Only God Can Judge Me
Notes
Transcript
Main idea. Speaking evil of others is against God’s law and when we disobey God’s law, we put ourself in the place of God.
Introduction
Popular sentiment in culture. 2Pac song.
Interesting idea. (True idea)
“If only God can judge you how do you plan to beat the case?”
Don’t criticize one another, brothers and sisters. Anyone who defames or judges a fellow believer defames and judges the law. If you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
Speaking Evil is Against God’s Law
Speaking Evil is Against God’s Law
As believers we are called to obey God’s law, which entails not speaking evil against one another.
James 4:11a (CSB)
Don’t criticize one another, brothers and sisters.
What is criticism in this passage?
Side note on bible translations.
This passage shows the importance of having a quality bible translation. Difference between CSB and ESV and others.
καταλαλέω katalaleo speak ill of, speak degradingly of, speak evil of, defame, slander
The CSB translates this word as criticism when I think of criticism, and likely when you do I think of telling someone that they didn’t do something well.
Those cookies were a little burnt.
I think you should drive more carefully.
This can certainly means speaking ill of to some extent, but it is definitely on the more reserved side of that spectrum.
CSB understands this meaning as they translate the same word as “defame” later in this verse.
ESV translates this verse the following way.
James 4:11 (ESV)
Do not speak evil against one another, brothers.
This seems to be a more accurate translation, and gives us a better framework for understanding meaning.
From this side point: Read multiple translations. If there is a word that is crucial in understanding meaning we need to understand what that word means.
Short of looking to the original language, consulting various translations can be helpful.
So criticism or katalaleo is....
Speaking evil about one another or slandering. More specifically this command relates to a command in the old testament:
Do not go about spreading slander among your people; do not jeopardize your neighbor’s life; I am the Lord.
This command was the same command we see in James. Do not speak evil or slander among your people.
This word rakil (rahkeel) is concerned with both slander and gossip- Slander being defined as public speech to hurt another and gossip being private speech to hurt another.
We typically think of slander as being untrue. Both of these verses carry more the understanding of information that is harmful regardless of truth. Speaking evil about one another.
You can spread true information with bad intentions.
The intention of your heart is what matters.
If we remember what Leviticus 19:16 said at the end:
Leviticus 19:16 (CSB)
do not jeopardize your neighbor’s life; I am the Lord.
If you speak evil about your brother you are endangering their life.
Perhaps not that they will die, but that is possible.
But you could certainly ruin your life with what you say.
The command here is clear: Do not tear one another down.
In fact we see the opposite command in the new testament.
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.
So if Speaking evil and tearing one another down is breaking God’s command...
Encouraging and building one another up is fulfilling God’s command.
Last week we talked about humbling ourselves and lowering ourselves before the Lord.
The last verse said this: James 4:10
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
The word exalt means to lift up.
Through our interactions with fellow believers we should begin this process of building each other up in love. We take what we voluntarily humble and begin to help one another build who God intends us to be.
The intention of your heart is what matters.
In your interactions with others…
Are you building up?
Or are you tearing down?
What is your intention?
To help people be more than they currently are for the Lord?
Or to leave them as less than they were when you found them?
Correct intentions will lead to correct interactions.
You will not speak evil of someone if you are seeking to build them up.
“Love your neighbor as yourself”
This is actually found in the same Leviticus passage we have been referencing. Leviticus 19:18
Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.
We are called to obey God’s law. To encourage build one another up. To love our neighbor as ourself.
Because what our purpose is, we see how…
Speaking Evil Distorts Our Purpose
Speaking Evil Distorts Our Purpose
Our Purpose is to be a doer of the law and not a judge of others.
James 4:11b (CSB)
Anyone who defames or judges a fellow believer defames and judges the law. If you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
Some more defining that we must do to gain a proper and true understanding of this passage.
Defame is the same word as before: katalaleo
What does it mean to judge?
How we think of judgement in our society.
Often even just disagreeing with someone’s actions is viewed as judging?
