One of our most dramatic
courtroom scenes from a movie is from “A Few Good Men”. Colonel Jessup is on
the stand being questioned and he exclaims “You want the truth, you can’t
handle the truth!” We Christians want
the truth, but many times we can’t handle the truth because the truth demands
change. The truth for us today is that we are not called to be judges over the
world or each other in the Body of Christ. We have not been offered that
position yet. We struggle with this idea because we want to be found favorable
in the eyes of Yahweh, however we fail to realize that one of the guidelines
we’ve been given is to not judge one another. Yes, there are civil matters that
one must give account to the ruling authorities, but for people in the body of
Christ, we are not to judge, size up, critique, or evaluate another person’s
life. We will see why the Holy Spirit recorded that for us shortly but first we
have to distinguish between civil matters and personal life.
Moses set judges up over the
people at his father-in-laws suggestion, because his time was being consumed by
people not getting along. The Israelites were traveling in a large group, in
circles for forty years, and they didn’t always get along. During the time of
the Judges over Israel, people were again supposed to judge civil matters
between parties who had disputes. But judgments were not to be made unless
infractions were incurred; meaning between two parties that disagree over a
physical matter. Any type of judgment of spiritual matters was only declared by
Yahweh. For example, were offerings accepted or not? Did the Israelites end up
having to fight other nations because of disobedience or go into captivity
because they did not adhere to the direction Yahweh gave them? So the two types
of judgments are civil judgments, settled by men in physical cases and
spiritual judgments settled by Yahweh. There should not be any men set up as
spiritual judges today. There was never to be a group of humans making
spiritual judgments over people, and yet we find ourselves stuck in this
ridiculous battle over judging each other and not recognizing that we should
not set ourselves up to be judges over the world or the Body of Christ. That is
the truth we cannot handle. That is the truth we don’t understand. That is the
truth that we close our eyes to.
While we all want to know that we
are “OK” in the eyes of Yahweh, we also tend to want some human affirmation
that we are living well and we want to be accepted by other humans who cloister
in our groups. While Col Jessup is an inconvenient truth sitting on the wall,
and we find his existence grotesque (and certainly the non-believers find his
existence grotesque), we put our Col. Jessup’s into spiritual positions over
the Body of Christ because having a watchman who tells us the rules makes us
feel secure in our salvation. Unfortunately, the watchmen are watching in the
wrong direction, looking for the wrong things. Surely it is acceptable for us
to have judgmental opinions over each other. Surely we should be expected to
compare ourselves to one another and evaluate ourselves so that we feel
confident that we are better than others. Surely we should assess our salvation
based on the merits of right rule living, shouldn’t we? No. That is an
inconvenient truth because it disassembles our whole system of thought and
understanding. We put the Col Jessups’ on the wall over the body of Christ by
listening to their judgments, and as long as we agree with them we keep them
there. We then repeat the judgements of the Col Jessups’ and proceed to dissect
each other. Here is the truth we cannot handle, ready? It does not matter what
we think. It does not matter how we feel. It does not matter whether our
opinions line up with other people’s opinions. It does not matter whether we
like something or not. It does not matter whether we agree with something or
not. It does not matter what we think. We
have one thing to work towards, bringing salvation to the world. It is not our
job, nor was it Jesus’ job to judge and condemn the world, and it is not our
job to judge and condemn each other within the Body of Christ.
John very clearly tells us that Jesus did not come into the
cosmos to judge the cosmos. Some translations read “condemn”,
but as we will see, the Greek word is krino
which is not just condemn but to try or
judge. In our modern understanding of the word condemn, we don’t always
think of this as an act of judgment by an upright and true judge, but we think
of condemn as an act of bullying by someone who intends to dominate and
intimidate someone. Unfortunately, that is exactly how the Body of Christ
looks, like bullies, to the unsaved world. And even within the Body of Christ
some have become bullies, when unmistakably we see Jesus saying that believers
on Jesus are not judged.
John 3:17-19 For God did not send the Son into the world in
order to judge [2919] (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world,
but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.
