Sowing seeds for Jesus
You Must Judge Others – Really?
Are we to judge others? Yes contrary to what many believers think. The adversary has many of us afraid to judge at all when actually we make many judgments through out the day and don’t even know it. We make many judgment but most importantly we must make righteous judgment. We are told to judge, but righteous judgment, because yes we must be careful if we are not judging righteously then we are judging according to the flesh and the Word says we will receive that same measure of judgment back at us from God.
“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment“ (John 7:24). “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man” (1 Corinthians 2:14-15).
Human beings engage in judgment every day. They judge quality and quantity. They judge distance and time. They categorize and summarize. Everyone with a mind engages in judgment.
Human beings also engage in judgment concerning good and evil, right and wrong, and saved and lost. They all have some standard by which they make these judgments. Those who are unregenerate make these judgments according to their depraved natures; they do not have the ability to make right spiritual judgments. The standard by which they judge is usually based on outward appearance, sincerity, and/or reputation. They judge themselves and others to be in God’s favor based on their supposed “good deeds” while judging others to be out of God’s favor based on the others’ “bad deeds.” Jesus exposed this self-righteous judgment in the Sermon on the Mount: “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again” (Matthew 7:1-2).
In light of this, what does God command of those who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit? Does God say that, since by nature all men judge by the wrong standard, His people are to refrain from judging? Any student of Scripture knows that God does not say that; in fact, He commands the very opposite: the people of God are to make spiritual judgments. We are to be a judging people.
Many religionists today think it is humble and pious to say things like, “I can’t judge. I don’t know their hearts. I can’t be sure. I’m not the Holy Spirit. I leave the judging to God.” But what does God’s Word say?
In the same chapter in which Jesus forbade self-righteous judgment, He said, “Give not that which is holy unto dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you” (v. 6), and “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringethforth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. … Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (vv. 15-20). How are we to know who the swine, dogs, and false prophets are without judging? Notice that Jesus did not say, “Give not that which is holy unto those whom you think are probably dogs … Beware of those whom you think are probably false prophets … Ye shall have a pretty good chance of being right if you look at their fruits.” No! He said,“Ye SHALL know them.” We SHALL know who the dogs, swine, and false prophets are. We SHALL know the state of their hearts.
God commands us, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 6:14). How can we obey this commandment if we can never be sure whether or not someone has an unbelieving heart? Notice that God did not say, “Do not be bound together with those who you think have a high probability of being unbelievers.” God is stating that we will know who the unbelievers are and that we are not to be bound together with them. He goes on to mention unrighteousness, darkness, Belial, infidels, and idols as those things with which the believer is to have no fellowship (vv. 14-16); judgment of what unrighteousness, darkness, Belial, infidels, and idols are is an absolute necessity for God’s people in order for us to “come out from among them, and be ye separate” and to “touch not the unclean [thing]” (v. 17). If you will not judge saved and lost, then you will not come out of Babylon (Revelation 18:4).
God commands us, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world”(1 John 4:1). It cannot be clearer. God’s people are to judge between false and true prophets. And we SHALL be able to know whether they are from God.
How shall we know? After all, we can’t read people’s minds. We can’t directly see people’s hearts. No, but Jesus states that we can judge the heart by judging the direct channel that comes from the heart: the mouth. After stating that “every tree is known by his own fruit” (Luke 6:44), Jesus states what that fruit is: “for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh” (v. 45). We CAN judge the heart by what proceeds from the mouth. The words spoken are the fruit of the state of the heart.
But is this talking about just any words? Does this mean, for example, that if someone utters a vulgarity we are to judge the person unregenerate? Here is where judging righteous judgment comes in. The standard that the true believer uses to judge saved and lost is THE GOSPEL.
There are two types of speech by which we judge a person to be lost. The first is speech that confesses a false gospel. “If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:9). “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God” (2 John 9). Confession of a false gospel is a confession that any part of salvation is conditioned on the sinner. It opposes the true gospel of salvation conditioned on the atoning blood and imputed righteousness of Christ alone. It is speech that denies Christ (1 John 2:22-23; 4:3). It is speech that denies one’s own sinfulness (1 John 1:8,10). It is confessed by those who, “being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:3).
