A Study Of The Cross

Lesson Nineteen - Judgment And The Cross

TEXT: 1 Peter 4:17  - For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

        This lesson will take a look at "judgment," in scripture and how it relates to the Cross and how the Cross relates to judgment. Our outline for this lesson is as follows:

• 1. The "time" addressed here, refers to what Jesus did at the Cross.

• 2. The "judgment" addressed here, refers to the manner of judgment, which again has the Cross as the criteria.

• 3. This particular judgment began first of all at the "Church," which speaks of individual Believers, and is going on at this very hour.

• 4. If the Lord judges His Church accordingly, for which He died, think with what severity He will judge the world!

The Time

        The phrase, "For the time is come," refers to this judgment beginning when the Cross had become a fact, and more particularly, when Christ had given to Paul the meaning of the New Covenant, which in effect, is the meaning of the Cross (Gal. 1:11-12). The Lord began to deal with the world on an entirely different basis after the Cross. Actually, Paul said: "And the times of this ignorance (before the Cross) God winked at; but now (after the Cross) commandeth all men everywhere to repent."

        He then said: "Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man Whom He has ordained (Christ Jesus); whereof He has given assurance unto all men, in that He has raised Him from the dead" (Acts 17:30-31).

        The judgment in effect is going on constantly, having begun at the Cross, but will have a climactic day. Regarding the unredeemed, they will stand at the "Great White Throne Judgment," which will take place immediately after the Kingdom Age (Rev. 20:11-15).

        Let the Reader understand that all of "time" centers up in the Cross of Christ. Before the Cross, even as the Old Testament brilliantly and clearly proclaims, everything pointed to that coming event, with the very first prophecy actually being given at the time of the Fall in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:15). Almost immediately after the Fall, God instituted the sacrificial system, which was greatly enlarged at the time of the giving of the Law of Moses. But the whole of Old Testament history points toward the coming event of the Cross. And now everything points back to that historical event. As someone has well said, before the Cross, humanity looked forward to a prophetical Jesus. Now humanity looks to an historical Jesus. However, the prophetical and the historical merge at the Cross.

Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

          The idea as given here by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle, is that all of "time" converges on the Cross. In other words, God has based and does base, every single thing He does according to that particular time factor. Before the Cross men were not held as accountable as they are after the Cross. However, that needs qualification.

        While sin has always been sin and judged accordingly as it regards the Lord, direct judgment by God was not forthcoming nearly as much in Old Testament times, as it has been since the Cross. Now that may come as a shock to most, simply because most people think of the God of the Old Testament as slaughtering people right and left, etc.

        In fact, there were some times of judgment, but they were few and far between. The truth is, there has been more judgment of God on the world since the Cross, than before the Cross, and because of all the obvious reasons.

        If we don't understand the Cross as the central point of everything as it pertains to God, then the Reader doesn’t properly understand the Gospel. In fact, and as repeatedly stated, to properly understand the Word of God, it is imperative that it be understood in the light of the Cross. The Cross within itself, is really not a doctrine, but actually the foundation of all Doctrine. This means that all doctrine must be built upon the premise of the Finished Work of Christ, which in fact afforded all that God does for man. And then at the same time, the Cross is that alone which makes it possible for man to approach God.

    If Satan can push the Believer away from the Cross, cause the Preacher to preach that other than the Cross, Satan has pretty well won the conflict. The sinner can’t be saved unless he comes by the Cross, and the Believer cannot walk in victory unless he evidences constant Faith in the Cross. In this manner and this manner alone, the Holy Spirit works (Jn. 3:14-21; Rom. 6:3-14; 8:1-2, 11; I Cor. 1:17-18, 21, 23; 2:2; Gal. 6:14; Col. 2:14-15).

