You are in a court room being tried. You consider yourself innocent, but you find out that the judge is a religious man and believes in God. He claims to be a Christian. It doesn’t look like you are going to get off and suddenly you remember something. The Bible says, “You shall not judge, or something like that”. You Google it and find it is in Matthew 7. You blurt out to the judge that Jesus says don’t judge.
The judge smiles and says, I will obey Jesus. The text you are referring to also says that I will be judged by the same standard (Matthew 7:1) The Judge says I assure you, I have not committed your crimes. The Bible tells a little story about removing a tiny spec from your brother’s eye, when you have a beam in your own eye. Your punishment will be equal or greater.
The Bible doesn’t say not to Judge. Instead, it says judge rightly. (John 7:24) When we point out the sin of others, we must not be guilty of the same sin. This would be condemning ourselves (Romans 2:1) We cannot bear false witness (Proverbs 19;5). We can slander no one”. (Titus 3:2) When confronting other Christians about errors perceived in their behavior, we must do it Gently. (Galatians 6:1) We must forgive others from the heart. (Matthew 18:35) After all, for a Christian it is only by God’s grace that we don’t get what we deserve.
Judgement must be just, fair, and compassionate. Let us go back to the original story. What if the Judge’s name is Jesus Christ? You are guilty. You have broken God’s law. Justice must be satisfied for a true and holy God. All the evidence is there. The Judge is righteous. You are guilty. Everyone knows it. One of two things will happen, and you have already chosen the outcome.
1) You will forever be separated from God and endure the misery of hell.
2) You will forever be with Jesus because he took the punishment for your sin.
Everyone will face the same judge in the end. So, what are you going to do about it?
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