Think twice before you condemn someone; God the supreme judge watches!
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:37-38 NIV).
God Will Judge Those Who Condemn Others
People who engage in the business of judging others ought to take the road of personal improvement and live uprightly with God. A person should aspire to improve from his (or her) personal flaws, rather than usurping God’s role and condemning others.
Someone who indulges in the business of condemning other people exposes himself to the judgment of God. It is written, “The measure which you used for someone else shall be used for you! (Luke 6:38).”
Humans should not usurp God’s authority by attempting to condemn other people. It is very dangerous for you to condemn someone who has confessed his sin to God and has received forgiveness!
A person who judges or condemns someone that God has exonerated is setting himself up for the wrath of God.
How perfect are you?
“How can you say, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while you yourself fail to see the beam in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Luke 6:42 BSB).
Get the fact straight:
Humans are not perfect but God is perfect. Something undoubtedly true about God is the fact that he is interested in building a life than to destroy it. God is loving, merciful and forgiving. He will forgive any offender who repents of his sin.
Let’s delve into the attributes of God – The Supreme Judge
God is the supreme judge of the world.
How Does God – The Supreme Judge, Handles An Offender?
God, unlike humans, is interested in forgiving any sinner and redeem his life. God will not keep a record of an offense like humans would do.
Meanwhile, the fact that God is merciful does not remove the fact that he will punish someone who has refused to repent from his sin.
God – the Supreme Judge, is quite aware of any sin committed; he also has the strength to proportionally punish a sinner for his sin.
Despite his supernatural power to exert any kind of judgment, God – The Supreme Judge, does not rush into judgment. He allows a moment of grace to set-in so that a sinner can seize the opportunity to exercise repentance. In other words, God allows people to escape his judgment through repentance.
(Meanwhile, a person should not underestimate God by consciously committing a sin with a plan to beg for forgiveness later. God frowns at hypocritical practices; he won’t allow anyone to abuse his grace).
God’s characteristics towards sin and judgment are summarized as follows:
Almighty God hates sin
God forgives sin and forgets
In delving deeper into discussing God’s attributes, someone may ask,
What is the gravity of a sin that God forgives?
At what point does God forgive a sin?
How long does it take for God to forgive a sin?
Here are the responses to the above questions:
What is the gravity of a sin that God forgives?
God knows the details of any sin committed; His standard of punishment for any sin is stated, “The soul who sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20 NKJV). That is, any sin committed – whether big or small – deserves an absolute condemnation from God.
However, the statement about God’s absolute judgment on any sin will lose its ground when repentance is exercised! In other words, when a sinner confesses and repents of his sin, God forgives him – And that settles it.
God completely erases any sin he forgives (Through washing in the blood of his Son Jesus Christ) as the Bible states,
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18 KJV).
There is no sin that is too big for God to forgive. Also, there is no sin that is too old or too new for God to forgive. That is, God will equally forgive any offense committed 30 years ago as well as an offense committed yesterday. What God asks for is “Repentance!”
Once repentance is exercised, the worst offender will receive God’s absolute forgiveness – irrespective of the magnitude of his sin.
Any repentance exercise expected to fit God’s standard must involve a person to verbalizing his mistake (sin) to God; be remorseful of the sin, and beg God for the forgiveness.
How long does it take to receive the forgiveness of a sin?
It takes a zero-second to receive God’s forgiveness! God will forgive any sin the moment it is confessed and repented of. In fact, the word of God says,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
How much does it cost to receive God’s forgiveness?
God’s forgiveness cost nothing; however, you must be humble enough to admit your sin, repent from it, and ask for God’s forgiveness. The Scripture emphasized,
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV).
What Lesson Must We Learn From Jesus About Forgiveness?
As Jesus taught his disciples the Lord’s prayer and included the clause “Forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us” (Matthew 6:12).
Jesus scolded people who accused someone of harlotry by saying “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her” (John 8:7).
Peter has heard Jesus “I tell you, not (to forgive) seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:22).