John 3:14-21
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: [15] That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. [16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. [17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  [18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [19] And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. [20] For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. [21] But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Romans 6:3-14
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? [4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. [5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: [6] Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. [7] For he that is dead is freed from sin. [8] Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: [9] Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. [10] For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. [11] Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. [12] Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. [13] Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. [14] For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Romans 8:1-2
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. [2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

1 Cor. 1:17-18
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
[18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1 Cor. 1:21
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

1 Cor. 1:23
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

1 Cor. 2:2
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

Galatians 6:14
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Col. 2:14-15
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; [15] And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Judgment

    The phrase, "That judgment must begin," refers to the fact that such judgment has already begun, in fact began with the giving of the meaning of the New Covenant to Paul, and with that "Light" being disseminated among the people. God doesn’t hold us accountable for what we don’t know, but He definitely does hold us accountable for what we do know. In other words, we are judged based a great deal upon the light we have received or we have rejected. Regarding the world and regarding the Church, God makes light available. If that light is ignored or rejected, in one form or the other, judgment is forthcoming. Such judgment may not come today or even tomorrow, but it will ultimately come.

    As well, this "judgment" which comes from God, is predicated totally and completely upon the reaction and response of individuals to the Cross of Christ. The Cross is the basis of judgment, and even in a sense, the means of judgment. Listen to what Jesus said:

• "If I depart (the Ascension), I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) unto you.
• "And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
• "Of sin, because they believe not on Me;
• "Of righteousness, because I go to My Father, and you see Me no more;
• "Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged" (Jn. 16:7-11).

        Jesus departed, went back to Heaven, after the Cross was an accomplished fact. He then sent the Holy Spirit back to this world, and in a dimension in which the world had not previously known.

        However, the Holy Spirit was able to come in this new dimension, only because of what Jesus did at the Cross (Jn. 14:17).

John 14:17
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

        He said the Holy Spirit would convict (reprove) the world, and that speaks of the entirety of humanity, both the redeemed and the unredeemed, of "sin." And He specifically stated that the conviction would be based totally upon the premise, "because they believe not on Me" (Jn. 16:9).

John 16:9
Of sin, because they believe not on me;

        This didn’t pertain to merely believing in Christ, but rather to what He did in order to redeem humanity, which pertains to the Cross. His Sacrifice of Himself was for sin (Heb. 10:12). And the idea is, do men believe that the Cross is the answer or do they believe something else?

Hebrews 10:12
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

    The "Righteousness" of which He spoke, pertained to the Righteousness which He would perfect as a result of what He did at the Cross. Upon acceptance of Him and what He did at the Cross, the believing sinner is awarded a perfect, pure, spotless Righteousness, i.e., "the Righteousness of Christ," which is the only Righteousness that God will recognize. When He used the term, "Because I go to My Father," this refers to the fact that the Father accepted the Sacrifice of Christ, and the Righteousness there perfected.

    Some pages back we spoke of Cain offering up a sacrifice to God which was not acceptable. We also stated, the sacrifice being rejected, the offerer of the sacrifice was rejected as well. To say it a better way. The offering being rejected, of necessity the offerer was rejected as well!The idea is, if men claim a righteousness other than by Faith in the Cross of Christ, it will be a righteousness which will not be accepted, which means the one claiming such will be rejected as well.

    Jesus then spoke of "Judgment." The idea is, all who reject God’s Way of Salvation, which is "Jesus Christ and Him Crucified," has in effect accepted the ways of the "prince of this world," i.e., "Satan," and will be judged accordingly. In other words, as Satan will one day be placed in the lake of fire, so will all those who reject Christ. Faith in Christ and His Cross is the only way of Salvation, the only way of life, the only way of victory as it relates to humanity. That rejected, there is nothing left but judgment.

The House Of God

    The phrase, "At the house of God," pertains to the Church, and more particularly, to every single Believer in the Church.

    In the Eyes of God there are two types of people in the world, "the Redeemed and the unredeemed." The Redeemed are through Christ the Light of the world. Everything we have as children of God has come totally and completely through Christ, and what Christ did at the Cross. This and this alone is the foundation of the Faith. In fact it is "the Faith." That’s why Paul very succinctly said:

•    "I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified" (I Cor. 2:2).
•    "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect" (I Cor. 1:17).

