As the Psalmist says, “Let my judgement come forth from Your presence; Let Your eyes look with equity” [17:2]; and so it shall be: our judgements coming from God. When our judgement comes from the Father, our judgement is just, such that “You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge.” [51:4] Otherwise, if we judge and do the same things, our own mouths will condemn us, as it was with King David, “As the LORD lives, surely the man who has done this deserves to die,” [2 Sam 12:5] and then it says, “You are the man!” [12:7] But who has made us a judge? And if we do judge, why do we stand on our own judgements as if we belong to our own? For we have been bought with a price. In the Psalms, over and over again, the Psalmists cries out to God for vengeance, “O God, shatter their teeth in their mouth; Break out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD.” [58:6] And I ask: did he shatter the teeth of his own enemies? No. But on the contrary, “You have smitten all my enemies on the cheek; You have shattered the teeth of the wicked.” [3:7] The Lord our God is Judge.
Do not the apostles of our Lord Jesus say the same thing? “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay’, says the Lord.” [Romans 12:21] To say, “I am to judge”, is to also say, “I have power to save and destroy”, but on the contrary, “Look on everyone who is proud, humble him, And tread down the wicked where they stand. Hide them in the dust together; Bind them in the hidden place. Then I will also confess to you, That your own right hand can save you.” [Job 40:12-14] Are we any different than the rest of the sons of men? Has God granted us judgement and withheld it from everyone else? Surely, we haven’t puffed up ourselves in Christ, have we? As if it weren’t by grace? Surely, God has appointed judges in the courts of law, but whose Law do they uphold? Surely, there were Judges appointed by God to Israel from the time of Joshua to Samuel, but by whose wisdom did they judge? And who raised them up? Who appoints the leaders? Is it not the Lord God?
Surely, if we are His followers, then we shall do as He does. So how did Jesus judge when He was on the earth? We know for certain that if He came to judge the world, we would not be able to stand; but on the contrary, “God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save the world. [John 3:17]”. And “As I hear, I judge; and My judgement is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” [John 5:30] And “You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. But even if I do judge, My judgement is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me.” [John 8:15,16] “And while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.” [1 Peter 2:23] Think about that. The Lord Jesus sought the judgement of the Father; and we are His followers, doing as He does; so we seek the judgement of Him. Our judgements are not of our own; but He gives us discernment so that we would know.
Therefore if we see a believer and he rejects correction even after taking him before the church, we separate from him, for he has not in mind the will of the Lord Jesus; we will know them by their fruit. Christ did not entrust Himself to any man, for He knew what was inside a man.
But what about those who were stricken by the hands of the apostles? “Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time.” [Acts 13:11] Yes, it was the hand of the Lord that was upon him; certainly the apostle Paul could not have blinded anyone except with a club. But there is no club mentioned. And what about inside the church? Did Peter slay them with his own hands who lied to the Holy Spirit? No. It was God’s judgement. And the immoral? As it says, “In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” [1 Corinthians 5:4-5] In Christ’s name and in Christ’s power was the man handed over to the evil one. So you see: Christ’s judgement is revealed in the judgement of the apostles. We have not the power in ourselves to do any of these things; as Jeremiah says, “I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not in himself, Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps. Correct me, O LORD, but with justice; Not with Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing.” [Jeremiah 10:23]
Shall we judge unbelievers? How about, should we unite with them? “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God.” [2 Corinthians 6:14:18] Now when I say “unite” I mean to be yoked. You can eat with such a one, but do not be yoked in fellowship with them. Again, I am talking about unbelievers. Do not even eat with such a one who claims to be a believer but lives immoral (1 Corinthians 5:11). There is an exception and this is the apostle Paul's concession, not a command from the Lord, but his wisdom is more than trustworthy: he says, “To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.” [1 Corinthians 7:12-16].