18 He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not
judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment [2919]; for him there
is no rejection, no condemnation — he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not
believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged [2919] already [he has
already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has
not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is
condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ's name.] 19 The [basis
of the] judgment [2920] (indictment, the test by which men are judged, the
ground for the sentence) lies in this: the Light has come into the world, and
people have loved the darkness rather than and more than the Light, for their
works (deeds) were evil. [Isa 5:20.] AMP
We have taken on the Judaic mindset in which Yahweh is
judging Israel. But Yahweh is not judging the world, the nations, as of yet.
Yahweh is rescuing the nations, making the people who believe in Him from all
tribes and tongues whole, sozo. The danger in always taking on the Jewish
mindset is that we attribute old rules and laws to new administrations. Clearly,
John’s most famous verse, the one we see on large signs at large gatherings or
sporting events, John 3:16, is not a standalone verse. Verse 17 has a message
that complements verse 16. Jesus did not come into the cosmos to punish the
cosmos but to deliver the cosmos. And the delivered humans are then no longer
judged, by Jesus or by other humans.
Verse 18 then says whoever believes in Jesus is not judged.
Now we have a problem. If the believers in Jesus Christ are not judged why are
we so busy judging each other? It may be that Christianity has been misled by a
verse or two in 1 Corinthians, and we will examine the context shortly to
conclude the matter. In any event, the unbeliever is judged because they have
not trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. That is the dividing
line. That is the hinge point for all humans, one who believes on Jesus Christ
is made righteous and not judged. One who does not believe on Jesus Christ is
unrighteous and judged or punished. Yet Jesus didn’t come to punish but to
save, or deliver the entire world. The Message says this in a practical
way.
John 3:17-18 God didn't go to all the trouble of sending
his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was.
He came to help, to put the world right again. 18 Anyone who trusts in him is
acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death
sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to
believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him (from THE
MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All
rights reserved.)
Just in case we thought this was the only place we read that
Jesus did not come to judge the world, John tells us that Jesus says it again.
Jesus is not punishing people now. Again we are not seeing the wrath of the
Lamb or the wrath of God the Father, we have studied this extensively and this
is something that will happen in the future, but not now. If you are telling
people God is punishing nations, or people, you are really saying the god of
this world (the devil) is punishing nations and people, not Yahweh. I challenge
anyone who claims that Yahweh is punishing people to use his name and say it
out loud. Do not hide behind the title “god”, use the name of the Creator,
Yahweh. Jesus said it so plainly.
John 12:46-48 I have come as a Light into the world, so
that whoever believes in Me [whoever cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me]
may not continue to live in darkness. 47 If anyone hears My teachings and fails
to observe them [does not keep them, but disregards them], it is not I who
judges [2919] him. For I have not come to judge [2919] and to condemn and to
pass sentence and to inflict penalty on the world, but to save the world. 48
Anyone who rejects Me and persistently sets Me at naught, refusing to accept My
teachings, has his judge [2919] [however]; for the [very] message that I have
spoken will itself judge [2919] and convict him at the last day. AMP
Again, Jesus did not come to judge, condemn, pass sentence,
or inflict penalty on the world. He came to save. That is almost a lost message
today. In the media we hear how one Christian group is judging the
non-believers, or another Christian group is condemning the actions of others.
The devil has Christians all mixed up. We have to stop applying the Jewish way
of thinking, the Jews do not believe Jesus is the Messiah, they believe he is a
liar and a false Messiah and they would prefer that you believe that as well.
Therefore we have to stop behaving as if we are under the dispensation of the
law and behave as if we are under the dispensation of grace. That means we have
to adjust our thinking and change our behavior.
Let’s look at the words being used in scripture for judge
and judgment.
NT:2919 krino (kree'-no); properly, to distinguish, i.e.
decide (mentally or judicially); by implication, to try, condemn, punish: KJV -
avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue
at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think.(Biblesoft's New
Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:2920 krisis (kree'-sis); decision (subjectively or
objectively, for or against); by extension, a tribunal; by implication, justice
(especially, divine law): KJV - accustion, condemnation, damnation, judgment.