The second is speech that tolerates and endorses a false gospel by “saying, Peace, peace; when [there is] no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14; 8:11). He who calls one who confesses a false gospel his “brother in Christ” speaks the lie of Satan, “Ye shall not surely die” (Genesis 3:4). He “speaks great swelling [words] of vanity” (2 Peter 2:18). God makes it very clear in 2 John 11 that he who speaks peace to one who confesses a false gospel “is partaker of his evil deeds” (see the article on 2 John 11 in this issue for a more extensive treatment of this verse). These are those who judge saved and lost not by right gospel doctrine but by outward appearance, morality, sincerity, and reputation.
Are Christians then to judge that these people are reprobate (i.e., destined for hell)? By no means. We cannot judge their eternal destiny by these words; this is only known by God. We are only to judge that they are now unregenerate. God might save some of these lost people who believe, confess, and tolerate a false gospel; some of them might be among God’s elect. One thing is sure: if God saves them, they will no longer believe, confess, and tolerate a false gospel! Upon regeneration and conversion, God causes His people to believe and confess the one and only true gospel.
To most, this method of judgment sounds ridiculous. “You mean to tell me that you judge someone lost who doesn’t have his doctrine just right?” In the area of the doctrine of Christ, which is the gospel, the Bible answers, “YES.” The Bible does not make belief in right gospel doctrine a condition of salvation (in fact, it says that those who hold to this view are lost); but it does make belief in right gospel doctrine an inevitable and immediate result of salvation and a fruit by which we judge saved and lost.
Reader — Are you one who opposes God’s word by saying that you cannot judge saved and lost? (I would submit that most of you who say this do judge saved and lost in some instances based on some standard. If you see a woman who is a practicing harlot, would you say, “Well, I can’t really judge her heart”?) Are you one who judges by the wrong standard? Are you one who confesses a false gospel? Are you one who tolerates and/or promotes those who confess a false gospel? Or are you one who judges saved and lost based on God’s testimony and will not speak peace when there is no peace?
The Hope Of Our Calling
If you ask most Christians what their purpose is here on earth, they won’t be able to give you a specific answer. They may recite some scriptures about evangelizing or showing forth the praises of God, but it is clear by their daily lives that these are only words and not revelation. You CANNOT understand your calling UNTIL you understand JESUS’ calling.
So here’s the second part, most Christians will tell you that the reason Jesus came to earth was to pay the price for our sins. I want to enlighten you that He came for a much greater purpose, and that the work accomplished on the cross is much bigger than just forgiveness of sins.
The Scriptures make constant references to Christ’s purpose for coming to earth:
Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, AND to give His life a ransom for many. Matt 20:28
I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. John 17:3-4
That they all may be as one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be perfect in one, and the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. John 17:21-23
And one of the most important purposes of Christ’s coming is found in 1 John 3:8:
“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the Devil“.
Jesus didn’t come just to forgive us of our sins. He came to fully restore to us all that was lost in the garden, to reconcile us back to our original purpose, which can be found only in the revelation of God. When man sinned, he not only was kicked out of the Garden of Eden, but he also lost his connection to the glory of God. Man’s purpose was not just be a created being or to walk with God. God created mankind so He could eternally dwell in, and express Himself through, man.
God wanted to share all that He has and all that He is with someone, so He created man. When man sinned, it separated him from God and thwarted the plans of God. So God immediately put a strategy into place to not just forgive man but to restore him to God’s original purpose, which was to have someone with whom He could share Himself.
This is why Christ came-to restore man to the place the Father always meant for him to have. He wanted to share His glory with us. This is why Christ came-to restore the glory:
Colossians 1:26-27
New King James Version (NKJV)
the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Colossians 2:9-10
New King James Version (NKJV)
For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
We must come into a revelation of the fact that one of the reasons Christ came and died for us was to restore us to God’s original purpose for creating us. We have been given the highest position of all the creatures in the universe. We have been predestined by God to be conformed to His image-to be like Him. God designed us to be joined as one with Him for eternity.
Faith and the power of our words part 2 (Video)
This is the second part of a sowing seeds for Jesus teaching series on the positive and negative effects of the words that we speak, and the power of our words when they are filled with faith. What are you reaping with the words that you are sowing? We have got to take God’s Word to heart and believe. God is faithful and true. You can put your trust in Him and His promises.
