Luke 6:36
King James Version
36 Be ye therefore merciful,
as your Father also is merciful.
A thought came to mind last night.
I reserved this morning to look into it deeper.
Asking SPIRIT to help me find the appropriate verses.
That we may know the state of judges in this world.
And if they conform to what the Bible says.
Are judges in this world effective?
What makes them effective?
How do they know how to judge righteously?
Who, or what guides them?
What are you experiences with judges?
What are your thoughts on them?
These astounding verses helped cement my ideas this morning.
The challenge:
1 Corinthians 6:1
King James Version
6 Dare any of you,
having a matter against another,
go to law before the unjust,
and not before the saints?
The premise:
1 Corinthians 6:2
King James Version
2 Do ye not know
that the saints shall judge the world?
and if the world shall be judged by you,
are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
The world's method:
1 Corinthians 6:6
King James Version
6 But brother goeth to law with brother,
and that before the unbelievers.
Who are the "saints"?
Revelation 14:12
King James Version
12 Here is the patience of the saints:
here are they that keep the commandments of God,
and the faith of Jesus.
Saints "keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus".
Know the extent of the power of "saints":
1 Corinthians 6:3
King James Version
3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels?
how much more things that pertain to this life?
If only saints are worthy of judging us, are our judges "saints"?
Do they live, and act as "saints"?
Do they believe in JESUS?
Do they keep the commandments of GOD?
Are they born again?
The oath justices and judges take always includes the statement:
"So help me God."
That is a wonderful start.
But do they really mean that?
Are they really waiting for GOD to help them?
People "swear" by the Bible as they take their oath.
But are their hearts RIGHT with GOD?
Do they believe in GOD?
Do they honor His laws?
Do they have a love for GOD?
Do they have a love for their fellowmen?
What is the state of our justice system these days?
Are people being judged righteously?
What of the "juries"?
Do they live "saintly" lives, too?
Can they judge righteously?
Now you see the DANGER we are all in.
We are judged by equally-imperfect beings.
Romans 3:23
King James Version
23 For all have sinned,
and come short of the glory of God;
Unless we are born again, how can we please GOD, and be righteous with each other?
Unless we are taught by the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD, how can we understand GOD's laws?
John 3:3-7
King James Version
3 Jesus answered and said unto him,
Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born again,
he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him,
How can a man be born when he is old?
can he enter the second time
into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered,
Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit,
he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh;
and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee,
Ye must be born again.
Bear note that Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin.
The Pharisees were a "Jewish social movement and a religious school of thought in ancient Israel".
The Sanhedrin denotes "the supreme judicial and administrative council of the Jews".
JESUS brings things to even better perspective:
Matthew 7:1-5
King James Version
7 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge,
ye shall be judged:
and with what measure ye mete,
it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou
the mote that is in thy brother's eye,
but considerest not the beam
that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother,
Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye;
and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite,
first cast out the beam out of thine own eye;
and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote
out of thy brother's eye.
If the world is the way it is, with lots of crime, lots of unresolved crimes, lots of prisons. lots of fear, bullying, corruption, injustice, and manipulation, then we know there is something wrong.
There is something we are not seeing.
There is something we are not solving.
There is something very wrong with our system.
Separation of church and state?
How can that be?
The Bible says:
James 4:12
King James Version
12 There is one lawgiver,
who is able to save and to destroy:
who art thou that judgest another?
Who has such power?
Only JESUS.
Colossians 2:8-10
King James Version
8 Beware lest any man spoil you
through philosophy and vain deceit,
after the tradition of men,
after the rudiments of the world,
and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth
all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him,
which is the head of all principality and power:
Revelation 1:18
King James Version
18 I am he that liveth,
and was dead;
and, behold,
I am alive for evermore, Amen;
and have the keys of hell and of death.
Without JESUS, we can do nothing.
John 15:5
King James Version
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches:
He that abideth in me, and I in him,
the same bringeth forth much fruit:
for without me ye can do nothing.
GRACE and TRUTH came by Him.
John 1:17
King James Version
17 For the law was given by Moses,
but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
If we are to "judge" each other righteously -- through our legal systems -- first, we must be of CHRIST.
Only then can we uphold the rights of our brothers, and sisters, ACCORDING to GOD's WILL.
For that's exactly what JESUS taught, and did.
In perfect obedience to GOD's will.
John 7:16
King James Version
16 Jesus answered them, and said,
My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
John 17:4
King James Version
4 I have glorified thee on the earth:
I have finished the work which thou
gavest me to do.
Philippians 2:8
King James Version
8 And being found in fashion as a man,
he humbled himself,
and became obedient unto death,
even the death of the cross.
We need the mind and heart of CHRIST.
We are powerless by ourselves.
Zechariah 4:6
King James Version
6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying,
This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying,
Not by might,
nor by power,
but by my spirit,
saith the Lord of hosts.
EVERYTHING we think, say, and do, must be for GOD's GLORY alone.
But as it is, the world thinks, and acts otherwise.
It is not too late to re-think things.
Only a born again can see the LIGHT of GOD's TRUTH.
We invite you to turn/return to JESUS now.
Let His SPIRIT teach you GOD's ways.
That's the only way we can be of real service to others.
Through JESUS.
One example of a righteous judge was king Solomon.
Read how he judged two women here.
Related material:
What Makes JESUS the True MEDIATOR of GOD?
NO fellowship with UNBELIEVERS
