2 Corinthians 7:11 -- One of the inworkings or fruits of repentance, carefulness.
Carefulness makes one careful not to fall into the same behavior, to walk circumspectly, and to realize one is not beyond falling into that same sin.
When we judge others, we need to be careful to judge them with mercy, not condemning them as if there is no way of escaping the effects of sin. For we are not beyond falling into the same sin. That’s why Peter wrote:
2 Peter 3:17
“Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.”
If a Christian believes what he knows is supposed to be applied only to the lives of those around him, and not to himself, he is not walking circumspectly. For once a believer learns some truths, there is a terrible tendency to judge, to be very critical, to make rash judgments, to blurt out things that point out everyone’s problems, and not their own.
“Beware lest ye fall, “ Paul wrote. How does one fall? When a believer thinks he stands and that he has the answer to everything while everyone else is far from making it. It may take God's intervention to change his thinking. For God will intervene to abate the proud if such a believer does not quit condemning others.
Jesus dealt with the disciples in Luke 13 about this very thing.
Luke 13:2-5
“And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. ”
The disciples were judging the Galileans thinking they were more horrible sinners than they, and so Jesus had to straighten out their thinking. “They are no more horrible than you are," He said, "and except you repent, the same things will happen to you,”
Today, we view Sodom and Gomorrah and think “how terrible they were” and at Lot and think “how could he do such a thing?” We will also warn others that we could become as those in Sodom if we
Carefulness makes one careful not to fall into the same behavior, to walk circumspectly, and to realize one is not beyond falling into that same sin.
When we judge others, we need to be careful to judge them with mercy, not condemning them as if there is no way of escaping the effects of sin. For we are not beyond falling into the same sin. That’s why Peter wrote:
2 Peter 3:17
“Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.”
If a Christian believes what he knows is supposed to be applied only to the lives of those around him, and not to himself, he is not walking circumspectly. For once a believer learns some truths, there is a terrible tendency to judge, to be very critical, to make rash judgments, to blurt out things that point out everyone’s problems, and not their own.
“Beware lest ye fall, “ Paul wrote. How does one fall? When a believer thinks he stands and that he has the answer to everything while everyone else is far from making it. It may take God's intervention to change his thinking. For God will intervene to abate the proud if such a believer does not quit condemning others.
Jesus dealt with the disciples in Luke 13 about this very thing.
Luke 13:2-5
“And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. ”
The disciples were judging the Galileans thinking they were more horrible sinners than they, and so Jesus had to straighten out their thinking. “They are no more horrible than you are," He said, "and except you repent, the same things will happen to you,”
Today, we view Sodom and Gomorrah and think “how terrible they were” and at Lot and think “how could he do such a thing?” We will also warn others that we could become as those in Sodom if we
