In the previous study, God had Paul explain that from the beginning with Eve and Adam and ever since, up to the present day, the majority of mankind has chosen to believe the lies of Satan instead of trusting and obeying God's Word. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers [gossipers], backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning [lacking knowledge], untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:26-32)
Don't misunderstand, we can judge behaviors and actions. That's why we have a judicial system, based on the system God had Moses establish with the children of Isreal. And so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening. So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?” And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.” (Gensis 18:13-16)
So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you. If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.” So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. (Genesis 18:13-24)
As we know, in most countries including America the judicial system is set up this way, from a Federal court like Moses represented; to a state court just as the chosen represented over the thousands; to the local regulatory agencies and magistrates as those same chosen represented over the hundreds, fifties and tens. And because those chosen were able men of truth who fear God and hated covetousness, they were trusted to judge righteously because their judgments were based on the Word of God, because Moses taught them the statutes and the laws, and showed them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do.
What Paul is advising us against judging here is peoples spiritual condition. We see people doing all the things Paul listed above, and many of us try to make a determination about whether they are saved or not, but we who are saved do some of those same things ourselves; but if we're not still doing them, we used to, and God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) Only God can judge man's spiritual condition, because the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering [patience], not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? (Romans 2:3-4)
We who are saved and who have been delivered from doing all kinds of things we used to do sometimes forget where God brought us from. We weren't always saved, and after becoming saved, we haven't always behaved like perfect Christians. Even if we haven't sinned outwardly that others can see it (vile passion of homosexuality, murder, violent, inventors of evil, etc.), we have sinned inwardly (full of envy, evil-mindedness, gossipers, proud, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful, etc.). Just as God showered the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering on us, He's doing the same towards all people, because the goodness of God leads you to repentance; and God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (I Timothy 2:3-4)
But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: [Psalm 62:12; Proverbs 24:12] eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek [non-Jew]; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek [non-Jew]. (Romans 2:5-10)
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:12-13) Only God is able to judge the spiritual condition of people because He knows their hearts. Let us not misunderstand, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, and if they continue taking advantage of God's goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering [patience], and don't repent, they will have to give account on their judgment day; For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (II Corinthians 5:10)
For there is no partiality with God. For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles [non-Jews], who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel [that was given to Paul by Christ Jesus, I Corinthians 15]. (Romans 2:12-16)
How merciful God is! Remember, For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,... (Romans 1:18-20) God has put the knowledge of Himself in all creation, including every human being who has ever lived, is living and will ever live, no matter who they are or where they are, for there is no partiality with God. Even if people never heard about the law, they know there is a God. Every person has a moral compass put in them by God when He created them, the law written in their hearts; therefore, not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified.
Every human being has a conscience, and their conscience also bears witness, and between themselves their thoughts either accuses or else excuses them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse! God has prepared the hearts of all people to be saved, and God will judge each person justly. For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law, in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ. But for those of us who have heard and obeyed the law, first by repenting and accepting the gospel of Christ Jesus, we will receive glory, honor, peace and eternal life. And for those who do not have the law, but by nature do the things in the law, God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ. God is a just judge! (Psalm 7:11)
For thus says the Lord, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: “I am the Lord, and there is no other. I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth; I did not say to the seed of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in vain’; I, the Lord, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. “Assemble yourselves and come; Draw near together, you who have escaped from the nations. They have no knowledge, who carry the wood of their carved image, and pray to a god that cannot save. Tell and bring forth your case; yes, let them take counsel together. Who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the Lord? And there is no other God besides Me, A just God and a Savior; There is none besides Me. Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself; the word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath." (Isaiah 45:20-23) AMEN!
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