        The problem with the modern Church is that it is majoring in the ordinances of the Church such as "Water Baptism," or "The Lord’s Supper," or the institution of the Church itself. Or it’s regaling the people with "wisdom of words," which say everything, and in so doing, say nothing. In other words, if the Preacher doesn’t preach the Cross, then he’s not preaching the Gospel. And when we say "preach the Cross," we are meaning to preach the Cross as the only means by which sinners can be saved, and as well, the only means by which the Christian can walk in victory. Faith must ever have the Cross as its object. And as we’ve repeatedly stated, that’s the great sin of the Church, in making other things the object of faith.

The Christian Walk

    What we are now going to relate to you, I think will open up this word "judgment" as you possibly have not previously known. Nothing could be more important than your walk with God, which carries over into your everyday living, and which determines your peace of mind, your welfare, and your happiness. As stated, nothing could be more important than that. Consequently, the following statement should be studied very, very carefully:

    The Christian cannot properly walk in victory, cannot live in victory, cannot be what he ought to be in the Lord, cannot have the Holy Spirit operating within his life as He needs, properly developing the Fruit of the Spirit, thereby making one more and more Christ-like, unless one properly understands the Cross of Christ.

    In trying to live this Christian Life, if the Christian doesn’t understand the Message of the Cross and how it applies to him in his everyday living, then he will attempt to live this life in all the wrong ways. These "wrong ways" always consist of attempting to be what we ought to be in the Lord, by the means of the "flesh." Most Christians don’t understand that, in fact, most Christians don’t even understand what the "flesh" actually is, as Paul used the word (Rom. 8:1, 8).

Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:8
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

    The "flesh" as Paul used the term, refers to the strength, ability, power, and efforts of the Christian, outside of the help of the Holy Spirit. In other words, it pertains to us trying to live for God other than by having simple faith in what Christ did at the Cross on our behalf. That is what constitutes the "flesh," and is why the Holy Spirit through Paul said, "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God" (Rom. 8:8).

    Most Christians think that being "carnally minded," or being "in the flesh," constitutes watching too much television, or being too interested in sports, etc. All of that is totally and completely incorrect. To be "carnally minded" or to "be in the flesh," refer to trying to live this life other than by simple Faith in the Cross. That’s what Paul was talking about when he spoke of "walking after the flesh."

    "Walking after the Spirit," refers to simply looking to the Cross, having Faith in that Finished Work, which then guarantees the help of the Holy Spirit, which makes it possible for us to live a victorious, overcoming, Christian life (Rom. 6:14).

Romans 6:14
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Judgment On The Christian

        It is the Cross of Christ alone which has stayed the wrath of God. Paul said: "Much more then, being now justified by His Blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him (through Christ and what He did at the Cross)" (Rom. 5:9). Paul, in giving the description of the Lord’s Supper, said: "Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord.

• "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
• "For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s Body.
• "For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep."

        He then said, "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged" (I Cor. 11:27-31). What does he mean by the statement, "shall be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord," or, "not discerning the Lord’s Body"? He meant this: That sacred ordinance which we refer to as the "Lord’s Supper," typifies the Crucifixion of Christ, which of course, refers to the price that He paid in order that men might be saved.

1 Cor. 11:27-31
Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. [28] But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. [29] For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. [30] For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. [31] For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

        The Holy Spirit through the Apostle is telling the entirety of the Body of Christ and for all time, that whenever we take the "Lord’s Supper," we should understand, in fact, we must understand, that our Salvation has come to us strictly because of what Christ did at the Cross, and our Faith in that Finished Work. As well, the Christian must understand that his victory, in fact everything he receives from the Lord after coming to Christ, is made possible totally and completely, by the Cross of Christ, and our Faith in that great Sacrifice.

