Lawrence DeMetrius

Lyrics

Lesson 28 of 77
Live To Love, Not to Judge
{See Lessons 2, 12, 33, 71}
By Lawrence DeMetrius

No mortal on earth is qualified enough to judge or condemn another for their shortcomings and certainly to eternal death. Only Yahweh can righteously judge an individual, because only HE knows the true nature of their heart. King Solomon prayed,

Then hear THOU from heaven THY dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart THOU knowest: (for THOU only knowest the hearts of the children of men:)
[II Chr 6:30]

Apostle Paul writes,

...judge nothing before the time, until the LORD come, Who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
[I Cor 4:5]

Yahweh has given all power in heaven and earth to Christ the Word, including the power to judge, which He will per Yahweh’s will. Apostle Paul writes,

…HE <Yahweh> hath appointed a day, in the which HE will judge the world in righteousness by that Man Whom HE hath ordained; whereof HE hath given assurance unto all men, in that HE hath raised Him from the dead.
[Acts 17:31]

The Lord Jesus said,

For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son;
That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which sent Him.
And hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man.
[St Jn 5:22, 23, 27]

As noted by Apostle Paul, Christian brethren will not always agree on all issues. In fact, some personal convictions should be kept confidential to maintain peace, namely amongst Christian brethren. Apostle Paul writes,

I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
[Rm 14:14, 19]

The brethren of Christ are never to permit personal liberties to become occasions of offense for others, especially one another. Apostle Paul writes,

But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set at naught thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Let us not therefore judge one another anymore: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walketh thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
[Rm 14:10, 13, 15, 16, 20, 21]

But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak.
[I Cor 8:9]

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
Let no man seek his own but every man another’s wealth.
Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?
[I Cor 10:23, 24, 29]

Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
[Tit 1:15]

The Elect are also not to allow the ill judgment of others to adversely affect how they feel about or perceive themselves. However, their personal conduct should always be acceptable to the LORD, WHOSE EYES are always in every place beholding the evil and the good. King Solomon writes,

The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
[Pro 15:3]

Apostle Paul writes,

Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
And he that doubteth is damned if he eat because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
[Rm 14:22, 23]

Yahweh expects HIS sons to deal with themselves and all others in divine love, mercy, and forgiveness. Apostle John writes,

We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He <Christ> laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
But who hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
And this is HIS commandment, That we should believe on the Name of HIS Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
[I Jn 3:14-18, 23]

…God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
We love HIM, because HE first loved us.
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God WHOM he hath not seen?
And this commandment have we from HIM, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
[I Jn 4:16b, 19-21]

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth HIM that begat loveth Him also that is begotten of HIM.
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep HIS commandments.
For this is the love of God, that we keep HIS commandments: and HIS commandments are not grievous.
[I Jn 5:1-3]

The Lord Jesus said,

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
By this shall men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.
[Jn 13:34, 35]

In regards to one’s enemies, the Lord Jesus said,

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for HE maketh HIS sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same?
And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the publicans so?
Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
[Mt 5: 43-48]
Those who wrongfully judge others are likened to hypocrites who inherit the Second Death. Apostle John writes,

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the Second Death.
[Rev 21:8]

The only people that should be negatively marked, exposed, and rejected are false prophets. Apostle Paul writes,

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we <the Original Apostles of Christ> have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit <doctrine> which ye have not received <from Christ and His Original apostles>, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted <from Christ or His Original Apostles>, ye might well bear <know how to deal> with him.
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
[II Cor 11:3, 4, 13-15]

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from HIM that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accused.
As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received <from Christ or His Original Apostles>, let him be accursed.
[Gal 1:6-9]


Beloved, believe not every spirit <or doctrine>, but try <test and examine> the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that is should come; and even now already is it in the world.
[I Jn 4:1-3]

For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
[II Jn vs 7-11]

All such teaching derives from the Lord Jesus Who said,

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit: but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
[Mt 7:15-20]

For many shall come in My Name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Behold, I have told you before.
[Mt 24:5, 11, 24, 25]

Having this wisdom from Christ, all the Elect of God are admonished to Live to Love, Not to Judge.

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