Judging man is judging God as not worthy….
Romans 2: 1-12
“You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?
But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God "will give to each person according to what he has done." To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism. All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.”
I was challenged a while back by a person who stated I use the passage in Romans 2 wrongly in teaching people not to judge… so I decided that we should take a look at what is happening here…
First off, I will state chapter one in Romans is about the Gentile… and that they are clearly sinners… In a way Paul is winding up a pitch to toss out that will cross the plate if one is not ready to see what is happening. So point one:
Gentiles are sinners and because of creation have no excuse.
Sorry for the high speed run through Romans 1… so we come to chapter 2.
“You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.”
These “you who pass judgment” are a reference to the Jewish believer in Rome. You see there were Jewish believers and gentile believers… and they did into get along. The Jewish believers condemned judged the gentiles for not following the Law as they did… they judged the gentile for not holding to the standard that the Jews saw the Law to be. Paul states that, yes these gentiles are sinners, but you do the same things and do not keep the very Law you are holding the gentiles to hold to…
Paul states that God’s judgment is based on Truth… for God is Truth… Jesus is Truth incarnate. Paul clearly points out that if one judges another yet is doing the same thing… that they will not escape God’s wrath at THE JUDGMENT. Why? Because as Paul is saying that they are hold “contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience” and that they are,” not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?” In other words they are denying the Grace of God and choosing to judge as God, they are choosing to be a god and denying God His rightful place.
Paul then state something that may sound a bit like it is against Grace, yet remember this is at the Last Judgment when God will judge you by what you did with Jesus and what you did with His Grace and Mercy…
“But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God "will give to each person according to what he has done."”
Good News!
“To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life”
Bad news for those who displaced Jesus from His Throne of Judgment!
“But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.”
Remember this is to “believers”… Which is hard for me to say as I believe in eternal security… which then make s me wonder if some who professed to be believers, were not… for they “hated their brothers” as John states. (1 John 2:9-10, 1 John 3:15)
To hate your brother is a sign one is not saved… so it would seem not all are "true believers" or are very immature believers.
“For God does not show favoritism. All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.”
God does not have favorites in the way the Jewish believers tried to teach… in fact Paul does a great job in pointing something out we may all miss… all have sinned… and all will die… the playing field is level… Jew and Gentile, will perish with or without the Law.
Now, tie all this so far with this passage.
“Romans 3: 9-28 “What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin.
As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one."
"Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit." "The poison of vipers is on their lips."
"Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."
"Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know."
"There is no fear of God before their eyes."
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished-- he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.”
I know there is a lot going on in this passage, but I wanted the whole context for you. “All have sinned and fallen short the glory of God” yet “are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
To judge someone is in fact denying the Grace and mercy of God… and saying His justice is nothing… That is why Paul also writes: “
1 Corinthians 4: 4-6 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.”
To judge is putting your own pride over and against another man… pride is sin… it is the sin of Satan… to judge another is Satanic, and puts one in alignment with the Accuser of the brethren, Satan himself. It spits on the the Grace of God and calls God unjust and a liar… that God will not do as He said and fulfill His word…This is not walking in faith… it is walking against it as it is saying God is not faithful… so beware and do not judge one another.
Discernment is one thing, judgment another. Discernment will give compassion towards the other and hope for best as you reach out to restore in all humility. Judgment condemns what Jesus died for to save… The bible may use “judge” or “judgment” in a way that if one does not have a clear biblical picture one will fall into sin… yet to understand the meaning behind the word, and by following the Holy Spirit, one will know the voice of God and will know what Jesus commanded us to do… to Love God and Love one another… to do less is blasphemy.
Blessings
iggy
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