We Must Judge Everything In Us and What We Do
1Co 11:31 For if we searchingly examined ourselves [detecting our shortcomings and recognizing our own condition], we should not be judged and penalty decreed [by the divine judgment].
1Co 11:32 But when we [fall short and] are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined and chastened, so that we may not [finally] be condemned [to eternal punishment along] with the world.
Here is the argument to those who claim that it does not matter how we live, we are saved by grace, that everything is forgiven and we cannot be judged.
Fact: All sins of past and future are under the blood. We will never be judged by the wrath of God for our sins and sentenced to hell.
Fact: We are under grace. But don't distort the meaning. Grace is not only extended favor because we repented and believed. Grace is divine energy working in us to obey His Word. Grace is not pardon, nor excuse to live how we want. Grace is the allowed Spirit of God to direct us what and how to please the Father. Anyone who ignores any teachings and principles of Scripture to justify personal lifestyle is a blind and ignorant Christian.
Fact: The grace of God working in us works ONLY in proportion to the amount of sins and selfish ways we have unrepentant of; even sins of pride, denying objective heart committed study to understanding and practicing the Word of God.
1 Peter 1:22 Since by your obedience to the Truth through the [Holy ] Spirit you have purified your hearts for the sincere affection of the brethren, [see that you] love one another fervently from a pure heart.
Whenever we obey the Truth, by learning the Truth[s] found in the Word of God, a divine purification of your heart takes place.
Counseling, reading books, teachings alone and are only secondary to the personal obedience to all the Truth tells us from the Word of God. Any time you defend an action in a wrong spirit, you exhibit guilt what you are doing is wrong. Because only a pure heart can sincerely display affection fervently from a pure heart.
To argue and defend with a believer is not displaying affection. Only pure hearts can display affection.
Note individuals who are argumentative, angry, stressing out in their conversations. They have impurity prevalent in their heart.
To prepare our lives for the Judgment Seat of Christ, we must judge ourselves now. Self-judgment is the full-time activity of the spiritual believer. He is constantly judging his thoughts, intents, attitudes, conduct, and how he is perceived for Christ.
The carnal believer denies any responsibility but to justify who he is and what he does.
But if we judge ourselves, if we discern, discriminate, separate what is of the old nature and what is of God, God will not chastise us.
Verse 31 gives two words of "judge". If we judge not, God will judge us. But both have different Greek meanings. We are to judge; meaning to analyze and bring into alignment with God's Word. If we do not, God judges us; meaning He will punish/chastise us.
The subject of chastisement will come in another lesson. But for now, let's understand that God will not allow any of His children to do what they want. He saved us to become like Him. If we cooperate their is great mercy and much grace to become as He desires.
This is the life-time process of the Christian: to purify our souls by:
1. The Word of God and the Holy Spirit cleanse the soul when we heed what is given to us.
2. When we discern immediate activity in our soul, judge it, and deny what conflicts with God.
3. When we sin, we must confess/admit, own up to the sin. Then by faith believe He restores our fellowship with Him. For any sin left unconfessed builds up and remains blocking some sort of fellowship closeness with the Father.
One of the greatest healing in my life came when I began to get alone with God and allow the Holy Spirit to take my mind back to any and all sins that I've committed since very young. I looked at sins against my family, other people, and the sins I carried in myself; fears, insecurities, neglect, unbelief, pride, on and on.
I vocalized each sin, admitted with deep contrition and godly sorrow. Ask forgiveness or received forgiveness for what God would gladly do. Then by faith, I believed the acceptance, cleansing, and restoration healing of that relationship with God.
Over the years, I have practiced this when needed when forgotten sins came ot mind. I did not need to do this to be saved. I did this to remove dark spots of the soul in order to receive more of the divine light of God, to see clearly about myself and others.
This lifetime practice is the key to growing moral purity, clear vision from God's perspective, and inner soul healing. This is the work of building in us the spiritual man/woman who will be greatly rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Press on to Final Exam Day.
Rick
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