And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
When I moved to Astoria, OR, in 1984, to plant a Baptist church there, one of the first things I was asked to do was to give a Bible study on the Coast Guard Cutter Resolute. One of the officers on the ship was also involved in the new church plant. He was having some trouble onboard and wanted a Bible study on the subject "Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged."
Over the years I’ve heard all sorts of discussion, both in and out of the pulpit, about judging. Most of the non-Christian, or carnal Christian world, focuses on the idea that Christians are not supposed to judge. Most preachers, on the other hand, recognize that this is not entirely accurate. We must judge whether one is saved or unsaved to preach the gospel to them. We must make judgments in our ministries if they are to have order in them.[1] And the Bible clearly teaches, 1 Corinthians 6:1-5 KJV:
Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
Our text comes directly after Romans 1 and the debauchery described. There can be little doubt that this is a judgmental passage. But here’s the problem; too often those using the Bible to make these judgments forget that we also face the judgment of God.
It is true, and important to point out, that judgment takes many forms. The Christian’s sins have been judged and paid for on the cross of Jesus Christ. We will not be judged for our sins like the unbeliever will. But we will appear before the judgment seat of Christ, and we will give an account for our works.
The key to fairly treating those whose deeds we judge to be opposed to the Word of God is to remember that we too are guilty of those things, only we have been pardoned because of Christ, and to recall that, though our sins are forgotten, we will yet stand before God.
It is a great error to assume we have escaped the judgment of God or to ignore that we will one day face it.
#BiblicalJudgment #ChristianDiscernment #Romans2 #GospelTruth #AccountabilityInChrist
Understanding Christian Judgment: Facing God
[1] 1 Corinthians 14:40 KJV
Let all things be done decently and in order.
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Amen.. thank you Pastor...
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