Avoiding God's Judgment and Living a Pleasing Life
Scripture consistently frames the avoidance of divine judgment not as a matter of evading scrutiny, but as a call to active righteousness and trust in God's provision. The Psalms command, "Depart from evil, and do good. Live securely forever" [1], establishing the fundamental pattern: turning from sin is inseparable from pursuing what is good. This dual movement—away from wickedness, toward righteousness—recurs throughout the biblical witness.
The Shape of a Pleasing Life
Paul's instruction to Titus captures the ethical contours: believers are to live "soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" [2], denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. Peter echoes this, urging believers to "live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God" [3]. Freedom in Christ is not license but a reorientation toward service. The goal, as Paul writes to the Thessalonians, is that "your lives might be pleasing to God, who has given you a part in his kingdom and his glory" [5]. One commentary notes that this ambition to please Christ will be tested when believers stand before him to be judged, though the judge is also their advocate [14].
The Nature of Sin and Its Remedy
The Reformed tradition emphasizes that all are born sinners, yet "whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it" [9]. Augustine, cited in Jamieson-Fausset-Brown, clarifies that those who imitate the devil become children of the devil "by imitating him, not by proper birth" [10]—corruption, not generation, defines the relationship. The first sin was "not simply eating an apple, but a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor" [11], a pattern that continues in deliberate, arrogant rebellion [12].
Practical Imperatives
Jesus himself links judgment to conduct: "Don't judge, and you won't be judged. Don't condemn, and you won't be condemned" [4]. Torrey's Topical Textbook catalogs practical warnings: procrastination in hearkening to God is condemned [8], and overanxiety about earthly things obstructs the gospel [7]. Trust in God's providential goodness should free believers from such care [7]. The righteous response is gladness before God [6], a life marked by contentment with one's portion, for "godliness with contentment is great gain" [13].
Sources
- Psalms “Depart from evil, and do good. Live securely forever. -- Psalms 37:27”
- King James Version “[KJV] Titus 2:12 — Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”
- I Peter “I Peter 2:16 (BSB) — Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.”
- Luke “Don’t judge, and you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, and you won’t be condemned. Set free, and you will be set free. -- Luke 6:37”
- I Thessalonians “I Thessalonians 2:12 (BBE) — So that your lives might be pleasing to God, who has given you a part in his kingdom and his glory.”
- Psalms “But let the righteous be glad. Let them rejoice before God. Yes, let them rejoice with gladness. -- Psalms 68:3”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Care, Overmuch — About earthly things, forbidden -- Mt 6:25; Lu 12:22,29; Joh 6:27. God's providential goodness should keep us from -- Mt 6:26,28,30; Lu 22:35. God's promises should keep us from -- Heb 13:5. Trust in God should free us from -- Jer 17:7,8; Da 3:16. Should be cast on God -- Ps 37:5; 55:22; Pr 16:3; 1Pe 5:7. An obstruction to the Gospel -- Mt 13:22; Lu 8:14; 14:18-20. Be without -- 1Co 7:32; Php 4:6. Unbecoming in saints -- 2Ti 2:4. Uselessness of -- Mt 6:27; Lu 12:25,26. Vanity of -- Ps 39:6; Ec 4:8. Warning against -- Lu 21:34. Sent as a punishment to”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Procrastination — Condemned by Christ -- Lu 9:59-62. Saints avoid -- Ps 27:8; 119:60. To be avoided in Hearkening to God. -- Ps 95:7,8; Heb 3:7,8. Seeking God. -- Isa 55:6. Glorifying God. -- Jer 13:16. Keeping God's commandments. -- Ps 119:60. Making offerings to God. -- Ex 22:29. Performance of vows. -- De 23:21; Ec 5:4. Motives for avoiding The present the accepted time. -- 2Co 6:2. The present the best time. -- Ec 12:1. The uncertainty of life. -- Pr 27:1. Danger of illustrated -- Mt 5:25; Lu 13:25. Exemplified Lot. -- Ge 19:16. Felix. -- Ac 24:25.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil--in contrast to "He that doeth righteousness," Jo1 3:7. He is a son of the devil (Jo1 3:10; Joh 8:44). John does not, however, say, "born of the devil." as he does "born of God," for "the devil begets none, nor does he create any; but whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [AUGUSTINE, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 4.10]. From the devil there is not generation, but corruption [BENGEL]. sinneth from the beginning--from the time that any beg”
- Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 3:13: beguiled--cajoled by flattering lies. This sin of the first pair was heinous and aggravated--it was not simply eating an apple, but a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters--a preference of the creature to the Creator.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 19:13: 19:13 An individual who commits deliberate sins does so with an insolent (86:14) or arrogant (119:21, 69) attitude. • The great sin is rebellion (see 32:1).”
- Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 19:23: The fear of the Lord tendeth to life,.... "Godliness", of which the fear of the Lord is a principal part, has "the promise of this life and that to come", Ti1 4:8, the fear of God is the beginning of a spiritual life; and it leads to eternal life, as Gersom observes, and is connected with it; and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; with his lot and portion in this life; with the good things of it he has, being content therewith and "godliness with contentment is great gain", Ti1 6:6, such a man has enough; he has all things in a spiritual sense; he is full of ”
- 2 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Corinthians 5:9: 5:9-10 The goal of the present life is to please him (see also Rom 12:1-2; 14:18; Col 1:10; 1 Thes 4:1). This ambition will be tested when we stand before Christ to be judged. The judge is also our advocate, so we are confident of acquittal (Rom 8:1, 33-34). Yet actions done in this earthly body will be assessed and called to account (Acts 17:31).”