It is common for an unbeliever or an inquirer to come to a religious establishment, as it says, “But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgement by all, as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, ‘God is really among you!’” [1 Corinthians 14:24-25]; and it is common for an unbeliever to invite you to dinner, as it says, “If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising question of conscience.” [1 Corinthians 10:27]. But to be yoked to them is against the Lord Jesus Christ's command. Did not Jesus eat with sinners? But was He yoked to them? No! They turned to Him, seeking guidance and truth. “Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them” [Jeremiah 15:19]. Outsiders God will judge on that day, but in His grace, He has given them many days available for repentance: “For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within? But those who are outside, God judges.” [1 Corinthians 8:11]
How about a brother? Certainly we should judge him. But there are things which are a matter of opinion, which we would not judge a brother: food or drink or festivals or new moons or Sabbath days (these are listed in the Scriptures). Otherwise, we may be found guilty of sinning; and sinning even against Christ, as it says, “For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.” [1 Corinthians 8:12] But impurity from a lying spirit (as with Ananias and Sapphira) and immorality (as in Corinth) were sins that lead to death and were purged quickly from inside the Church; as it says, “This you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.” [Ephesians 5:5] And “Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.” [Ephesians 5:3] “Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.” [1 Corinthians 5: 13]
So our judgement in Christ is to keep pure within the Church, purging all leaven. Sin that leads to death ought not even to be named among us, as it was in the law: “Make no mention of the names of other gods, nor let it be heard on your lips.” [Exodus 23:13] This is how the Lord deals with sin that leads to death: purge it. We being members of His Body are with Him in the judgement; for we are the Body, not the Head. “All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.” [1 John 5:17]
We have a pattern to deal with a brother that sins (presumably, a sin which does not lead to death), as our Lord says, “Show him his fault in private, if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.” [Matthew 18:15-20] And, “As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.” [Titus 3:11] And, “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.” [Romans 16:17,18] And, “We command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.” [2 Thessalonians 3:6] And, “If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.” [2 Thessalonians 3:14,15]
Thus we know a person sins unto death when they stop listening to sound doctrine, when they lie against the truth, when they refuse correction.
The goal is always to win our brother not to separate from him. But if we must separate, that we must. Even amongst the congregation, there will be divisions: “For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.” [1 Corinthians 11:19] But in the end, the Lord will separate the sheep from the goats: “All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.” [Matthew 25:32] We must avoid them amongst us who walk contrarily lest we be corrupted by their bad company: “Do not be deceived: 'Bad company corrupts good morals.’” [1 Corinthians 15:33] So “Those that sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.” [1 Timothy 5:20] Some think, ‘Why rebuke? Cast him out’; and others think, “Harsh, where is mercy?”
To the men which oppose the truth and sound doctrine, Paul says, “If anyone advocates for a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.” [1 Timothy 6:3-5] When the doctrine is sound, the issue is with man; for God’s Word is pure “like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.” [Psalm 12:6]
What is the opposite of truth? What is contrary to good? There is only one other choice: evil. If anyone opposes the truth, it is because they love lies; if anyone opposes goodness, it’s because they do evil. You either walk in life or you walk in death — the life in death is not life at all. The result of judgement is always separation in the Lord: whether it be separation by physical death, separation in being handing over to Satan, separation in being treated as a Gentile or tax collector, or separation by being avoided amongst the church to be brought to shame.
Therefore, if anyone sins against us, do we add reason to cast him out because of our dislike for him? No! Rather, “Bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.” [Colossians 3:13] And “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.” [Galatians 6:1-3] For this is mercy. The mercy Jude spoke about when he said, “Have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.” [Jude 21-23] On the other hand, “Judgement will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgement.” [James 2:13] What is the reason for mercy? Our Lord and God has been merciful to us, just as Christ says, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.” [Luke 6:36,37] To disagree with this is to deny the fact that the Father has been merciful to us; and in that case, we have not believed the truth of Christ, and we ought to cast ourselves off, as it says, “May their camp be desolate; may none dwell in their tents.” [Psalms 69:25]
Think of this, all of you who are eager to judge and slow to love: you can’t keep the law when you’re sitting in judgement on it. Does not the law of Christ say, “Carry one another’s burdens”? And the judge is one who judges, and does not carry; he sits, but does not help walk; he tells you what is wrong, but will not lift a finger to help. When you are judging by the law, you are not keeping the law, for you cannot be doing both. Can one be above and below at the same time? And who has appointed you to be a judge? “There is one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?” [James 4:12] But what law do you judge me by? Judge me through Christ, find fault in me so that I would repent. Show me the error of my ways, convince me of my wrong and I will listen. It will be painful; but may I come out on the other side by the power of God. “Let the righteous strike me; It shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; It shall be as excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it. For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked.” [Psalm 141:5]
We are called to edify our brothers house — not to tear it down. Even as the apostles says, “Even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down." [2 Corinthians 10:8] And, “Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.” [1 Corinthians 8:1] The one who refuses to build up his brother’s house falls into the same judgement as Onan; and what was his sentence from the Lord? “What he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD; so He took his life also.” [Genesis 38:10] For he refused to build up his deceased brother’s house. And so do you, you who refuse to love, but speak against your brother in judgement. As James says, “Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it.” [4:11] So let us submit ourselves to each other in the fear of Christ instead of quarreling like children, submitting ourselves under the law of Christ that we may fulfill it through faith. “You sit and testify against your brother and slander your own mother’s son. When you did these things and I kept silent, you thought I was exactly like you. But I now arraign you and set my accusations before you.” [Psalm 50: 20,21].
