1 Corinthians 4/3b.
I JUDGE NOT MINE OWN SELF:



In a great number of fellowship meetings this question keeps coming up and many different opinions are shared.However I can not understand why.The Bible is very clear in its teaching on this subject,So suppose we take a look at some of what we find in the Authorized King James Version of the Bible.The King James Verison is the only version that I use,it is the one I was raised with,and the one I love and trust.Not saying anything good nor bad about the other versions.Because I know them not.

There is a verse or so that I feel would be great if we would keep in mind as we study this or any other subject:So before starting I will list these verses.

Proverbs 14/12
12.There is a way which seemeth right unto a man,but the end thereof are the ways of death.

1 Corinthians 3/19
19.For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.For it is written,He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

Without question we are plainly told that our smartest thinking is foolishness in God's sight.So without a question we must take the Bible(God,word) above our or anyone else's word.So within the good pleasure of god can any one man judge another man? oh yes The Pastor of a church,or the shepherd of the flock must at times to protect his flock from sinful deeds in his fellowship that would be be harmful to the fellowship of his flock.Then this pastor or shepherd can judge anothers deeds,But a man's salvation can not be judge by another man.This we will see as we go along.So suppose we look at the following verses that clearly that Paul would not judge that man,s salvation,only his deeds.

1 Corinthians 5/1 thru 5
1.It is reported commonly that there is fornication amoung you,and such fornicatin as is not so much as named amoung the Gentiles that one should have his father's wife.
2.And ye are puffed up,and have not rather mourned,that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
3.For verily as absent in body,but present in spirit,have judged already,as though I were present,concerning him that hath so done this deed.
4.In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,when ye are gathered together,and my spirit,with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ.
5.To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh,that the spirit MAY BE saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

So we see in the above verses that Paul condemned that man and did in fact judge his deed, However take notice he said May Be;So indicating he was not judging that man's salvation--just his deed.So a pastor must at times to judge a member of his flock's deeds,but not his salvation:

Yes Paul refrained from judging that man's salvation.Have you ever wondered why Paul did not say would or would not be saved?just in case you have not:Here Paul was judging this man's deed and not his salvation.So we find that a Pastor does in fact and must judge a man's deeds,but not his salvation.

As for the rest of the redeemed children of God,let us look at a few selected verses as we go through the Bible.I see no need for me to comment on these verses as they are self explaining.

Matthew 7/1 & 2
1.Judge not,that ye be not judged.
2.For with the judgment ye judge,ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again.

Luke 6/37
37.Judge not,and ye shall not be judged:condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned.forgive,and ye shall be forgiven.

Acts 10/42
42.And He commanded of us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is He which was ordained of God to be the judge of quick and dead.

Romans 14/3 & 4
3.Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not,and let not him that eateth not judge him that eateth:for God hath received him.
4.Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth,yea he shall be holden up: For God is able to make him stand.

Romans 14/10
10.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.

Romans 14/12 & 13
12.So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
13.Let us not therefore judge one another anymore: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

1 Corinthians 4/3 & 4
3.But with me it is a very small thing that I,should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea I judge not mine own self.
4.For I know nothing by myself yet am I not hereby justified: but He that judgeth me is the Lord.

James 4/12
12.There is one lawgiver,who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

Romans 8/33 & 34
33.Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
34.Who is he that condemneth? it is Christ that died, yea rather,that is risen again. who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

If there be anyone that still believes they are justified to judge anyone else I think it would be good if they would read the following nine verses,then see if you still think you are justified to do so:

Revelation 5/1 thru 9
1.And I saw in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside,sealed with seven seals.
2.And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3.And no man in heaven,nor in earth,neither under the earth,was able to open the book,neither to look thereon.
4.And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book,neither to look thereon.
5.And one of the eldes saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda,the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book,and to loose the seven seals thereof.
6.And I beheld,and,lo,in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts,and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain,having seven horns and seven eyes,which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
7.And He came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
8.And when He had taken the book.the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
9.And they sung a new song saying,Thou art worthy to take the book,and to open the seals thereof: For thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue and people, and nation;

With all the above verses and all they say, is there anything else left to be said, I think not, not in any of the above cases.I feel that the scriptures has said all that is needed to be be said.

However I feel that all the redeemed children of God should feel humble in light Revelation 5/1 thru 9 and thank our Lord Jesus Christ for His great love, Compassion ,and sacrifice He made to provide man a way back to God.

Of course our Lord Jesus Christ is worthy, and the only one worthy,Surely not Me.

IN LIGHT OF ALL THE ABOVE, JUST WHO ALL IS WORTHY?

TOP

The following is some of the names changes we find in the Bible:

Genesis 17/5
5.Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, But thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

Yes Abraham was given to Abram, because he was to be father of many nations. So Abram was given a name that was more fitting of a man being the father of many nations.

Genesis 32/28
28.And He said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and men, and hast prevailed.

Jacob, was renamed because of his position in life. A prince with power.

John 1/42
42.And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, He said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona:Thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by intterpretation, A Stone.

Now Simon simply means "Hearing" to the more meaningful Cephas--A Stone;
Peter's new name was supposed to be an indication of his character, Yet he was imparient,as is often revealed by his words and actions,sometimes causes us to wonder if the choice of the new name was a wise one.

However Peter finally proved that the weakest character, in the hands of God can become strong in faith.It is true that Peter did deny Jesus three times and many other things.

But wait! The whole story has not been yet told ,Yes after denying Jesus, and being so impatient before the day of Pentecost.

But I would like for us to think about Peter after the day of Pentecost. This is one of the greatest examples that I can think about of just what can and will happen to one of us when we are filled with the Holy Ghost.

Yes Peter finally gives real meaning to his new name:

It was Peter who preached at the pentecost when the three thousand were saved. He reminded the Jews They crucified Our Lord Jesus Christ,The promised Messiah. He preached to many of the same individuals that their screaming was heard crying crucify Him.He knew they might crucify him too.But Peter was fearless now. Yes Peter was now like a rock.

Acts 4/5 thru 10
5.And it come to pass on the morrow,that their rulers, and elders,and scribes,
6.And Annas the high priest,and Cai,a-phas,and John,and Alexander,and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
7.And when they had set them in the midst,They asked, By what power,or by what name,have ye done this,
8.Then Peter,filled with the Holly Ghost,said unto them,Ye rulers of the people,and elders of Israel.
9. If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man,by what means he is made whole;
10.But it is known unto you all,and to all the people of Israel,that by the of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,whom ye crucified,whom God raised from the dead,even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole.

In a latter year Peter died the martyr's death.Christ had told Peter that he would be put to death in the same way that Christ was to die.Tradition has it that when the time came for Peter's crucifixion he ask to be placed on the cross head-down because he was not worthy to die in the same manner as his Master.No moore cowardice.He was as firm as a rock.

But also there is not a person who,by God's help, that can not replace the Simon that is in himself with Cephas--The Rock! Yes earlier in his ministry Peter was a weak and terrified man .But later he stood immovable and unafraid in his witness for the Lord;

Of course,The great change in Peter's life was worked by the power of God,No other power can so change in a man.No one else can do it,

And the same is true in all our lifes.The same power that was available to Peter is available to us all.

Yes God will give us that same power that He gave Peter, However we must as redeemed children of God ask for it. Oh yes we can all become a Cephas:

GUESTBOOK

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