(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded
Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and
International Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:2923 krites (kree-tace'); from NT:2919; a judge
(genitive case or specially): KJV - judge.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's
Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright ©
1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:2632 katakrino (kat-ak-ree'-no); from NT:2596 and
NT:2919; to judge against, i.e. sentence: KJV - condemn, damn.(Biblesoft's New
Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
Jesus did not ride through town with a megaphone to deliver
this message, and he expects that our lives and lifestyles will present this
message. Matthew records that Jesus came to bring justice to the nations, not
judgment. However, someone may have altered that to try and prove the non-Jews
were not favorable to Yahweh while the Jews were more favorable. The funny
thing is, the non-Jews (Gentiles) set their hope and trust in Yahweh while the
Jews do not.
Matt 12:17-21 This was in fulfillment of what was spoken by
the prophet Isaiah, 18 Behold, My Servant Whom I have chosen, My Beloved in and
with Whom My soul is well pleased and has found its delight. I will put My
Spirit upon Him, and He shall proclaim and show forth justice [2920] to the
nations. 19 He will not strive or wrangle or cry out loudly; nor will anyone
hear His voice in the streets; 20 A bruised reed He will not break, and a
smoldering (dimly burning) wick He will not quench, till He brings justice
[2920] and a just cause to victory. 21 And in and on His name will the Gentiles
(the peoples outside of Israel) set their hopes. [Isa 42:1-4.] AMP
Before we dive into this verse to look at some alterations,
we should consider what this is telling us. Jesus will show justice to the
nations, but he will not strive or wrangle or cry out loudly. He won’t be
yelling in the streets. Jesus, the one whom the Holy Spirit descended on like a
dove at his baptism, will bring justice to the nations. When will that be? Now,
during the times of the nations, Luke 21:24, Romans 11:25. Jesus is bringing
the nations into his fold by opening up the way for the nations to believe on
Him. Then, justice is served as everyone has an opportunity to decide whether
to believe on Jesus or not. Jesus did not come yelling, or making a big
production in the streets, he came somewhat quietly. During Jesus’ millennial
kingdom he will set all things right, he will judge and bring justice to all
people. Right now Jesus brings salvation, but in the future he will bring
accurate ruling. Let’s read the Message to get the gist.
Isa 42:1-4 "Take a good look at my servant. I'm
backing him to the hilt. He's the one I chose, and I couldn't be more pleased
with him. I've bathed him with my Spirit, my life. He'll set everything right
among the nations. 2 He won't call
attention to what he does with loud speeches or gaudy parades. 3 He won't brush aside the bruised and the
hurt and he won't disregard the small and insignificant, but he'll steadily and
firmly set things right. 4 He won't tire
out and quit. He won't be stopped until he's finished his work — to set things
right on earth. Far-flung ocean islands wait expectantly for his
teaching." (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by
Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
We have a few alterations here. We need to look at the
Amplified, the EC Marsh Septuagint, the AP Polyglot Septuagint, and the KJV.
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Isa 42:1-4 BEHOLD MY Servant, Whom I uphold, My elect in
Whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth
justice and right and reveal truth to the nations. [Matt 3:16,17.] 2 He will
not cry or shout aloud or cause His voice to be heard in the street. 3 A
bruised reed He will not break, and a dimly burning wick He will not quench; He
will bring forth justice in truth. [Matt 12:17-21.] 4 He will not fail or
become weak or be crushed and discouraged till He has established justice in
the earth; and the islands and coastal regions shall wait hopefully for Him and
expect His direction and law. [Rom 8:22-25.] AMP
42:1 Jacob is my servant, I will help him: Israel is my chosen, my soul has accepted him; I have put my Spirit upon him; he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 2 He shall not cry, nor lift up his voice, nor shall his voice be heard without. 3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench; but he shall bring forth judgment to truth. 4He shall shine out, and shall not be discouraged, until he have set judgment on the earth: and in his name shall the Gentiles trust. http://ecmarsh.com/lxx/Esaias/index.htm
1G*Jacob,
G3588 G3816my
child, G1473 G482I
shall take hold of G1473him. G*Israel,
G3588 G1588my
chosen, G1473 G4327[2favorably
received G14733himG3588 G55901my
soul]. G1473 G1325I have
put G3588 G4151my
spirit G1473 G1909upon G1473him, G2920[2judgment
G35883to the
G14844nations
G16271he
shall bring forth].
