Why Doesn’t God Immediately Judge Our Sin?

Because God physically judges people in the Old Testament, people assume He was angrier back then. But that’s not true. God doesn’t change (James 1:17). Psalm 7:11 says, “God is an honest judge. He is angry with the wicked every day.” In truth, God rarely did physical judgments in the Old Testament. And people in the Old Testament knew this and decided they were okay with God, even though they kept on sinning. In Psalm 50, God Himself calls out this belief: “While you did all this, I remained silent, and you thought I didn’t care. But now I will rebuke you, listing all my charges against you” (verse 21). When God doesn’t immediately judge sin, people assume God approves. But God is a God of justice. Sin makes Him angry because sin twists and destroys everything it touches. Sin is anything that goes against God, who is the very source of life and goodness. It includes things that show hate for Him and for what He has made (Matthew 22:36-40). Sin brings so much harm—so much injustice—that it must be judged. But God does not always judge sin right when it happens. However, Romans 2:5 says unrepentant sinners “are storing up terrible punishment” for themselves—because Jesus, who died on the cross and rose from the grave, will one day return, “judging the world with justice” (Acts 17:31). In other words, instead of judging sin now, He’s storing up His wrath for Judgment Day. But, if He’s so just, why doesn’t He punish every wrong right now? It’s because He’s patient and loving. He’s not showing His wrath now because He died on the cross to take the punishment for sin and rose from the grave. He’d rather have you repent and be saved by putting your trust in His work than have His wrath poured out on you (2 Peter 3:9, 15). God isn’t judging sin right when it happens because He approves of it. Rather, He’s giving us time to come to Him for salvation. • Jeff Weddle • Why is it important that God is both loving and just? To learn more about God’s love and justice, check out our “Know Jesus” page. Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? Romans 2:4 (NLT)

Read Verses:

Lamentations 3:1-33