The recap of God’s Eye In The Supreme Judgment
God will forgive any sin, whether it was committed 30 years ago or it was committed yesterday.
No one is authorized to condemn another person unless God has specifically assigned him for the task.
Before you judge someone, first consider you might be a worse offender in the sight of God, deserving hefty punishment.
Rather than exercising condemnation of others, do an assessment of yourself; discover your personal flaws; repent of your sins, and determine to live uprightly with God.
Don’t be interested in the downfall of others – You may soon be in their shoes. God is watching!
God and sin are not friends. A person who stays away from sin has automatically positioned himself in the right spot to receive the blessings of God. A person who lives in sin will bear the consequence of his (or her) actions. A sinful activity brings some sort of enjoyment; however, once the excitement is over, the same sin leaves the person to face a bitter consequence that will follow suit.
Sin can come from any source to affect a person or a group of people. In fact, God has labeled nations as sinners in the past, and he punished them for their sins. The nation of Israel is an example. The people who should be God’s “apple eyes” turned their back against the Creator; they suffered a bitter consequence for their action.
Jeremiah, in the Bible, explained the horror that his country (Israel) faced as a result of their sins. The land of Israel that was once considered a center of attraction for their neighbors lost its value when the people sinned against God.
Israelites dropped their love for God and pursued Idolatry; therefore, God forsook them. God suspended his love for the Israelites and make them became subservient to their enemies.
The opposing nations discovered that God’s protection was missing on the Israelites and took advantage of the situation.
Realizing that God was no more in friendship with the Israelites, the enemies attacked them from every side and overpowered them. They destroyed their land and took them captive. Israelites lost their freedom and become the slaves of others.
Jeremiah who witnessed the downfall of his nation lamented,
“How deserted lies the city, once so full of people!How like a widow is she, who once was great among the nations! She who was queen among the provinces has now become a slave. Bitterly she weeps at night, tears are on her cheeks. Among all her lovers there is no one to comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies. After affliction and harsh labor, Judah has gone into exile. She dwells among the nations; she finds no resting place. All who pursue her have overtaken her in the midst of her distress” (Lamentations 1:1-3 NIV).
God Loves The Sinners, But He Hates Their Sins
Does God love the sinners? Yes, he does. God loves everyone – He loves both the saints and the sinners; however, God does not love sin. The Creator can simply not cope with sin.
Jehovah hates sin. He can’t operate under a sinful atmosphere. That is, God will not be able to relate with us if we entertain sin in our lives.
Anyone who is willing to receive the prime benefit of God must steer clear of sin. Stay away!
How Serious Is The Consequence of Sin?
Sin destroys any good relationship that exists between God and a person.
God’s limit of interaction with a sinner also leads to the withdrawal of his benefits. (A sinner loses both ways).
A sinner will be vulnerable to the enemy’s attack since God’s protection will be unavailable for him.
God has an established judgment for an unrepentant sinner. (God will cast an unrepentant sinner to hellfire on the last day).
God is not partial, he will not punish a sinner and spare the other, Any Christian who lives in sin will not be exempted from God’s punishment.
Every sinner must repent – Without an exception! Everyone must understand that God is not partial; he won’t punish one sinner and leave the other; therefore, both the nominal Christian (A Christian without Christ’s attributes) and the unbeliever should await God’s imminent punishments unless due repentance is exercised.
A soul that sins shall die” says the Bible; however, some consequences are bound to follow a sinner before he dies.
The consequences of a sin on earth is not predictable since no one can second-guess God. The Creator mostly take an action that beats human’s imagination. Meanwhile, instead of wasting time on making unnecessary assumptions about God’s variety of punishment in any given situation, everyone should aspire to measure up to the standard of God and serve him in holiness.
A person who has repented of his sins and professed to love God must also make a serious effort to stay away from sin and serve God in holiness.
What Are The Benefits to Receive When Repentance Is Exercised?
God’s divine blessing will pursue a repentant sinner.
An obedient child of God will prosper in whatever he or she does.
A person who repents of his or her sins will have peace of mind
The peace of God that surpasses all human understanding will take over the life of a repentant sinner – Since the Holy Spirit will effectively take control.
