Judgment and Discernment - Part 2 (Santosh Poonen)

The mark of the New Covenant is soft-heartedness (Ezekiel 26:26-31): judge myself first (I Peter 4:17; I Corinthians 11:27-32); instead of judgment (John 3:17), God chose love (v16); true judgment comes from the Light of Christ (v19). Because we know only in part, we prove our Christ-likeness by loving, instead than judging! (I Corinthians 13:9) Practical love (I Corinthians 13:4-8): not impatience with others, but “suffering long”; not unkind words and actions, but thoughtful of others in word and deed; no root of bitterness and jealousy, but secure in the Father’s love; not bragging about self and family, but considering others more important; not seeking own interest, but interests of: 1. Christ and 2. others; not keeping track of wrongs, but covering the faults of others; not assuming worst in others, but hoping all things; not giving up easily, but committed to love for eternity. This is overcoming love (I Corinthians 13:8; Romans 12:21).