Steve Gentry
[0:00] Only God can judge me. [0:02] Now, those are the five magic words we use [0:05] to suddenly make it impossible for someone to critique us [0:08] or anything about us. [0:10] Only God can judge me. [0:12] We say it so much and with such confidence,
[0:15] you would think we’re quoting Jesus, [0:17] but we’re not. [0:18] We’re quoting Tupac. [0:20] And as real as Pac was, in this case, Pac lied, [0:24] because Jesus actually says the exact opposite.
[0:29] Wait, doesn’t Jesus himself say, [0:31] do not judge or you too will be judged? [0:34] He does, but he doesn’t just say that. [0:37] Jesus is not saying to us, do not judge ever. [0:40] He’s commanding us not to judge self-righteously. [0:43] He’s forbidding us from judging others like hypocrites.
[0:46] That’s what he means when he tells us to go to our brother [0:48] and point out the speck of sawdust in his eye [0:51] and help him remove it. [0:52] That’s judging. [0:53] But before you do that, [0:54] make sure you first identify and remove
[0:57] the giant two by four from your own eye.
[1:00] As he goes on, he then explicitly commands us [1:03] to judge others. [1:04] He tells us first, do not cast your pearls before swine, [1:08] which is a command to judge between those [1:10] who will receive Jesus’ message with joy [1:12] and those who will reject Jesus’ message with contempt.
[1:16] He then commands us to judge between false prophets [1:19] and true prophets. [1:21] How? [1:22] You will know them by their fruit. [1:25] In other words, we judge their behavior, [1:27] we judge their teaching, and that tells us
[1:29] if they should be judged as a false prophet [1:31] or a true prophet. [1:33] But why? [1:34] Now, why does Jesus command us to judge? [1:37] Not so that we can condemn others, [1:38] not so that we can feel better about ourselves
[1:40] or hurt others, rather, so that we can help ourselves [1:43] and help others. [1:45] Because like Delah said, the stakes is high. [1:48] See, if I allow you to judge me now, [1:50] if I allow you to point out my wrong beliefs [1:52] and wrong behavior now, then I can turn to Jesus
[1:55] and receive forgiveness now. [1:58] But if I don’t allow you to point out my wrong beliefs [2:00] and my wrong behaviors now, I’ll have to stand [2:03] before Jesus later. [2:05] And that judgment will be much more fierce [2:08] and much more final.
[2:10] You see, even if it were true that only God can judge me, [2:13] that would not be good news. [2:16] The good news is not only God can judge me, [2:19] the good news is only God provides an escape [2:22] from his judgment. [2:24] He does this by sending his own son to live
[2:26] a life of perfection in our place [2:28] and then die under every drop of God’s judgment [2:31] in our place for us. [2:35] So as we place our faith in Jesus, [2:37] we are free from God’s judgment now and forever.
[2:42] How do we know? [2:43] How do we know if we’ve truly placed our faith in Jesus? [2:46] How do we know if we have truly escaped [2:48] from God’s judgment? [2:50] The scripture gives us two ways. [2:51] Number one, to judge ourselves,
[2:54] to look at ourselves and see if our beliefs [2:56] and our behavior line up. [2:58] And number two, by inviting others to judge us [3:01] to see if our behavior and our beliefs are consistent. [3:06] I love hip hop, I’m a hip hop head. [3:07] And one of the reasons I love hip hop
[3:09] is because it has told me so many truths. [3:11] One of those truths is that we are to always be real. [3:15] Well, that means not only that I have to speak [3:17] the truth to others, but to be real, [3:20] I’ve got to let people speak the truth to me as well.
[3:25] Good morning, Village Church. [3:27] If this is your first time, my name’s Steve. [3:29] I’m one of the pastors. [3:31] I do most of the teaching, [3:33] and every once in a while they give me a day off.
[3:38] Today we’re talking about that, that very thing. [3:40] Now I thought about just showing that video [3:42] and saying have a great day, [3:44] because he pretty much unpacks it very well right there, [3:47] but I wouldn’t be earning my paycheck if I did that, [3:50] so I thought I’d come and talk about the exact same thing
[3:53] that he said just much longer, [3:54] because that’s what preachers typically do. [3:56] A little bit of business up front, though. [3:58] If you got a handout on your way in, [4:00] it should have had one of these cards [4:03] about the series that we’re starting next week.
[4:05] And I’m really excited about this series, [4:07] because we’re gonna be tackling some topics [4:09] that maybe you haven’t really talked about before, [4:12] maybe you’ve been curious about. [4:14] But if you got this, there’s some fine print [4:17] in your handout that once you touch it,
[4:19] you are contractually obligated [4:22] to give it to someone this week that doesn’t go here. [4:25] So we’re asking everybody, just hand this to one person. [4:29] Just invite one person. [4:30] You don’t have to say anything. [4:31] Just give it to them and then run away or something.