A person who repents of his or her sin will have an assurance of heaven
Heaven is the prime benefit that every repentant sinner will enjoy. God will accept every repentant sinner into his kingdom. He will grant him/her an opportunity to dine and wine with him forever.
Serve God well. Obey his commandments and you shall prosper in all your ways!
In the redemption process of mankind, the blood of Jesus Christ plays an indispensable role. The blood that was shed on the cross of Calvary, brought about the salvation of our souls and set a precedence for every believer to live an overcomer’s life. The blood also contains God’s supernatural power to perform various miracles and to heal all kinds of sicknesses.
The Scenario Of The Blood Of Jesus Christ
Two opposing forces: The force of God and force of Satan competed for victory over Christ’ mission to save the world. Satan, the enemy of righteousness influenced the opponents of Christ (the Pharisees and the Roman’s authority) to arrest him with the hope that they would kill him and permanently stop his mission.
The enemies colluded and brought various false allegations against Jesus, of which he was completely innocent. The enemies beat Jesus, hung him on the cross and left him to suffer till death.
“Crucify him, crucify him!” was what the enemies of Christ were shouting. They wanted him dead by all means with the hope that his mission to save humanity will be permanently stopped. However, while the enemies plotted and carried out their atrocity against Christ, God and his angelic hosts were eager to take the advantage of the situation. Their expectation was to see the Lamb of God sacrificing his life by shedding his blood for the remission of human’s sins.
The enemies killed Jesus, but while they were celebrating their victory, God raised him from the dead on the third day, awarded him an unbeatable power over death and also turned him to be the Savior of the world.
God beat Satan hands down by resurrecting his Son Jesus Christ to life after he was crucified! The enemy who had earlier thought he won the battle soon realized he was a loser.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ awards the gift of eternal life to anyone who will believe in his name. Hence, whoever confesses Jesus Christ as his or her personal Lord and Savior will be saved!
What Has The Blood Of Jesus Christ Got To Do For Me?
The blood that Christ shed on the cross consists of everything that humanity need to live prevalence life on earth! Through the blood, a person can receive forgiveness of his sins; he can have his sins washed away and become cleansed to befit God’s kingdom. Someone who is sick can receive his (or her) healing through the blood of Jesus. The list of the benefits that a person can receive from the blood of Jesus goes on and on.
It is written, “Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11 NLT).
Anyone who reserves his confidence in the name of Jesus Christ and believes in the power of his blood will prevail over satanic afflictions. More importantly, the person will have strength to live above sin as the scripture stated,
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:7 NIV)
Victory For All Through The Blood Of Jesus Christ
It is important to mention that people who have confessed their faith in Jesus and believe in the power of his blood will have God’s power to effectively evangelize gospel. After resurrection, Christ endowed his power on his followers (Christians) and said,
“…All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:18-20 ASV).
With reference to the above Bible passage, it means not only did Jesus handed his baton of victory to his followers to live prevalent lives over Satan and his cohorts, he has also granted us his power to make disciples of all nations. That is, Christians now have power to loot the camp of our enemies and yield meaningful fruits for God’s kingdom!
A confident Christian must be able to say, “If Christ has said it I believe it!” All children of God must now go by the strength of the Almighty God to do exploits for his kingdom. We must preach the gospel of Jesus Christ from coast to coast. We must proclaim his gospel message throughout the world to lead multitude of people to God’s kingdom! The power of God that dwells in us will help us prosper and prevail on all fronts.
Meanwhile, not only do Christians have rights to preach the gospel, we also have every right to exercise God’s power to set the captives free! A person who believes in the name of Jesus and the power of his resurrection automatically has the right to heal the sick. If the person can apply faith to his declarations, then mountains will become plain and valley will level up for his benefits, and all glory will be given to God!
In short, a situation of any kind will submit to the power of God found in the blood of Jesus. Anyone who mentions the name of Jesus Christ and believes in the power of his resurrection (via his blood) will witness his miracles beyond any human comprehension.
