THE JUDGMENT WILL not be for the purpose of determining guilt or innocence…

A man commits a crime against the peace and dignity of the state; he is arrested by duly constituted authority, brought to court and tried before a jury of his peers.  What is the function of the jury?  To listen to the evidence and to render a verdict.  What is the verdict?  It is a determination of the innocence or guilt of the accused.  After the verdict is in, the prisoner is brought to the bar, and the judge pronounces judgment upon him.  What does the judge do?  Does he ascertain innocence or guilt?  No.  That has already been determined by the jury.  What does the judge do?  He makes formal pronouncement of sentence.  (Guy N. Woods)

“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing…”  2 Timothy 4:1a

Mike Benson