Faith and the power of our words (Video)
This is a sowing seeds for Jesus teaching series starting as of 6/10/13 on the positive and negative effects of the words that we speak, and the power of our words when they are filled with faith. What are you reaping with the words that you are sowing? We have got to take God’s Word to heart and believe. God is faithful and true. You can put your trust in Him and His promises.
Click link below to watch video:
False Religions – False Teachings – Doctrines and Pagansim in Christianity
Beware of false teachings-doctrines and paganism Christianity
If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement. 2 John 1:10 NLT
having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. 2 Timothy 3:5 NIV
It is interesting to observe that anti-christian groups rarely try to lead lost sinners to their false faith. Instead, they spend much of their time trying to convert professing Christians (and church members, at that) to their own doctrines. They are out to “seduce” the faithful.
The word “seduce” carries the idea of “being led astray.” We have been warned that this would happen: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and teachings of demons” ( 1 Tim. 4:1). Jesus calls Satan the “father of lies” (John 8:44), The devil’s purpose is to lead Christians astray by teaching them false doctrines (2 Cor. 11:1-4, 13-15). We should not accept everything a person tells us simply because he claims to believe the Bible, for it is possible to “twist” the Bible to make it mean almost anything (2 Cor. 4:1-2). And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. 2 Cor 11:14-15 Satan is not an originator; he is a counterfeiter. He imitates the work of God. For example, Satan has counterfeit “ministers” (2 Cor. 11:13-15) who preach a counterfeit gospel (Gal. 1:6-12) that produces counterfeit Christians (John 8:43-44) who depend on a counterfeit righteousness (Rom. 10:1-10). In the Parable of the Tares (Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43), Jesus and Satan are pictured as sowers. Jesus sows the true seed, the children of God; but Satan sows “the children of the wicked one.” The two kinds of plants, while growing, look so much alike that the servants could not tell the difference until the fruit appeared! Satan’s chief stratagem during this age is to plant the counterfeit wherever Christ plants the true. And it is important that you be able to detect the counterfeit and separate the teachings of Christ from the false teachings of antichrist.
How does a believer do this? By depending on the teaching of the Holy Spirit. Each believer has experienced the anointing (the unction, 1 John 2:20) of the Spirit, and it is the Spirit who teaches him truth (John 14:17; 15:26). False teachers are not led by the Spirit of Truth; they are led by the spirit of error (1 John 4:3, 6). We have seen that false teachers deny the Father and the Son; they also deny the Spirit. The Spirit is the Teacher God has given us (John 14:26), but these false Christians want to be teachers themselves and lead others astray. They try to take the place of the Holy Spirit! We are warned against letting any man be our teacher, for God has given us the Spirit to teach us His truth. This does not deny the office of human teachers in the church (Eph. 4:11-12); but it means that under the guidance of the Spirit you must test the teaching of men as you search the Bible for yourself (Acts 17:11).
Jesus is the Great I AM that spoke to Moses (Video)
Jesus is the Great I AM, the same I AM that spoke to Moses. This video shows this fact with Scripture from the Bible. We all know the famous quote from Jesus in John 8:58 Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was born, I AM. I break this down in the video and show you it’s application and how deep this statement from Jesus was, which is why the Jews cried out that it was blasphemy and wanted to stone Him. Please watch and enjoy.
Grace – Law – Faith – Salvation – Works – Galatians
A group of Jewish teachers insisted that non – Jewish believers must obey Jewish law and traditional rules. They believed a person was saved by following the law of Moses (with emphasis on circumcision, the sign of the covenant), in addition to faith in Christ. Paul opposed them by showing that the law can’t save anyone. We can’t be saved by keeping the Old Testament law, even the Ten Commandments. The law served as a guide to point out our need to be forgiven. Christ fulfilled the law for us. We must turn to Him to be saved. He alone can make us right with God. We are saved from God’s judgment and penalty for sin by God’s gracious gift to us. We receive salvation by faith – trusting in Him – not in anything else.