Last But Not The Least
Isn’t it a matter of importance that I proclaim God’s blessings into your life for believing in the power of his blood?
Please let’s pray:
“I proclaim through the authority in the name of Jesus Christ and the power in his blood that all your challenges become removed! I declare God’s solution to your problem! May all the promises of God come into full manifestation over your life! May you prosper from now on, and may it be well with you every day of your life! For in the name of Jesus Christ I have made my declarations! Amen”.
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God asked his people – Israelites – to repent from their sin so that they can qualify for his blessings.
God said, “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes.
Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless,
Plead for the widow. “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword”; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken” (Isaiah 1:16-20).
Lesson on Repentance to Enjoy God’s Blessing
God is more interested in seeing his children repent from their sins than to make them suffer terrible punishment of hell fire.
He will forgive our sins if we confess and repent from them.
Meanwhile, the Creator would be left with no other option than to exert his tough judgment if we refuse to repent from our unrighteousness.
Therefore, no Christian should take God for granted and indulge in sin.
We must operate in openness before God so that he can continue to take pleasure over our lives.
Prayer of Repentance to Enjoy God’s Blessing
Dear God, my goal and aspiration is to satisfy you with holy living, so that I can qualify for your eternal kingdom.
Help me to genuinely repent from my sins, and empower me to improve my relationship with you.
Anoint me with the grace to spend the rest of my life in a way that satisfies you. Let me walk uprightly before you, and let your Holy Spirit richly dwell in me so that I can remain rapturable!
For in the name of Jesus Christ I make my requests. Amen.
A Christian who has backslided from faith can be restored by God. This lesson can be illustrated with God’s behavior to the people of Judah (in the bible). People of Judah were God’s children, but they sold themselves to sinful lifestyle. They became corrupted to the extent that God turned his back against them.
However, despite the sinful behavior of people of Judah, God promised to restore them into his true love. The Creator would buy them back from their sinful entrapment.
Jehovah promised to redeem his outcast children and restore them to have mutual relationship with him to enjoy his benefits. God would favor his children as promised,
“I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back, because I have mercy on them. They shall be as though I had not cast them aside; for I am the Lord their God, And I will hear them” (Zechariah 10:6 NKJV).
Hope of Restoration for A Backslider
Every Christian is a child of God. Jehovah will redeem, restore, and forgive any of his children that have fallen from faith. That is, he will forgive and restore any Christian who has backslided.
God is loving and forgiving, and he will forgive our sins and bless us if we can turn to him. The ever gracious Lord will show us his loving-kindness and redeem our lands. He will also wipe off our painful memory and replace it with senses of calmness, peace, and joy.
However despite God’s enduring love and mercy, he still warned people not to take him for granted. He expects no one to live in a sin and hope for mercy at the same time. Every sinner must repent from his/her sins and turn to God to receive his mercy and forgiveness.
Consequences Remain For Unrepentant Sinners
Jehovah will punish an unrepentant sinner to the pit of hell fire! Therefore, it is important that everyone repent from his/her sins to appease God and obtain his mercy. We must have a genuine relationship with God to receive his abundant benefits.
God expects honest repentance from us all. The Creator will be proud to endow us with his goodness if we can walk uprightly before him.
Choose to honor God with dignity and serve him well so that you can prosper everyday of your life!
Dear God please teach me how to serve you with honesty. Empower me to yield my complete life to you so that I can prosper. Let me be in your good book to receive your abundant benefits. Also, let your Holy Spirit empower me to faithfully serve you so that I can qualify for your eternal kingdom. Please bless me today, bless me tomorrow, and bless me everyday of my life! For in the name of Jesus Christ I make my requests. Amen.
God asked his people – Israelites – to repent from their sin so that they can qualify for his blessings.
Prayer of Repentance to Enjoy God’s Blessing
A Christian who has backslided from faith can be restored by God. This lesson can be illustrated with God’s behavior to the people of Judah (in the bible). People of Judah were God’s children, but they sold themselves to sinful lifestyle. They became corrupted to the extent that God turned his back against them.
