Salvation Through Judgment

Do you believe in God? (We would affirm)

Jordan Peterson – clinical psychologist, popular speaker, not conservative but not left, followed by millions but especially Christians

His response to the question “Do you believe in God?” has 3 responses:

1. None of your business

2. What is your definition of belief

3. “I want to say ‘no’ but I’m afraid He just might exist.”

That last response is a peculiar answer – wouldn’t it be easiest to say “no”?

Why would anyone say they’re afraid God might exist?

Romans 1 tells us that all of creation has been created with the ability to know their Creator

Since this is true, then intrinsically (fundamentally) we all know that judgment exists

We all know there is a consequence for disobedience – from small to large

Since we know that judgment exists – we should live and respond accordingly

We saw last week that God makes a distinction between those who follow Him and those who do not

Today I want us to look at the consequence of those actions and make some parallels to our lives

Exodus 12:29-32

There are many types in the Bible

A type, shadow, pattern, or figure is a prophetic foretelling of future events.

As if God is so excited about what He is going to do that He drops hints throughout history.

2 main types in the OT

1. Adam= Not only the 1st man but representative of all sinful mankind but also in Adam’s unfallen state he is a representative of Jesus – Jesus came and lived as Adam could not so we look to Jesus to live the life that we don’t

2. Moses = Not only a spokesman for God to Pharoah, he represents the coming prophets who would be spokesman for God throughout history

Types in Scripture not only represent Christ or God, they can help illuminate concepts. However, types never change the meaning of scripture.

If the Bible says something is evil, but someone comes along and uses “types” to claim that thing is actually holy, it is easy to know they are wrong, deceived, or lying.

What we have in the Passover is a type, an example of something to come

We saw last week that the Passover is the event where the Israelites were instructed to mark the doorpost of their houses with the blood of a particular, spotless lamb

It was the blood of the lamb that saved them from the coming judgment

In 1 Corinthians 5:7,Paul talking to the church about the need for cleansing of their sins, says this about Jesus Christ

“ For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.”

This isn’t the only association made between Jesus and the Passover in Scripture (Hebrews 9&10)

Why is all of this important? Why is Exodus important?

Theme: We are saved for a purpose but we must trust God

God, throughout all History is doing something – He is at work

What He was accomplishing through the Passover for the Egyptians carries over into what He is doing in our lives.

Namely, offering us salvation = the point

Salvation only comes through Judgement

That’s why the Passover is important to us

2 observations from this passage and what it means for us

Passover Doesn’t Eliminate Judgment – vs. 29-30

This is God keeping His promise

God gave them a warning in chapter 11 that this was coming

ILL: Parent giving a warning but not following through

God doesn’t give empty warnings!

Chapter 11 is not an empty vain threat

In chapter 12 When God gave Moses the requirements to put the blood of the lamb on the doorposts and to eat the meal, the decree was given to the congregation of Israel in Egypt

Everyone was aware but not everyone would respond in obedience

Hence the name Passover – The name should give it away for us – Pass-Over

For those who did not respond in obedience – judgment would come

This should be a reminder that through judgment salvation comes

Here’s the thing about judgment – It’s not a respecter of person

Judgment doesn’t care about economics, status, race, gender, etc.

When judgment comes, it comes for everyone

What’s unique about this judgment that’s coming in this 10thplague is a judgment that will affect both Egyptian and Israelite

The previous 9 plagues only affected the Egyptians

Now everyone is an equal offender

However, God gives them an opportunity to escape judgment with this distinction: the blood

The distinction is given not based on merit (good vs. bad), not base on class, race, genealogy

The distinction is based on faith in the blood of God’s sacrifice

If you have faith in God’s sacrifice, you follow through with obedience

You don’t have to be smart enough, rich enough, good looking, righteous enough…

You must have faith and obedience

This is the only way to escape judgment

Judgment is coming

Vs. 30b

“And there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where someone was not dead.”

When judgment comes God is exchanging the cries of His people for the cries of Egypt

He is exchanging the firstborn for the firstborn

Exodus 4:22 – 23 (God’s instruction to Moses to Pharoah)

‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’”

Here in chapter 12 it comes to fruition

God keeps His promises

The cry of the unbeliever (Egyptian) is this isn’t fair!

What about God’s love for everyone?

What about grace?

What about mercy?

Grace and mercy are only meaningful when judgment is real!

Difference between grace & mercy: grace=gift mercy= reprieve

If there is no consequence, then why would you need grace and mercy?

This is the truth then just as it is now, because there is judgment there is also mercy available

The Passover didn’t eliminate the judgment – it was coming regardless but…

Mercy was available

Through faith & obedience

Judgment is still coming today

If you go to Revelation 20 you can read all about it

How do you escape that judgment?