[4:33] I don’t know, they may find that odd, [4:35] and they may never talk to you again, [4:37] but since you’re so afraid of talking to them, [4:39] maybe you won’t mind that. [4:41] But just hand this out, invite somebody. [4:42] I’m really excited about what God is teaching me
[4:45] about the work of the Spirit. [4:47] And we’re gonna be talking about three topics [4:49] over six weeks, and they’re spelled out right there. [4:52] Very practical. [4:53] How does the Holy Spirit work [4:55] in the life of a follower of Jesus?
[4:58] What are the gifts that he gives us? [5:00] What does prayer look like? [5:01] The scripture talks about the Spirit leading our prayers. [5:04] What’s that look like? [5:05] And then finally, how do I make decisions [5:08] if Jesus said that he’s gonna send us the guide
[5:10] and that the Holy Spirit would guide us, [5:13] and the number one way in which he guides us [5:15] is in our decisions. [5:16] And what does it look like to have wisdom [5:18] that’s from the Spirit and make decisions [5:21] in the power of the Spirit?
[5:23] I’m really excited about that. [5:24] That’s how we’re gonna close off the rest of our summer. [5:26] But today, we’re dealing with a topic [5:29] that a lot of people have asked me about [5:32] over the short history of the village, [5:34] and it’s the topic of judgment.
[5:37] It’s the topic of how do we go about [5:40] judging ourselves and judging others? [5:43] Because if it’s one thing that Christians, [5:45] there was a poll done by the Gallup Research Group [5:47] and the Pew Research Group about [5:49] what are the top ways that Christians are known?
[5:52] And one of those ways is that Christians are known [5:54] for being very judgmental. [5:57] And so the key question we have to ask ourselves is why, [6:01] and is that biblical? [6:03] Because we know that people kind of cast onto Jesus [6:07] these sayings like, only God can judge,
[6:10] or they make it one of the 10 commandments, [6:12] thou shalt not judge. [6:13] But the key fact in that is that Jesus never said [6:16] either of those things. [6:19] Jesus said far more than that. [6:21] In Matthew chapter seven, verse one,
[6:23] he begins a section in the Sermon on the Mount [6:27] where we know there’s the beatitudes in there, [6:29] we know he talks about a great deal. [6:31] But in this section he says, [6:34] judge not that you be not judged. [6:38] End of story.
[6:39] That’s where it stops. [6:41] Or at least that’s where most of us want it to stop. [6:45] Anytime someone kind of questions our attitude, [6:48] our motive, our action, [6:51] first of all we say, well who do you think you are? [6:53] Or who do they think they are to judge me?
[6:57] Or we quote this verse, [6:59] don’t judge or you’ll be judged. [7:03] The key fact is, just like he said in the video, [7:05] Jesus does not stop there. [7:08] He continues. [7:10] He says, for with the judgment you pronounce,
[7:12] you will be judged. [7:14] And with the measure you use, [7:16] it will be measured to you. [7:18] Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, [7:20] but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? [7:24] Or how can you say to your brother,
[7:26] let me take the speck out of your eye [7:28] when there’s a log in your own eye. [7:32] Now I considered coming in this morning [7:34] and having some props with me, [7:36] maybe a big two by four and then a small splinter. [7:39] But I promise you the stage would have been
[7:40] destructed as soon as I started swinging that thing around. [7:43] So I didn’t do that out of fear of ruining [7:45] all the equipment this morning. [7:46] But I think you understand what Jesus is saying here. [7:50] He’s giving us this great analogy [7:51] of how ridiculous is it that when someone has
[7:54] a little splinter in their eye, [7:56] and I think we’ve all gotten something in our eye before, [7:58] it’s really annoying and it hurts. [8:02] But how ridiculous would it be for you to walk up [8:04] to someone and say, hey, you need to take care of that. [8:08] And then they look right back at you
[8:09] and you’ve got a giant plank [8:11] just going straight into your forehead. [8:15] Well, the response you’re gonna get back is pretty clear. [8:17] You should probably go to the hospital [8:19] and take care of that. [8:20] Don’t worry about me, I’ll be okay.
[8:22] And so this is the analogy that Jesus gives us. [8:25] But why does Jesus give us this type of analogy? [8:29] Well, throughout the book of Matthew, [8:30] Jesus is speaking mainly to a very religious audience. [8:34] People that were very judgmental of themselves, [8:37] very judgmental of each other.
[8:39] And there was one class that Jesus was constantly [8:42] just going after and saying what would seem [8:45] very judgmental things. [8:48] It’s the Pharisees. [8:49] This is the ruling class in religion of that day. [8:52] And these are people that would wear
[8:54] all types of religious garb. [8:56] If they were fasting, they would go into their bathroom [8:59] and kind of muddy up their face, [9:00] maybe put a little dirt up there. [9:02] They would just maybe hold their stomachs [9:04] and act really hungry in public
[9:05] because they wanted everyone to know they were fasting. [9:08] And so they would be very outwardly religious. [9:11] And more than that, they would pass judgment on others [9:13] as they were kind of, it was more of a church state [9:16] in that point. [9:17] And they were entrusted with making sure
[9:19] everybody was following the Old Testament law. [9:23] And so the measure that they would use [9:25] was the measure of their own piety. [9:27] You ever known anybody like that?
