What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 1 Corinthians 5:12
Nearly every city, county and state in America has a judge that sits on a seat to make judgements about various situations. Rules are put in place and are expected to be followed. The judgement occurs when those rules are not followed correctly.
Judgements also occur inside of many organizations and just among people in general. They are made when a norm or a rule is not followed correctly. The challenge comes in as to who makes the rules or what rules are to be followed.
After talking about expelling a believer living in sin, Paul tells the people that they are not to focus on judging those outside the church, but those in the church.
It is very common to hear people quickly say that no one is to judge anyone, that all judgement is to be left up to God and God alone. This belief is only partially true.
Believers are not to judge those outside the church, because those people do not know or understand God’s commandments. People outside the church are living just like their character, not according to God’s character. They cannot be expected to live any other way.
However, those inside the church are expected to live according to God’s commands. Too often people who consider themselves believers, live in purposeful sin, refusing to repent or change, while still calling themselves a follower of Jesus. It is these people inside the church that Paul tells the believers to judge and expel.
As one does judging, he must take into consideration whether the sin being committed is one on purpose or by a slip up. One who tries to not sin, may slip up and does not need to be judged, but guided.
Start judging by looking at your own life. Are you purposefully living in sin or are you striving to stop all sin?
Once you have judged yourself, do not be afraid to look at other believers around you. If one is living in sin, find out if he is striving to stop the sin or not. If he is trying to stop sinning, then guide him and build him up in the Lord. If he is not trying to stop, warn him and then expel him.
Always remember that those outside the church are living like their leader Satan.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will strive to live by God’s commands; that God will guide you in leading others in His ways; that God will give you wisdom on what to judge by His standards; and that God will draw many to Jesus through you.
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