"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad". (2 Corinthians 5:10)
2007-12-20 01:37:03 · 11 answers · asked by don_steele54 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Many non-believers will take this verse completely out of context. When the verse is taken in context, people will find out that:
1: This verse is about hypocritical judging. You are not to tell others their life is wrong, when you are doing the same thing. (7:2)
2: When you have repented and live a life according to the purpose that God has deemed, then you may help the sinner. (vs 3-5)
3: Don't waste your time on those that refuse to listen, it will be useless. This is where a strong sense of discernment will come in. Are they genuinely in need, then help them. Are they closed minded that whatever you say they will not heed, then don't bother with them. (v 6)
Scripture commands us to judge and rebuke our brothers and sisters in Christ and to use the Holy Scriptures in the process.
"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?" (1 Corinthians 5:12)
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16)
2007-12-20 01:54:37 · answer #1 · answered by Acts 4:12 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Matthew also has a 2nd verse that reads: For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
What Matthew 7 teaches is that you can't judge someone unless you are not guilty of the same thing. How can you judge a murderer if you too are a murderer? That is hypocrisy. Paul said he judged a member of the church (I Corinthians 5:3). I Peter 4:17 says that judgment must begin at the house of God. We are told not to go to take one another to law before the sinners, we are to judge our own. (I Corinthians 6:1-5).
So, it is clear we are called to judge one another. The very existence of the churches is tantamount upon keeping the church holy and we are called to purge out the unclean members.
2007-12-20 10:04:50 · answer #2 · answered by Capri 1230 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Jesus is saying basically in Matthew that we are not to condemn but we are to discriminate. Condemnation is something that God has reserved for himself.
Paul in 2nd corinthians something a bit different. This bema seat of Christ is much like the Olympics judges' seat, where the participants in the various contests would come before the bema seat, and the judges would lay on their heads the wreaths, laurel or olive, to indicate their success in their particular event.
Our works, (what we hath done) are going to be judged by fire. And those works which are wood, hay, and stubble will be consumed. Those works of ours which can survive this fire we will then be rewarded for. A lot of things that are done in the name of Christ will receive no reward at all in heaven. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, beginning the sixth chapter said, "Take heed to yourself that you do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of men: for I say unto you, you have your reward" (Matthew 6:1,2). Our works are to be judged what sort they are, or what the motive was behind them.
2007-12-20 10:21:17 · answer #3 · answered by thundercatt9 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We are to judge daily life, and what actions and words are best to live our lives the most morally well that we can. HOWEVER, we are NOT justified in judging other people's worthiness to enter Heaven. Only God has the right and the power to judge someone's worthiness to enter Heaven, because only He knows our individual hearts, souls, and minds. The more harshly we judge (and do harm to others based on our judgments) the more harshly we ourselves will be judged by God.
2007-12-20 10:00:03 · answer #4 · answered by ♛Qu€€n♛J€§§¡¢a♛™ 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The first is referring to "judging" whether people are going to heaven or hell. That "judging" is reserved for GOD. The second "judging" is dealing with the actions of people. We are called to point out to people when their actions are wrong. We are to do so out of love and using The Bible as the standard.
Remember, GOD loves you even when you don't love Him!
2007-12-20 09:48:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The standard seems to be more like "the standard that you set in your judgment of others is the standard that you set up to be applied to you at the final judgment". Thus the more generous you are with mercy the more will will ultimately be available to you in the end. Long range enlightened self interest.
2007-12-20 09:43:16 · answer #6 · answered by Mike B 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Let he that is without sin cast the first stone! If, if, if we look past this first verse what is the Word of Truth saying? Lets look:
.......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.
2007-12-20 09:58:16 · answer #7 · answered by hearingtheword 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We who are born again, must take stands on sin and judge sin, but we are not to judge the sinner. Preach as Jesus preached and live as He lived, that what we are commanded to do. Did you notice Jesus would say That is sin, leave it and dont look back. Thats our job as well. We must love the person enough to speak truths of God, and let them know we speak from love , not in judgment, and then we move on. THe Holy Spirit is to do the convicting.
God says if we dont go to ppl in sin BELIEVERS THAT IS, and to bring them warning, that we will be held accountible for their sin as tho it is our own.
But, if we are juding others and condemning others, Thats what God will do us, and that is not GOOD, at all.
So many ppl hear that, and then say well we cant point to sin. But, God tells us to do as Jesus did, and Jesus surely pointed to sin, named it and said to leave it.
IF we dont tell them, how will they know? I would rather they were upset with me now for speaking, than for noone to tell them and on judgment day, they are left wondering, WHY DIDNT ANYONE TELL ME?????
This is simple, as most of Gods word is so simple. Just do as God says, do as Jesus did and leave the rest to the Holy Spirit. Live truth, speak truth, without fear or compromise, but do it all in LOVE< or dont do it at all.
REmember God knows their hearts, and HE also knows OUR hearts.
God bless you for the question.
Happy Jesus' B/day. your sister in Christ.
2007-12-20 10:19:15 · answer #8 · answered by full gospel shirley 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It means that that is one of the most taken out of context verses in the Bible.
Christians are required to judge. We discern and judge teachings first and foremost. The Bible is the final authority on all matters, so if a person disagrees with the Bible, that person is wrong.
2007-12-20 09:40:52 · answer #9 · answered by Chris 4 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Nope! It means don't judge others unless you are prepared to also be judged. Human nature.
2007-12-20 09:42:15 · answer #10 · answered by Nashgirl4 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