Category Archives: Judging

Bible, Forgiveness, Jesus, Judging, Judgment, Salvation, Scripture

ONLY ONE JUDGE

ROMANS 3:6

“Far from it! For otherwise, how will God judge the world?”

There are only a few absolutes in this world. One is “There is a God,” and another is “You’re not Him.” You may have heard that before. In this day of more and more “graying,” people refuse the black and white decisions. You tend to justify just about anything. We blame criminal behavior on poverty or skin color. We excuse anti-authority behavior on the zeal of youth. Sorry, my friend. Our world is a world of absolutes.

There was never any question in Paul’s mind about who would judge the world. Of course, God would. He was the only judge who had that right. Albert Barnes makes these comments about this verse. “It may be remarked, however, that God will judge offences, not from what he may do in overruling them, but from the nature of the crime itself. The question is not, what good God may bring out of it, but what does the crime itself deserve? what is the character of the offender? what was his intention?”

You see, our choices do have consequences, quite often eternal ones.

APPLICATION

The concept of God’s right to judge mankind is written throughout Scripture. In Genesis 18:25b we read, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?” If God is anything, He is a just judge. He rules every action equally. You may have heard it explained this way. God looks down on our sin as you might look down on a large city from above. From a great height it is not possible to tell which building is the tallest. All you see are the rooftops. God sees our sins that way. In His eyes sin is sin. All sin must be judged.

In Ecclesiastes 12:14 we are told, “For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.” Same truth! Every act will be brought to judgment. And in

Ecclesiastes 11:9c Solomon gets more direct. “Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things.” There is no escaping God’s judgment for our sins unless…

The Great Judge provided the way of escape. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for all our sin. God judged His Son on that cross, demanding holy blood be spilled to cover us for eternity. God does have the right to judge, but He also loves us enough to give us a way out. Have you chosen that gift? Judgment will come. If you are in the family of God through Jesus, your judgment has been settled.

Father, thank You for being the only Judge Who can judge mankind and thank You for providing a way of escape.


If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Fruit, Judging, Law, Scripture, Unfruitful

FRUIT INSPECTORS

ROMANS 2:27

“And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a violator of the Law?” 

When I grew up in SW Georgia, I worked a few years for Walter Pollock & Sons. They owned a gas station, pecan groves, tobacco fields, a grainery and several other businesses. Mr. Pollock was quite the entrepreneur. During pecan season I was often working in the warehouse where we received pecans. I had to know how to recognize the different varieties and grade (or judge) them to offer the seller a price. I can still recognize some of those varities.

Paul calls out the Jews pretty forcibly in today’s verse by telling them that even an uncircumcised Law keeper would be able to judge them for not following the Law. Ouch! You have to remember that the Jews tended to look down on non-Jews (Gentiles). To be told they would be judged by a Gentile would have been highly insulting to them. Nevertheless, that was the truth, and Paul did not hesitate to tell them.

APPLICATION

Today we followers of Christ are not concerned about the issue of circumcision or keeping the Law. But we should be concerned about producing the fruit He has for us to produce. We are told not to judge others because we do not know their spiritual position just by looking. But we can judge their fruit production. Are they spending time daily with the Lord? Are they sharing their testimony with lost people in order to win them to Christ? Are they exhibiting the joy of the Lord as they encounter the trials of life?

Let me hasten to say that we have been given clear instructions about judging others. Look at Matthew 7:1-5. “1 “‘Do not judge, so that you will not be judged. 2 For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and look, the log is in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye!’”

If you’re going to judge someone else’s fruit, make sure yours isn’t rotten. Make sure your fruit production is totally dependent on Jesus and not yourself. And encourage other believers to exercise the gifts God has given them so that they too will produce the fruit of the Spirit.

Father, accept any fruit I produce as an offering to honor You.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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