Becoming a Christian is in no way based on our initiative, wise choice, or good character. We can be right with God only by believing in Him. Your acceptance with God comes by believing in Christ alone. You must never add to or twist this Truth. We are saved by faith, not by the good that we do. Have you placed your whole trust and confidence in Christ? He alone can forgive you and bring you into a relationship with God. Galatians is our charter of Christian freedom. We are not under the jurisdiction of Jewish laws and traditions nor under the authority of Jerusalem. Faith in Christ brings true freedom from sin and from the futile attempt to be right with God by keeping the law. We are free in Christ, and yet freedom is a privilege. We are not free to disobey Christ or practice immorality, but we are free to serve the risen Christ. Let us use our freedom to love and to serve, not to do wrong. We become Christians through the HOLY SPIRIT. He brings new life; even our faith to believe is a gift form Him. The Holy Spirit instructs, guides, leads, and gives us power. He ends our bondage to evil desires, and He creates in us love, joy, peace, and many other wonderful changes. When the Holy Spirit leads us, He produces His fruit in us.
Just as we are saved by faith, not deeds, we also grow by faith. By believing, we can have the Holy Spirit within us, helping us live for Christ. Obey Christ by following the Holy Spirit’s leading. Religion by human effort: Please God by our own good works. Practice, diligent service, discipline, and obedience in hope of reward. Good, honest effort through self determination. Self – motivation; self control. Chronic guilt, apathy, depression, failure, constant desire for approval. ~~ Life in the Spirit: Trust in Christ and then live to please God. Confess, submit, and commit yourself to Christ’s control. The Holy Spirit in us helps us do good work for Christ’s kingdom. Christ in me; I in Christ. Joy, thankfulness, love, guidance, service, forgiveness. Judiazers versus Paul/Galatians 2:1 ~ What the Judiazers said about Paul: They said he was perverting the truth. They said he was a traitor to the Jewish faith. They said he compromised and watered down his message for the Gentiles. They said he was disregarding the law of Moses. Paul’s defense: He received his message from Christ Himself (1:11-12) Paul was one of the most dedicated Jews of his time. Yet, in the midst of one of his most zealous acts, God transformed him through a revelation of the Good News about Jesus (1:13-16; Acts 9:1-30) {Nothing that Paul did on his efforts} The other apostles declared that the message Paul preached was the true gospel (2:1-10). Far from degrading the law, Paul puts the law in it’s proper place. He says it shows people where they have sinned, and it points them to Christ (3:19-29).
THREE DISTORTIONS OF CHRISTIANITY / GALATIANS 4 :
Judiazed Christianity – Christians are Jews who have recognized Jesus as the promised Savior. Therefore, any Gentile desiring to become a Christian must first become a Jew. Having a high regard for the Scriptures and God’s choice of Jews as his people, they did not want to see God’s commands overlooked or broken. Tends to add human traditions and standards to God’s law. Also subtracts from the Scriptures God’s clear concern for all nations.
Legalized Christianity – Christians are those who live by a long list of “don’ts” God’s favor is earned by good behavior. Recognized that real change brought about by God should lead to changes in behavior. Tends to make God’s love something to earn rather than to accept freely. Would reduce Christianity to a set of impossible rules and transform the Good News into bad news.
Lawless Christianity – Christians live above the law. They need no guidelines. God’s Word is not as important as our personal sense of God’s guidance. Recognized that forgiveness from God cannot be based on our ability to live up to His perfect standards. It must be received by faith as a gift made possible by Christ’s death on the cross. Forgets that Christians are still human and fail consistently when trying to live only by what they “feel” God wants.
True Christianity – Christians are those who believe inwardly and outwardly that Jesus’ death has allowed God to offer them forgiveness and eternal life as a gift. They have accepted that gift through faith and are seeking to live a life of obedient gratitude for what God has done for them. Christianity is both private and public, with heart – belief and mouth – confession. Our relationship to God and the power he provides results in obedience. Having received the gift of forgiveness and eternal life, we are now daily challenged to live that life with His help. Avoids all the dangers mentioned in the distortions. Application question: How would those closest to you describe your Christianity? Do they think you live so that God will accept you, or do they know that you live because God has accepted you in Christ?
Faith And Works And The Book Of Romans
FAITH – faith is a word with many meanings. It can mean faithfulness (Matt 24:45) It can mean absolute trust, as shown by some of the people who came to Jesus for healing (Luke 7:2-10). It can mean confident hope (Hebrews 11:1). Or, as James points out, it can even mean a barren belief that does not result in good deeds (James 2:14-26). What does Paul mean when, in Romans, he speaks of “saving faith“?
