Judgment and Discernment - Part 1 (Santosh Poonen)

God alone has the right to judge (James 4:12). Yet, Jesus didn’t judge when He was on this earth, in order to be an Example to us (John 8:15). Judgment: associated with death (Hebrews 9:27), but God’s goal: give eternal life (John 5:21-24); so He delays judgment: to allow for repentance (Acts 17:30-31); to show mercy and compassion (Psalm 135:14). So He alone is a worthy Judge (John12:46-48). Judge based on what you cannot see (John 7:24): unfair judgment: one side of the story; unrighteous judgment: both sides of the story; righteous judgment: discernment (God’s side of the story). Discern: 1. Is the spirit of Christ in your actions? (II Corinthians 13:5; Galatians 6:1-4); 2. What external spirits influence you (I John 4:1-3): if fruit (words/deeds) is not Christ-like (Matthew 7:15-20); immoral or undisciplined in the church (II Corinthians 5:11; II Thessalonians 3:6); Christian psychology in teaching, songs, or conversation. 3. how to expose darkness (Matthew 7:6; Ephesians 5:11): know when it profanes God’s Name (Acts 13:44-52; 19:9).