By David J. Stewart
James 5:9, “Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.”
I am so sick and tired of religious hypocrites who condemn others. I won't
mention any names here, lest I be party to their evil deeds. I am saddened when
I hear so-called pastors and ministers attacking other Christians.
One person found another Christian's divorce records online and sent them to various critics and hypocrites. People called the woman asking if it's true. When she denied being divorced, those wicked believers wrote articles calling her a liar and grudged against her as the Bible forbids. They sent the slanderous articles to other carnal believers. Now its all over the internet.
This is evil and wrong. Jesus commanded us to love one another, so that the world would see our love for one another. Anything can be justified. I wouldn't want to be in the shoes of those wicked believers for all the wealth in the world. They're not standing for a principle; but rather, are standing on each other's heads. They're condemning her without knowing the full circumstances nor even the validity of the claims. If they didn't want her to deny the allegations, then why did they ask her in the first place? Even if the allegations were true, it's none of their business. Romans 8:34 is a beautiful Scripture...
Romans 8:34, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”
People will condemn you until your GRAVE for your sins (as they did king David in the Old Testament); but only God can condemn a soul to HELL for all eternity. If you are in Christ, then you are already justified. You will never be DAMNED. Unbelieving Christ-rejecters are already DAMNED the Bible says. Look at Romans 8:34 again friend. Isn't it precious. It is because Christ died, was buried and has risen that no man can condemn us. Jesus ascended into Heaven and is now seated on the right-hand of the Father, interceding as every believer's High Priest (Hebrews 4:15-16). Christian believers are in Christ and our sins have been cleansed away by the precious blood of Jesus Christ (1st Peter 1:18-19). There can be NO forgiveness of sins apart from the cross upon which Jesus Christ died.
Besides, no man has a right to condemn another (James 4:12), lest God condemn you (Matthew 7:2-5). The woman's critics are high-minded and arrogant, dragging her before the Lord to be stoned. “WE CAUGHT HER IN THE ACT” they say! (just as the woman taken in the very act of adultery in John chapter 8). James 5:9 warns about grudging against a fellow brother or sister in Christ. To do so brings condemnation upon a believer. Please understand that no believer can be damned. The believer is safe because Jesus died on the cross and arose. Albeit the Bible teaches that a believer can still be judged, and 1st Corinthians 11:31-32 tells us exactly what this means, “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are CHASTENED of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” The Bible says if we judge ourselves we will not be judged; but if we are judged, we are CHASTENED of the Lord.
So Christians can be condemned, but not damned. James 5:9, “Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be CONDEMNED: behold, the judge standeth before the door.” Romans 8:1 teaches that there is NO condemnation for the believer in Christ. The word “condemned” in Romans 8:1 is the Greek word katakrima and means “an adverse sentence.” Condemned in James 5:9 is the Greek word katakrina and means “to judge against, that is, sentence.” Whatever sentence of punishment God gives to the believer in Heaven, it will only be in the form and purpose of chastisement.
Every Christian will be held ACCOUNTABLE for the GOOD and the BAD in their life. I love Dr. Curtis Hutson (1934-1995), but Dr. Hutson and Dr. John R. Rice (1895-1980) TOTALLY disagree on what will happen at the Judgment Seat Of Christ. Dr. Rice teaches that each believer will be judged for their SINS, but Dr. Hutson believes that the believer will only be judged for their SERVICE for Christ (and not sins). I agree 100% with Brother Rice. I disagree wholeheartedly with Brother Hutson (one of few areas where I disagree with him). I love and admire both men as great men of God.
There is a preponderance of Biblical evidence that teaches the believer will be held accountable, will face the TERROR OF THE LORD (2nd Corinthians 5:11 and will be chastised for anyone they have DEFRAUDED (1st Thessalonians 4:6). Some believers will lose all rewards and be saved as by fire, that is, they barely made it to Heaven (1st Corinthians 3:15). They got saved, but they lived their life in wickedness and hid the light of Christ within them from the lost.
