Different kinds of "Judgment" In the Bible Godly Judgment vs Ungodly Judgment This is by no means exhaustive. Just some of what our Lord has in His Word towards every Christian. Proper Godly judgment is sorely missing from the church today The few Scriptures below progress from the un-believer and their judgments, the young in the Lord , the hypocrites judgments , the mature in the Lord and ultimately towards the Lord Himself , who we will all meet one day. -The ungodly and lost un-believers , as they judge each other are spoken of in the verses below. They do not practice what they speak out against, but instead find themselves doing the same wrong things they are judging others for. Romans 2:1-3 (1) Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself ; for thou that judgest doest the same things (2) But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. (3) And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? The "unbelieving" Scribes, Pharisees, and Hypocrites in Matthew 23 find themselves in the same place as the above. Our Lord pronounces no less than eight "woes" (which are judgments) upon them, while exposing the real motives behind their hypocrisies. Without repentance towards the One speaking, Jesus Christ, their final destination is foretold: Matthew 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne , and l ay them on men's shoulders ; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. Matthew 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of Hell? -A few Scriptures being mentioned towards wrongful judgment of Believers by Believers. -Young, immature Christians that are judging doubtful things in a weak Brother in the faith. Romans 14:1-4 (1) Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. (2) For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. (3) Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. (4) Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? To his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. Romans:14:10: But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 2. - Young Brethren here judging evilly by outward appearance , seeing nice clothes and jewelry telling these well to do folks to sit in the "good" seats, while the poor if they show up being told to "stand" or sit in a lesser place: James 2:1-5 (1) My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. (2) For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; (poor and/or tattered clothing) (3) And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay (fine, showy, expensive) clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: (4) Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts ? (5) Hearken, my beloved brethren , Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? - The hypocrites judgment The hypocritical one is told to " cast out first the beam out of thine own eye ". (Repentance, growth in God's Word) Then, he can see clearly (Now judging righteously by a clean slate and a renewed mind from the Bible on his part) to pull out the mote (sin) in the Brothers eye. These verses do not refer to a sincere Christian who wants to know true right from wrong according to God's Word. Matthew 7:1-5 (1) Judge not, that ye be not judged. (2) For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. (3) And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye ? (4) Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? (5) Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye - The mature Christians who have had their minds renewed with the Truth of God , and are walking in the same. Their faith is with works that glorify God, and they have grown much in Christ to be in this place. We as Christians should all look to grow to this place in maturity. It is righteous judgment based solely upon God's Word and it rightly divided John:7:24: Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. 1Corinthians 2:12-16 (12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world , but the spirit which is of God ; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (13) Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth , but which the Holy Ghost teacheth ; comparing spiritual things with spiritual 3. (14) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (15) But he that is spiritual judgeth all things , yet he himself is judged of no man. (16) For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ - Within the Church we who are in Christ and have grown in Him are to judge those that are within the Church , regardless of position, title, money, etc. The reason for the below, is to get a brother to see his sin. If he does not repent of this sin after these three steps, he is then to leave the church If the same one sinning were to truly repent of his sin at any point, he should be welcomed back. Matthew 18:15-17 (15) Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone : if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. (16) But if he will not hear thee , then take with thee one or two more , that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. (17) And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church : but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. -Here Paul is judging a son who is having incestuous sex with his mother within the church , and is telling the church to judge the incestuous man as well, and put him out of the church : 1Corinthians 5:1-5 (1) It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife (2) And ye are puffed up , and have not rather mourned , that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. (3) For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, (4) In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, (5) To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. -Many suppose as I do, that this is the same incestuous man in 1Cor 5:3 who has now truly repented and quit his evil sex with his mother , and Paul is t elling the church to welcome him back All churches today should do the same if one such as this truly repents of his/her sin. 2Corinthians 2:6-11 (6) Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many (7) So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him , lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. (8) Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him 4. (9) For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. (10) To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; (11) Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. While at the same time be watching for “fruits that line up” with his repentance. Matthew 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance : -If one is called a “brother” and is involved with unrepentant sins such as fornication, coveting, idolatry, a railer, ( one who scoffs, insults, censures ) a drunkard, or extortioner, we are not to keep company with them, nor to eat with them, and the church is to put them out. We are to “judge” those within the church. 