Should a Christian judge?

One of the most common ploys of unrepentant sinners is to tell believers that they have no right to judge their sinful behavior.

They claim Jesus loved everyone, including sinners, and they do not have to repent.

This is nonsense. This is putting 2 unrelated concepts together. Love and continuing in sin.

The rebellious, “you cannot tell me what to do or think” types, know how to cherry pick a single verse and twist it around.

This is the passage in context.

Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

Mat 7:3 And why behold thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but consider not the beam that is in your own eye?

Mat 7:4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of your eye; and, behold, a beam [is] in your own eye?

Mat 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of your own eye; and then shall thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

In context, if you go back and look at it, it is referring to hypocrites with the same sin judging others. We are to first take the beam out of our own eyes. It only forbids hypocrites from judging, until they correct themselves over the same sin.

It does not forbid righteous judgment, and in fact, we are commanded to judge righteously, using God’s word as a standard.

1Cr 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

1Cr 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

1Cr 6:4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. - 1Cr 2:15 But he that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

So what did Jesus (and his disciples) say about repentance?

Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Mar 6:12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

Luk 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

And what are the terms for forgiveness?

Luk 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

Luk 17:4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shall forgive him.

Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Rev 2:16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Rev 2:21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

Rev 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shall not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shall not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Notice the word…….”if”………..there is no forgiveness, without repentance.

The Great Commission that Jesus gave was to preach the kingdom of God and its requirements.

Repent, be forgiven if one is truly sorry for their sins, be saved, and sin no more.

Unconditional love has nothing to do with being permissive toward sin.

God loves us, and will forgive us, not wanting us to perish, but we will send ourselves to hell, if we do not repent.

Hell is a choice.

God does not make this decision for us.

We do.

*Final note:

We judge the behavior as sinful or righteous, and explain what eternal destiny will result in relation to each behavior. We do not judge the motives.