        We are not required to be perfect in order to take the Lord’s Supper, but we are required to have our Faith anchored completely in the Finished Work of Christ, understanding that everything we receive from the Lord, has come to us because of what Christ did at the Cross. If in fact, our faith is in other things, the taking of the Lord’s Supper will then bring the Judgment of God upon the participant. The Holy Spirit clearly and plainly through Paul said, that such could cause a Christian to be sick, and that many could even die prematurely. He used the word "many" stating that this in fact was the case (I Cor. 11:30).

1 Cor. 11:30
For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

        I would hope each one studying this lesson understands the significance of this which we have just stated. That being the case, and realizing that the far greater majority of the modern Church little understands the Cross, thereby having their faith in other things, we are now seeing the reason for much sickness and even lives cut short at the present time. While the Doctor may diagnose the situation as one thing, the true reason for many Christians can be found in this which the Apostle has stated to us.

        Of course, this doesn’t mean that every time a Christian gets sick or if one dies prematurely that such is the case. But it does apply to many, as should be obvious. We must come back to the statement, "Judgment must begin at the House of God," and we must not take these words lightly.

       Paul has outlined the revelation of the Cross in his Epistles, of which Peter addresses as well. When we read Paul's revelation, we must see beyond Paul to CHRIST and know that this revelation is meant for the entirety of Christ's Church- HIS BODY. There is nothing more important than the Believer understanding the veracity of the Cross.  In effect, the Holy Spirit is saying through Peter the same word said through Solomon so long, long ago:

Proverbs 1:23
Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

What Shall The End Be?

        The question, "And if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God?", proclaims the judgment beginning at the Church, and then coming to those who are without God. We are graphically told what the end will be of those in this category. Paul said:

Romans 1:18
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

        In all of this we should understand the malignity of sin, how bad it is, how awful it is, how destructive it is! God cannot abide sin in any form, and His answer to sin is the Sacrifice of Christ, and alone the Sacrifice of Christ. We tend to forget that, and I speak of the Church.

        When we consider the price that God has paid in the giving of His Only Son, and especially considering what Christ had to do in order to redeem humanity, which was the pouring out of His Own Precious Blood on the Cross of Calvary, then we should understand the magnitude of the debt that was owed.

        The Cross show us the full magnitude of the horror of sin. Only by understanding the Cross, can we fully understand the problem. And if we fully understand the problem, then we know that we cannot live HIS life without the help of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:11). And to properly understand the Cross, is to understand that the Holy Spirit works exclusively within the parameters of the Finished Work of Christ. In fact, the manner in which He works, is so laid out, so confined, so cast in concrete so to speak, that it is referred to as a "Law," actually, "the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:2). Through this Law and this Law alone, can we have victory over "the law of sin and death" (Rom. 8:2).

Romans 8:1-2
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. [2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

        The only thing standing between us and the Wrath of God is the Cross of Christ. As well, the only way that you as a Christian can live this Christian life, at least as you ought to, and in effect, have all that Christ has purchased for you at the Cross, is by properly understanding what the Cross actually means. In this manner and this manner alone, can your faith be properly placed, which is all important! Only then, will the Holy Spirit work with you, in you, and for you, Whom without, you simply cannot be what you ought to be.

        Does the world not know that their only hope is the Cross of Christ? In fact, they do not know! Being spiritually dead, they have no way to know or understand this of which we speak. They cannot even momentarily glimpse the terrible eternity that awaits them, unless they take advantage of God’s Salvation Plan. Therefore, not being able to know or understand on their own, and because of this terrible spiritual death, it is our responsibility as Believers to herald this Message far and wide. That’s why Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.

Mark 16:15-16
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. [16] He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

If The Righteous Scarcely Be Saved....

