Judgment

Judgment. On condition that it is just, it always helps to further the good. All those who love the good love judgment. Only ungodly people hate and loathe judgment because they love unrighteousness.

Judging according to the flesh is judging without light. It is evil.

God’s judgment is the judgment of light. Jesus said, “And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world.” There are many judgments where the light shines brightly, and so ungodly people are driven away by it. They will not remain standing in the congregation of the righteous. The God-fearing acknowledge what the light says; they agree with the judgment and are thereby saved from the evil that the light judges. The result is purity, soundness, goodness, and divine order in such an assembly. The God-fearing prosper there as in a pleasure garden. Peter says that now the time has come that judgment shall begin at the house of God—for salvation, of course. Many people are in such darkness that they confuse judgment with condemnation.

All the upright souls judge themselves whereas all the others are busy excusing and justifying themselves. This is a good sign by which to recognize people.

We have come to the Judge (Heb. 12), and the Judge’s task must be to judge; in other words, we are always subject to judgments. Thus we learn to know righteousness. Isaiah says, “Yes, in the way of Your judgments, O Lord, we have waited for You”—precisely because we expect to learn righteousness.

When it is written, “Judge not,” it must mean that we shall not judge according to the flesh. It cannot possibly mean that we shall not let the light shine, and light cannot shine at all without judging! Think of the natural light.

Judgment is a terror to the ungodly, but it is a joy, comfort, and delight for God-fearing souls.

It must be very interesting at Christ’s judgment seat.