But does this mean that we should not reprove our brother? What does the Law say? “You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.” [Leviticus 19:17] So love is inseparable from reproof; it is loving to reprove our brother; for in reproof, we walk in the paths of life, as it says, “The commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light; And reproofs for discipline are the way of life.” [Proverbs 6:23] Is this not the same kind of love the Lord shows us? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by Him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom He receives.” [Proverbs 3:11,12] And, “When we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.” [1 Corinthians 11:32]
Truly, if we are sons, we will experience discipline from the Lord. By which law do we reprove? Is it not the law of faith which is obedience to the truth? The truth is that Christ died for us. The law of Christ fulfills the law of God. And we see that James judged by the law of God by saying, “But if you show partiality, you are committing sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.” [James 2:9] And it also says in another place, "Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says.” [1 Corinthians 14:34] But to speak against a brother and revile him, verbally abusing him, even if his error is according to the law, it is sin and impurity; it leads to death: “(…) verbal abusers (…) will not inherit the kingdom of God.” [1 Corinthians 6:10] We ought to help a brother, judging with mercy, not revile him. If we fall short and sin, the remedy is confession and forsaking the sin; God will restore such a one through faith in Jesus Christ, who purifies us from all sin. He is able to make us stand. We must walk in the light to be purified, which means transparency before God: this is confession. If we lie and say we have not sinned, we do not practice the truth. We have been made right by the blood, but not so that we would conform to a pattern of lawlessness. Because Christ has set us free, we humble ourselves as willing servants to Christ Jesus in obedience to Him, as slaves to righteousness, which leads to holiness, which results in life eternal.
There are two paths: a right and a left, a good and a bad; just as a computer is complex, even though is made up of many bits of 1 or 0, so it is with this world, it is complex, but we have only two choices. If there were one choice, we wouldn’t have free will; but there are two choices, and you must choose one. “I have set before you today life and goodness, as well as death and disaster.” [Deuteronomy 30:15] Will you drink from the cup of the Spirit? As it says, “We were all made to drink of one Spirit.” [1 Corinthians 12:13] And “You will indeed drink My cup.” [Matthew 20:23] Or from the cup of God’s wrath? “If they refuse to accept the cup (of wrath) from your hand to drink, then you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: You must drink!’” [Jeremiah 25:28] You may decide for yourselves which you desire to walk in: mercy or judgement. Judge for yourselves. Yes. Judge. You who are so prone to judging, judge by the standard in which we are truly measured: “Test yourselves if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you — unless indeed you fail the test?” [2 Corinthians 13:5] “No one speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus is accursed’; and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit.” [1 Corinthians 12:3]
I say affirmatively, many Christian denominations are a result of arrogance and pride, separating from one another because of false boasts; they would rather hold themselves in arrogance, puffing themselves up in knowledge, rather than holding fast to an attitude of love in the heart of humility. But only, “If we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged.” [1 Corinthians 11:31] Many of these denominations are a judgement upon us by God. If He didn’t allow it, then who? “For whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” [Galatians 6:7] How are there so many denominations when there are only two options? The fact that there are so many divisions shows that it is of the flesh! All of them are wrong. Even to name yourself as a denomination is wrong. There is one body. We cannot be fooled, Satan has a synagogue too: “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but do lie - behold, I will make them to come and worship at your feet, and to know that I have loved you.” [Revelation 3:9] “I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” [Revelation 2:9]
Oh! That we would instead love our brethren and be one, speaking with one mind and with one tongue, just as a husband and a wife are one; Christ called and ordained His Church, to be aligned, in step, harking to His cadence; for He is the Commander of Heaven’s Armies, the Lord Jesus, giving His soldiers the Good Commandment: “hold fast to that which you have until I come.” [Revelation 2:25] Be one! And that, without compromise, holding fast to the truth. “That they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.” [John 17: 22,23] “Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.” [Philippians 2:1,2]
