John 9 – Some thoughts on judgment

“[Jesus] said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’  [The man who had been blind] answered, ‘Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?’  Jesus said to him, ‘You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.’  And he said, ‘Lord, I believe.’ And he worshiped Him.  And Jesus said, ‘For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.’  Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, ‘We are not blind too, are we?’  Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, “We see,” your sin remains.’

How does Jesus statement “For Judgment I came into this world” gel with his statement in John 3:17: “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”

Judgment in 9:39 is the Koine Greek Word krima; John 3:17 uses the word krinw.

In general krima refers to a legal preceding, deliberation, decision or action. BDAG makes special note of krima used in John. “In J k. shows the same two-sidedness as the other members of the krinw family (‘judgment’ and ’separation’; s. Hdb. on J 3:17), and means the judicial decision which consists in the separation of those who are willing to believe [from] those who are unwilling to do so”.

krinw, on the other hand, generally means to set apart so as to distinguish or separate. BDAG makes note that krinw in John 3:17 speaks to the judicial process of the divine tribunal, specifically to the condemnation or punishment which follows the Divine Judge’s verdict.

So, in John 9:39 Jesus is saying that he came into the world to be the dividing point upon which ultimate judgment is made; those that receive Jesus will be ultimately separated from those that do not.

In John 3:17 Jesus is saying that the time of judgment has not yet come. Jesus’ first incarnation on earth was to bring about the opportunity for salvation. Divine judgment and its related punishment/reward is reserved for a later time.

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Friendly Theology: Barclay’s Catechism – Chapter V (part 4 of 6)

CHAP. V. (cont.)

Concerning the Light wherewith Jesus Christ hath enlightned every Man: The Universality and Sufficiency of God’s Grace to all the world made manifest therein.

Q. How can it be proved, that there is a day wherein People may know things concerning their Peace, which afterwards may be hid from them?

A. And when he was come near, he beheld the City, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known even thou, at least in this thy day the things which belong unto thy Peace; but now they are hid from thine Eyes [Luke 19:41-42].

Q. Is there any further Scripture Proof of the Lord’s willingness to gather a People, who would not, and therefore were condemned?

A. Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem! thou that killest the Prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, How oft would I have gathered thy Children together, even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings, and ye would not? [Matt. 23:37; Luke 13:34]

Then his Lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou Wicked Servant! I forgave thee all the Debt, because thou desiredst me; shouldst not thou also have had Compassion on thy Fellow-Servant, even as I had Pity on thee? And his Lord was wroth, and delivered him to the Tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him [Matt. 18:32-34].

Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you; but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of Everlasting Life, lo we turn to the Gentiles [Acts 13:46].

Because I have called, and ye refused, I have stretched out my Hand, and no man regarded: But ye have set at nought all my Counsel, and would none of my Reproof; I also will laugh at your Calamity, I will mock when your Fear cometh [Prov. 1:24-26].

And at what Instant I shall speak concerning a Nation, and concerning a Kingdom to build and to plant it; If it do Evil in my Sight that it obey not my Voice, then I will Repent of the Good wherewith I said I would benefit them [Jer. 18:9-10].

Q. Doth God’s Spirit strive then for a season, and afterwards forbear?

A. And the Lord said, my Spirit shall not always strive with man [Gen. 6:3].

Q. May it then be resisted?

A. Ye Stiff-necked and Uncircumcised in Heart and Ears, ye do always Resist the holy Ghost, as your Fathers did, so do ye [Acts 7:51].

For the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all Ungodliness and Unrighteousness of man, who hold the Truth in Unrighteousness [Rom. 1:18].

***

Barclay points out that there are scriptures which show a people given the opportunity to know God, but who instead refuse God. Barclay, it would seem, believes that salvation is universally available but is not universally received.  Further, Barclay seems to suggest that there may be a point when God will cease in his pursuit of a person.

I would take issue with the idea that God ceases in his pursuit of anyone, but I would concur that it is possible for people to resist the God who pursues them.

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