BIG IDEA: God’s judgments are always true, just, and deserved.
Ultimately, John wants us to see that God’s judgments, whether allowed or sent, are never technically vindictive or cruel, rather as our Big Idea states: God’s judgments are always true (proper, correct, in accord with truth/God’s character), just (honorable, perfect, equitable, morally right), and deserved (a reward befitting the cosmic crime). In closing, one other question occurred to me that’s likely to be on our minds here: “If we all deserve judgment for our sins, then how can God pardon our sins and still be true and just?” The short answer is the cross where Jesus took the full wrath of God. The only way to avoid what we all deserve is to follow Jesus closely by faith.