[9:32] But Jesus looks at them in another place in Matthew [9:34] and says, you are nothing but whitewashed tomb. [9:39] What Jesus meant by that was this reality [9:41] that on the outside, it might be beautiful. [9:44] It may be made out of the nicest marble [9:46] and it’s just kept clean.
[9:48] But on the inside, there’s a rotting corpse. [9:52] And what he was saying is on the outside, [9:53] you may look great, but I know the reality [9:55] of what’s going on inside of you [9:56] and you are spiritually dead. [9:59] What he’s telling them is that their judgment is pointless.
[10:01] Their judgment is worthless because they are hypocrites. [10:04] He tells them things like you make people [10:07] and enforce these rules of tithing [10:09] of the spices in their spice rack, [10:11] making sure they give 10% of their spices down to that. [10:15] But you ignore the weightier matters of the law.
[10:18] You don’t love people, you don’t give mercy, [10:20] you don’t love justice. [10:22] And he says, don’t ignore those other things, [10:24] but clearly there’s some things that you’re ignoring [10:26] that are very important. [10:27] All of the things that are easy for you
[10:29] to measure, you run after. [10:31] But you don’t do that, which is important.
[10:35] So what is Jesus really talking about in this text? [10:38] It’s the reality that everyone is sinful. [10:43] It’s the reality that when I measure someone [10:46] compared to myself, I am not a good gauge. [10:50] Because at the end of the day, [10:52] while we may not struggle with the same exact sin,
[10:55] both you and I struggle with sin. [10:59] Both of us are sinners.
[11:02] So at the end of the day, I’ve gotta realize [11:04] that I’m no better than you and you’re no better than me. [11:08] We are both in the same place. [11:11] And the truth is none of us have specks in our eyes. [11:14] We’re all walking down the street [11:15] with a giant plank sticking out of our eye.
[11:17] It just might be a different colored plank, [11:19] but it’s a plank.
[11:22] So what do we do? [11:25] Especially in the reality that all of us are judgmental. [11:29] I don’t care who you are. [11:31] You judged someone this morning. [11:34] If you’re a wife, you probably judged your husband. [11:37] If you’re a husband, you probably ran
[11:39] in judgment of your wife.
[11:42] Or mom, you judged your kids [11:44] when they didn’t do the chores. [11:46] Kids, you judged your mom and dad [11:48] for being so mean about the chores. [11:51] All of us are judgmental. [11:54] All of us look at people and really measure ourselves
[11:58] compared to them. [11:59] Well, I may have a terrible attitude, [12:01] but at least I’m not guilty of this, [12:04] because that guy is. [12:06] At least I didn’t do this thing. [12:09] We all judge, but does God give us a standard
[12:13] by which we can judge? [12:15] Because if we stop at verse four, [12:18] the reality is that we’re left without any judgment. [12:24] It’s kind of hopeless. [12:26] It’s like, all right, I feel vindicated. [12:28] All the times I’ve felt judged in my life,
[12:31] they were wrong, but on the same token, [12:34] all the times that I’ve judged someone in my life, [12:39] I’ve been wrong. [12:41] So is Jesus’s point here to lead us in this path [12:46] where nobody judges anyone, [12:49] and the best thing that we can do
[12:50] is spend our entire lives trying tirelessly [12:54] to rip a plank out of our eye? [12:57] I don’t think so, because the plank’s not going anywhere. [13:00] Scripture never gives me a point in it [13:03] when it says, and you’re good enough, [13:06] and try hard enough,
[13:07] that once you get that plank out of your eye, [13:10] you’re then free to judge, [13:12] because you’re the one that gets it out of your eye. [13:14] No, that’s not where Scripture leads us. [13:17] John, chapter nine, actually leads us [13:20] in a different direction.
[13:21] It tells us that the one who actually said this [13:24] came with judgment. [13:26] Jesus said, for judgment I came into this world, [13:30] that those who do not see may see, [13:34] and those who see may become blind. [13:38] In Luke, chapter six, verse 39,
[13:39] Luke tells the same story about what Jesus said, [13:42] but he adds a little bit else from memory. [13:44] He says, and Jesus also told them a parable, [13:46] can a blind man lead a blind man? [13:49] Will they not both fall into a pit? [13:52] In other words, if you’re going through life,
[13:54] comparing yourself to others, [13:56] using your best judgment to say, [13:58] I’m gonna measure up to this status, [14:00] and then I’ll be good, [14:01] or I’m not gonna do that status, [14:03] because that person’s terrible,
[14:04] and then I’ll be okay. [14:05] Jesus says, basically when you’re doing that, [14:07] it’s a bunch of blind people trying to go down a path [14:10] and avoid all the potholes. [14:12] How successful will you be? [14:14] Not very.
[14:16] Better hope there’s no holes when the blind [14:18] are leading the blind, [14:18] because everybody’s going into that pit.
