Brothers and Sisters
One of the most important facets of Scriptural truth revealed by the Scripture is YAHUAH is the Judge of all - in time and in eternity.
Here are some Scripture references:
"Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?" (Gen. 18:25, NKJV).
"May the YAHUAH, the judge, render judgment this day" (Judg. 11:27).
"Surely He is ALAHIYM who judges in the earth" (Ps. 58:11).
The psalmist said to YAHUAH, "Rise up, O Judge of the earth; render punishment to the proud" (Ps. 94:2).
The writer of Hebrews wrote:
"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living ALAHIYM, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and called out assembly of the firstborn who are registered in heaven to YAHUAH the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, ..." (Hebrews 12:22 and 23, NKJV, emphasis added).
In other words, YAHUAH is also the judge of all believers. The phrase, "You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living ALAHIYM" means, "You are His people in the Called out assembly of YAHUSHA HA’MASHIACH, the temple of the living ALAHIYM". In Scripture the word "Zion" always refers to the New Testament Called out assembly.
What Judgment to Judge?
The Scripture reveals two types of judgment everyone (believer or unbeliever) is judging while living on earth - The righteous judgment and the unrighteous judgment. Even though YAHUAH is the Judge of all, He has vested righteous judgment for His people to judge.
YAHUSHA said to the people during a Yahudiym feast:
"Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment" (John 7:24, NKJV).
In the context, it is obvious that "judge according to appearance" means "judge with unrighteous judgment". Hence, YAHUAH's people are encouraged to judge with righteous judgment but forbidden to judge with unrighteous judgment.
Judgment According to the Flesh
Later on YAHUSHA said to the Pharisees:
"You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me" (John 8:15 and 16, NKJV).
The Amplified Bible says:
"You (set yourselves up to) judge according to the flesh - by what you see; you condemn by external, human standards. I do not (set Myself up to) judge or condemn or sentence anyone. Yet even if I do judge, My judgement is true - My decision is right; for I am not alone (in making it), but (there are two of Us), I and the Father Who sent Me" (Emphasis added).
Here are a few points worth noting:
1. There is a contrast between the judgment of the Pharisees and the Judgment of YAHUSHA. Pharisees condemn others by judging with external human standards. YAHUSHA does not condemn and His Judgment is true.
2. "Judgment according to appearance" is the same as "judgment according to the flesh".The flesh comes from our unredeemed soul and the five senses of our earthly soulish bodies.
The Scriptures tells us how to deal with the body and soul - man's carnal, fleshly nature. In Ephesians 4:22 - 24 Paul said believers are to "put off" the old man with his fleshly lusts and to "put on" the new man in MASHIACH. For Paul's list of "the work of flesh" read Galatians 5:17, 19 and 20.
3. Judging according to the flesh is forbidden because this type of judgment comes from our carnal nature and might end up condemning (or sentencing) others. When a person judges by external human standards he is likely to be prejudice and judges with preconceived opinions.
4. YAHUSHA does not judge or condemn or sentence anyone. But if He does judge, His judgment is worthy to be regarded as true because He is never alone - The Father and Him are One. The next verse (John 8:17) says the testimony of two persons is true.
Unrighteous Judgment
1. An example of unrighteous judgment is the type of judgment YAHUSHA spoke about in His "Sermon on the Mount" (Matthew 7).
"Judge not, that you be not judge" (Matt. 7:1, NKJV).
The Amplified Bible is more vivid:
"Do not judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned yourselves" (Emphasis added).
For those who do not use the Amplified Bible, the Words of YAHUSHA recorded by Luke confirmed this type of Judgment as unrighteous:
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven" (Luke 6:37, NIV, emphasis added).
2. Another example of unrighteous judgment is, when a person who judges another person but practices the same things himself:
Paul wrote to the Roman believers, "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things" (Romans 2:1, NKJV).
Righteous Judgment
Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers:
"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? YAHUAH will judge those outside" (1 Cor. 5:12 and 13, NIV).
Paul's instruction is clear - It is YAHUAH's business to judge unbelievers but it is a believer's business to judge other believers. In other words, if a believer judges an unbeliever, then, according to the basis of the Scripture, he judges with unrighteous judgment. On the other hand, if he judges another believer then he judges with righteous judgment.
Paul gave an example on how a righteous judgment should be carried out in the Called Out assembly:
It was reported that there was a serious case of sexual immorality in the Corinthian Called out assembly. Paul was not present but in spirit he had already passed judgment after hearing the news.
Paul said, "Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present" (1 Cor. 5:3 and 4, emphasis added).
The punishment following the judgment was excommunication of "the one who did this" with the intention of future restoration (1 Cor. 5:5).
Personally, I have not come across this form of judgment in the contemporary local Called out assemblies. When we face a similar situation, it is very likely for the leadership of the Called out assembly to "leave the judgment to YAHUAH". Leaders would probably say, "We cannot judge him or we would be judged. None of us is infallible. If YAHUAH wants to punish him something bad would happen to him and he would leave the Called out assembly. In the meantime let us pray for him and love him. The Bible says, love covers a multitude of sins. YAHUSHA did say, 'He who is without sin among you let him throw the first stone!'"
Major differences between Unrighteous Judgment and Righteous Judgment
From our study above, it is clear that unrighteous judgment is the product of our unredeemed soul. It is entirely based on subjective personal opinion. On the other hand, righteous judgment is the product of the recreated spirit man. The recreated ruach gives the believer the ability to discern and to assess a situation in the spirit realm. In other words, righteous judgment is entirely based on the truth of a situation revealed by the Ruach Ha'Qodesh. The apostle Paul always judged with this type of righteous judgment.
Unrighteous judgment brings condemnation to the one who judges others. A person who judges with unrighteous judgment and with wicked intentions will be condemned:
"A good man obtain favor from YAHUAH, but a man of wicked intentions He will be condemned" (Proverbs 12:2, NKJV, emphasis added).
Righteous judgment usually brings conviction and restoration to the one being judged. As in the case of the sexually immoral person, Paul, in his next epistle instructed the Corinthian Called out assembly to forgive this person after he was excommunicated for a season. Paul said such punishment was sufficient for that person (2 Cor. 2:6 - 8).
The Consequence of failing to Judge with Righteous Judgment
There are many Called out assembly people out there who are under a deep deception. Pastors and preachers of "successful" mega local Calked out assemblies who practice the "love formula" have the notion that all believers need is love and forgiveness - after all we are never perfect. We are all capable of falling from grace. We are sinners forgiven!
The contemporary Called out assembly has forsaken the responsibiliy to judge sin. Leaders are unable to discern between good and evil, truth and error, right Scriptural doctrine and doctrines of demons. The Called out assembly needs discernment because discernment entails righteous judgment.
The Called out assembly has forgotten that believers are capable of being deceived. Paul reminded Timothy, a young pastor to be watchful in the last days:
"But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived" (2 Tim. 3:13).
YAHUAH says to the Called out assembly of Ephesus:
"You have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars" (Revelation 2:2, emphasis added).
False teachers and preachers are not only "deceiving" others, but are "being deceived" themselves.
Self-deception is a real danger among believers today.
EXAMINE YOURSELVES!