Our last study of the “eternal judgment” by our Lord Jesus Christ made us reflect on how we are judging now. We might read one verse that says “do not judge” and another one that instructs us to judge righteously. Frank Abel joins Tim Young to discuss these passages and how we have to take them all together to get a balanced view.
“Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” (John 7:24)
Outline
Intro
- Many passages about the future judgment relate to how we are judging now (e.g. Rom. 14:10-13)
- Essential Bible studies are so we might exercise our discernment between good and evil (Heb. 5:14)
- We have to be wise about how we judge. Contrast between 1 Cor. 4:3-5 and 5:3; 6:5 (1 Cor. 11:28-32)
When Not to Judge
- When you are judging motives (1 Cor. 4:3-5)
- When you are a hypocrite (Matt. 7:1-3, see also James 3:1)
- When you are judging outward appearances (John 7:24; James 2:1-4; Isa. 53:2-3)
- When you have only heard one side of the story (Prov. 18:17; Deut. 19:18)
True Judgments
- God loves judgment
- To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD (Prov. 21:3, see also Psa. 51:16-17)
- In judgment he delights (Jer. 9:24; Micah 6:8; bonus Zech. 7:9; 8:16)
- One of the weightier matters of the law (Luke 11:42)
- The need to balance love and judgment
- What is a true friend? (Prov. 27:5-6)
- How to love your neighbor (Lev. 19:17-18)
- Loving like Jesus (Rev. 3:19)
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