“Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.” (Psalm 1:5 NKJV)
“The wicked will not endure the day of judgment, for God will not defend them. Nothing they do will succeed or endure for long, for they have no part with those who walk in truth.” (Psalm 1:5 TPT)
“They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly.” (Psalm 1:5 NLT)
“Therefore the wicked will not stand [unpunished] in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.” (Psalm 1:5 AMP)
“Therefore the wicked will not survive the judgment, and sinners will not be in the community of the righteous.” (Psalm 1:5 HCSB)
“Because of this, the wicked will not stand in the judgment, neither sinners in the assembly of the righteous ones.” (Psalm 1:5 ABIPE)
“Therefore the wicked will not rise in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.” (Psalm 1:5 Legacy Standard Bible)
“Therefore the ungodly shall not rise in judgment, nor sinners in the counsel of the just.” (Psalm 1:5 Brenton Septuagint Translation)
“Sinners won’t have an excuse on the day of judgment, and they won’t have a place with the people of God.” (Psalm 1:5 Contemporary English Version)
“Therefore the wicked rise not in judgment, nor sinners in the company of the righteous.” (Psalm 1:5 Young’s Literal Translation)
So here I am again looking judgment in the face. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that will he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7 ESV) There are definitely consequences to our actions, both good and bad. On the other hand, Paul also wrote, “..where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.” (Romans 5:20 ESV) So, how does this relate to what David wrote in Psalm 1:5?
The Bible speaks of coming judgment. While there are many different views as to just what this judgment will be, and who will suffer the consequences, it is clear that it never has been, and never will be, my Daddy’s desire or design (will) for me to go through it. He sent His Son Jesus to make the way for me to live in His blessing today and forever. By His grace, I have been made to be His righteousness through Christ. That means that I am the “Blessed Man” in Psalm 1. So who is the “Wicked Man” that David is referring to? Here is what I believe today.
The only thing that differentiates people (“Blessed Man” or “Wicked Man”) is what they do with Christ. I am either “in Christ” or not. If I am “in Christ” then I have already gone through judgement with Him in His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. That is what is at the core of being “in Christ.” Paul made it clear that I died with Him (Jesus) and as a result I am now living in Him. Look at Romans 8:1 (BSB) “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Being “in Christ” means no judgment. So what keeps me out of being “in Christ?” Again, here is what I believe today.
The Bible makes it clear that when Jesus completed the work of redemption it was for all of the human race. He died for “all.” He reconciled the world to the Father. He righted everything that Adam had wronged. He fixed everything that Adam had broken. He reversed the curse and took all authority back from the enemy and placed it back into the my hands (and all of the descendants of Adam). I have been put back into right standing with my Daddy and made to be just as if I had never sinned. I now, just like the original Adam, have been given the freedom to choose. I can choose to live “in Christ,” or reject what Jesus did for me. So the only way that I am not “in Christ” is to reject Him. So who will face the judgment?
I believe that the only ones that will face the coming judgment (whatever that is) are those who knowingly reject Jesus Christ. NOT those who reject the poor representations of Christ that religion offers. NOT those who in the eyes of religion are “sinners” (Jesus took care of the sin problem once and for all). NOT those who reject the “Church,” or “Christians.” The key word here is “knowingly” reject Christ. I cannot “know” Christ through human understanding. I can only truly “know” Him through revelation knowledge from the Father.
Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter, in his forceful personality was the first to answer, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus response to Peter is critical in understanding why I believe the way I do when it comes to who may face the judgment one day. Jesus responded to Peter, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” I can only truly “know” Jesus the Christ by revelation from the Father. What I do with that revelation (accept or reject) revolutionizes my life today, and determines my future.
If I have received clear revelation from the Father as to the person and work of His Son Jesus the Christ, and with that clear understanding reject what I know, then I am placing myself in a position of facing judgment. I personally believe that this is very rare. I am convinced that what most people are rejecting is religion and our misrepresentation of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). I think that those of us who have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior have done a far less than adequate job of re-presenting Him to those around us (I place myself at the top of the list in this failure). Nonetheless, I believe that the “Wicked man” described in Psalm 1 is the individual who has received clear revelation from the Father and willfully rejected it. This rejection leaves this individual “dead” inside which demonstrates itself to one degree or another in the outward acts of “wickedness.”
There is so much more to be said, but not today. I am sure that Daddy will bring me back to this topic again, but for today I believe I have shared what He wants me to share. There is a whole lot to ponder with…
…Eric’s Life Lesson # 258 Foundations for a Blessed Life (Psalm 1) Part 6 – Verse 5 continued