2G3756He
shall not G2896cry
out, G3761nor G447shall
he send up his voice, G3761nor G191shall
[2be heard G18543outside
G3588 G54561his
voice]. G1473
3G2563A reed
G4917being
crushed G3756he
will not G4937break,
G2532and G3043[2flax
G2585.21smoking]
G3756he
will not G4570extinguish;
G235but G1519to G227validity
G1627he
will bring forth G2920judgment.
4G353.1He
shall illuminate, G2532and G3756shall
no tG2352be
devastated G2193until G302whenever
G5087he
should set G1909[2upon
G35883the G10934earth G29201judgment].
G2532And G1909upon G3588 G3686his
name G1473 G1484nations
G1679shall
hope. http://studybible.info/ABP_Strongs/Isaiah%2042
Isa 42:1-4 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. KJV
We can see some Masoretic alterations to the text here. The
translated word used for judgment
(G2919) should be justice (G2920). The
Old Testament KJV, taken from the Masoretic text, suggests that the coming
Messiah will judge the nations instead he will show justice to the nations, and
the nations will hope and trust in His name. What does John 3:18 say? Those who
do not trust in the name of the only begotten Son of God are judged, but here
the nations believe on the name of the only begotten Son of God. It would seem
that the Jews who do not believe on the only begotten Son of God would like to
distort yet another verse so that you will not believe on the name of the only
begotten Son of God too. Clearly the nations will trust in His name. We know
the word Gentile is a misnomer as
well, the word is nations. The Greeks
did not have a word to call themselves heathen dogs as compared to the Jews.
The word Gentile is mistranslated in many places and should always be
translated nations. http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2013/12/gentiles-all-jews-are-goyim-multitudes.html
Jesus’ lineage is established in Matthew and Luke, and the
Spirit of Yahweh was upon Him. It is hard for Jews to imagine that a Messiah
would come to save non-Jews as well as Jews, but that is what Jesus came to do.
Because we know Jesus’ lineage, it seems it was easy to erase the first part of
verse 1 noting the connection to the line of Jacob.
We have recognized that Jesus did not come to judge but to
save. Jesus told us we are not to judge, and the measure we judge others with,
will be what we are judged by. We studied mercy and forgiveness are weighed and
balanced, and judgment is as well. What that means is to the extent we judge
others we ourselves will be judged. And just like the amount of mercy we show
others we will receive that amount of mercy ourselves. Forgiveness is the same
as well, to the degree we forgive others we will be forgiven. Do we notice a
pattern here? No one is above anyone else, we all will receive what we grant to
others. http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2013/12/mercy-and-forgiveness-weighed-and.html
Matt 7:1-2 DO NOT judge [2919] and criticize and condemn
others, so that you may not be judged [2919] and criticized and condemned
yourselves. 2 For just as you judge [2919] and criticize and condemn others,
you will be judged [2919] and criticized and condemned, and in accordance with
the measure you [use to] deal out to others, it will be dealt out again to you.
AMP
Again this idea is reiterated in Luke.
Luke 6:37 Judge [2919] not [neither pronouncing judgment
nor subjecting to censure], and you will not be judged [2919]; do not condemn
and pronounce guilty, and you will not be condemned and pronounced guilty;
acquit and forgive and release (give up resentment, let it drop), and you will
be acquitted and forgiven and released. AMP
Jesus wants us to understand that if we do not judge others
we will not be judged. That seems funny as we have been schooled in our churches
to observe other’s bad behaviors, point it out to them and others, and then
avoid interacting with those who don’t behave the way our church says we are to
behave. We then cloister ourselves with others who make the decision to live
the way our church has told us to. Within the cloister if someone changes their
behavior in an unacceptable way, they become shunned. But if we are going to be
judged in the same measure that we judge others we have a fundamental problem
in this behavior. Paul says this as well.
