Category: Judgment

“Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge?” (1 Corinthians 6:1-4).

The idea of judging is not welcome in society today, though it is necessary and prevalent. The question is, who should judge, and how should they do it?

The answer is found in these words. Judging is to be done carefully and righteously. Jesus said the same in Matthew 7:2-5. Fortunately, Christians are the most capable in this area, or at least should be, as they are to conduct themselves righteously, with ethics and honesty.

Though differences exist regarding the true meaning of the phrases, “the saints will judge the world” (2) and “we shall judge angels” (3) it is evident that Paul was elevating the place and ability of the saints above both of those groups.

So, what is the lesson? Act and think as a saint should act and think! (cf. 1 Peter 4:3-6). Doing so will allow us to make right and proper decisions, in every relationship whether it be family, friends, or brethren.

Christian discernment is a good thing!

The Lesson discusses both the commendable and condemnable aspect of the young generation’s views concerning Judgment and Kindness.

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The Psalm reveals that our perception that the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper is not accurate. Ultimately, the wicked will suffer God’s wrath as the righteous are rewarded.

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Certain things are not avoidable in life, including The Consequences of Sin, Death, and the Judgment!

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Social media has shown me that many people need the psychological boost that comments, likes and follows bring them on social media. Of course, there are other reasons for coveting such things (making money, spreading a message), but the primary one in non-commercial postings is validation and expressions of love and support.

This is not new! Paul addressed it several times in his letters. Consider his words to the Corinthians. “Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart” (2 Corinthians 3:1-3).

Efforts to gain support and sympathy, whether through social media, letters, emails, speeches, etc. ultimately have no legitimate merit. If such help in the area of acceptance, praise and support, they nevertheless have no bearing on the rightness or wrongness of the person being supported. Put it this way, an evil man can have as much such support as a good man. This is demonstrated clearly in politics. Partisanship will allow the politician to locate a group that is fully supporting him, while another group would not. Interestingly, on social media (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) online friends often even praise evil. Continue reading “The Need for Commendation (And Social Media)” →

As Jeremiah lamented the rebellion of Judah, and the chastisement of his God, he nevertheless acknowledged God’s judgement was righteous and that His nature was merciful and good. And so he wrote, “The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth” (Lamentations 3:25-27).

There are a couple of truths in this passage that are worthy of examination. Taking the last words first, we should acknowledge that it “is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth.” While burdens, chastisements and distress are never easy, they do build character. The prophet knew that the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians and God’s judgment of the people was, though harsh, very much deserved. To live through this would help the young know of the consequences of rebellion, and cause a turn to righteousness and steadfastness as the lesson was learned.

The second truth is that God does His own will in His own time. It is not appropriate for us to complain about these things. Job did , and even to the degree of his suffering, the answer of God was basically, “How dare you?” So, when things are going bad with us, little or big, and we chafe at trouble, let us not murmur and complain. Instead, let us “wait quietly for the LORD.” He is the preeminent Creator. As His people, let us not be presumptuous!

This is a hard thing for children. It might be because a child thinks that if he admits he has done wrong, there will be consequences. In fact, some children will continue to proclaim “I didn’t do it” or “It wasn’t me” even if they were caught red handed!

It can be the same for Christians as well. Why would a Christian who has sinned deny, or rationalize,  or excuse their actions? Well, it may be that they fear what others may think if they admit to not being perfect! But, no one is perfect, and that shows too much concern for what others think, rather than what God thinks! “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6). Continue reading “Acknowledging Responsibility for Wrong” →

The text of 2 Peter 3:10-13 relates the truth of Christ’s second coming. Certain truths are unequivocally revealed there for us to consider and heed. These are: Continue reading “The Day of the Lord” →

The Psalmist in Psalm 26 asks for a personal examination to be vindicated. He claims to have “walked in my integrity”, “walked in Your truth.” Conversely, he has not slipped, has not “sat with idolatrous mortals”, nor gone “in with hypocrites.”

He recognized that the Lord’s “lovingkindness is before my eyes” and he was eager to “tell of all Your wondrous works” having loved “the place where Your glory dwells.” He prayed that God might, “Redeem me and be merciful to me” (Psalm 26:1-12).

In a more prosaic way, Paul also proclaimed that vindication comes only from the Lord. He wrote, “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 4:3-4).

Simply put, it doesn’t matter what others think, or even what we think. We need only to know that our God will examine and vindicate us! It is a good thing that the one who will judge us wants our salvation! “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

We need not worry about a capricious God. He loves us, and will treat us with mercy.

In Matthew 3 John the Baptist had an interesting way of stating that the last days were upon them. He warned the Pharisees and Sadducees about their complacency and feelings of superiority. When they came to his baptism, he greeted them with the words, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (3:7). He also preemptively responded to their potential response. “And do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones” (3:9).

What these Jewish leaders thought is that in their position as God’s chosen people, they would always have standing and protection. However, with the change in covenant in the coming of Jesus, everything is changed! As John stated, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry” (3:11). This coming One’s work is described, “His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (3:12).

When would it happen? Soon! John was preparing the way.  Note his words:  “And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (3:10). Today, the only protection we have is faithfulness, not position. So, bear fruit for the Lord, and avoid the ax!

A lesson discussing the oft asked question, “Is there anyway to get away with sin?”

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The beginning of the book of Hosea sets the timeline.  He received words from God, “in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel” (Hosea 1:1). This reign of the second Jeroboam is related in 2 Kings 14:23-29. Jeroboam reigned over a nation that was fully steeped in idolatry, which was soon to fall to the mighty nation of Assyria.  The people were taken into captivity, and the northern nation was no more. The internal evidence seems to indicate that Hosea’s ministry of prophecy took place only a few decades before the end of the nation in 722 B.C.

It is important to note how God felt toward idolatry. The beginning of the 10 commandments given by God is, “You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God…” (Exodus 20:3-5a). Idolatry was considered a great unfaithfulness, a spiritual adultery to God. And yet, for its entire existence, the northern kingdom of Israel consistently practiced the sin. Continue reading “The Ministry of the Prophet Hosea” →

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!

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

A concise verse, establishing several important truths:

1. Judgment is universal. It says “we must all appear before the judgment seat.  The word “all” is inclusive. No one will escape judgment.
2. Christ is the judge. We are thankful that the one who “died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us” (Romans 8:34) is the one who judges us.
3. We will receive at judgment exactly what we deserve. “whether good or bad.”
4. The judgment has a standard by which we will be judged. “The things done in the body.”

Finally, Paul writes of the consequence of these truths found in this verse. Our purpose should be His.  We should make it our aim “to be well pleasing to him” (9). It makes no sense to offend the one who is our judge.  Our primary purpose in life it to please Him. Because we know the “terror of the Lord” we do as He desires. His desire is that we persuade men, cf. Mark 16:15; Romans 1:15.

Seek to please Him in your life.  It matters!