Category: Judging
Subject: Judging
Mining the Scriptures: James 2:1-4
Here we have a general command of James, which is produced by the characteristic of love. If indeed we want to heed Christ’s imperative: “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12), James’ admonition must be obeyed. “…Do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.”
Although the context gives the example of material wealth (not preferring the rich man over the poor), there is nothing in the admonition which would limit it to this case. An understanding of Galatians 3:28, which affirms the value of every soul, shows that any partiality shown, whether it be wealth, gender, race or culture is in fact becoming “judges with evil thoughts.”
The gospel of Christ is for every man. All have the same value to Him, and so should have the same value to us. Those who are vulnerable, disenfranchised, poor, desolate — whatever their state — as we consider their souls, should be cherished by us.
Mining the Scriptures: 2 Peter 2:4-11
This section of Peter’s epistle uses several examples from scripture to note God’s judgment. First is the angels who sinned, of which we know little beyond speculation. However, this judgment seems to be the first meted out by God. We are familiar with the flood, and the judgment of the ancient world. Next are Sodom and Gomorrah, who God destroyed with fire and brimstone. He states these two cities serve as an “example to those who afterward would live ungodly” (6).
In the midst of such judgment of evil stood righteous men like Moses and Lot, who were oppressed by the evil which surrounded them. But, they were spared by God.
This is to let us know today that “the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment” (9).
As always, your standing before God and treatment by Him depends upon your own obedience or disobedience. God treats us all fairly because God is just!
The Patternists: Who Judges the Steward?
“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord” (1 Corinthians 4:1-4).
In our text Paul reveals himself as a servant of Christ. Christ had given him a specific stewardship. As an apostle, it was his responsibility to reveal God’s mysteries. His efforts enraged some. For example, the Judaizers in the early church despised the great apostle’s ministry among the Gentiles. It didn’t bother him in the least. He didn’t care. It was a “very small thing.”
Sermon: Judge with Righteous Judgment
The lesson describes Jesus’ defense of His teaching and miracles at the feast of Tabernacles, in John 7:10-24
Sermon: Fall Meeting 2020, Jeremiah Cox
The following lessons were preached from November 1-6, 2020 during the West Side Fall Meeting.
Brother Jeremiah Cox is the evangelist for the Elm Street church of Christ in El Reno, Oklahoma. He and his wife Zoe and little girl Collins live in Yukon, OK.
Sunday Sermon in two parts
Boldness to Enter the Holiest (Hebrews 10)
Sunday Class
Asking for Wisdom in Faith (James 1)
Monday
The Defense for My Hope
Tuesday
Walking in the Light (1 John 1)
Wednesday
Memories from Home
Thursday
The Generic Jesus
Friday
If They Were Here, What Would They Say?
The Sad Reign of Hoshea
2 Kings 17 reveals Hoshea to be the final king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Israel had persisted in her idolatry and rebellion from the day she was established as a kingdom, as Jeroboam took the people away in rebellion against Solomon’s son Rehoboam.
Chapter 15 reveals that during the reign of Pekah, the Assyrians had come in, and raided the land, taking hostages back to Assyria. Only a short time later Shalmaneser, the king of Israel subjugated the nation, making a vassal of Hoshea, and imposing tribute money upon him (17:3). No longer was Israel a sovereign nation. When Hoshea tried to avoid paying the tribute, the conspiracy became known and the king of Assyria threw him into prison. (17:4). In the ninth year of Hoshea’s reign, with the king in prison, the Assyrians carried the people of Israel into captivity, and the nation ceased to exist.
This was the final end of generations of sin. While Hoshea’s reign was doomed to end in this way, (God’s judgment was inevitable), he was not faultless. He “did evil in the sight of the Lord” (17:2). Sin brings ruin, collectively and individually. It may be a slow descent into ruin, or a headlong rush, but the end is inevitable, as men rebel against the God of heaven. “For so it was that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God… until the Lord removed Israel out of His sight, as He had said by all His servants the prophets. So Israel was carried away from their own land to Assyria, as it is to this day.” (17:7, 23-24).