The same way the Israelites did – through faith and obedience in the blood of the lamb

God sent His only Son as the propitiation (satisfaction) for our sins

Sin must be atoned for by a sacrifice and God sent His son to die a death that you and I deserve, to pay a debt that we could never pay for, so that we could belong to Him and escape that judgment

That’s how Christ is our Passover lamb

But you must accept Christ’s sacrifice through faith and obedience

Trusting Jesus’s death for your own and living your life in submission to His Word

The only way to escape judgment is through the way God provides

For the Israelites, the blood of a lamb

For you and I through the blood of the lamb of God, His Son

You have to respond – no one gets out of making a decision

Everyone Responds to Judgment

You can respond like the Israelites did, in obedience

Or you can play loose and fast with your eternity like the Egyptians

The Egyptians made some pretty vain assumptions about judgment

The Egyptians were convinced that they could find salvation some other way

Whether it be through one of their many gods

Or maybe the Israelite’s God wasn’t serious about killing the firstborn

Maybe they thought Pharoah was going to provide their safety in some way

The only explanation for why they wouldn’t heed the warning of Moses, is that they were foolish enough to believe that judgment wasn’t coming or they could somehow escape it on their own

Monday morning quarterbacking we can think about their stupidity in think that

We still have a bunch of people who make vain assumptions about their eternity today

There are those that think they’ll do enough good to outweigh the bad, they’ve been faithful in church attendance, they’ve been faithful in church activity or at the very least they’re ok with making it to heaven by the skin of their teeth

Maybe they think there’ll be time later for obedience

Don’t make assumptions about your eternity

Don’t think that there’s an asterisk by your name

Look to mercy because judgment is real and His reprieve is the only way out

Remember Judgment is no respecter of persons

Look at Pharoah’s response

Vs.31-32

Pharoah has already warned Moses and Aaron before –

“I’m done with you” “You and Aaron can go but Israel isn’t going anywhere”

Now Pharoah uses 3 imperatives here in vs. 31& 32 – “Get up, Get out and Go!” “Take Israel and everything with you!”

Remember, Pharoah’s kingdom has been ransacked by the previous 9 plagues

His kingdom is not a place where anyone wants to be

He thought he was in control but what he found out is he could control nothing

Now the people of his kingdom have been hit with destruction through the death of the firstborn

He’s done – He’s throwing in the towel – He’s angry, grief stricken and depressed

So much so, he’s no longer negotiating – he’ done

Remember what Exodus has shown us about Pharoah?

Time and again, he’s hardened his heart, so much that God’s reinforced his decision and we saw through the last few plagues that God hardened it.

Do you know what Pharaoh’s hardness of heart gets him? Nothing

He’s been stubborn, arrogant and blasphemous and in the end he ends up surrendering anyway

If you’re playing loose and fast with your eternity you need to pay attention

If you have a hard heart towards God or your maybe you’re just stubborn

Pay attention – everyone will respond to judgment

Paul to the church in Philippi – Philippians 2:9-10

9 Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

How many knees? How many tongues?

Gk word for every= every – no one escapes

You will respond

You can do so through obedience and accept mercy

Or you can have it your way and reap the consequences

Conclusion:

If you take away nothing else…

1. Salvation comes through judgment. Our only hope is that the judgment is borne by another.

That is the point of Jesus going to the cross.

Sin has to be atoned for and if Jesus hadn’t stepped in and took it upon Himself that means it falls on us.

We couldn’t bear it.

It’s too much

2. God’s judgment doesn’t need to be feared by those who have already been judged in Christ. You will forever find mercy.

The beauty of the gospel is this – through mercy, you and I are united in Christ

We are now sons & daughters of the King

Not only have we received mercy but we obtain the inheritance of Jesus Christ

When God looks at us, He doesn’t see our past mistakes & failures, He sees the righteousness of His perfect Son that’s been attributed to you

Since that is true then think about this – the worst thing that could ever happen to you has happened but you didn’t bear that weight

It was put on His one and only Son on your behalf

What’s your response?

If you’ve never accepted Christ’s sacrifice for your sin and you think that in the end, it’ll be ok

Don’t be ignorant

Judgment is coming and you will answer

If you have accepted Christ’s sacrifice on your behalf and you walk in that mercy that He offers then you have nothing to fear

The day of judgment was taken off of you and placed on Christ at the cross not because of what you did but because of the sacrifice that was made for you

As long as today is called a day, it is the day of salvation

Judgment can pass over you and you can receive mercy

Or you can dig in your heels and take your chances

I guarantee you it won’t end well

There is far more Grace and Mercy in Christ than there is sin in you.

Will you respond to Him in obedience?

I pray that through His grace and mercy, we will.