Judgment is a word that evokes various considerations and emotions amongst those who hear it. We often hear the phrase that we are not to judge, and there is a measure of truth to that within biblical context. That phrase has led many Christians to error in how God has called them to practice righteous judgment to encourage others in the faith. If you already feel a glimmer of cynicism as to what I have just said, please don’t disregard my comment prior to reading what this study and the scriptures reveal about this topic. The purpose is to inform you of biblical truth regarding different aspects, purposes, prohibitions and allowances of judgment as scripture tells us.
As previously mentioned, we frequently hear that we are not to judge, PERIOD! This is a common misinterpretation of the subject in its entirety as derived from Jesus’ own words in Matthew 7:1-5 and Luke 6:37-42. These verses mention that we may not judge, lest we be judged, as well as “why do you speak of the speck in your brother’s eye and not perceive the plank in your own eye.” All of scripture must be taken into context and ‘bundled’ together into one package of truth.
Some people will often pick and choose portions of scripture that they agree with and leave out other parts that they do not agree or feel comfortable with, and they live their lives accordingly. Many do not understand scripture and rather than seeking to understand, they ignore and distort the truth to their own detriment. As the Apostle Peter says in 2 Peter 3:16, “16…as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.” – Not only will this limit our knowledge of the truth, but we are held accountable for misrepresentation of truth as Revelation 22:18-19 states, 18“For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
We must believe truth (God defines it) and not turn it into something that we believe or choose to follow just because it seems to make more sense. Many true stories in the Bible evidence people responding in opposition to God’s word and paying a heavy price for doing so. We also see it in our own lives when we disobey God (Deuteronomy 5:29). By not pursuing a life of biblical truth and instead living what ‘feels’ right to us, we end up defining our own truth rather than believing what God tells us in His Word.
It is important to question our hearts. If you trust your heart, then you do not comprehend what scripture tells us about the deceitfulness of it (Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 8:7, Matthew 15:18-20, Ephesians 2:1-3). 2 Corinthians 13:5 – 5“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you are disqualified.”
Regarding judgment, first and foremost, God is the supreme judge and we know this from scripture. Psalm 75:7 – 7But God is the Judge, He puts down one, and exalts another. Isaiah 33:22 – 22For the LORD is our Judge, the LORD is our Lawgiver, the LORD is our King; He will save us. – There are many verses revealing this truth and there is no courtroom on earth that comes close in comparison, let alone you and me. Being the supreme judge means that He judges every human being on this earth, past, present, and future. His judgment is so severe that there are those whom He judges as righteous, and they spend eternity with Him in heaven and there are those whom He judges as unrighteous, and they are bound to hell for all of eternity.
Those who are judged as righteous by God are not done so according to any good work, but because they accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and Christ’s righteousness was imparted to them by His death on the cross. That death and then necessary resurrection was and still is the required payment for sin by God the Father. A person must have knowledge of their own wickedness (Jer 17:9) and believe that Christ had to be that perfect sacrifice for them to receive forgiveness and eternal acceptance by God. Anything else falls short of God’s perfect standard and that Supreme Judge ordains them into hell for eternity. For those who cannot get past the extremity of this truth, it can be difficult for them to love God for who He is, for who scripture says He is, as God is the Word. John 1:1-2 – 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God.
God’s attributes vary from His mercy to His wrath, and He is perfect in all of them, including His judgement. As we learn scripture, it is important to seek understanding in the character of God to help us know Him at a deeper level and gain better understanding why He does what He does. God is still infinite, and though we should rightly seek to know Him more to His glory, this side of eternity will provide the measure of mystery that will wait to be revealed until after this life on earth. Relating to judgment, understanding His character will help us learn to trust Him as the Holy Judge and that His judgments are good.
Now, to partially agree with those who consistently say that we are not to judge, I will again reference Matthew 7:1-5 and Luke 6:37-42. They both speak of the hypocrisy related to judging others unrighteously. They mention that if we judge others, we will also be judged and that we must also forgive if we are to be forgiven. These are important verses, and just like all of scripture, they must be taken into context as we discern truth. These verses are directed specifically towards unrighteous judgment. An example of unrighteous judgment is judging the actions of the unbeliever, for God will be the One to judge them. 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 shows us the difference between righteous and unrighteous judgment as Paul says: 9“I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11But now I have written you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner – not even to eat with such a person. 12For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”
What you just read gives biblical proof that there are areas that we as true believers are not to judge and that there are areas that we are to judge and I will explain. To aid you in understanding the specific meaning behind the Apostle Paul’s words, I am including Pastor John MacArthur’s commentaries on each verse. 1 Corinthians 5:9 – my epistle. A previous letter that Paul had written the church at Corinth instructed them to disassociate with the immoral (cf. v.11;2 Thess. 3:6-15). 1 Corinthians 5:10 – people of this world. Evidently, the church had misinterpreted the advice in that letter and had stopped having contact with the unsaved in the world, while continuing to tolerate the sin of those in the church, which was even more dangerous to the fellowship. See John 17:15 and 18. God intends us to be in the world as witnesses (cf.Matt. 5:13-16;Acts 1:8;Phil. 2:15). 1 Corinthians 5:11 – named a brother. Paul clarifies his intention in the earlier letter. He expected them to disassociate with all who said they were brothers, but had a consistent pattern of sin. not even to eat. The meal was a sign of acceptance and fellowship in those days. See 2 Thess. 3:6 and 14. 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 – outside. Paul never intended himself or the church to be judges of unbelievers outside the church, but to judge those inside (cf. 1 Peter 4:17). Those on the outside are for God to judge and believers to evangelize. Those who sin on the inside, the church is to put out. Verse 13 is quoted from Deuteronomy. 17:7. – From these passages, we understand that we are not to judge the unbeliever, but we are called to share the gospel with them and we are called to live lives that honor God which is also a witness to the unbeliever. How can we judge an unbeliever when there was once a time when we had not known Christ ourselves? God will work in the life of the unbeliever in whichever method He chooses. Some will insist that just by us believing that someone is an unbeliever, we are casting judgment towards them. That is not necessarily unrighteous judgment, as God has given us the scriptures to discern what is good and evil, so that we may perceive what is not of God. Those with hardened hearts will continue to argue against this issue. It is nothing different than if I have decided that you are hungry and need to eat; it comes from wisdom and discernment that I believe you must eat, not any form of unrighteous judgment and that is the same towards the person that blasphemes God.