[14:22] The only hope that anyone has [14:25] is if there is one who is not blind. [14:28] If there’s someone that can see [14:30] in the midst of everybody that can’t see. [14:33] And Jesus’s point is that he is the one that came in, [14:37] and he’s the only one that can see.
[14:40] So if there’s any hope, [14:42] if there’s any standard by which judgment can come, [14:46] it’s through Jesus. [14:48] So we have to understand that Jesus is the basis [14:52] for any true judgment. [14:55] But the first thing that he gives us in that
[14:59] is that when he is the standard of our judgment, [15:03] is that the first judgment is pointing right at ourselves.
[15:07] And if there’s someone that can see, [15:09] we do not let him deal with someone else first, [15:12] but rather we ourselves run to the one [15:14] that can see for sight. [15:17] And that’s what Jesus clearly says that he comes to give. [15:19] He comes to give sight to those that realize
[15:22] that they are blind. [15:25] But we first have to look at ourselves. [15:28] Because I have to have an understanding [15:29] that there’s a giant two by four coming into my eye [15:32] before I can ever help anybody with the other one. [15:34] You ever wonder why when you get on a plane
[15:36] that they tell you that if the oxygen mask falls down, [15:39] don’t help the person next to you put yours on first? [15:43] Because the reason is that if you get yours on, [15:45] you’ll have more time to get that other person’s on [15:47] before you start hyperventilating and pass out.
[15:52] It’s not always loving, rarely is it loving [15:56] to help another person before you help yourself. [16:00] You say, that sounds contradictory. [16:03] No, because the reality is, is that if you are still blind, [16:07] you are less loving for trying to help someone [16:11] with their blindness before you can even see.
[16:14] Because instead of one problem, that person now has two. [16:18] Someone with no greater direction, [16:20] than they have attempting to give them direction. [16:24] It’s completely useless. [16:27] And so Jesus comes and Jesus says, I’m here to judge you. [16:32] I’m here to help you.
[16:34] I’m here to give you sight. [16:37] Why are you so worried about someone else [16:41] when you are the one that needs the help?
[16:47] Thankfully though, he doesn’t stop at verse four. [16:51] And this is where we’re really gonna get into [16:52] the tricky territory of using discernment [16:54] of how do we judge other people. [16:57] Look at verse five of Matthew chapter seven.
[17:01] And verse five, he says, [17:05] starts off on a really high note, you hypocrite. [17:08] At the end of the day, that’s what we all are. [17:10] And I can just imagine that in that moment, [17:12] as much as Jesus had to say about the hypocrisy [17:15] of the Pharisees that gathered there
[17:17] on the Sermon on the Mount, [17:18] while thousands are gathered to hear him preach, [17:20] he glances over at a group of Pharisees [17:23] that are there to try to trip him up. [17:26] Those are the ones that are judging everyone. [17:29] Those are the ones that are saying, we’re helping,
[17:31] but really what they’re doing is trying [17:33] to put themselves over. [17:36] He says, you hypocrite.
[17:41] First, take the log out of your eye. [17:44] And then you will see clearly to take the speck [17:48] out of your brother’s eye.
[17:52] You see, when Jesus comes and he says, [17:55] don’t judge, it’s because we’re sinful. [17:57] But what if there’s the possibility [18:01] of getting the log out of our eye? [18:04] That’s the reality. [18:05] What if?
[18:07] Well, Jesus says, what if? [18:07] He says that first, before you can pass judgment [18:10] on someone else, you first have to judge you. [18:13] And the reality is, according to scripture, [18:15] what Jesus is pushing them towards [18:17] is that he is there to take their sin onto himself.
[18:21] That he is there to judge. [18:23] In John 9.39, when he says, for judgment I came, [18:27] he’s not saying I’m here to condemn the entire world. [18:31] Instead, what he’s actually saying is, [18:33] I’m here to take the judgment of the entire world. [18:38] And what we see him do is that he goes to the cross,
[18:41] and that’s exactly what he does. [18:43] On the cross, he takes everyone’s plank onto himself,
[18:49] thereby giving us the ability to actually see.
[18:55] And so what follows then is not that we then have [18:59] the license to judge. [19:02] We then have a license to put ourselves over everyone else. [19:06] Because that’s impossible. [19:08] The only reality in which we could do that [19:10] is if we possess a righteousness of our own making.
[19:13] In other words, that if we could get that dog out of our eye [19:17] by ourselves, then you have the right to look down on others. [19:22] Then you have the right to condemn others. [19:26] But the judgment that Jesus brings is first the judgment [19:29] that you cannot rid yourself of blindness.
[19:35] You need someone who is righteous to do it for you.
[19:41] You see, the reality is that when Jesus comes, [19:45] he judges us.
[19:48] See, we don’t want to look at Jesus that way. [19:49] We want forgiveness of sins without the reality of judgment, oftentimes. [19:54] But the fact that Jesus had to come in the first place [19:57] is an indicator that we’re sinful.
