- “O enemy, destructions are finished forever! And you have destroyed cities; Even their memory has perished.
- “But the LORD shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for judgment.
- HE SHALL JUDGE THE WORLD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND HE SHALL ADMINISTER JUDGMENT FOR THE PEOPLES IN UPRIGHTNESS."
Psalm 9:6-8 (NKJV)
• God is long-suffering in carrying out His judgement.
- He usually would endure with the people, give them time to repent.
- God did judge the Amalekites after four hundred years of what they did to the Israelites on their way to Canaan Land (Deuteronomy 25:17-19; 1 Samuel 15:1-3).
HOWEVER, when God carries out His judgement, it is always severe. - God may endure, He may delay in carrying out His judgement, but His endurance should not be taken for slackness or weakness (Romans 2:4).
- His silence does not mean He approves or condones the wrong things you are doing.
NOTE: God might be giving you time to repent in the wrong things you are doing, you however have taken His endurance and mercy for granted—you thought God approves your sin Or condones it.
IF God’s time of grace elapses, you may have dirge to sing. - God judges in righteousness. He administers judgement in uprightness (Psalm 9:8).
- God is not partial, He will not condone sin and treat anyone specially or differently: "Who will render to each one according to his [her] deeds": FOR THERE IS NO PARTIALITY WITH GOD" (Romans 2:6,11).
- God does not have double standard when He meted out His judgement.
- The standard He uses in judging a white person, same would be used in judging a black person (Romans 2:9-11).
- God is no respecter of colour, race, nationality or whatever.
• However, those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour and live their lives in line with His Word would not be judged and condemned with the world.
- For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
- “HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM IS NOT CONDEMNED; BUT HE WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
- AND THIS IS THE CONDEMNATION, THAT THE LIGHT HAS COME INTO THE WORLD, AND MEN LOVED DARKNESS RATHER THAN LIGHT, BECAUSE THEIR DEEDS WERE EVIL."
John 3:17-19 (NKJV)
- Although being born again is not a license to live a carefree life—to live in SIN.
THE Believers who have accepted Jesus Christ should also live HOLY (1 Peter 1:15,16).
WHOEVER committed a Sin should confess and repent, there is a place for forgiveness: "IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS" (1 John 1:9). - If a believer judges himself or herself such would not be condemned with the world: "31 For if we would judge ourselves, WE WOULD NOT BE JUDGED. 32 BUT WHEN WE [Believers] ARE JUDGED, WE ARE CHASTENED BY THE LORD, THAT WE MAY NOT BE CONDEMNED WITH THE WORLD" (1 Corinthians 11:31,32).
- What does it mean to judge oneself: It means to condemn What you have done wrong and genuinely repented of IT: bring it to the open, confess it and forsake it—never to go back into such again.
- Also, the Church which is the body of Christ has the responsibility to help whoever is going astray, living in SIN: "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, YOU WHO ARE SPIRITUAL RESTORE SUCH A ONE IN A SPIRIT OF GENTLENESS, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 BEAR ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS, AND SO FULFILL THE LAW OF CHRIST" (Galatians 6:1,2).
- The Church as a Body also has the responsibility to discipline whoever is habitually living in SIN: "THOSE WHO ARE SINNING REBUKE IN THE PRESENCE OF ALL, THAT THE REST ALSO MAY FEAR" (1 Timothy 5:20).
- The Church are to call such a person to order, discipline him or her for such to come to their senses: "1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 5 DELIVER SUCH A ONE TO SATAN FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF THE FLESH, THAT HIS SPIRIT MAY BE SAVED IN THE DAY OF THE LORD JESUS" (1 Corinthians 5:1,2,5).
READ: 2 Thessalonians 3:14,15
• Someone who has not accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour and would not want to be CONDEMNED with other people of the world should take a step now and accept Jesus as his or her Lord and Saviour, tomorrow might be too late: "For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” BEHOLD, NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME; BEHOLD, NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION" (2 Corinthians 6:2).
"While it is said: “TODAY, IF YOU WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS IN THE REBELLION."
Hebrews 3:15 (NKJV)
- "THAT IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH THE LORD JESUS AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD HAS RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED.
- For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, AND WITH THE MOUTH CONFESSION IS MADE UNTO SALVATION."
Romans 10:9,10 (NKJV)
- And, if you claimed to be a Believer but you are struggling with a particular Sin: either you are living in a secret or blatant Sin, God wants you to repent that you might not be CONDEMNED with the world.
- Judge yourself by bringing the Sin to the Open.
CONFESS it to God and to A mature Believer or a Minister WHO will be able to help you; stand with you in Word and prayers to overcome the SIN.
ONE who would hold you accountable whenever you missed it and bring you back to the right track—the path of righteousness and Holiness.
• It is my prayer that you will not miss it and you will not be CONDEMNED with the world in Jesus' name.
Peace!