Judging oneself

[Fez]

All good answers thank you. I asked the question because although I read the entire book, and this chapter again to give weight to the verse, I believe it is a pivotal verse in our walk. It should also be read with the next verse, also the second sentence, which says

"for whatever does not proceed from Faith is sin". Rom 14:23

I found that to be a really heavy verse until I meditated on it. What the verses are saying is that if you have true Faith and you approve of what you are doing (because you simply want to, desire to follow Jesus and the Word), you cannot condemn yourself, and you please God.

How many of us can say we "have no need to pass judgement on ourselves" in that light?

You would have to be perfect in every way. And you are not (no one is)!

The verses and chapter, although talking about eating and drinking, are much deeper than one would first assume.

[kwikphilly]

Blessings Fez

       You are absolutely correct in saying there is so much more to this beautiful Word from our Loving Father.......we can only strive towards perfection &  walking in spirit & in truth with the heart & mind of our Precious Savior,Praise Jesus!!!!

        It is a good reminder to do that self evaluation ,especially when we feel "comfortable"-LOL .....when we ask our Lord to show us what needs work by the Power of the Holy Spirit,He is more than delighted to show us as we are a never ending work in progress(until we are changed,in the twinkling of an eye).....Glory to God!

                                                                                                                                            With love,in Christ-Kwik

[Willa]

On the other hand the communion verses in 1 Corinthians 11 do tell us to confess and repent of all "gray areas" that we do not have perfect peace about, because according to your passage they should be considered sin because they are not done in faith. It is here that we are told to judge ourselves to avoid the chastening of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged [by God] , we are chastened by the Lord, THAT WE MAY NOT BE CONDEMNED WITH THE WORLD! NKJV Combining these two passages give me new insight. That is why we are not to dispise the chastening of the Lord, too. The fear of the Lord truly is the beginning of wisdom. I knew instinctively that chastening is how God is also keeping me in a state of salvation, but now I have the scriptures. For our souls were saved when we were born again and received the down payment of the Holy Spirit, we are continuing to be saved from sins even by God's chastening when necessary, and eventually our bodies will be saved.

How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? Heb.2:1-3 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away! The drifting away part is insiduous. It occurrs so slowly we don't realize it is happening. Usually it is a little compromise or believing a lie of the enemy and our first love starts to cool. Usually we don't know where we went wrong--what we did or what attitude. Lord awaken us all! Restore unto us the joy of our salvation and rekindle us to again do the works of our first love. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

[gfellowships]

I believe it is wise to judge ourselves and not others. We must all stand before the judgement seat of Christ.

[Openly Curious]

The whole chapter is dealing with the liberties of our faith........   what we eat, what we drink and such.     It says that we should keep those liberties between each of us and God and not push our liberties onto other people who have less faith and don't understand it's ok to eat whatever and drink if not to abuse......    but blessed is the person who does not have to judge what he approves as ok.

 

Blessed is the person who does not cause another to sin do the persons lake of faith.    If one thinks it's a sin to use wine, then to that person it's sinful and we are blessed if we do not cause him to do something he considers a sin by our actions of our own liberty.

 

does that make sense???

 

I think it's ok for me to use wine wisely, but I should not talk brothers and sisters to do the same if it violates their conscious. 

 

    

[ajchurney]

Another example of great answers here in Worthy! I am still new to the forum, and have been an avid student of the scriptures for 21 years, having also grown up in church and private Christian schools, but falling into hedonism for quite a while beginning in the teen years. I was genuinely born of the Spirit in 1992. I was looking for a forum of real Christian discussion and am finding it here! Thank you Lord! 

Fez,

As you obviously know, context is the absolute first rule of biblical interpretation. Many verses have larger, over-arching doctinal implications and applications, but we always, always have to first look at the verse in its native context, which is what "other one" astutely encouraged. Paul argues any doctrinal point like the lawyer that he was, and you are right that he gives  answers here about questionable practices regarding food and drink, but in doing so, he appeals to a larger principle, "whatever is not from faith is sin". Of course, this idea is not to be found in this place alone, and has parallels, though I love the way he uniquely and tersely states it here. It is a profound truth and wonderful! To me, it is important to understand WHY it is true. It is true because in our flesh dwells no good thing, and the Spirit is at enmity with the flesh and its works. Faith is the divine connection and trust in the Spirit who indwells, guides, and empowers the believer in Christ. It's like faith is the plug into the divine grace, and if it is not plugged in to that power, then it is not of God, and therefore of the fallen flesh, and affected by the sinful nature. So, if we walk in the Spirit (by faith!) we will NOT fulfill the lusts (sin) or the flesh! It all agrees and works together so wonderfully (of course it does......it is His word!)

In Him, Andy