We must be very careful to understand faith as Paul uses the word because he ties faith so closely to salvation. It is not something we must do in order to earn salvation – if that were true, then faith would be just one more deed, and Paul clearly states that human deeds can NEVER save us (Galatians 2:16). Instead, faith is a gift God gives us because He is saving us (Ephesians 2:8). It is God’s grace, not our faith, that saves us. In His mercy, however, when He saves us, He gives us faith – a relationship with His Son that helps us become like Him. Through the faith He gives us, He carries us from death into life (John 5:24). Even in Old Testament times, grace, not deeds, was the basis of salvation. As Hebrews points out, “it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (10:4) God intended for His people to look beyond the animal sacrifices to Him, but all too often they instead put their confidence in fulfilling the requirements of the law ~Like the Pharisees~ That is, performing the required sacrifices. When Jesus triumphed over death, He cancelled the charges against us and opened a way to the Father (Colossians 2:12-15). Because He is Merciful, He offers us Faith. How tragic if we turn faith into a deed and try to develop it on our own!! We can never come to God through our own faith any more that His Old Testament people could come through their own sacrifices. Instead, we must accept His gracious offer with thanksgiving and allow Him to plant the seed of faith within us. Everyone has sinned. {Romans 3:23} The penalty for sin is death. {Romans 6:23} Jesus Christ died for sin {Romans 5:8} To be forgiven for our sin, we must believe and confess that Jesus is Lord. Salvation comes through Jesus Christ {Romans 10:8-10} The problem: We resist God. We ignore God, We attempt to deceive God. We work against God’s interests. We acknowledge God only when we are in trouble. We consider our plans and desires before God’s. We do not love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. False solutions: Create our own god out of something or someone else, or what we want Him to be. Live in guilt, punishing ourselves or masking the guilt behind alcohol or drugs. Use religion (Works, church attendance, service) as a substitute for faith, loving God, and obeying Him. Assume or vaguely hope God will save us anyway. Conclude God is too demanding and live in despair or apathy. True solution: Recognize the answer to our problem is faith and trust in Christ. Accept God’s gracious gift of forgiveness, believing in His love. Realize that God is willing to declare us not guilty, and that He alone can do that. Live in the freedom provided by God, enjoying the opportunity to express our thanks by obedience rather than trying to earn His acceptance. Humbly accept the fact that Christ’s substitution for us accomplished what we could not have done for ourselves. CRUCIAL CONCEPTS IN ROMANS: Election {Romans 9:10-13} God’s choice of an individual or group for a specific purpose or destiny. Justification {Romans 4:25; 5:18} God’s act of declaring us “not guilty” for our sins, making us “right” with Him. Propitiation {Romans 3:25} The removal of God’s punishment for sin through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Redemption {Romans 3:24; 8:23} Jesus Christ has paid the price so we can go free. The price of sin is death; Jesus paid the “death price”. Sanctification {Romans 5:2; 15:16} Becoming more and more like Jesus Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit. Glorification {Romans 8:18-19, 30} The ultimate state of the believer after death when he or she becomes like Christ (1 John 3:2).
Righteousness the law and Living Water
Many of us Christians get the mindset of blessed are the righteous. Oh if I just do this or that then I will be righteous and I will be blessed. You are putting yourself in the law and legalism. It is not blessed are the righteous, Jesus said Matthew 5:6. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. When you start putting yourself into legalism like that you are putting an obstacle between you and God. You are also walking by sight and not in the Spirit. We tend to think if we follow the law we are in righteousness and we will be blessed. We are supposed to thirst and hunger for righteousness and abide in Jesus. Jesus said I am the Vine, you are the branches, abide in Me and you will produce plentiful fruit, for without Me you can do nothing. If we thirst for He gives we will never be thirsty again. “But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’’ Exodus 17:3 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? Numbers 20:5 Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!” See they were seeking natural blessings. God wanted to give them Living Water. Moses then hit his staff twice on the ground and water came gushing out. Numbers 20:12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in Me enough to honor Me as Holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” They were walking by sight and were seeking blessings of natural things and not spiritual. If we constantly thirst and hunger for righteousness and what God gives Living Water, we will be blessed and will be walking in the Spirit and by abiding in Him, thus in turn will be upholding the law without putting an obstacle of the law in our way between us and God.
Sowing seeds for Jesus 