What is the Basis for God's Judgment?

How does God decide how to judge?

God told Moses, “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” (Exodus 33:19)

At first glance, it might seem that God is arbitrary or judges according to a whim. It is as if, depending upon his mood, He might be merciful or wrathful; He might be gracious or choose to withhold His blessings.

In reality, moodiness is a human trait, not a part of God’s character. Rather, God’s character is consistent. He is at all times gracious and compassionate. He is slow in getting angry, but will not allow sin to go unpunished. (Exodus 34:6-7) That said, can we understand God’s judgment?

God created man and woman in His own image. That means that there are qualities or attributes in humans that are like our Creator. Beyond the simple fact of creation, we know that God made humans with the expectation of there being a relationship between Creator and created.

Think of your human relationships. Why do those relationships exist? Ultimately, relationships exist because of connections of commonness. The Bible calls that fellowship.

• Family members are in a relationship because of common relatives.
• Best friends share common likes and dislikes, share common experiences, and think similarly.
• You might have a relationship with people of a common interest such as a hobby or political ideology or religious belief.

In all relationships, if the point of commonality dissolves, the relationship also dissolves. The same is true about God and us. When a person stops being like God, the relationship ends. Sin is sin because it is not like God.

Judgment, whether God’s judgment or human judgment, is composed of two elements: discernment and separation. Discernment is about deciding the basis for separation. Then, there is the act of separation. A silly, but simple example is that of judging silverware. When setting the table, silverware is put out in sets for individual use. Yet, when stored, the silverware is categorized (judged) by grouping similar kinds of utensils. In each case discernment is used, and then a separation is made.

When God judges people, it is on the basis of relationship. God separates people into two groups:

• Those who have a fellowship relationship with Him and 
• Those who have nothing in common with Him, i.e., no fellowship.

Have you ever grown apart from a friend? 

You went your way and they went theirs. Common interests and experiences became more history than present. It is not a matter of dislike, but a lack of commonality. The relationship fades.

What happens when a person pulls away from God, no longer listens to God’s instruction, and no longer thinks the way God thinks. What happens when a person no longer has anything in common with God? The relationship dissolves.

We sometimes wonder why, in Scripture, God judged people in a way that seems harsh. The simple answer is that there was no relationship. God has done everything divinely possible to have a relationship with mankind. He is even willing to forgive sin. Yet, some people refuse God, turn from God, or even oppose God.

God’s judgment is based on His recognition of a person’s current relationship status with Him.
What is your status?
Are you in fellowship with God?

Mark Stinnett

December 17, 2023

The Law of Forgiveness

“The Bible commands us to forgive, but that doesn’t mean that I will forget.”

There are so many things wrong with that statement it is difficult to know where to start. Let’s just say that anyone making that kind of statement does not really understand forgiveness.

Have you ever asked one of these questions about forgiveness?

• When must I forgive a person?
• Under what circumstances must I forgive?
• Must I forgive a person who is not sorrowful?
• Must I forgive a person who does not repent?
• Must I forgive a person who commits the same sin over and over?

The Jews believed that a person did not have to forgive after three times. Peter was undoubtedly aware of this when he asked Jesus if a person should forgive up to seven times. (He probably thought he was being generous with his limitation.)

Jesus used a parable in to explain forgiveness (Matthew 18). There are a number of elements present in the parable; law was not one of them. In other words, forgiveness is not about obedience to law, any law.

One key element involved in forgiveness is debt. A person who has no debt (or sin debt) has no need of forgiveness. A person who is not indebted to me cannot be forgiven by me; they owe me nothing.

If an official releases a prisoner before his debt to society is paid, it is called a pardon, not forgiveness. The (crime) debt goes unpaid and justice is not served.

Forgiveness is about justice with regard to debt payment, but the payment is actually made by the one who is owed the debt. In Jesus’ parable, a servant owed his master a tremendous debt that he could not possibly repay. The master released the servant from his obligation. But we must recognize that the master never received his money. So, he is the one who paid the debt by absorbing the debt that was owed him.

There are three other elements present. 

• The master had compassion on his servant: mercy. 
• By taking responsibility for the servant’s debt, the master basically gifted the servant the full amount: grace. 
• By his actions, the master restored the relationship between himself and his servant so that there was no longer any indebtedness: love.