[20:01] That is a judgment. [20:03] That is him saying, you need me [20:06] because you cannot do this on your own. [20:10] But the outcome of his judgment is not that we have to fall [20:14] under the weight of our own sin, [20:15] but that in his love and mercy, he falls under the weight of our sin.
[20:20] And he removes the plank from our eye through his grace, [20:24] through his forgiveness, through trusting in his work on our behalf.
[20:30] But how then are we to obey verse five?
[20:34] How are we to, once we can see, [20:38] to aid someone else to take the plank out of their eye?
[20:44] The reality is that growth in following Jesus [20:48] can only come from judgment. [20:51] It can only come from that. [20:52] In John chapter three, Jesus says this.
[20:58] He says, for God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, [21:02] but in order that the world might be saved through him. [21:05] Oftentimes, when I hear someone quote this section of verses, [21:08] we read John 316, we read John 317, [21:10] and that reality is very great. [21:14] And it is truth.
[21:16] Rarely do we go to verse 18, [21:19] where he tells us that anyone that doesn’t believe in Jesus is condemned already.
[21:27] You see, when Jesus comes, [21:29] it’s this reality that condemnation exists. [21:32] If it didn’t, he could have stayed in heaven.
[21:36] But because he came, it’s a reality check that you are condemned. [21:42] But then when we trust in him, when we believe in him, [21:45] that condemnation is lifted, but judgment sometimes must remain. [21:52] Because what if when the condemnation is lifted, [21:55] the attitudes and the actions never change?
[22:01] There’s sometimes a thought, [22:02] and if you ever really take a hard look at the gospel, [22:06] I think it’s hard not to say this. [22:10] It’s hard not to look at it and say, [22:12] so, gee, God’s grace is sufficient for everything. [22:16] The answer is yes, absolutely.
[22:19] His forgiveness is total. [22:21] Yes, it is.
[22:24] So I can do whatever I want
[22:30] and never lose it? [22:32] Yes.
[22:38] So it’s not all my obedience. [22:39] Right. [22:40] Well, then why am I going to obey? [22:43] Ever wondered that?
[22:46] Ever said, what’s the point of all this?
[22:50] The reality is, is that once that plank is removed from your eye, [22:55] you see Jesus for who he is,
[23:01] and you treasure him. [23:03] You love him. [23:05] You desire him. [23:06] Redemption, then, has the expectation of life change. [23:12] Jesus’ point here in verse 5 is, [23:14] is that the reason that you sin is that you are so blinded
[23:18] to what righteousness is [23:21] that you run headlong into it [23:23] without ever knowing that you’re running headlong into condemnation.
[23:28] But what Jesus comes is not the removal of expectation on your life. [23:35] Because I think that’s often where we run into trouble [23:38] and when we want to grow in following Jesus, [23:41] is that there comes these expectations, [23:43] and sometimes they’re put on us from other people.
[23:49] And that’s where that old statement, [23:50] well, who do they think they are? [23:53] He’s a sinner just like I am. [23:56] Why should I have to do that?
[24:01] We judge.
[24:03] We continuously judge. [24:07] It never stops. [24:09] We feel judged, so in return, we judge right back.
[24:15] See, if I can get that John 3 verse back up,
[24:21] when Jesus says that whoever does not believe is condemned already [24:25] because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God, [24:28] and this is the judgment. [24:30] The light has come into the world, [24:33] and people loved darkness rather than light [24:35] because their works were evil.
[24:40] Jesus’ point is that there is no life change. [24:43] If you do not desire to follow him inside of your heart, [24:48] if you do not desire to repent from your sins and turn to him, [24:53] then you never saw the light. [24:58] You never loved him. [25:01] You never treasured him.
[25:04] You may have wanted relief from condemnation, [25:06] but you did not want him. [25:09] Salvation is not first about relief from condemnation. [25:13] It is first about reconciliation with God. [25:16] It is first about our relationship with God being made whole, [25:20] and that is what the removal of the log out of your eye brings.
[25:25] It brings a wholeness from God, [25:28] and then comes a path of redemption [25:32] where God joins us with others who have been reconciled to him [25:37] in order that we may grow in our righteousness. [25:42] See, when we see, he does not immediately make us perfect. [25:46] Rather, he immediately gives us sight to what perfection is,
[25:50] and that is Jesus.
[25:53] But then, if you were here for the Ephesian series, what does he do? [25:56] He joins us with the church,
[26:01] and then the church becomes the judge in our lives. [26:08] You know, like, hold on a second.
[26:10] Hold on. [26:11] I know where you’re going with this. [26:12] This is why I left that other church. [26:15] It may be true. [26:17] Let me finish first. [26:18] All right.
[26:19] The reality is that when the gospel is offered, [26:22] it’s a judgment on that person’s sin from Jesus. [26:26] But then, when he removes that condemnation, joins us together, [26:30] he brings a force into our lives in order that we may actually learn [26:36] how to follow him in reconciliation with God [26:39] as well as reconciliation with others.