Is this what this passage is talking about?
What this passage says about judgement.
The word for judgement gives the indication of condemnation and
Difference between judging actions and people.
The very next verse after the command is this:
“Do not harbor hatred against your brother. Rebuke your neighbor directly, and you will not incur guilt because of him.
Clearly the condemnation of a person’s actions is not against God’s law… So what does it mean?
The most important determining factor that how we know if we interact with others appropriately is the standard we use.
What is the standard you use?
This passage makes clear that we can have something to say about what people do. The New Testament is clear that we are to rebuke and teach and exhort one another for the good of the believer and of the church.
What we always see in these interactions:
God’s word is the standard by which we should judge our actions and the actions of others.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,
so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Pastors in TV interviews some are wishy washy “I think… I believe...” Their authority is their own place. Some are steadfast “The Bible says....” They look to God’s authority.
We can and should rebuke one another, but we should do so by the authority of God’s word.
I’ve noticed that you have been saying bad things about people lately I don’t think thats right.
VERSUS
I’ve noticed you you have been saying bad things about people lately and you know James 4:11 says we shouldn’t speak evil about one another.
YOU saying they shouldn’t be doing something VERSUS GOD saying they shouldn’t be doing something.
The problem lies when we judge someone or something in a way that God has not made clear.
If we speak in a way we shouldn’t about others we break God’s law. If we judge others by our authority we deny the authority of God.
Because slandering and defaming a fellow believer is against God’s law, when we proceed to do that:
we are really slandering God’s law by not obeying it.
We are saying that it is not good enough.
and when we judge others by our authority we judge God’s law.
We say that we disagree with God’s law.
Eve. “Did God really say...”
We are saying that we know better than God.
We are stepping into the place of God.
We must know our role.
We are called to be doers of the word. Not authors or judges.
It is vital that we understand the roles that we play in life.
If you don’t do your job, everyone suffers.
Football play illustration
It is most important we seek to be obedient to God.
Our concern should be with fulfilling the word of God, not with what others are doing.
This is how we know that we love God’s children: when we love God and obey his commands.
For this is what love for God is: to keep his commands. And his commands are not a burden,
Our job is to do what God has called us to do. Our job is not to be focused on what others are doing.
Speaking Evil Denies God’s Authority
Speaking Evil Denies God’s Authority
God is the judge of the world. There is no other.
There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
God is the only lawgiver
He is righteous and we are not.
It is from him that we have a standard of what is right and wrong.
It is because of him that we have an understanding of what morality is at all.
We are mistaken when we think we have grounds to stand upon in adjudicating right and wrong.
Why does God do this, why does God do that?
Armchair Quarterback
God is righteous and far beyond what we can comprehend. The further we seek to know him, the more clear it becomes that he is good.
God is the only judge
God is the only one who is righteous and is the only one who is in a place to pass judgement.
When we pass judgement upon one another because of our thoughts and expectations we put ourselves in the place of God.
This is a very dangerous place.
David and Saul in the cave. 1 Samuel 24.
“May the Lord judge between me and you, and may the Lord take vengeance on you for me, but my hand will never be against you.
The Lord is the one who judges. This role is exclusively for Him.
Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.
We have been given great grace and we must show must grace as we are doers of the law rather than judges.
There will be judgement.
The righteous judge will judge the world.
We would all be condemned because of our sin.
For no one will be justified in his sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.
We deserve to be punished for this, but God had other plans.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We didn’t do anything to earn this:
But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
So how are we saved?
If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.
For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame,
since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him.
For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
have you done this?
What is holding you back?
Only God can judge you, but you will not be found righteous apart from the salvation found in Jesus Christ alone.
As we close today consider these things...
If you are a believer today:
Does the way you speak to and about others reflect that?
Building up? or Tearing Down?
What authority to you turn to?
Your own? or God’s?
Are you actively trying to share the Good News of Jesus with others?
Judgement is coming.... are you preparing people?
Are you prepared?