per Rob’s inquiry.

There are two reasons given for the judgment of a sinner: 1, his sin, and 2, his choice to reject the gospel.

Passages such as Romans 3:11-18, echoing Psalms 14:1-4, 5:9, 140:3 and 10:7, show how clearly the human heart is already bent against God because of sin. This underlines humanity’s dependence on God’s mercy extended to it through the cross of Jesus.

In the epistles there are found many people, even some in the church, who have heard the gospel and seek to undermine it, actively working against God’s will for salvation (Philippians 3:18,19). These people are judged for rejecting the gospel, or not “obeying” it, as the apostle Peter says (I Peter 4:17), meaning that they do not submit their hearts to repentance and joyfully receive the gift.

This gospel of Jesus’ death and resurrection for the reconciliation of all people to their God is a message that goes out into the entire world. Many are cut to the heart through the conviction of their sins by the Holy Spirit and repent and become recipients of the salvation purchased for them on the cross. Others harden their hearts as they are disposed to do through sin and do not receive the free gift of eternal life in Christ.

For those who are saved they are judged righteous in God’s sight because God has chosen to place his name upon them so that through faith in Christ they share in the blessedness that is Jesus’ eternal inheritance. God has chosen to work in their hearts through the Holy Spirit to bring them to salvation which he prepared for them in Christ. Though they are guilty of sin, and God’s just verdict for that sin is “guilty”, yet that sentence falls upon Christ, and the guilty are forgiven. This is the meaning of the saying “at the same time saint and sinner”. Because of the human’s nature, they are sinful, but because of God’s grace, they are forgiven, washed clean and given God’s very name in baptism. This is the paradox that the Christian lives in: guilty, yet forgiven and free of guilt.

For those who are damned to death are so damned because of their persistent rebellion against God and the rejection of his gospel. For those who have not heard, they reject God because they are living in rebellion of him from the day of their birth. For those who have heard the gospel and still reject it, they are condemned for that as well. As Paul says of such people “their condemnation is just” (Romans 3:8).

In summary, let those who have received the gospel of Jesus Christ rejoice for the marvelous gift which God chose to bestow on us. For those who have rejected the gospel or who live in sin apart from God, they are damned for their sin. Let them not blame God for their predicament; let God be true though every man were a liar.