Judgment's Salvation

Judgment as the Saving Work of Christ
Theodicy describes the problem of God's 'goodness' in a world of moral and natural evil.
The first-century's answer to theodicy is Messiah.
All of Jesus' work leaves a transformed Jewish apocalyptic framework in place.
In later Christianity, salvation is separated from judgment as apocalypticism fades.
Yet judgment is part of salvation (1 Cor 3:12-15, 1 Pet 3:18-22, Ps 46).
E.g., Notre Dame West Front, Celtic high cross.
In the meantime, we experience moments of justice in an unjust world:
Expulsion from Eden, Noah's flood, plagues and deliverances, consequences and their lessons, Caesar's sword (Rom 13), Jesus' resurrection, Church discipline.
We Participate (and Don't) in Judgment ...
in birth, into sinfulness, the stoicheia (Gal 4:3), and the heritage of God's judgments;
in baptism, in Jesus' being judged and vindicated;
in the life of the Church, in mutual accountability (1 Cor 5, Matt 18); and
on the Last Day, by Jesus' verdict on our lives (2 Cor 5:10, Luke 12:8-9, Matt 25).
Jesus grants believers a share in his judgment (1 Cor 6:3, Rev 6:10).
Until the parousia, the Church waits (Rev 6:10 again) for Christ's final judgment.
Nonretaliation anticipates God's judgment of the world (Rom 12:19-21).
Advent is a season of mercy and mission (Jonah 3:4, 4:1-2) to victims and oppressors.
God's mercy both raises and answers the problem of evil (Jonah 4:11).
Delay (2 Pet 3:9-10, Acts 1:11) implies neither indifference nor universalism.