[26:42] And this is what happens. [26:43] The church equips us with discipled judgment. [26:49] See, oftentimes when we think about church, [26:53] I think we think about this panel of pastors [26:55] that we feel like we’re being judged under. [26:58] And if we don’t measure up to those pastors,
[27:03] we’re not good enough.
[27:07] Judgment of Christ is not about getting better. [27:10] It’s about being saved.
[27:14] It’s not about getting better as a person. [27:16] It’s about getting closer to God in His righteousness. [27:20] It’s about Jesus taking our sin and giving His righteousness. [27:23] And in this life, practically, He gives us a tool [27:27] in order to aid us in our growth. [27:29] And it is relationships inside of the church.
[27:32] It is not about me. [27:33] It’s about we.
[27:37] And we are to seek one another out in order to grow [27:41] and be discipled as well as be disciples.
[27:50] It’s not about pleasing me. [27:51] It’s about pleasing God and loving each other.
[27:57] You see, because when you are redeemed, [27:59] you understand the reality that condemnation is gone. [28:02] The pressure is off.
[28:05] We don’t follow God so that He’ll love us. [28:08] We follow God because He does.
[28:11] It’s when that pressure is off, when that marriage is complete, [28:16] when I actually believe that I have love and I’ll never lose it, [28:21] well, it brings this whole new reality that I’m not earning. [28:24] I’m just living. [28:26] And I’m living in light of what God has done for me through Jesus. [28:30] And therefore, I want to please Him,
[28:32] but I have to learn how because it’s not natural. [28:36] It’s like potty training my son. [28:39] It’s not natural for him yet. [28:41] Sometimes it happens in the hallway. [28:43] Sometimes it happens in the bedroom. [28:45] Every once in a while it happens in the toilet.
[28:47] And those are victory dance days.
[28:52] But my hope and prayer is that He’ll get better at it, [28:56] and eventually He’ll make it, [28:59] and there will be no accidents.
[29:02] That’s a strange analogy, I know, but it happens.
[29:08] But our life in following Jesus, there are times when we stumble. [29:13] There are times we fall. [29:14] There are times when we feel blind.
[29:18] But God doesn’t just make us dependent on a mystical force in our lives that He brings, [29:25] but rather He gives us training partners. [29:27] He gives us people that run alongside us. [29:29] When they see us trip, guess what? [29:30] They’re not blind. [29:31] They can see so they can pick us up.
[29:33] And their motive behind doing it is not to say, [29:37] I’m better than you and I know it. [29:40] But rather their motive is to please God. [29:44] Their righteousness comes from Jesus. [29:46] They know it’s not on their own. [29:47] They know they’re not condemned.
[29:49] They know you’re not condemned. [29:50] They know it comes straight from Jesus, [29:53] and they want you to run alongside with them so they’re helping you. [29:57] But the reality is, guys, that is something that takes great judgment on both parts.
[30:06] You cannot hope to follow Jesus without judgment. [30:11] You don’t want to try to follow Jesus without judgment. [30:14] But the reality is that in Jesus, it’s not a condemning judgment. [30:19] It’s a redeeming judgment.
[30:24] God gives us the church to do it. [30:28] Here’s what Galatians chapter 6 verse 1 says. [30:31] Paul’s writing to the church at Galatians. [30:32] He says, brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, [30:35] how do you catch someone in a transgression? [30:39] Well, it takes judgment.
[30:42] It takes judgment. [30:43] Because first, you have to actually be able to say what a transgression is. [30:46] Well, transgression is sin. [30:48] It’s disobeying what God has revealed that we’re to live like. [30:53] And so oftentimes, we don’t like judgment because we want to pretend that the Bible is completely subjective.
[30:59] It’s to each his own. [31:00] The Bible doesn’t actually give us a specific way to live, specific ways to do it, [31:04] specific lives to have, a specific mission to do with my life, a specific purpose to live for. [31:09] It’s different for everybody. [31:10] But you haven’t read the Bible, if that’s your mentality. [31:14] The Bible’s very specific.
[31:17] It’s the tool by which God gave us for this thing called judging.
[31:23] That inside of the church, we use it to help one another. [31:29] And he finishes it this way. [31:32] He says, you who are spiritual should restore him.
[31:38] What a thought. [31:39] Do you want to know if your judgment is helpful or hurtful? [31:43] What’s your motive?
[31:45] Because I think quite often most of our problems with judgment is that our judgment isn’t about restoration. [31:51] Our judgment is about revenge.
[31:54] I’ll show them.
[31:58] I’m going to tell everybody about how sinful that they are. [32:01] I’m going to muddy their reputation.
[32:08] Friends, that’s sin.
[32:11] That’s sin. [32:12] And I hope I don’t catch you in that transgression because then I’ll have to restore you. [32:17] And I won’t do it out of a heart of revenge. [32:20] But here’s the reality. [32:21] What’s your motive?
