Compassion versus Condemnation

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; (Luke 6:37). To understand this verse correctly, we must look at it in the broader context of scripture’s teaching. This verse does not mean we won’t be judged for our actions if we don’t judge others. Scripture is clear that everyone will be judged one day. 2 Corinthians 5:10 reads, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil,” “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned,” (Matthew 12:36-37).

Every person will be judged one day. Many will be condemned, but, praise God, the good news is that, “those who are found to be in Christ will not come under condemnation” (Romans 8:1)

This verse instructs us to judge other’s actions (not hearts) as God will judge us—according to the teaching of scripture. “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you,” (Matthew 7:1-2). If we judge others harshly, we can expect to be judged harshly. If we show compassion and forgiveness as God shows to His children, we can expect to be judged with compassion and forgiveness. Ephesians 4:32 admonishes, “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

If we know Christ’s forgiveness ourselves, we should want others to receive His forgiveness, as well, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him,” (John 3:17). Compassion, rather than condemnation, will better draw others to Christ. Scripture teaches that God’s kindness leads men to repentance, “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance” (Romans 2:4)? 

 

We are all sinners in need of grace and strength to keep us from falling. Galatians 6:1 reads,“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 6:1), “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

Matthew 22:37-39 sums up the law by which we will all be judged, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

To Know God is to Know Fear- and Have No Fear

Everyone...young and old alike... experiences fear at times... Some fears are actually GOOD.. The best kind of fear is a fear of God. This fear will turn us from evil. “The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil,” (Proverbs 8:13). Just as we should fear doing things which could put us in physical danger, we should fear doing things which could put us in spiritual danger (consequences suffered from sinful behavior). This demonstrates “fear of God.”

We are generally able to manage our fears when in dangerous circumstances within our control. In difficult circumstances beyond our control, however, we can “have no fear” only as we trust in God.

1 John 4:18 tells us, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” If we are in Christ, and trusting fully in Him for all of our needs, we will not fear anything. However, because we still have a sin nature within us, we still continue to experience fear-- even if we are in Christ. No one can be fully perfected in love and completely free from fear until they are fully sanctified-- when they die and go to heaven. However, as we grow in faith, and as God sanctifies us through the years, we will experience increasingly less fear. This is because, as we trust Christ more and more, we learn there is no need to fear!

In obedience to God’s Word, we must fight our fears by looking to Christ. Hebrews 12:1-2 reads, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

In other words, we must not allow our fears… or any other kind of burden… to get the best of us. Hebrews tells us to put aside those cares and 1 Peter 5:6-7 tells us to cast all our cares on Jesus- because He cares for us. When we allow fear to reign in our hearts, we are demonstrating that we don’t believe God can or will help us. We are showing distrust in the God who created us and provides for our every need..

The following is a quote by George Mueller, “The last important point for the strengthening of our faith is that we let God work for us and do not work a deliverance of our own. When a trial of faith comes, we are naturally inclined to distrust God and to trust in ourselves, in our friends, or in circumstances. We would rather work a deliverance of our own than simply look to God and wait for His help. But if we do not patiently wait for God's help or if we work a deliverance of our own, then at the next trial of our faith we will have the same problem. We will again be inclined to try and deliver ourselves. With every fresh trial, our faith will decrease. On the contrary, if we stand firm in order to see the salvation of God, trusting in Him alone, our faith will be increased. Every time we see the hand of God stretched out on our behalf in the hour of trial, our faith would be increased even more. God will prove His willingness to help and deliver at the perfect time.”

God is the only One we should trust 100%. He is the One... the only One… on whom we can depend for the peace and faith we need in times of fear. As we seek, by His grace, to live in obedience to His word we can expect His blessing and His peace. A peace which is beyond all understanding.

Philippians 4:6-7 tells us we are to, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” When tempted to give in to fear and anxiety, we must pray to God, asking for His help. We also should thank Him for the things surrounding our circumstances, because this is part of obeying Him.. If we do these things, we are told, we will experience the supernatural peace of God. If we do not give thanks, we are disobedient and cannot expect to experience His peace. I have turned to these verses many times and recall them to mind when tempted to give into unnecessary fear. Proverbs 15:33 tells us, “The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom..”

I also bring to mind the following verse when unwelcome thoughts come into my mind and threaten to bring me down, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” This verse is found in Philippians 4:8. It follows the ones that tell us not to be anxious about anything, but pray about everything- with thanksgiving..

Things don’t always work out the way we might have hoped. We must trust that God knows best and is working through all things for the good of those who love Him (that “good” being to make us more and more like Christ-Romans 8:28-29). Let us refrain from giving into anxiety over those things beyond our control-- and let us have no fear. May we draw near to God, through His word and in obedience, so that we can experience His peace in troublesome times. And may we all exercise a healthy fear of the Lord-- for (as Proverbs 19:23 tells us) “The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.”

Love Your Enemies- Imitate Good

Jesus teaches us a very important lesson in Luke 6:27, “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you...” “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect,” (Matthew 5:43-48).

We cannot be perfect as long as we live with a nature to sin (which will be for as long as we live on this earth) but we still must “be imitators of God, as beloved children” (Ephesians 5:1).

Whenever anyone (Matthew 10:36) acts as an enemy toward us (for whatever reason), we need to respond in a way that is uncharacteristic of the world. The world’s way is to retaliate. Jesus’ way to respond, however, is to demonstrate love to those who mistreat us-- regardless of what that mistreatment may be. Jesus demonstrated love to those who both verbally and physically assaulted Him- even put Him to death. How can we justify an unforgiving spirit for far less offense than this? In Ephesians 4:30-32 Paul admonishes us with the following words, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

If we are not willing to forgive others their trespasses against us, we certainly cannot expect God to forgive our many trespasses against Him. In fact, it is made clear in Matthew 5:16 that “.. if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Jesus’ response to hate and mistreatment is the ultimate example of forgiving those who sin against us.

In Matthew 27:27-31 we read of the unjust manner Jesus was treated, “Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.” Yet in Matthew 27:12-14 scripture reads, “But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you? But he gave no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.” He did not try to justify himself as we may do in situations of our own, nor did he lash out as we are tempted to do. Jesus’ perfect example is a forgiving spirit, as evidenced by his prayer to the Father for his persecutors, “And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34). We must not behave like those who treat us badly, but rather like Christ- who does good. John 1:11 reads, “Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.”

 

We can “imitate good” by looking to Christ- (who alone is good)-- through obedience to the teaching of His word. May we intentionally look to Him when tempted to “imitate evil”. May we find grace to imitate good- by loving our enemies and doing good to those who mistreat us.