Don’t Ask: Who’s Saved?! Who’s Condemned?!
Because the Bible is about Dos and Don’ts
- Do judge to discernment; Don’t judge to condemnation.
- Judge to discern what is right or wrong: John 7:24 CEV
Don’t judge by appearances. Judge by what is right.
Luke 12 expands on this:
54 Then Jesus said to the crowds, “As soon as you see a cloud rising in the west, you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and that is what happens. 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It will be hot,’ and it is. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and sky. Why don’t you know how to interpret the present time? 57 And why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?
1 John 4:1 Gods’ Word
Dear friends, don’t believe all people who say that they have the Spirit. Instead, test them. See whether the spirit they have is from God, because there are many false prophets in the world.
These commandments are not limited to unbelievers only! 1 Cor 14:29, Church setting:
Have two or three prophets speak, and have the others pass judgment.
1Thess 5 Gods’ Word
20 Don’t despise what God has revealed. 21 Instead, test everything. Hold on to what is good.
2. Don’t judge to condemn to the Lake of Fire!
Luke 6:37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.”
Because, he goes on to explain,
“For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” Luke 6.38b
Paul taught the same.
1Cor 4:5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of human hearts; and then praise will come to each person from God.
Because ultimately, Paul says, the only one Judge and Savior will be God, by/through His Son: Acts 17
30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