Withholding the penalty for indebtedness is mercy. Paying the debt is grace. And preserving the relationship is love. So, ultimately, in forgiveness justice is served and the relationship preserved. Mercy, grace, love and justice are all attributes of God.

Then the Lord passed by in front of him (Moses) and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.

--Exodus 34:6-7

When a person commits a wrong against me personally, then questions of forgiveness arise. The questions are not: When? Whether? How often? How many times? Those are all legal questions from a heart that holds on to the hurt while demanding justice for the other person: An eye-for-an-eye kind of justice.

Forgiveness is motivated by love because love is more concerned with relationships than with equity in justice. Love is merciful to release the offender from his debt against me. Love is gracious to shoulder the hurt, accept the pain and embarrassment, and pay the expense for the wrong done against me.

Love sets emotion aside. You are more important than I. The preservation of our relationship is more important than I. That’s why the law of forgiveness is love; and there are no boundaries. At least, that’s what Jesus did.

Mark Stinnett

December 18, 2022

God Gave You a Day of Rest for Him

Finger-pointing, strict adherence to the Law and religious piety; those are typical descriptions of the Pharisees of Jesus day. The origin of the Pharisees is unclear, though the sect clearly began after the Babylonian captivity of the Jews, probably around the 2nd Century B.C.

The Pharisees were not priests, but were devoted to the Law of Moses. Their own experts, the scribes, became the teachers of the Law. Their teachings, known as the traditions of the elders, were passed orally to successive generations. The traditions were eventually written down between the 3rd and 6th centuries A.D.

In Jesus’ day, the Pharisees were highly regarded by the people for their devotion to the Law. Their poor reputation came partly from their tendency to stand aloof from anyone who was not a Pharisee. They were also known to be judgmental of those who did not keep the Law and the traditions as carefully as they did.

Of particular interest to the Pharisees was the Sabbath, one of the Ten Commandments. And if that was not enough for serious consideration…

Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people.

—Exodus 31:14

With such consequences it is understandable why strict instructions developed. No one wanted to be guilty of breaking the Sabbath. So, there were rules about the definition of work, how far a person could walk on the Sabbath, how much they could carry, how work animals were to be fed and used, etc. These additional laws were, at least at first, meant for the good of the people. They were meant to give practical application to the Sabbath commandment.

However, over time, the rules became a burden and overshadowed the purpose of the law.

Do you know the purpose of the Sabbath?

The word sabbath literally means rest (not seventh). Though set in place in the creation sequence, the Sabbath Day was not explained in the Bible until the Law of Moses. The Sabbath was given to Israel as a day of rest from their work, and it included rest for their servants and work animals. It was a day that was “holy to the Lord.” In other words, it was a day that was to be set aside for the Lord.

Jesus understood the purpose of the Sabbath when He said: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27) With that, let me share a few non-legalistic observations about the biblical Sabbath (rest day):

• Jesus did not assign a specific rest day for his followers, nor did His Apostles.
• If Jesus had commanded Sunday to be the Christian rest day, human tendency would be to make additional laws regulating that day.
• The rest day was set in place at creation. So, it was not intended for the Israelites only, and not just for ancient times.
• Without a sabbath day, man would foolishly work 24/6/365. (And that’s no typo.)
• Participating in work and entertainment is not the same as setting a day aside for God.
• God did not categorize work into job, work at home, and play (like we do). All of that is still man’s work. He asked that we stop our efforts and give Him...just one day a week.

Think about your Sabbath. It is not about resting rules, but rather, your relationship with your God. Do you think two or three hours on a Sunday is a day? On what day do you rest from all your activity in order to maintain and nurture your relationship with God?

Mark Stinnett

December 11, 2022

What is the Opposite of Drunkenness?

It was time for our drink order. We could have water, soft drinks, tea, coffee, milk, juice, beer, or wine—some with or without lemon; many different flavors and different prices.

Those who drink soft drinks usually have their favorite blend and brand. There is an entire sub-culture of people who drink coffee, and some of us just don’t understand. Perhaps elsewhere, but certainly in Great Britain, tea has rules. (And yes, there are books to guide you.) Yet, with all these peculiarities and strong opinions about drink, none bleed over into the area of morality until alcohol is introduced.

Numerous Scriptures provide instruction about the consumption of alcoholic drinks. Many folks who enter into the discussion see things from a legal point of view. Biblical examples involving alcoholic beverages become case law. Conclusions drawn dictate the consumption of drinks with alcohol, their use in cooking, and even the consumption of alcohol for medicinal purposes.

