Consider the following passage from the Bible:?

Question

(James 4:12) "There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy ..."

We know that God the Son, Jesus, is the One and Only Judge. Only He is able to decide where a person will spend eternity... either Heaven or Hell.

If I say "I know Joe is going to Hell" or "Joe is going to Hell"... do you believe I judged Joe?

If I say "I know Jane is going to Heaven" or "Jane is going to Heaven".... do you believe I judged Jane?

whitehorse456:

You say: "We can only profess that the Word of God tells us those who believe in Christ will be saved"

That is MOST of what the Word of God tells us.
Sacred Scriptures tells us this:

[Jesus said] "Whoever believes AND is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:16)

Baptism (in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is also necessary for salvation.

ONE MORE QUESTION:

What if Joe says "I know I am going to Heaven".

Did he judge himself ???

Answer 1

Yes. It is not for you to say, who will ascend to heaven or who will descend to Hell. God is the only Judge of that.

Answer 2

The problem with you or me making a pronouncement about someone else's eternal destination is neither of us is omniscient (all-knowing). We simply don't know the other person's heart, soul, and intentions. We can make assessments from that person's actions and from what they say, but do we really know what they're like down underneath it all?

Only God can judge, and make it stick. We can assess, and assume, and make dreadful mistakes when we do, but only God is perfect and gets the judgement right every time.

You've heard about "death-bed" conversions of people who've repented and submitted to God at the very last breath, sometimes without anyone knowing. Even the Bible admits we'll be very surprised as to who is in Heaven and who is not. People we've "judged" to be bound for the Pearly Gates because of how they behaved in life might not be there... it was all a show.

I'm glad I'm not the final arbiter of who'll be in Heaven and who is allowed to choose Hell instead of being with God for eternity.

Answer 3

As far as passing judgment eeeehhhhhhh, It doesn't seem to be the context given.

I will tell you this, It is terribly foolish to say "I know how anything will be in the future" What if Joe gets saved between now and then?"

The judgment you made was NOT then upon Joe, but against God himself.
You have effectively said I know Joe is going to hell because God can't save him. So forget about judgment, You Lied,. . . . about God!
and since you said this thing you must have had an audience so then you are gossiping and bearing false witness against God and tempting your audience to do the same.

Man, quit while your not dead.

At the pace you're keeping,

YOU ARE GOING TO HELL!!!!!

I'm not even going to go into what you did with Jane except that you have claimed power over heaven. No you didn't judge those people you simply put yourself in place of God (typical catholic) and you think of God as your personal servant. Now that .... what I just did ........ that is judging ..... hit the nail right on the head didn't I.

Answer 4

Hell is the common grave of mankind. Even Jesus went there. As for those who are going to heaven. The Bible says only the "Little Flock" who will rule as kings and priests with Christ. That puts the rest of the "Great Crowd" of believers here on earth. ("The meek will inherit the earth"). Have I judged anyone?

Answer 5

We ought never say who will be saved or who won't be, as only God has this knowledge and only He makes the decision. We can only profess that the Word of God tells us those who believe in Christ will be saved, and those who do not believe stand condemned due to their current unbelief (though they may still choose to believe and be saved).

Let us also draw a distinction between judging (which we are commanded NOT to do) and rebuking and correcting (which we are commanded to do). Our society often wrongly blends these terms together. There are indeed times to rebuke....but never to judge.

Answer 6

Excuse me for asking but where does the bible God the Son???

Please read this:

The New Catholic Encyclopedia states: “The formulation ‘one God in three Persons’ was not solidly established, certainly not fully assimilated into Christian life and its profession of faith, prior to the end of the 4th century. But it is precisely this formulation that has first claim to the title the Trinitarian dogma.

Among the Apostolic Fathers, there had been nothing even remotely approaching such a mentality or perspective.”—(1967), Vol. XIV, p. 299.

Answer 7

Yes, in both instances you judged Joe and Jane. It would be wrong to judge Joe and there is no way you can correctly judge Jane. Now, if Jane doesn't make it to Heaven after believing what you told her, you now have negatively impacted her life.

Answer 8

You already answered your own question.

Read James 4:11-13.

Detract not one another, my brethren. He that detracteth his brother, or he that judgeth his brother, detracteth the law, and judgeth the law. But if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, and judge, that is able to destroy and to deliver. 13 But who art thou that judgest thy neighbour?

Answer 9

Let us remember this: “One there is that is lawgiver and judge” Jehovah. His ‘law is perfect,’ not deficient. (Psalm 19:7; Isaiah 33:22) God alone has the right to set standards and rules for salvation. (Luke 12:5) So James asks: “Who are you to be judging your neighbor?” It is not our prerogative to judge and condemn others. (Matthew 7:1-5; Romans 14:4, 10) Reflecting on God’s sovereignty and impartiality and our own sinfulness should help us to refrain from self-righteously judging others.

In the Christian congregation. Jesus’ half brother James wrote to some Christians who were becoming proud, boastful, and critical of their Christian brothers, saying: “Quit speaking against one another, brothers. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother speaks against law and judges law. Now if you judge law, you are, not a doer of law, but a judge. One there is that is lawgiver [Gr., no·mo·the′tes] and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But you, who are you to be judging your neighbor?” James goes on to speak of those who bragged about what they would do in the future, as though they were independent of circumstances, instead of saying, “If Jehovah wills.” (Jas 4:11-16) James had spoken of “the kingly law,” “You must love your neighbor as yourself.” (Jas 2:8) These Christians, by failing to exhibit love for their neighbor, speaking against him instead, were, in effect, setting themselves up as judges of divine law, as lawgivers or lawmakers.

Answer 10

You judged those people; however, your judgement will not impact the one given to them at the gates of heaven.