Self Judgment

Romans 12:3a: For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, . . .

1 Corinthians 11:31-32: For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Without God*s help we mortals have impaired judgment. We have a blind eye toward our personal sins. We notice the sins of others more than our own. We disapprove of sins against us but tolerate sins against others. Unbelievers judge others more severely than they judge themselves. Christians ought to judge themselves more severely than others. They ought to remember that before God*s mercy was applied to them they were in the same shape that unbelievers are in. If Christians correctly judge themselves they will see their own sins, chasten themselves, seek forgiveness, repent and make every effort to cease sinning.

A Christian should not judge others with the goal of punishing them. He should evaluate them with the goal helping them to see their need of mercy. He should pray that the Lord will replace their wicked hearts with pure ones.

Jeremiah 17:9: The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Matthew 5:8: Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Christ*s new creatures are given new and pure hearts.

2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Oswald Chambers: Christians ought to have *a profound humble holiness (there is no such thing as proud holiness), a holiness based on agonizing repentance and a sense of unspeakable shame and degradation; and also on the amazing realization that the love of God commended itself to me in that while I cared nothing about Him, He completed everything for my salvation . . .*

William Burkitt: It is our duty often to examine and judge ourselves, so self-judging in particular . . . will preserve us from the judgment and condemnation of God; we must first summon, then examine, then convict and try, then sentence and condemn ourselves . . .

Adam Clarke*s Commentary: If, having acted improperly, we condemn our conduct and humble ourselves, we shall not be judged, i.e. punished for the sin we have committed.

People*s New Testament Commentary: If we would sit in judgment on our spiritual condition, and correct ourselves, we would avert God*s judgments.

Are you critical of others for your benefit or for theirs? If you are more critical of yourself than of others you may be a Christian. If you are more critical of others than of yourself you are a carnal or immature Christian or you are not a Christian at all.

Care to discuss Self Judgment with Ron?

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