Question:
I also don’t understand 2 Corinthians 5:13 and 14. What does it mean when it says, “The love of Christ constrains us?” Does that mean that the love of Christ is what motivates them? And in verse 13 what are they beside themselves about?
Anyway, what is judgment? My dad once told me that judgment is God saying what He thinks of something. Does judgment involve punishment for sin, or is that what condemnation involves?
Answer:
John 5:22 tells us that the Son only has the authority to judge people in all that they are and have done in their life of rebellion against God. And He will mete out righteous judgment after time has run its course (Revelation 20:12). But remember verse 24 which says that believers will not come into judgment (the word condemnation in the KJV should be judgment).In 1 Corinthians 5 we are taught that believers are both competent and responsible to judge what they observe in the lives of other believers. One who is called “a brother” may be counted as a wicked person because of immorality. All evil deeds must be judged for what they are and the evil doer, though a brother, must be put outside of all fellowship with other believers until he is restored. When God teaches us righteousness by His Word, we are competent and responsible to judge evil wherever we see it and refuse fellowship with those who do it. After all, does Christ have fellowship with evil? and if we have fellowship with evil how can we have fellowship with Christ? In Galatians there was evil doctrine. Paul was inspired to give us God’s truth that those who taught it must be “cut off.” In Second John the elect lady was to refuse all association with the deceivers who brought not the doctrine of Christ. Other Scripture also teaches us that association with evil will defile, or ruin us as to being pure for Christ (see 1 Corinthians 15:33). So, in these things we are both competent and responsible to judge what we see, to refuse the evil and those that bring it, even though they may be true believers. For, again, our fellowship together with the Lord can only be enjoyed in the holiness of His truth.
In 1 Corinthians 6:1-4 we are told about a future day when in Christ’s kingdom we shall judge both the world and angels. Of course, then we shall be sinless and holy like He is. How it all will happen we are not told. We are told, as far as I can see, only the fact of it.Matthew 7:1, 2 ought to be mentioned, because this Scripture forbids us to judge. Is this contradictory to the other Scriptures that teach us that we must judge? Not in the least. For here we are forbidden to judge because this has to do with things that we cannot see. I believe this has to do with things that are in one’s heart, where only God can see. So we are neither competent nor responsible here. In fact, if we do judge here, then we are being presumptuous, for we are intruding where only our God can go.Much more could be said on this subject. But I hope enough has been said so that our responsibility to the Lord in this matter is well understood, for what can be more important than our testimony to Him?