Rom 2:1 THEREFORE YOU have no excuse or defense or
justification, O man, whoever you are who judges [2919] and condemns [2632]
another. For in posing as judge [2919] and passing sentence on another, you
condemn [2632] yourself, because you who judge [2919] are habitually practicing
the very same things [that you censure and denounce]. AMP
This is interesting, when we pose as judge we have made ourselves judges even though we are
technically not judges. We are not supposed to be judges. This is our foundational
problem, we pose as judges but no one ever gave us that job, we took that
position upon ourselves, therefore we will actually be condemning our own
selves. For example, if I condemn someone who smokes cigarettes I will be
condemned for the thing I do that is similar. People smoke when they are
nervous or fearful or whatever, other people eat junk food when they are
afraid, others lash out on family or friends when in fear, and some attempt to
bury emotions of fear with drugs or alcohol. Whatever it is, I will be
condemning myself for the way I deal with my fear. Just because I don’t smoke
doesn’t mean that when I condemn a smoker I won’t be judged since I don’t
smoke, I will be condemning myself just the same. Paul gives us more of a clue
as to why we should not judge and condemn others.
1 Cor 4:5 So do not make any hasty or premature judgments [2919]
before the time when the Lord comes [again], for He will both bring to light
the secret things that are [now hidden] in darkness and disclose and expose the
[secret] aims (motives and purposes) of hearts. Then every man will receive his
[due] commendation from God. AMP
Do not make judgments before Jesus comes again. Has he come
back yet? No. Then we should not judge because there are things we do not know
that are hidden. The deep motives of the heart, the wounds and the secret scars
that motivate us, or drive us, or chase us, are the things we cannot see on the
surface of an individual’s life. When we make a judgment about someone else we
are not considering all aspects of what we are judging. There will be a time
when all things will be brought to light, that will be during the Millennial
Reign of Christ. At that time the saints will judge those who did not make
Jesus Lord in this life. Jesus told the disciples that they will judge the
twelve tribes.
Matt 19:27-30 Then Peter answered Him, saying, Behold, we
have left [our] all and have become Your disciples [sided with Your party and
followed You]. What then shall we receive? 28 Jesus said to them, Truly I say
to you, in the new age [the Messianic rebirth of the world], when the Son of
Man shall sit down on the throne of His glory, you who have [become My
disciples, sided with My party and] followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones
and judge [2919] the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And anyone and everyone who
has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands
for My name's sake will receive many [even a hundred] times more and will
inherit eternal life. 30 But many who [now] are first will be last [then], and
many who [now] are last will be first [then].
AMP
It is not yet time for the Millennial Reign and the twelve
are not judging yet. Jesus mentions the inheritance of those who follow Him as
well. But you and I are not one of the twelve are we? No, but we will also be
judging during the Millennial Reign of Christ.
1 Cor 6:2-3 Do you not know that the saints (the believers)
will [one day] judge [2919] and govern the world? And if the world [itself] is
to be judged [2919]and ruled by you, are you unworthy and incompetent to try
[such petty matters] of the smallest courts of justice? 3 Do you not know also
that we [Christians] are to judge [2919] the [very] angels and pronounce
opinion between right and wrong [for them]? How much more then [as to] matters
pertaining to this world and of this life only! AMP
This is where we have mixed up the idea of judging and
judgment. In the Millennial Reign when Jesus reigns as King of kings and Lord
of lords, the redeemed will judge the world, as well as angels. The context of
what Paul is saying here is that the Corinthians were taking each other to
secular courts to settle disputes. Paul was trying to get them to understand
that believers should not go to secular courts but instead learn how to deal
with disputes within the church. Paul was proposing this because we would one
day judge the world and angels, therefore we should be able to judge disputes
within the church now, rather than asking a secular judge to decide a matter
between the redeemed. Paul is discussing civil matters, such as quality of work
done vs. payment, or someone’s dog using another neighbor’s yard as a place to
relieve itself. It would be ideal to settle such matters within the Church but
it rarely works. Selfishness and people not walking in love are at issue within
the Body of Christ.