1 Peter 4:18
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

        The composite here is:

• 1. The word "scarcely" is the translation of a Greek word that means literally "with difficulty."
• 2. The idea is, despite the fact of Salvation being a free gift, the purification process of the Saint after Redemption is not simple or easy.
• 3. Understanding this, what can one say as to the position of the unsaved in relation to God?
• 4. If the Righteous need disciplinary judgments, how much more will the unrighteous merit the Wrath of God Whose offer of Righteousness they have rejected.

        The phrase, "And if the righteous scarcely be saved," to be sure, presents us much food for thought.

        This is a literal quotation, word for word, of Proverbs 11:31, according to the Greek version. This quotation proves to us Peter’s perfect familiarity with both the Hebrew original and the Greek version. We have seen how he rejects the Greek version when it does not suit his meaning (I Pet. 2:8): here it suits him (though it differs from the Hebrew) and he accepts it, or I should say, the Holy Spirit through him accepts it.

Proverbs 11:31
Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.

1 Peter 2:8
And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

        What does the Apostle mean by the statement, "If the righteous scarcely be saved"?

        Coming to Christ is one thing. Even that is a miracle within itself. Staying in Christ is something else altogether. At the moment of conversion, the Holy Spirit comes into the heart and life of the new Believer. He is there to carry out the Will of God in our hearts and lives, which necessitates bringing us to the place that the Will of God can be carried out. It’s not a simple process, it’s not a quick process, and it’s not an easy process.

        To take a very complex subject and attempt to explain it, perhaps the one word "faith" would say it most of all. If the Holy Spirit can get us to the place that we center our Faith in the Cross of Christ, then He can carry out the Will of God within our hearts. Of course, among other things, the Will of God is that all sin be rooted out of our lives (Rom. 8:27).

Romans 8:27
And he that searches the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

        That which I have just stated seems simple enough; however, one’s faith is the prime target of the Evil One. In other words, he concentrates all of his energy in whatever way that he attacks, to move our faith from the Cross of Christ, i.e., "The Finished Work," elsewhere. That’s where the struggle commences. Unfortunately, Satan usually has a lot of help, and that help is our own "self-will."

        Upon coming to Christ, most new converts little hearing the Message of the Cross, begin to ape veteran Believers, who most of the time lead them in the wrong direction. They set out to be what they ought to be in Christ by their own efforts and ability, and because it’s wrapped up in religious works, we are made to believe that it’s a very holy direction. The truth is, if our living for God is not centered up completely in the Cross of Christ, in other words, the Cross ever being the object of our Faith, which then gives us the help of the Holy Spirit, we’re going to find it impossible to live this life as we should. This which I have just stated is the heart of the Christian struggle. That’s why the Holy Spirit through Paul devoted Chapter after Chapter to this subject. In fact, the entirety of the Epistle to the Galatians is written with this very thing in mind.

        Many of us have read the Bible over and over, yet we have never found a place of peace in our Christian walk with God.  The truth is,  the Cross has been so little preached in the last several decades that the modern Church is almost Cross illiterate. As a result, this present generation of Christians little knows what true victory actually is. I put myself in that category. I feel like a kindergarten student even though I've known the Lord for many years. That’s at least one of the reasons for hundreds of thousands of Christians running all over the world to a particular Preacher whom they think God is using. They would hope that he would lay hands on them and they would experience some type of manifestation, which would then solve their problem. Laying on of hands is without a doubt or argument scriptural and having folks agree with us in prayer is NEVER a bad thing. But the ROOT of our problem will take MORE than hands being laid on us to get rid of.

         The truth is for most,  the problem is "sin." In some way, and I’m speaking of the lives of Christians, the problem is sin. Sin still "reigns" in many lives even though the Bible tells us that sin should not have dominion over us.  Believers will not find any victory in this capacity of having hands laid on them. They may find healing for sick bodies, and may be blessed, but they will not find victory over sin in this fashion.

        Victory over sin is more than receiving a touch, it's about the TRUTH. That’s why Jesus said: "You shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free" (Jn. 8:32).

John 8:32
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

        Sin was judged on the Cross. That is the relation between judgment and the Cross.