms and rain. 

Yes, God's judgment is real. For those in Him, it has been finally accomplished at the cross so that we can live as God guides us through the Holy Spirit. If you feel the heat of your sin, come to the cross, lay down your life and accept what He's done for you. Then receive the Holy Spirit to guide you.

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