[32:24] What’s your motive like when someone hurts you greatly? [32:29] I’ve had to deal with this in my own heart. [32:31] This is where darkness can come over me. [32:34] Because I have found myself to be very vengeful. [32:38] Very vengeful. [32:39] I think a lot of pastors are.
[32:42] But it’s not towards the flock, it’s towards other pastors. [32:45] I’ll show them. [32:47] I’ll be more successful. [32:49] My church will be bigger. [32:51] You see the judgment? [32:52] But am I trying to be helpful?
[32:54] Am I trying to heal my relationship where there’s been hurt? [32:58] No. [32:58] I’m just going to make everybody pay. [33:01] How many people this week are going to pay? [33:03] From you. [33:05] It’s not just about pastors.
[33:06] Whatever you do. [33:06] I don’t care if you’re a doctor, an educator, you work in retail.
[33:13] Is your judgment the type of judgment that Jesus brings? [33:18] Because what does Jesus offer through his judgment? [33:20] He offers redemption. [33:22] And if I’m following Jesus, my judgment will offer the exact same thing. [33:27] It will offer redemption. [33:28] It will offer restoration.
[33:29] Because hear how Paul says it. [33:32] He says, keep watch over yourself lest you be tempted. [33:36] And I think that’s a double edged sword. [33:38] I think the first place of temptation is falling into the same sin that they have. [33:43] But I think the reality of him saying that you’re doing it in order to restore them in a spirit of gentleness [33:50] brings another temptation.
[33:52] And it is to show how great you are by your treatment of that person.
[33:59] Self-righteousness. [34:01] A plank.
[34:06] See, God gives the church into our lives as a gift to aid us in growing in the gospel. [34:15] But sometimes that judgment is very hard. [34:18] In Titus chapter 3, Paul writes this. [34:23] As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him. [34:30] Knowing that such a person is warped and sinful, he is self-condemned. [34:40] See, God reveals what righteousness looks like.
[34:43] He reveals what path we’re to be on. [34:47] And there’s going to come times in our lives when judgment is going to hurt to the point of breaking off from a person. [34:56] And God specifically gave us the church for that. [35:01] But what’s happening here is verse 6 of Matthew chapter 7.
[35:10] Jesus tells us, he says in verse 6, [35:14] Do not give dogs what is holy. [35:18] And do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them under foot and turn to attack you.
[35:27] Jesus is labeling people right here, folks.
[35:31] That’s the most judgmental thing I’ve ever read.
[35:37] Jesus is really pointing us towards the holiness of God. [35:40] And if you’re in a religious Jewish audience, what is the worst thing you could be called? [35:45] Frankly, it’s swine. [35:48] Because in their faith, they won’t even eat it. [35:53] Jesus comes before them and he says, [35:55] Judge not, but once that plank is removed from your eye, you’re going to be an advocate for the righteousness of God.
[36:02] And then you’re going to have to use your judgment. [36:04] And when someone rejects the holiness of God, when someone rejects Jesus, [36:08] Do not continually try to teach them holiness because you’re casting your pearls before swine. [36:16] That’s what the reality of that is. [36:18] Is that Jesus tells us to use great discernment in our relationships. [36:22] And he’s not telling us to withhold the gospel from people.
[36:26] But rather what he’s telling us is, do not attempt to instruct in the wisdom of God those who simply will not accept it. [36:35] Don’t waste your time on people who simply reject Jesus.
[36:47] Throughout the New Testament, there’s all these phrases like God uses that which is foolish in this world to confound the wise.
[36:55] I think sometimes we’re very guilty of trying to teach people how to live biblically when they still have a plank in their eye. [37:02] Because they don’t know Jesus.
[37:09] First, they must come to faith in Jesus before they could ever have any hope of following his word. [37:17] The reality of that is, is kind of like giving a pig a bath.
[37:22] What are they going to do when you let them outside? [37:24] They’re going to go jump in a mud puddle. [37:27] It’s like, I don’t understand why people are so sinful. [37:28] I do because they’re sinful.
[37:32] The reason people are sinners is because of sin. [37:35] And they’ve got a lot of it. [37:37] They don’t sin, and then all of a sudden it’s like, oh my gosh, I’m a sinner. [37:42] No, they sin because they’re sinners.
[37:47] And God gives the church into our lives so that we can grow discernment. [37:51] If you want to grow in following Jesus, my question is, is what do the relationships in your life look like? [37:56] Are you living to give the gospel to those who do not believe Jesus, or are you living to be conformed to the image of those who don’t follow Jesus? [38:05] Who are you surrounding yourself with? [38:07] Are you avoiding community groups so that they won’t have the audacity to try to teach you how to follow Jesus?
[38:13] But rather, you go down to happy hour because that’s where you’re accepted? [38:17] I mean, I know that’s pretty specific, but let’s be frank here.
[38:22] Where are you most comfortable in relationships? [38:25] Is it in them that help you follow Jesus or in those that hinder you from following Jesus? [38:30] Because that is a reality check on how and where your relationship with God is. [38:36] God wants us to judge ourselves, then we’re free to judge others with the judgment of Jesus. [38:46] The reality of the situation is that judgment in Christ unleashes the only true and real human potential.
