Should believers judge believers?
Q: We ALL do things that are against God. No one is perfect on this earth. Jesus died on the Cross for our sins. No one lives a perfect life style SO YOU SHOULD STOP trying to condemn others with your opinions on how things should be; you are not perfect yourself either.
A: You are incorrect in how youre saying that, which examining your opinion is pointing a judgment too. What we say isn't opinion, it's the authoritative Word of God that guides us and tells us to counsel, correct, rebuke & help you.
Scripture calls us believers to righteously judge one another. The purpose is to correct & call us to holy living. We are to do so while growing ourselves. It has three purposes, remind us and help them, and keep the church pure.
Matt. 7: 5
...first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
Romans 16:17-18
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
James 4:1
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
2 Timothy 4:2:
“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season. Admonish, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and teaching.”
James 1:22
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves
Romans 15:14: "I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and competent to instruct one another."
Galatians 6:1
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted
Galatians 6:2: "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
James 5:19-20
My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
1 Thessalonians 5:11: "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
Ephesians 4:32
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you
1 Corinthians 5:12-13
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. As for those inside, God commands you to judge them. ‘Expel the wicked person from among you.’”
“I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.””
1 Corinthians 5:9-13 (longer)
Matthew 18:15
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother
So what is the goal? Lead a wayward believer living in sin, to repentance, come along side them to turn them to Christ and holy living, if they repent, there is correction, reconciliation, restoration of fellowship (both to God and to believers), growth in their sanctification and rejoicing. It is a good to one another.
Ephesians 5:21
Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ
Colossians 3:13
Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Ephesians 4:15
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
John 15:12
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you
A lot of times people who say such things are judgmental, weak believers or false converts. They don't go to chyrch as they don't want to be accountable to shepherding leadership, and avoid accountability and holy living by being a solo soldier, but a body cant function without its members, nor can they use the gifts God gave them for use in the local church, cuz they arent there. Theyre a rebellious & useless servant. If theyre not around nor desire to be around God & God's people now, why would they want to in eternity? Something is wrong. Examine yourself, and also my motives. It's out of care for you that I corrected you here and educated you.
I encourage you to study Scripture on this, and get further counsel from your Sunday school teacher. ✝️
God bless
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