1Corinthians 5:11-13 (11) But now I have written unto you not to keep company , if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat (12) For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? (13) But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. -Again, should such a one that was in the church ever truly repent , and forsake their sin , they too should be welcomed back in the church. While those that are in the church are to observe the individual looking for fruit that lines up with the repentant one: Mat 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: -In Christ and His maturity, all Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers, we will be under the "stricter judgment" as believers. Make sure you’re lining up with God's Word! James 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters, (teachers) knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. God would not have any wrest/twist, add to, or take away from His Word! Let us be admonished, and never find ourselves listening to any who are! 2Peter 3:16-17 (16) As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest , as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction (17) Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. Revelation 22:18-21 (18) For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things , God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 5. (19) And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy , God shall take away his part out of the book of life , and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (20) He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (21) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. - When Christians hear anything , from any prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher, anyone , we ourselves should look to the Bible with prayer towards God to understand what we have heard to be the Truth. 2Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. - Even the Apostle Paul was rightly " judged " by noble Berean people. When he was preaching here, the Bereans listened to him, and judged his words by looking to the Word of God themselves afterwards, to see if what he was speaking was Truth in light of the Scriptures. All Christians today should do the same. Acts 17:11-12 (11) These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (12) Therefore many of them believed ; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. - Ananias and Saphirra were judged by Peter . After his judgment, the two of them were struck dead by the Lord for lying Acts 5:1-10 (1) But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, (2) And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. (3) But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost , and to keep back part of the price of the land? (4) Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart ? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God (5) And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost : and great fear came on all them that heard these things. (6) And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him (7) And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in (8) And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. (9) Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord ? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. (10) Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost : and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband 6. - Reproving and rebuking are judgment. This is as much for the Evangelist Timothy in his maturity as it is for any mature Believer who loves the Lord and His Word. If the doctrine spoken is not sound, it is not of God! 2Timothy 4:1-4 (1) I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; (2) Preach the word ; be instant in season, out of season; reprove , rebuke , exhort with all l ongsuffering and doctrine (3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; (4) And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables - The Body of Christ is to properly judge , we look for fruit that lines up with God's Word in an individuals life: Matthew 12:33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. - Do we have “fruit?” As Christians we should all look to grow in all these areas until we go home to be with our Lord : Galatians 5:22-25 (22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, (patience) gentleness, goodness, faith, (23) Meekness, (humility) temperance (self control) : against such there is no law (24) And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts (25) If we live in the Spirit, l et us also walk in the Spirit -Christians are called to "examine" themselves as well , and see whether we be found in the " faith" of God and His Word and growing thereby We should all humbly continue to look to the Lord as to where we need to grow in the Light of His Word as we continue to mature. 2Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves , whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves . Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? - Our Judges today within the court system stemmed from God and His Word. (Exodus 18:13-26) They judge cases, offenders are looked into, and judgment by them is pronounced by them. If they operate in His Truth, they are righteous Judges, because they know the Truth, and the Word of Truth. 7. Ultimately, God Himself will judge all at the end of one's life: Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment : John 5:24-29 (24) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (25) Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. (26) For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself ; (27) And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man (28) Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, (29) And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. Revelation 20:11-15 (11) And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. (12) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened : and another book was opened, which is the book of life : and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (13) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (14) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (15) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire Folks without Christ will fall into the hands of God in a most just and dreadful way: Heb 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. - Make sure your gate is straight through Christ alone! Any other way will not get you into His kingdom! John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber -Don't be found hearing the Lord Himself judging you, and telling you to depart from Him! Luke 13:24-28 (24) Strive to enter in at the strait gate : for many , I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able (25) When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are : 8. (26) Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets (27) But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity (28) There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. Please Saints, learn to properly judge. And as you grow in Christ, be a part of bringing back this missing doctrine of our Lord's for this generation... (Matthew 7:12-20) Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.