Judgement VS Condemnation

• Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. -Matthew 7:1-2

There’s 2 types of judgement: which are “righteous judgement” & “condemnation”. Often times as Christians we confuse the word “judge” for “condemnation” from time to time. Instead of “righteously” judging them, we just “condemn” them. It may not be intentional, but yet the word judgment becomes condemnation when what you say & how you say it, isn’t out of LOVE. The Bible says “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment. -John 7:24”. To judge with right judgment is to judge them by their FRUITS on the tree that they bear. “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. -Matthew 12:33”. Sometimes people are so focused on the tree, that they’re not looking at the fruit! In other words, people always look at the outside but don’t take the time to look on the inside. We’re so busy going off our first impression, that we’re not realizing what we’re automatically doing, which is pre-judging them before we get to know them. When we go off our first impression & the other person knows, many times they get mad & always say “Don’t judge me when you don’t even know me”. Yes, their right! You don’t know them! Because if you got to know them, then I’m sure your perspective would change. For Ex: If you see a guy that walks, talks, acts, looks, & dresses like a GANG BANGER then most likely your gonna assume that person is a gang banger. When what you just did was go off of their APPEARANCE. “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. -1 Samuel 16:7”. If you took the time to sit down & actually get to know that persons HEART then you’ll see the FRUIT that they bear, afterwards you’ll realize your whole mindset changes on what they appeared to be in your eyes.

• For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. - John 3:17

Being Sons & Daughters of God, when we first got saved, one of the GREATEST commandments that God told us to obey & to follow is to, LOVE one another as we love ourselves! When Christ died for us, He didn’t come to judge nor condemn us but to SAVE us because He LOVES us! When Jesus came, He was a friend of sinners because of His great love for the lost. The love of Jesus was what motivated Him to be in Matthew’s house with the tax collectors & the sinners where they were talking to Him about salvation. He did that out of love for their souls. It was because of the great love He had for them—love that motivated Him to tell them about the Gospel. The Bible says “Whoever claims to live in Him, must WALK as He did. -1 John 2:6”. In this lifestyle, one of the main things that most Christians forget to WALK in, is in LOVE. Nowadays we’re so caught up with being Holy that if we see a bit of evil or appearance of evil in our presence, we turn the other cheek. If we’re called to go out into the world & preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then don’t you think that instead of judging them & walking the opposite direction, that you should actually CORRECT them? “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. -Ephesians 5:11”. When you take the time to correct that person, that is an expression of love. You love & care for them enough to be open & willing to help them change their wicked ways. But let’s really learn how to love first VERBALLY, than take ACTION. Life & death is in the power of the tongue, if your ministering to someone & trying to encourage them but the words that are coming out of your mouth are not uplifting than that person isn’t gonna want to come to you anymore if they need help. So watch what you say & how you say it because you don’t want it to appear as CONDEMNATION. “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.- Ephesians 4:29