[38:58] Before you come to Jesus, nothing’s expected of you. [39:03] Nothing. Nothing can be expected of you. [39:06] But when you come to Jesus, God is unleashing the realm of his possibility in your life. [39:17] God is unleashing his power. [39:20] God is unleashing your potential.
[39:25] I’m convinced that people are full of potential. [39:29] Every one of us. [39:31] Every one of us have potential that we haven’t even begun to tap into yet. [39:37] But I think we fear that we are inadequate. [39:42] I think that we fear failure so much, it keeps us from attempting that which will be successful.
[39:50] The reality is that the condemnation that comes with not knowing Jesus is the only thing that can hinder your potential.
[40:00] In Jesus, there’s nothing but potential. [40:05] In Jesus is the reality that you won’t fail.
[40:09] Sure, something you do may not work out. [40:11] You may go, let’s say you may go plan a church and it won’t work out in you. [40:15] But the reality is that your identity is not in those things. [40:17] Your identity is in Jesus, so you have nothing but positive potential.
[40:24] Negative potential comes from not living for Jesus and living for other things. [40:29] Negative potential comes from clinging to the life that doesn’t want him. [40:35] That’s negative potential.
[40:38] So when we’re dealing in our relationships with others inside of this church, when we’re dealing with each other, [40:43] when we’re dealing with people outside of the church, we don’t point them to Jesus because we don’t want to judge them.
[40:51] You have no idea how unloving that actually is. [40:55] Love is not unconditional acceptance no matter what. [41:02] Love is not supporting your friend no matter how many stupid decisions they make. [41:08] And you pat them on the back and say, make one more.
[41:14] But practically, oftentimes, that’s how we act like love is.
[41:20] The most loving thing that you can do for someone is to point them towards a life in Jesus. [41:29] And be specific about what it looks like, as specific as God is in his Word.
[41:36] Love always points to the cross.
[41:40] You know, those in my life, when I see someone making a decision where they’re going to waste their lives,
[41:49] I don’t say, well, I’ll support you no matter what. [41:53] I tell them, I’ll love you no matter what. [41:56] But you’re an idiot.
[42:00] I have used those words before. I probably shouldn’t have.
[42:04] No. I tell them, friend, don’t waste your life on this world. Spend it following Jesus.
[42:15] You know, the reality of it is, is sometimes we have no idea whose life we may be saving.
[42:25] Don’t be afraid to offer the judgment of Christ.
[42:30] Be afraid of offering the judgment of you.
[42:34] But when you offer the judgment of Christ, that judgment will be conformed to him. [42:39] And when he was on this world, the biggest sinners seemed to like being around his type of judgment.
[42:50] Judge like Jesus, because it is the only path of salvation. [42:57] It is the only reality of redemption.
[43:02] But when you go home tonight, and the band’s coming up, when you go home this afternoon,
[43:09] take some inventory of yourself.
[43:14] Where are you at in life?
[43:18] Where do you need judgment?
[43:21] Where do you need people around you to give you the judgment of Christ, to point you in the right direction in life? [43:27] Where is your direction lacking? [43:30] And is it because you are trusting in yourself above God, and those whom God has put into your life, to guide you?
[43:41] When someone offers the judgment of Christ to you, don’t be angry and call them judgmental. [43:50] Be thankful that someone loves you enough to point you to Jesus.
[43:56] And then do likewise, friends.
[44:00] Offer people that type of love, because that is the only love that exists. [44:06] Maybe you are here today and you don’t know Jesus. [44:09] Maybe everything I have been saying has kind of opened some realities in your life, [44:12] and you understand that Jesus doesn’t come just to teach a way of life, but rather Jesus comes to give life. [44:19] Something that you have been lacking.
[44:24] Today is the day that you can know that forgiveness. [44:29] That complete, eternal, unconditional, never-ending forgiveness, where you will see Him as He truly is, as God and Savior of the world.
[44:43] If you are in here and you know that Jesus, I want to worship with you for a little while. [44:48] So when you come to faith, God gives us this allegory, this analogy, this representation of salvation through what is called the Lord’s Supper. [44:58] Jesus paid a great price that you could follow Him. [45:02] He gave of His body, He allowed His body to be broken, He shed His blood, He died a death that you and I deserved to die, [45:10] but He did it on our behalf so that we won’t have to. [45:13] And the reason He did it is so that we could have fellowship with God.
[45:18] And this morning, if you are a follower of Jesus, He is inviting you to His table. [45:23] The bread represents the broken body, the cup represents His shed blood.
[45:30] There is nothing crazy, spiritual, mystical going on up here, but what it represents when you take it in is the life of Jesus entering into your life. [45:40] And it is something that we do every week because we want to preach the gospel to each other every single week. [45:48] If you don’t know Jesus, I ask that before you come to these tables that you come and talk to me, [45:56] so that you can come with no barriers between you and God. [46:01] When you are ready, come forward.