In the Millennial Kingdom the redeemed will judge the
world, those who didn’t believe on Jesus. But the redeemed will also judge
angels. That is a surprise to some as angels seem to be of a higher class than
humans. The reality is humans were created in Elohim’s image, not angels. Angels
have freewill like humans but are not redeemed by the blood of Jesus. Jesus
came to rescue humans not angels, and as we know some angels have fallen,
leaving their own bodies and have taken on human form to procreate with humans.
This reminds us that while angelic bodies are interdimensional human bodies are
not, we are locked into three/four dimensions, hence another reason for Jesus
to save us. Angels were to serve the saints, and we see from the Book of Enoch
that the fallen angels asked Enoch to intercede for them, but were scolded for
asking Enoch to intercede for them when in fact they were to be interceding for
humans. That is an interesting idea because angels were supposed to help humans
but some angels brought knowledge to humans that they should not have, causing
humans to do things they should not have done. Whatever type of existence the
angels live in and are subject to, we will be judging them as to what they did
or did not do. When all the secret and hidden things are revealed during the
Millennial Reign of Christ we will know all the things we do not know today.
This is again why we cannot make right judgments today.
We have studied how Paul, a scholar and Pharisee, had to
un-learn and re-learn, because in the new administration the believer is freed
from the law. The law was a set of rules and practices that we could not live
up to, so in abolishing the law, we somehow forgot to abolish judgment as well.
James tells us that very thing.
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James 2:11-13 For He Who said, You shall not commit
adultery, also said, You shall not kill. If you do not commit adultery but do
kill, you have become guilty of transgressing the [whole] Law. [Ex 20:13,14;
Deut 5:17,18.] 12 So speak and so act as [people should] who are to be judged [2919]
under the law of liberty [the moral instruction given by Christ, especially
about love]. 13 For to him who has shown no mercy the judgment [2920] [will be]
merciless, but mercy [full of glad confidence] exults victoriously over
judgment [2920]. AMP
How is it that we have forgotten to live by the law of
liberty, and walk in love? We wouldn’t need secular courts to handle our
disputes if we were not selfish and we actually walked in love and settled
matters quickly with our brothers like Jesus suggested.
James 5:9 Do not complain, brethren, against one another,
so that you [yourselves] may not be judged [2362]. Look! The Judge [2923] is
[already] standing at the very door. AMP
Again, if we complain or judge or rule against another we
will receive the same type of harshness we dished out to others. But here is
the best news yet. Who can condemn or rule against us if we are already made
righteous? We have to re-learn what it is to be a son or daughter, we are made
righteous and we cannot lose that. Righteousness cannot be undone.
Rom 8:30-34 And those whom He thus foreordained, He also
called; and those whom He called, He also justified (acquitted, made righteous,
putting them into right standing with Himself). And those whom He justified, He
also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of
being]. 31 What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be]
against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?] [Ps 118:6.] 32 He who did not withhold or
spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him
freely and graciously give us all [other] things? 33 Who shall bring any charge
against God's elect [when it is] God Who justifies [that is, Who puts us in
right relation to Himself? Who shall come forward and accuse or impeach those
whom God has chosen? Will God, Who acquits us?] 34 Who is there to condemn
[2632] [us]? Will Christ Jesus (the Messiah), Who died, or rather Who was
raised from the dead, Who is at the right hand of God actually pleading as He
intercedes for us? AMP
Here is another truth we cannot handle: we cannot use the
Bible as a manipulation tool to “make” or “force” people to live the way we
want them to. We are made righteous by Jesus’ blood when we believe, period.
There is no one who can accuse us or condemn us. Understanding the depth of
this is huge but rarely explored in churches today. Those who are redeemed
cannot be unredeemed. There will be a different kind of judgment for the
redeemed. That judgment is for rewards. It is called the “judgment seat” in
Romans.
