(remember, these are unedited/draft show notes, not a transcript — listening is always better…and if you listen AND follow along below, you’ll see how)
AND TODAY IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THIS
Focus Question:
When should you judge?
Intro:
You’ll recall from yesterday that Paul used a line, “Nothing beyond what is written.” We didn’t talk the specific application, though. Apparently the leaders had somehow were making judgments that had no basis in God’s revelation.
I bring this up, because today and tomorrow you’re going to hear Paul talking about specific sins. And at the end of today you’ll hear Paul talk about judging people. What?!? Didn’t Jesus say we’re not supposed to judge people?
Well, we will get to that after we read when we get to answering today’s focus question: “When should you judge someone?”
New Testament segment:
Passage: 1 Corinthians 5
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 13
Words: ~276
You’ve heard me before tackle one of a common misquote of Jesus when he says in Mt 7:1, “Do not judge so that you won’t be judged (CSB).” He’s not saying don’t be discerning. So in this passage, Paul’s calling out the Corinthians in a manner he expects to be 1) communal because 2) a little poop in the brownies makes the whole batch of brownies inedible, but such judgment 3) isn’t for the outside world, nor does it 4) apply only to sexual sin.(1)
As DA Carson puts it,
Now all of this he openly calls “judging” (5:12–13). Christians are to judge “those inside,” while God judges “those outside.” At the very least, chapters 4 and 5 must be kept in creative tension. More importantly, the Corinthians in chapter 4 were imposing judgments “beyond what is written” (4:6), i.e., deploying standards and criteria with no basis in God’s revelation, and out of mere party interest. They were not imposing judgments in chapter 5 despite what Scripture, properly understood, says. Both are breaches of God’s revelation.(1)
Now as we turn to Isaiah, I’m just going to grieve in advance. All this reference to “servant” is cool stuff, and it warrants close listening to tell when it’s the nation of Israel versus this promised future king.
Old Testament segment:
Passage: Isaiah 41:18-43:13
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 57
Words: ~1554
Wisdom segment:
Passage: Proverbs 14:7-
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses:
Words: ~
The bottom line:
So…what is an appropriate use of judgment?
5:11 you must not associate. Christians must not associate with people who claim to be Christians but who live like pagans. Continuing in fellowship with Christians who refuse to repent of reprehensible sins may suggest to unbelievers that the church approves of immoral conduct. See 2 Thess 2:6, 14–15.(2)
When? If they profess to be a Jesus-follower. How? You can’t go “beyond what’s written” and must be able to make evaluations that defend in a manner consistent with Scripture.
Love you!
Roger
ForTheHope is a daily audio Bible + apologetics podcast and blog. We’ve got a passion for just keepin’ it real, having conversations like normal people, and living out the love of Jesus better every single day.
Roger Courville, CSP is a globally-recognized expert in digitally-extended communication and connection, an award-winning speaker, award-winning author, and a passionately bad guitarist. Follow him on Twitter -- @RogerCourville and @JoinForTheHope – or his blog: www.forthehope.org.
Sources and resources:
(1) D. A. Carson, For the Love of God: A Daily Companion for Discovering the Riches of God’s Word., vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1998), 269.
(2) Douglas J. Moo, “The Letters and Revelation,” in NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible, ed. D. A. Carson (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2018), 2059.