For the unbeliever, they are ALREADY DAMNED John 3:18 warns, because they do not believe on the Son of God. However, the Christian believer cannot be damned and is in no danger of Hell. However, the Bible is clear that a believer will be chastened as God's child. The word CHASTENED in 1st Corinthians 11:31-32 is paideuo in the Greek and means “to train up a child, that is, educate, or (by implication) discipline (by punishment).” God can whip (“scourge,” Hebrews 12:6).
May I kindly say, the war is out there you religious hypocrites! Stop fighting against each other. Stop defeating your own troops. The enemy is out there on the front lines. Believers are so preoccupied fighting against their brothers and sisters that the Devil is winning the battle. Let's fight against the ho9rdes of Hell. Let's fight against the wicked world. Let's fight against false religions and false prophets. Let's contend for the faith instead of against our brother! Somebody say amen!
Another pastor sinfully condemned his
brother-in-law from the pulpit, slandering him and deriding him before the
nation. That pastor needs to be humbled, for he is high-minded and has never
realized the misery of his own sins. We all need to get right with God! You
listen to me all you slanderous hypocrites who like to attack each other...
James 5:9, “Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned:
behold, the judge standeth before the door.”
Grudge Not One Against Another, Lest Ye Be Condemned
James 5:9, “Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.”
Carefully notice that the words “condemned” in James 5:9 and John 3:18 are NOT the same Greek root word. In John 3:18 (“He that believeth on him is not condemned”) the Greek word for “condemned” is krino. Note that this is the same exact Greek word (krino) used for the word, DAMNED, in 2nd Thessalonians 2:12. So we could interchange the words damned and condemned in John 3:18... “He that believeth on the Son is not DAMNED!!!”
God is telling us not to condemn each other, because God will judge us all. If only service is judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ (and not sins), then this Scripture wouldn't make sense. People judge each other because of wrong doing, not service. I think it is a mistake to make a distinction between sins and service, because BOTH are works. 2nd Corinthians 5:9-11 teaches that we shall all give account for the GOOD AND THE BAD. Bad is sin. Ecclesiastes 12:14, “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” I don't find any Scriptures that excuse Christians from being held accountable for their wrong doing. Again, Christians will be CHASTISED by the Lord, and not DAMNED as the unsaved will be.
The Bible promises that God will avenge each and every person of wrongs committed against them. We are told in the Bible that VENGEANCE IS THE LORD'S...
Romans 12:18-21, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
The Bible teaches in Romans 12:19 that God is going to “repay” (recompense) evil for evil and good for good. The word “repay” is the Greek antapodidomi, which means “to requite (good or evil).” God is going to return evil for evil and good for good at the Judgment Seat of Christ. No believer will be in danger of going to Hell. Christ took the punishment of our sins upon Himself on the cross. Yet, as you are about to learn, God chastises and scourges His children.
Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”
Hebrews 12:6 Teaches That God Flogs (whips) His Children
Chastisement is quite different than punishment. Hebrews 12:6-8 teaches that God chastises and scourges His children. Hebrews 12:6, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” The word “scourgeth” in Hebrews 12:6 is the Greek word mastigoo, which means “to flog (literally or figuratively).” TO FLOG!!! Do you know what flogging means? To flog is to beat severely with a whip or rod; to beat with a cane. My friend, God is going to whip and beat some Christians, and I believe literally. I believe that a brutal man who mercilessly beats his family, may just get a beating from the Lord on judgment day. Did not the Lord wrestle with Jacob and deliberately cripple him for life? Argue as you may, the Bible teaches that God flogs (beats) His children.
There are some cruel, heartless and rotten people in God's family, who have never matured in the Lord. A carnal believer is capable of committing any sin. Whether you want to admit it or not, there are carnal believers who do steal, lie, cheat, commit adultery and commit unspeakable acts. One-third of the Bible was written by murderers. David, who penned most of the Psalms, committed adultery and murder as a Christian. David got Uriah drunk to deceive him. David went 8-months with no remorse for the evils he had done. Samson went with a prostitute. Abraham lied. Sarah laughed in God's face in irreverence. Joseph's 10 half-brothers sold him into slavery to the Midianites.