May we learn from the sad example of Israel, and seek always to maintain faithfulness to the Lord. May we choose the way of righteousness rather than the way of ruin.
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Sermon: “Judge not that you be not judged”
Speaker: Josh Cox
This lesson discusses Jesus teaching on the subject of judging.
Sermon: Pride Manifested
Strife, worldliness, and judgmentalism are manifestations of pride, as revealed in James chapter 4.
Sermon: Investigation
God investigates us. We must investigate ourselves, and all things we involve ourselves with. We also are called from time to time to investigate others, all such investigation must be done with honesty and integrity.
The Patternists: Does Jesus Condemn Judging?
The answer to the question before us? Jesus certainly does condemn judging! Note Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” The problem is that people think the question to be simple, when it is actually more complex.
Jesus’ words in Matthew 7 are not a blanket condemnation of judging, or else we would have Him contradicting Himself. In John 7:24 he told the people “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
The context of Matthew 7 shows that the judgment condemned is hypocritical judgment. I look for the speck in my friend’s eye, when there is a plank in my own eye (vs. 3). We are to remember that any standard of judgment we use will “measured back” to us (vs. 2). Judging another in a small thing when I stand condemned in a greater thing is to be a hypcocrite, and brings God’s judgment upon me.
Consider however, the Christian needs to judge every day! Look at the very context of Matthew 7. Jesus told the people in verse 6, “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine.” His admonition requires that one judge which men are dogs and swine. He also requires such judgment to be righteous.
In verse 15 Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets.” He went so far as to say that they “come to you in sheep’s clothing.” How can we identify them without judging? We can’t! Again, our judgment must be righteous. Remember Jesus’ words, “Do not judge according to appearance.” Instead, Jesus said in verse 20, “Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
Jesus requires obedience from His disciples. Judging others when you yourself are not living in accord with His will is to act the hypocrite. When we of necessity do judge, we are to judge actions (as they relate to God’s will), not appearance or hearts.
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Sermon: Revive Me O Lord!
The Psalm indicates for us that God is able to revive us through His word, His judgments, and His lovingkindness.
The Kingdom Parables (Matthew 13:31-33, 44-50)
Lesson 7 of 8
Speaker: Kris Braddock
Five parables about the Kingdom of heaven are discussed, establishing truths about power, influence, value and judgment.
In the News: The Colorado City Murders
Last week a mentally unbalanced man named Robert Dear killed three people in Colorado City, Colorado. The location of the attack was a Planned Parenthood clinic.
The statement above contains one assumption, that the man was mentally unbalanced. It is admittedly an assumption, but there are a number of facts that seem to bear out the assessment. First, there is the deranged look of the man in his booking photos. Second, there is the characterization of the man’s interaction with police which was described in numerous press reports as incoherent ramblings. Finally there are the descriptions of witnesses of a man who was a loner, a recluse who lived by himself in an isolated shack without plumbing or electricity. In many ways, he seems reminiscent of the “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski.
From the Preacher’s Pen: Fairness Goes Both Ways
God is eminently fair. He is both merciful and just. As we acknowledge our salvation is dependent upon His grace, extended in His Son Jesus, we must also note that He rightly requires obedience on our part. That is His right, and it is fair of Him to demand our allegiance.
When rebellious Israel proclaimed God to be unfair in His dealing with them, He replied clearly:
“‘Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,’ says the Lord God. ‘Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,’ says the Lord God. ‘Therefore turn and live!’” (Ezekiel 18:30-32).
While God does not enjoy condemning men, He is fair! Those who do not turn from their iniquity (repent) will be condemned for their sins. We must get a “new heart and a new spirit.” For us, that means being born again! (cf. John 3:3-5).
Fairness goes both ways. God is fair in rewarding those who practice righteousness. He is pleased to grant the godly eternal life. And yet, though it saddens Him, it is fair of Him to condemn the ungodly to eternal death.