Read 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 as well as Leviticus 19:15, Proverbs 31:9, Ezekiel 22:1-2, John 7:24 and 1 Corinthians 6:1-11, as they all acknowledge that it is not only acceptable for followers of Christ to judge those that claim the faith, but that we are told to judge them in a righteous manner. So, why are we called to judge those that claim the faith? What good purpose can come from this and how are we to fulfill our role as a faithful believer? As followers of Christ, we are called to judge righteously, in that we are to hold those accountable who claim the Christian faith. By being held accountable and holding others accountable through God’s word, we participate in living a life that God has called us to.
We know from scripture that as Christians, we may experience some temporal rewards for honoring God, but more so, we are promised eternal rewards for our obedience. We should be holding our brethren accountable, not only because we are commanded to, but also because we should care for their welfare and their relationship with God. James 5:19-20 reveals the truth of this, as well as the benefit of doing so when James says, 19“Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” – The accountability that we are to hold ourselves and others to, if they are willing, should begin with the everyday matters of life on up to any larger issues of sin that may be affecting one’s decisions.
It is advantageous to being accountable in all aspects of life, not just the big things, but also those things which may seem minuscule to most. One reason for the importance of accountability in the small matters is it evidences the desire to honor God in all things by avoiding the onset of seemingly small sins than can turn into besetting sins. This assists in the willfulness towards obedience and humility and will also encourage other believers to honor the Lord in all things. The larger sin issues in our lives start very small and grow into the bigger issues that can lead to a hard-heartedness towards God. Unrepentant sin is what we must avoid at all costs. We must be diligent in our steps towards being assured of our salvation; never taking it for granted. If we continually leave sin unchecked, it evidences that our hearts are not seeking God with the desire of one who truly pursues the Lord. 1 Corinthians 10:31 – 31“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” – Another purpose for such accountability amongst believers in holding ourselves to greater love and obedience relates to how the unbelieving world looks at us. They view us with a microscope and if we are seen as a people group no different from themselves, what difference to them does it make to be a Christian?
We must fight until our last breath on earth, as the devil seeks to steal joy and hope from those who claim the faith. Jesus says in Matthew 10:22 – 22“And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.” – Another reason why we are to hold those amongst the church accountable is because there are deceivers within the assembly of those who claim the faith that poison the minds of many; Jesus refers to them as wolves. He says in Matthew 7:15 – 15“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”
I have found that the church body will consist of generally four groups of people in relation to why they are in the church assembly. There are sub-categories within each group, but for the purpose of this study, the four main groups will be discussed. There are those who have truly accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. One thing which stands out about them is that they will encounter many of the same tribulations as the rest of the world, along with issues related to sin, but apart from the rest of the world, the Holy Spirit living in them convicts their consciences and delivers them to repentance. Secondly, there are those that appear to seek and learn the truth and they will either come to Christ or they will not. Theoretically, the church encourages them to grow in the truth, so that they may be able to partake of the eternal relationship that God has promised those who accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
The third group, and one that I am familiar with, as I was one of them for much of my life, claims Christ as their savior and yet they do not pursue Him with the zeal that is evident of one that is saved. They may often be considered good people by the world’s standards, as well as their own and are wishy-washy, in that, as they claim Christ, there is no passion for Him. The thought of heaven sounds great to them and because they want no part of an eternity in Hell, they assume their salvation with a faith that is built on a weak foundation. They are referenced by the words of Jesus Christ in Revelation 3:15-16 – 15“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot; I could wish you were cold or hot. 16So then, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” The danger they pose to the church, is that their ‘faith’ to the immature believer who may be watching from the sidelines, appears to be a faith where God makes no demands of His people. It is very evident that there are no consequential changes of the heart that take place and that their lives tend to be similar in many ways to the lives of the unbeliever.