By the way, I've heard so many preachers say that Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery, but they didn't. They never got the chance. The brothers were conspiring to sell Joseph to the Ishmeelites; but as they ate and considered their next move, the Midianites came by and drew Joseph out, taking him into Egypt. This is perhaps why Joseph's brothers had no idea who he was as governor decades later when the famine forced them to travel to Egypt for food. Had the brothers sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites, then likely they would have had an idea where Joseph went. When Rueben came back to the pit, it was empty, Joseph was gone. For the next 20-years Joseph's 10 half brothers would wonder and not know what had happened to Joseph. Who took him? Where is Joseph? God truly works in mysterious ways.
Having said that, do you think those rats—those dirty evil brothers who threw Joseph into a pit and were conspiring to sell him to the Ishmeelites—do you really think that God will not hold them accountable for their sins on judgment day? Since they are saved God won't punish them in Hell, but God certainly will hold them fully accountable.
God believes in the BOARD of education and He uses it! Argue as
you may, Hebrews 12:6 teaches that God flogs His children! In Psalms 6:1 David
pleaded for God not to chasten, “O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger,
neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.” God gets angry! Do you think
God's hands are bound so that He cannot discipline His own children who need a
daddy-spanking? You don't know Who you're messing with my friend. Hebrews
10:30-31, “For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will
recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a
fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” God is to be
greatly feared. Hebrews 12:28 admonished every believer to serve the Lord with
reverence and godly fear.
Judgment Will Begin At The House Of God
God's
People are the Jews. God's children are all Christians. Not all God's people are
God's children, as Romans 9:6 plainly teaches. The Lord shall judge His people,
the Jews. Likewise, God shall judge the Church. 1st Peter 4:17, “For the time
is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at
us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” Clearly
this implies judgment for all of our actions in life—whether they be deeds of
immorality (sins of commission) or failing to faithfully serve Christ (sins of
omission).
Romans 12:19, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
In the preceding verse we as believers are ordered by God not to seek retaliation nor vindication against a brother nor sister in the Lord. If there's not going to be a judgment for sins committed, then you might as well vindicate yourself. The Greek word for “avenge” in Romans 12:19 is ekdikeo and means “vindicate, retaliate, punish.” God commands us NOT to take this low-road; but rather, to take the high-road and put any offenses against us into His hands for judgment day.
The Bible is speaking in Romans 12:19 about the many instances in life when people do evil against us and there's no recourse of action (other than doing something illegal to hurt them). We've all been there. Yes, you have, you can't fool me. If someone rips a page out of your book, you want them to burn in Hell. Yes you do! It's never easy to let things go. But I'll tell you, the more you get into the habit of thinking, “Let Go, Let God,” it gets easier. Let Go, Let God. You have God's PROMISE in Romans 12:19 of being avenged, so you can relax and know that God has the situation covered!!!
No one is going to get away with anything. Jesus warned in Matthew 12:36 that men will give account to God for even the idle words they speak. Matthew 10:29-30 says that God is aware of even one sparrow that falls out of the sky, and He knows the number of hairs on our head at all times. God sees the hurtful words spoken, though subtly spoken to avoid detection. God sees the heart and knows the motive behind the words spoken. God will judge us by our thoughts, words and deeds (Proverbs 24:12).
May we all get so busy for God soul-winning that we don't waste
our time fighting against each other. May we all get so busy contending for the
faith that we stop contending with each other. The battle's out there, not at
home!!! I love you in the Lord whoever you may be, and am not trying to be
unkind, but the battle is not between believers. And if it is, it's only because
we're not right with God.
Most Satanists Are Church Members
The believer has three enemies: the flesh, the world and the Devil.
This following statement was taken from an article written on 02-18-03 by journalist Eric Gillin in an interview with Church of Satan highpriest Peter H. Gilmore...
“What they [satanists] essentially believe, is that life should be lived in the pursuit of pleasures, and we only get one chance to do it. Sounds like America to us.”
It is interesting that satanists declare America an “absolutely satanic nation.” What is even more disturbing is “why” they consider America a satanic nation, that is, because of our freedom to DO AS THOU WILT SHALL BE THE WHOLE OF THE LAW.
