TO JUDGE? Part 3

IS IT RIGHT TO JUDGE Part 3

Friday, February 08, 2019

   2Timothy [NLT] 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

  Paul declared “He that is spiritual judges all things” earlier having said “I speak as [though] to wise men, judge what I say.” (1Cor.2:15; 10:15) This Paul stated to a very messed up bunch of congregants.

  So what is this qualifying spiritual basis Paul refers to?

  Checking the Greek it means to think and act non-carnal. Looking at Paul’s letter to the Romans we see that a carnal mind is a hostile attitude toward God. (Rom.8:7)

  Looking at carnal versus non-carnal in the immediate text sans chapter division we see: “The natural [carnal, unrenewed] person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ. But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh [carnal], as infants in Christ.” (ESV 1Cor.2:14-3:1)

  Once again, for me the challenge comes down to living in alignment or nonalignment with the exhortation in Romans 12:1-3 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.”

  Continuing maturation requires judging what God says, beginning with applying to self, and, having experienced the expense, often reluctantly . . . all things.

EBB4