Romans 14:10-13 – God is the Judge

Topic: God is the Judge

Reading: Romans 14:10-13

10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.” 12 So each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Then let us no more pass judgment on one another, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

Introduction and Overview

If there is one thing that turns people away from Christianity, it is when Christians judge others. And sometimes they may not even realise it is what they are doing.

You may know of people who have moved to a new church. Maybe you have done so yourself. And you may find it hard to break into the cliques in the church, to meet and get to know others. Those who form cliques are basically judging you. When you can’t break into their cliques it is because they have judged you in some way.

Then there are those who deem themselves to be perfect and judge others for their weaknesses. They judge others for their past, forgetting that they themselves have a past too. They must remember that it is the same God who forgives us all. It is the same Jesus who died to take away their sins as well as ours.

Such people need to learn that as Christians we do not judge others. God is the judge. A person who judges others is not walking in the love of God. When they judge others they are placing themselves above those they judge, deeming them unworthy. But it is Christ who makes us worthy. It is God who decides whether we are worthy through faith, and if we judge others we are putting ourselves above Christ and God the Father. And if you recall, the last one who put themselves above the Father was the devil, and he has been judged. Let us not follow his path.

Key points from reading:

1. God is the judge. We do not have the right to judge as we all have our own problems.
2. We shall all have to stand before the judgement seat of God and give account for what we have done in our lives.
3. Rather than judge, which creates stumbling blocks, let us help our brothers and sisters in Christ through acts of love.

Discussion:

1. Scripture: Romans 14:10
   • Every person that lives, past, present, and future, will stand before the judgement seat of God. Everyone will have to give an account of their lives before God because God is the judge.
   • If we stand as judges of people during our lives, then we are taking away the right of God and standing in His place. As the scripture says elsewhere, “There is one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you that you judge your neighbor?” (James 4:12)
   • If there is only “one lawgiver and judge,” you can be sure it is not you or I. God is the judge and He will judge all of us with true justice. He knows the inner secrets of every person and He will judge them justly. We do not know such things about others. We are suffering the same kinds of weaknesses and challenges as others, so how could we judge justly and accurately? Man is led by his passions and desires. We judge people on the basis of their choices, their religion, the colour of their skin, their physical appearance, their race, which football team they follow, and a host of other unimportant points.
   • People judge others over the most insignificant things. But God judges us on the basis of what He has defined as right and wrong. It is our task in this life to learn what is right and wrong, and to do what is right in God’s eyes. We do that by listening to the words of Jesus, written down for us in scripture, and doing what He said. As Christians especially, we are all on a journey to salvation and we are all at different levels and stages in our walk. So, do not judge others, help them, and leave judgement to God.
2. Scripture: Romans 14:11
   • We are told in these words that every person who has ever lived, or will ever live, will give praise to God. Every person will see the majesty, power, and authority of God, and will kneel before Him to give Him due praise. It doesn’t matter whether they were princes or paupers, the great and small, all will stand before God and give Him praise.
   • And so they should. Even the most evil people who have ever lived owe God a debt of praise. It is God who created the heavens and the earth, providing air, water, and food that sustained the lives of both the good and the evil. All have at some point in their lives appreciated the wonder of God’s creation in some way. And for that alone they will give God praise because He deserves it.
   • As Christians we ought to give Him our praises and worship Him now. When we recognise the work of God and what He has done for us in the gift of Jesus Christ, our praise and worship should be without bounds. Our worship of God should be evidenced in how we live our lives. It’s not about what we do when we attend church. It’s about how we live and deal with others in love, every minute of every day. That is how we should praise and worship God. God is giving you life eternal, without sickness, death, or the influence of all that is evil in this world. Praise God. Thank Him always for His abundant provision for your life now, and even more, for the future He has promised.
   • And be absolutely certain, that what He says, He will do. If He says every knee shall bow and every tongue give praise, it will happen. And when He says He will give you life, it will happen. So, do not judge others and instead, praise God for what He is doing in your life. God is the judge and He will reward those who follow Jesus, and judge those who reject Him.
3. Scripture: Romans 14:12
   • This is a very short verse, but what a punch it packs! Each of us will give account of ourselves to God. What will you say on the Day of Judgement when you stand before the God of all Creation to give account of your life?
   • One benefit we have as Christians is the knowledge that we will stand before God to give account. Those who do not believe in God or Jesus Christ are completely in the dark. So, knowing that you WILL be judged by God, oh and by the way, there won’t be any lawyers to help you as they’ll be too busy wondering what they’re going to say. So, knowing this, you had better start thinking about what you plan to say.
   • Think about this too. Do not judge others because God is the judge, and He will take a very dim view of you if you judge others. And consider this, every time you discriminate, despise, hate, reject, or shun others, you are judging them. Judging others does not come from the place of God’s love. The scripture says: “For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy; yet mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:13) Mercy is part of God’s love and in His mercy He has forgiven our sins and accepted us as His children even though we do not deserve it. Mercy is part of grace.
   • But judgement is a harsh rejection of God’s grace because it does not show mercy. And if it does not show mercy, it does not show love. But we have been called to learn to live in God’s love. We are called to learn how to walk in love as Christ loved us and walked in the love of the Father. So, do not judge and walk in opposition to God. Consider all of your thoughts and actions in relation to others, and ask yourself whether you are loving them or judging them. Do not judge others. In fact do not even judge yourself. That is self-condemnation and Romans 8:1 tells us there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. God is the judge and He will judge all mankind.
4. Scripture: Romans 14:13
5. The end of the matter is this. God is the judge so do not judge others, but instead, seek to help them. Do not put a stumbling block or a hindrance in the way of your brothers or sisters in Christ. In fact, don’t hinder anyone because you don’t know who the Lord has His hand upon.
6. When we hinder a brother or sister in Christ, we are rejecting and hurting someone for whom Christ died. He gave His life for that person, just as He did for us. Instead, when they are in need, find ways to help them. If they are being rejected by others, be a friend. If they have done something they should not have done, and we all do that sometimes, pray for them. Pray with them and help to restore their faith, hope, and love in Christ Jesus with gentleness.
7. Judgement is not helpful to anyone. It does not help the other person because judgement is condemning them. And it does not help you because you are not walking in love. Judging others is destructive and it takes away the will and the way of God who wants all people to come to salvation. But when you judge others, you are rejecting God’s will and God’s way.
8. Seek to find the path of love towards others. Remember the words of 1 Corinthians 13 that show us the ways of God’s love. We need to do what that says and listen to and do what Jesus taught. But judgement of others is destructive. Judgement tears down, it does not build up. So, do not judge others but leave all judgement to God who will judge justly because God is the judge.

Prayer Points Ask the Lord to help you not to judge others. Ask Him to help you see when you are walking in judgement or condemning others, and instead stop and pray for them. And not in a self righteous way, but in love and for their benefit. Pray and ask God to show you the path of love and to help you walk in it with all people so that you do not judge others. Pray also that you can leave judgement to God, knowing that God is the judge. Seek what is best for all people because when you walk in love you are fulfilling the requirements of God’s law and following th ways of Christ.