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Judge seems to be a dirty word in our culture. However, the word judge simply means to “form an opinion or conclusion about” something. The Bible says, “Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:15). God desires us to be mature in our faith. One of the ways we do that is by speaking the truth in love to one another. This involves making judgments.
Making judgments
When someone is caught in a sin, the Bible wants us to “form a conclusion” about the danger of that sin and lovingly point it out.
Read Galatians 6:1; 2 Timothy 2:25; and James 5:19,20.
What do these passages urge us to keep in mind as we go about this eternity-changing task?
Read John 7:24.
List instances when judging is inappropriate.
God’s judgment
Some mistakenly think that God does not judge. John 12:47 says, “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.”
It is true! Jesus’ first coming was not for judgment, but for salvation. Jesus came to take the judgment of God for all sinners on himself so that we would not have to suffer it. Yet, the Bible is clear that we can reject that salvation through impenitence (Hebrews 10:26).
But the Bible also talks about Jesus as judge.
Read John 12:48 and Acts 17:31
What false ideas do people hold when they think God does not judge?
If God did not judge, what negative consequences would there be for our lives?
Our judgment
Read Matthew 18:15-22.
Notice how Jesus wants us to keep another’s sin as private as possible, only widening those who know when lesser measures are rejected. After each step, if the person repents, you forgive, and the process stops. Even when the final measure is rejected and impenitence sets that person outside the church, Jesus wants us to treat him as a pagan or a tax collector.
What does that mean? Remember how Jesus treated pagans and tax collectors. He dealt with them as unbelievers who needed to be won over!
Based on our study, respond to the following people:
“That church kicked me out!”
“Haven’t you heard ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’?”
“This is my life! I don’t poke my nose into your life and judge you!”
Author: David Scharf
Volume 107, Number 12
Issue: December 2020
- Psalm 103: When you count your blessings
- Psalm 91: When God lifts you up on his lap
- Psalm 4: When you draw nearer to the end
- Psalm 42: When you ask, “Where is God when I’m hurting?”
- Psalm 32: When you need forgiveness
- Psalm 130: When rocks fall
- Bible study: Freedom in service
- What does this mean for me? Article 6
- Bible study: Spiritual gifts
- What does this mean for me? Article 5
- What does this mean for me? Article 4
- Bible study: Rejoice in your status!
- Bible study: Baptismal blessings
- What does this mean for me? Article 3
- What does this mean for me? Article 2
- Bible study: Gifts of tongues and miraculous healing
- What does this mean for me? Article 1
- Bible study: Jesus is everyone’s Savior
- Bible study: Love one another
- Bible study: Above all things!
- Bible study: The comfort of God’s providence
- The book of James: Waiting for Christ’s return
- Bible study: Precious grace
- The book of James: Active in using prayer
- Bible study: Rewards of grace
- The book of James: Active in showing love
- The book of James: Correctly evaluating riches
- Bible study: What’s going to happen on the Last Day?
- The book of James: Avoiding loveless judging
- Bible study: Interpretation practice
- The book of James: Taming the tongue
- Bible study: The Bible’s attributes
- Bible study: The importance of the family altar
- Bible study: God’s attitude is grace
- Bible study: The Bible’s account of Easter morning
- Bible study: Different types of sin
- Bible study: God’s inspiration
- Bible study: Giving God glory
- Bible study: Judge for yourself
- The book of James: Using the Word of Truth
- Bible study: The need for the Bible and worship
- Bible study: Citizens of two kingdoms
- The book of James: Active in good works
- The book of James: When battling temptation
- Bible study: God cares
- Bible study: God made the world
- The book of James: When facing trials
- Bible study: A loving God saved people from hell
- The book of James: A blueprint for living out our life of faith
- A Bible story just for me: Guilt
- Bible study: God provides victory over death!
- A Bible story just for me: Anxiety
- Bible study: God forgives and refuses to remember our sins
- A Bible story just for me: Grief
- Bible study: God helps those who cannot help themselves
- A Bible story just for me: Depression
- Bible study: God has not grown soft on sin
- Bible study: Only one path leads to God’s presence
- A Bible story just for me: Trauma
- A Bible story just for me
- Bible study: God wants me in heaven
- Bible study: The incarnation of our Lord