Shall Not the Judge of All the Earth Do Right?
Introduction: There are questions asked by those who genuinely desire to understand various aspects about God and how He deals with man. Two benefits of the defense of the faith are sufficient to make that practice worthwhile: 1) believers can be strengthened in their faith, and 2) skeptics can be exposed enough to Scripture that the Holy Spirit might convert some to saving faith in Christ Jesus. This study considers the eternal condition of those who die as infants, those who have insufficient comprehension of the Bible due to mental deficiency, or those who have never heard anything about the Bible or had contact with any believers.
A — Opening the Discussion
Hebrews 11 “6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him. For he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Genesis 1 “26 And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness… 27 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.”
Comments: When we question whether varied circumstances could, or should, exempt certain individuals or groups of people from being eternally separated from God, there are several basic questions we must first ask: 1) Is the Bible a source of inspired truth? 2) Is there any person who begins physical life without any of the sin that separates man from God? and 3) Is eternal life a free gift from God by grace through faith, or can it be earned or simply deserved by an individual? If we believe the Scripture is the revelation of truth as inspired by our creator God, then we must accept truth from Him and reject reasoning that is man-centered and independent of God’s Word; and the Holy Spirit is our only hope of correct understanding of His Word. The Bible declares God as the creator of all that exists, and man is the most significant part of that creation.
B — If All Have Sinned, Then All Need a Remedy
Romans 5 “12 Therefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, so death passed onto all men, for all have sinned.”
John 5 “24 Verily, verily I say unto you, he that heareth My Word and believeth in Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.”
1 Corinthians 15 “54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”
Comments: Just because we may not fully understand why every person as a descendant of Adam and Eve needs to be reconciled to God, we could only take another view if Scripture elsewhere declares that there are some who have not sinned. Death is not to be feared if the sting of death does not exist, but only God can “swallow up” death in victory to remove that sting for those who believe. Paul who wrote that all have sinned, agreed with the Old Testament that our salvation is in the Lord who gives us the victory over death. Only God can change our mortality into immortality.
C — Who Can Reasonably Argue with God?
Job 9 “2 I know in truth it is so, but how should man be just before God? If he will contend with Him, he cannot answer Him one in a thousand. He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against Him and hath prospered?”
Romans 9 “14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid! 20 O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay?”
Romans 11 “33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!”
Comments: Job was a righteous man, but that righteousness was from God, and it did not give Job place to argue with whatever God decided to do. At the end of Job’s very trying period he finally reached a point of disagreement with God — until he was directly confronted by the voice of Yahweh out of the whirlwind. He came back to absolute submission to God’s will when faced with truth from God: “I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth Thee. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Paul agrees with Job that when we finally see from God’s perspective, we will understand that God’s ways are always rich and glorious.
D — Shall Not the Judge of All the Earth Do Right?
Genesis 18 “23 And Abraham drew near and said, Wilt Thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? That be far from Thee to do in this manner — to slay the righteous with the wicked; and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from Thee! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
2 Peter 2 “9 Then the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust unto the Day of Judgment to be punished.”
Comments: Abraham’s question to God before Sodom was destroyed is the essential question of this study, and he qualified it with a statement about God’s character. Peter makes clear that the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, AND how to reserve the unjust unto the Day of Judgment to be punished. It is reasonable to suppose that the people who died in the great flood, and in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, ranged in age from infancy to the elderly. These judgments were real examples of how God will destroy the ungodly, while saving those who are righteous. The obvious answer to Abraham’s rhetorical question is yes — the judge of all the earth will do only that which is right.
Reflections in Prayer
Lord Jesus I pray that any who may read this study will be guided by the Holy Spirit to understand only those truths that are consistent with your Word and your plan for them personally. Remove from their thoughts any errors or misdirections that crept in from my own fallen nature. Thank you that you opened my understanding to accept your gift of salvation when I had no background of personal bible study, and very small faith. After your Spirit came to give me new life in 1974, I became more desirous of reading your word year by year, and I wanted it to transform my thinking to purge out the desires of my sin nature. I pray that you will keep me on the right path until I see you in glory, and that I will meanwhile always remember my humble position before an almighty and loving Savior. You alone deserve all the honor, glory, praise, and thanksgiving. Amen and amen.
Published revision 9 July 2012; first issued 27 January 2007