Rom 14:10-13 Why do you criticize and pass judgment [2919] on
your brother? Or you, why do you look down upon or despise your brother? For we
shall all stand before the judgment seat [968] of God. 11 For it is written, As
I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall
confess to God [acknowledge Him to His honor and to His praise]. [Isa 45:23.]
12 And so each of us shall give an account of himself [give an answer in
reference to judgment] to God. 13 Then let us no more criticize and blame and
pass judgment [2919] on one another, but rather decide and endeavor [2919]never
to put a stumbling block or an obstacle or a hindrance in the way of a brother.
AMP
NT:968 bema (bay'-ma); from the base of NT:939; a step,
i.e. foot-breath; by implication, a rostrum, i.e. a tribunal: KJV -
judgment-seat, set [foot] on, throne. (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's
Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright ©
1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
When does this take place? Almost halfway through the
tribulation in heaven. The redeemed are rewarded at this time when it is
announced that the kingdoms of this world are now in the possession of and
become the Kingdom of our Lord Christ, the Messiah, and that Jesus will now
reign forever.
Rev 11:15-19 The seventh angel then blew [his] trumpet, and
there were mighty voices in heaven, shouting, The dominion (kingdom,
sovereignty, rule) of the world has now come into the possession and become the
kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ (the Messiah), and He shall reign forever
and ever (for the eternities of the eternities)! [Ps 22:28; Dan 7:13,14,27.] 16
Then the twenty-four elders [of the heavenly Sanhedrin], who sit on their
thrones before God, prostrated themselves before Him and worshiped, 17
Exclaiming, To You we give thanks, Lord God Omnipotent, [the One] Who is and
[ever] was, for assuming the high sovereignty and the great power that are Yours
and for beginning to reign. 18 And the heathen (the nations) raged, but Your
wrath (retribution, indignation) came, the time when the dead will be judged
[2919] and Your servants the prophets and saints rewarded — and those who
revere (fear) Your name, both low and high and small and great — and [the time]
for destroying the corrupters of the earth. [Ps 2:1.] 19 Then the sanctuary of
God in heaven was thrown open, and the ark of His covenant was seen standing
inside in His sanctuary; and there were flashes of lightning, loud rumblings
(blasts, mutterings), peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a terrific hailstorm.
[1 Kings 8:1-6.] AMP
At the end of the tribulation, all those who did not
receive Jesus as Messiah will be judged as to their works. This is not for
those who confess Jesus as Lord and Messiah, not even for those who confess
Jesus as Lord during the tribulation. This Great White Throne Judgement is for
the Jesus rejecters. That is different than judgment for rewards, and different
than judgment as to salvation. Remember we are already acquitted by Jesus’
blood so this is not for the believer. We can clear up so many
misunderstandings by reading the Bible for details. Paul tells us the same
thing a second time in Corinthians.
2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear and be revealed as we are
before the judgment seat [968] of Christ, so that each one may receive [his
pay] according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil
[considering what his purpose and motive have been, and what he has achieved,
been busy with, and given himself and his attention to accomplishing]. AMP
Let’s picture what the Christian lifestyle would look like
if we made the decision to live by the things the Holy Spirit documented for us.
Christians would walk in the liberty and freedom, walk in love, and behave
kindly to all other humans. Christians would declare to a lost and dying world
that Jesus came to save, not condemn, the world. Christians would not
criticize, condemn, or critique other Christians. Christians would love one
another, and not compare themselves to others in the Body of Christ. Christians
would not have opinions about behaviors or conduct among the righteous.
Christians would not use the Bible as a book of rules to manipulate people within
the Body of Christ, and Christians would get rid of the Jewish thought process
of Jesus judging humans since he is not doing that, at least not until the
Millennial Kingdom. Christians would look different than we see on social media
and probably inspire the non-believers to want to know what Christians know.
Can we handle the truth? Can we change from the grotesque overlords we have
become? Can we stop posing as judges? Can we stop posing as watchmen who are
looking within the city walls and instead become the tenderhearted lovers of
all humans we were called to be?