In my lifetime I have known a few teetotalers, a nickname given to those who abstain completely from alcoholic beverages. Some will even refuse to use cooking wine even though the alcohol dissipates during the cooking process. Their arguments for total abstinence are strong and passionate, and most often misguided.

I have known others who were just as passionate about their liberty to drink alcoholic beverages. With only a biblical prohibition of drunkenness, they become adamant about their liberty and quite agitated with anyone who would threaten it. Their passion and reasoning are also most often misguided.

Still others, drink as they wish, avoiding arguments and extreme positions, yet also avoiding understanding.

I don’t think the biblical instruction on drunkenness is there as a mere legal restriction. Neither Noah’s drunkenness nor Lot’s drunkenness should be used as case law to argue that a man can become drunken and still be righteous. We must, with clarity of mind, think! God meant for us to understand something.

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit.

—Ephesians 5:18

Do we see that the opposite of drunkenness is being filled with the Spirit of God?

The Apostle Paul wrote that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). The Spirit of God dwells in each of us (Romans 8:9). In whatever way you may interpret these statements there is an intimate relationship between the Christian and the Holy Spirit.

Paul also wrote that the spirit of a man knows the thoughts of a man, just like the Spirit of God who knows the thoughts of God. He went on to say that we have received the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:11-16). It is of greatest importance to recognize that the mind is a part of the human spirit.

Applying these things, the reason we must guard ourselves from drunkenness is because intoxication effectively pushes the Holy Spirit away. There is a vital and necessary link between my mind and my God through the Holy Spirit. This is more than a moral issue or a legal point, it is about my relationship with my God.

There are multiple dimensions regarding the question of alcohol. Yet, each person must step away from the swinging pendulum of legalism and liberty and soberly consider the importance of his relationship with God.

Mark Stinnett

December 4, 2022

How Do You Stop The Devil? (Part 4)

I called her Fern for...actually I’m not sure for how long. But her real name was Lois. I know, I know, “How did you get Fern out of Lois?” you are thinking. I have no idea. It was embarrassing when I was finally corrected. Thankfully, Lois had a good sense of humor.

Being called by the wrong name is like having your identity confused. You know who you are, but how important is it for others to know who you are? Perhaps a better and more focused question is: How important is it for God to know who you are? Does God really know who you are???

That was the central focus of the devil’s second temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4:

Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning You’; and ‘On their hands they will bear You up, So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”  --Matthew 4:5-6

Did you notice the ‘if’ statement: ‘If’ you are the Son of God?

The ‘if’ is designed to create doubt. The first temptation also started with an ‘if.’ It was designed to create doubt in Jesus’ identity as the Son of God, as if to say, “Are you sure you are the Son of God?” The second temptation questioned the identity of Jesus from God’s perspective, as if to say, “Does God really know who you are; does He think you are the Son of God?”

In the first temptation the devil tempted Jesus to prove His identity by performing a miracle Himself. In the second temptation he tempted Jesus to force God to perform a miracle to validate that HE believed Jesus was the Son of God.

The devil quoted from Psalm 91 (That's impressive!), but consider the verse after the quotation:

You will tread upon the lion and cobra, The young lion and the serpent you will trample down.   —Psalm 91:13

The vivid imagery in Psalm 91 was used to convey a message of protection and assistance for those who trust in God. It was not meant to be taken literally. The devil misapplied scripture.

Jesus detected the devil’s deception and knew that he was trying to make Him question His relationship with God. Did God need to prove anything to Jesus, or was God’s word enough?

God had made an open verbal declaration stating that Jesus was His Son (Matthew 3:17). For Jesus to do what the devil suggested would have been asking God to prove what He had already said by doing a miracle. Jesus did not doubt God, but responded wisely:

On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’   —Matthew 4:7

One way the devil tempts Christians is to make them doubt their relationship with God. When difficult times come some people wonder if God really cares. Some people wonder if God hears their prayers. They doubt God when they do not receive the things for which they pray. Do you think an easy life, good health and constant blessings are necessary to prove God’s love for you? In reality, there is nothing for God to prove, not to you and not even to the devil.

Read Romans 5:1-11. 

Stop. Look it up. Read the verses; then finish.

Has God already demonstrated His love for you? 

Has He already declared His relationship with those who are in Christ? 

Do you believe what God has already said about you!? 

Or...

Will you put God to the test?