Sola Deo Gloria

Unfortunately in Christian society today, many believers have come to the conclusion, or been taught incorrectly that judging others is wrong by quoting, “Judge not lest ye be judged” (Matt. 7:1) If we continue to read that chapter we understand that we are required to judge. We are required to judge our own lives and be willing that others judge us in the same manner we judge them. We can not judge the heart of a man, but we can make judgement calls based on the works of a man. Would you be so bold as to let a known child molester keep your child simply because you can’t judge him? If you do not allow him to keep your child you would be judging him. Certainly not! Based on the fruits he bares, we know we must avoid that pitfall.

My goal here is to awaken within non-Christians (whether having never claimed to be redeemed or having a false conversion) an understanding of their fate based on the evidences in their life. As it says in 2 Corinthians, we are to test ourselves to make sure we are in the faith.

Certainly there are many other traits that we as Christians are to “put on” (Gal. 5.22-26; Eph. 5.9-33). All of these we should be exhibiting as children of God. This list also is not all inclusive, but merely a subset of all teaching in the bible. In reference to false prophets Jesus says you shall know them by their fruits (Matt. 7.15-16,20). Simply put, we should be displaying these fruits so that people around us will KNOW we are Christians. We are proof that Jesus is who He says He is (God’s son; John 17.23).

On the other side of that same coin there are traits which are not becoming of the new man. Those who are still under the law (Gal. 5.18-21) exhibit these traits that Christians should not bear witness of in their life. Just as bad, or even worse are the men who come into the church, speaking false teachings, or twisting God’s words out of context, causing disunity, false doctrine, and false conversions (Matt. 7.15-16).

I believe that works “reveal” our eternal fate. I do not believe that they “determine” it. What determines it is our faith in Jesus Christ. What proves that in fact has been determined is the evidence in our life. The cause of salvation is faith in Jesus Christ plus nothing (no works). But the consequence of that is works.

Let’s see if I can illustrate this with this story from a pastor:

I was riding with a man who was an executive in a seminary (we were talking about something and I saw a Liquor Store).

I said, “That’s an interesting, it’s called the ‘Finest Liquor Store’. What a strange name for a Liquor Store–The Finest.”

He said, “Oh, that’s a chain, they are all over the place.”

I said, “Really?”

He said, “Yeah, I know the man that owns them. He’s in my Sunday School class!”

I said, “He is?”

He said, “Yeah, he comes regularly. He’s been coming for years.”

I said, “Is he a Christian?”

He said, “Oh yes, he’s received the Lord.”

I said, “Well, is the rest of his life in order, or is this something off. . . ?”

“Well, not really” he said, “He’s been shacking up with a young girl and he has left his wife and so forth.”

I said, “How long has that been going on?”

“Well its been going on nearly a year now, and we have been trying to work with him and so forth.”

And then he said this to me, “You know, I just can’t understand how a Christian can live like that?”

And I looked over at him and I said, “Have you ever thought that maybe the guy is not a Christian?”

And he said, “Well I remember when he prayed the prayer.”

I said, “What prayer?”

“Well, the prayer that invited Christ into his life.”

Is that what saves you? I mean, you say, “All right Lord. . . .” I know that there is one theologian in America who says, “If you say that to God on a dare, He has to save you, no matter what your life is after that!” Is that true? That’s not what James said, “Faith without works is. . . .” what? “dead!” That’s not what Hebrews 3 says, when it says that you will enter into rest “if you hold your confidence fast to the end.” That’s not what James said, when he said, “You better be a doer and not just a hearer or you will wind up deceiving yourself.”

The point is this, works do not determine your salvation–they just manifest that you really are, or are not saved. Do you see the point? When God judges men He will judge them on the basis of their deeds, because their deeds will manifest whether, in fact, they are regenerate or not. That’s the issue. I do not believe in works salvation, neither do I believe in a salvation that has no works that follow it.

People sometimes say, “I know so and so and I know that they don’t go to church and they are living an awful life, but I remember the day when they went down the aisle.” Well, do you know what it meant when they went down the aisle? It meant that they went down the aisle! It meant that they went to the front, and it didn’t mean anything more then that they went to the front. If there is nothing else there, James says, “Then don’t tell me that’s faith, because faith that has no works isn’t faith at all!” If you believe that the Bible says, “If any man be in Christ, he is a. . . .” what? “a new creation,” then you have got to believe that has to be manifest.

Some people are tough to figure out, because it is possible for a Christian to fall into a lapse of disobedience. And it is even possible for a Christian to fall into a lapse of disobedience and never come out of it because the Lord takes him home. Right? Some of the Corinthians died in the middle of their disobedience. Ananias and Sapphria were snuffed quickly, right in front of the whole Church. That was just after they had given the biggest offering of their life. The problem was that they told God they were going to give it all and they didn’t. Don’t make promises to God that you don’t want to keep.

Please understand that I do not believe that you are saved by your works. But I believe God can look at your works as the objective proof that you have been saved. And He will look at your works and see the pattern of righteousness, not just relative human goodness, but true righteousness born of a love for God. And He will also see that your name is written in the Book. Subjectively and objectively, you belong to His kingdom. That’s the issue.

*** Many quotes taken from John MacArthur’s Q&A site re: Judging ***