John Coulson is set to publish his book The Righteous Judgment of God, due for release by Wipf and Stock late in 2016.
The book is a culmination of more than five years research and writing, which, in part, was prompted by John lecturing on eschatology in 2009 when he commented to his class that there were few sermons preached about hell these days. One student who was a prison chaplain took the challenge seriously and later preached about the final judgment in his prison ministry. Several prisoners were moved by the message and responded to receive Christ.
While the topic of final judgment is often neglected at the pulpit, thankfully, it is covered quite well in theology books. However, John discovered that these books were relatively silent about some aspects of God’s temporal judgment, that is, his judgment in time, both historically and in the present.
“There seemed to be a significant gap that needed to be filled in systematic theology textbooks,” John said.
“I decided that I would investigate this within Paul’s letters.”
But John’s study of Paul soon expanded to include everything that Paul says about God’s judgment. The book seeks to understand key aspects of Paul’s thought on God’s judgment and to consider the implications for Christian life, ministry and mission. It provides an overview of God’s judgment in the Old Testament and in the teaching of Jesus, and works through all Paul’s letters to discover his teaching on the topic. John concludes that Paul’s view of divine judgment has four main aspects: judgment at the Fall of humanity, throughout human history (“temporal judgment”), in the death of Christ, and in the future when Christ returns.
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The book delves into each of these and reflects on contemporary implications, including, developing a Christian worldview, having a Christian eschatology, suffering for Christ, and expectations concerning life in the present age. In his study of temporal judgment, John focuses on a number of areas: increasing sinfulness as judgment; human and natural disasters; unbelief as judgment; the judgment of evil spiritual powers in gospel ministry; the role of civil authorities; and the disciplinary judgment of God’s people. In delving further into God’s judgment in the death of Christ, the key question is how God’s judgment worked to free us from condemnation. It is argued that only a penal substitutionary understanding of the cross does justice to Paul’s teaching. Three main topics are considered in relation to the final judgment: its necessity and purpose; the judgment of God’s people; and the judgment of those who do not trust in Christ. Difficult questions are discussed. The book concludes with an appeal to recover Paul’s vision of the judgment of God, urging God’s people to action in spiritual and moral renewal, faithful proclamation of God’s truth, evangelism, and support of the suffering church.
“We have continued down the road of neglect concerning the message about God’s judgment, with even less fear of God in the church and our society,” John said.
“We see the fruit of it all around us and it is even more urgent that our generation be presented with the reality of God’s judgment.”
“Writing this book has brought me greater clarity, stronger conviction and increased holy fear of God.”
“I pray that Christians who read the book will gain a biblical understanding and vision of God’s judgment and be challenged to live differently.”
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