Lastly, and very dangerous to the church, are those who claim their faith in Christ, and they live lives of wanton sinfulness and speak heresy regarding the church. This group is a cancer to the church, in that they corrupt the minds of those who seek truth by their own deceitfulness (Colossians 2:8). Throughout church history, we hear of those in church leadership who commit terrible acts of sin, as well as people in the congregations who live adulterous and sinful lives. There are a multitude of ‘Christian’ churches worldwide that do not teach scriptural truth. These atrocities within the church allow immature believers, as well as the unbelievers of the world to continue in their misunderstanding and/or unbelief of what it means to live for Jesus Christ. We are commanded to love them, admonish them and if they do not repent, eradicate them from the church. The way we do this is through the church discipline that Jesus speaks of in Matthew 18:15-17 – 15“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.”
What you just read is God’s formula for how we are to deal with those in the body of Christ regarding unrepentant sin. As harsh as this might sound, God’s grace is still sufficient in every situation and there is opportunity for redemption to the one referred to as the heathen and tax collector in the Matthew 18 verse above. The purpose of excommunication from the church body is not only for the purpose of punishment, but as for protection to the church assembly and to encourage righteous conviction upon the guilty heart that will either be led to repentance or sadly enough, a heart hardened against God. If someone communicates to us our sin that we have committed, and we begin the process of repentance, we are honoring what God is calling us to do. If on the other hand we choose to continue in that sin even after the church admonishes us, the evidence of our hardened hearts towards God is revealed. If though we are sons and daughters of God, the Holy Spirit WILL speak to our conscience and lead us to repentance.
I hope this study has unraveled a sufficient measure of truth about judgment and why, when used correctly, it can be a beautiful device to lead our hearts towards a greater intimacy with our loving God. As with anything, in the hands of the wrong person, judgment can and will be used as an evil tool of the enemy. May we be vessels of love and humility and offer righteous judgement towards our brethren. Please allow your hearts to hold fast to the truth as you meditate on the word of God that follows this commentary.
Verses Relating to God’s Judgment
Isaiah 11:3-4 – 3His delight is in the fear of the LORD, and He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears; 4but with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.
Matthew 7:6 – 6“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.
Matthew 7:13-14 – 13“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
Matthew 7:17-27 – 17“Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 21Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ 24Therefore whoever hears these saying of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these saying of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
John 5:24 – 24“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”
2 Corinthians 11:32 – 32But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
2 Timothy 3:1-6 – 1But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,
2 Peter 2:9 – 9then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,
Verses Relating to Christian Directive to Hold Others Accountable
Psalm 141:5 – 5Let the righteous strike me; it shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; it shall be as excellent oil; let my head not refuse it.
Proverbs 9:7-9 – 7“He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, and he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. 8Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. 9Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
Proverbs 27:5-6 – 5Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed. 6Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Matthew 18:15-17 – 15“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.”
Luke 17:3 – 3“Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.”
Romans 15:14 – 14Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another,
2 Timothy 4:2 – 2Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
Galatians 6:1-6 – 1Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5For each one shall bear his own load. 6Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
Ephesians 4:29 – 29Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
James 5:19-20 – 19Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
Verses Relating to Judging Others
Leviticus 19:15 – 15“You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor.”
1 Samuel 16:7 – 7But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
Proverbs 31:9 – 9Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Ezekiel 22:1-3 – 1Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Now, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city? Yes, show her all her abominations! 3Then say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “The city sheds blood in her own midst that her time may come; and she makes idols within herself to defile herself.”
Matthew 7:1-5 – 1“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
Matthew 9:11 – 11And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Matthew 12:36-37 – 36“But I say to you that for every word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Luke 6:31 – 31“And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.”
Luke 6:37-42 – 37“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” 39And He spoke a parable to them: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? 40A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. 41And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? 42Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye.”
Luke 18:9-14 – 9Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men – extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
John 3:17 – 17“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
John 7:24 – 24“Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
John 8:7 – 7So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”
John 8:15-16 – 15“You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me.”
John 12:46-49 – 46“I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. 47And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him – the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 49For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.”
Romans 2:1-3 – 1Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?
Romans 12:16-19 – 16Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 17Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
Romans 14:1-13 – 1Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 2For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 4Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. 5One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. 7For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11For it is written: “As I live, says the LORD, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” 12So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.
1 Corinthians 2:12-16 – 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the 14Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 4:4-7 – 4For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. 5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God. 6Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. 7For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
1 Corinthians 5:1-5 – 1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles – that a man has his father’s wife! 2And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1 Corinthians 5:9-13 – 9I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner – not even to eat with such a person. 12For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”
1 Corinthians 6:1-11 – 1Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2Do 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? 3Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? 5I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? 6But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! 7Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? 8No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! 9Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, not homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
2 Corinthians 5:10-11 – 10For 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. 11Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
Galatians 5:14-15 – 14For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!
2 Thessalonians 3:6 – 6But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.
1 Timothy 5:13 – 13And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.
Titus 3:2-7 – 2to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. 3For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
James 4:11-12 – 11Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?
1 John 4:1-3 – 1Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
Birdog's Kingdom of God Studies 