Ah! I have been judged because of what Bible I read! Oh, how they prove to be of the letter and not of the Spirit, because they judge me by the letter: the letter of my text. What difference is it, if I read one syntax verses another? As long as the semantics remain the same, what difference does it make? Would you judge me if I read in another tongue? I was saved reading the New Living Translation, which comes from a paraphrase! Cannot God open the mouth of a mute donkey to preach? If He so wills, couldn’t He make the rocks cry out? Who can tell Him otherwise? I have been judged according to how to say my Savior’s name. If in one tongue, His name is pronounced like this, and in another tongue, pronounced like that, why force someone to pronounce a certain way? Do not names have meaning? Which is greater: the letter of a name or the Spirit of the name? Yet, they place a stumbling block for others by compelling them to speak according to the letter when we’re called to worship in Spirit and truth. Meaning is what matters. The Spirit gives life. “God saves”, “I Am”, “The Lord is our Banner”. Did not Hagar give Him who sees the name, “The God Who Sees”? And the twelve tribes all obtained their names from a meaning. In one tongue, it’s pronounced like this; in another, like that. So why place a stumbling block for your neighbor? “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.” [Romans 16:17] The result of judgment is separation; let us separate for truth’s sake, not in arrogance and pride. Children!
“Therefore do not go on passing judgement before the time, until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God. (…) in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other.” [1 Corinthians 4:6] Is that not what this kind of judgement does? Puffs up. “For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” [Galatians 6:3] For they add to God’s Word so they would have something to boast about; and that, besides the Cross of Christ. As it says, “But let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things.” [Jeremiah 9:24] “Did not your father eat and drink And do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. He pled the cause of the afflicted and needy; Then it was well. Is not that what it means to know Me?” [Jeremiah 22:16] Only in this way ought we to boast; a person who boasts in any other way, fails to harken to the apostle of Jesus Christ, “I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgement, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” [Romans 12:3]. And I know very well that in ourselves we have no room for boasting.
I am of Luther! I am of Calvin! I am of the Church! “Has Christ been divided?” [1 Corinthians 1:13] Let me speak of division for it originates with God: “Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.” [Genesis 11: 7] But in Christ, we’re called into one; as it says, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.” [Ephesians 4: 4-6] The LORD God scatters the wicked like wheat, but for His saints, “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” [Ephesians 4:1,2] Like it says, “God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.” [1 Corinthians 14:33] He makes confused the wicked, but unites the righteous for the cause of righteousness. If only we would weight both sides, we wouldn’t be caught up in such a misjudgment. Divide the Word honestly for a more precise understanding. Listen. Do not harden your heart and stiffen your neck, stuffing up your ears; with a hard heart, comes an uncircumcised ear. Open your eyes and do not close them up; evaluate the truth and the truth will evaluate you. The Lord says, “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ for behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” [Matthew 7:3-5] For where you are blind, your brother can see; and where your brother is blind, only you can see. We all lack sight in some areas and we all stumble in many ways; but the one who loves the Lord diligently will seek perfection just as He is perfect.
“Christ is of this skin color, not of that!” Is it not enough for you that He became a human being? Must He also follow your skin tone? “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgement.” [John 7:24] I know the truth! The Sabbath is Saturday. “He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord.” [Romans 14:6] We eat Kosher. “And he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God.” [Romans 14:6] Surely these judgements do not come from the Lord, but from the wicked flesh. Oh and you! How can I forget about you who judge this letter saying, “He is ecumenical”; all knowledge would die with you, wouldn't it? “For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” [2 Corinthians 6:14] If the Lord God has separated the uncircumcised flesh, surely separation from the world is present in such a man. “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” [Galatians 6:14] Those of the flesh, boast of the flesh, while in the flesh; and those of the flesh reside wholly in flesh; but those of the Spirit, boast in God; and those of the Spirit reside in God, for He is their Refuge; in Him, there is no condemnation; as it says, “Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.” [Psalm 34:21,22]
Therefore, “Let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this — not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.” [Romans 14:13] “For God has accepted him. Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. (…) But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgement seat of God. For it is written, ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.’ So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. (…) For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.” [Romans 14:3,4; 10-13; 7-9]