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How to Recognize False Teachers (Part Three)

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How to Recognize False Teachers ( Jude, Part Three)

© 2025 by C. O. Bishop

Jude 13-25

Introduction:

Over the past few weeks, we have begun to examine Jude’s warnings regarding false teachers and false brethren. He has given examples and has warned of the coming judgment. Here, in verses 13-19, he continues to describe such individuals by the fruits of their words and lives.

Characteristics of False Teachers

13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

Some such men are very vocal and public about their stance, John says they are “raging waves of the sea. ” Waves of the “raging” sort only cause damage. Storm waves are truly spectacular. Some people make special trips to the coast to watch the violence of the storm-driven waves in the winter. But such watchers usually know enough to stay out of the reach of those waves, for fear of their lives. People who get up close for a “special photo” often become casualties.

Human Movements and Waves of Unrest

Similarly, people who join movements that God did not originate eventually become part of the sad wreckage those movements bring. Even genuine believers can become distracted by the affairs of the world, and often become “shipwrecked,” unable to function as believers, because they have abandoned the path that God offered them. They have become judicially blind, and they are now unable to see His light. They unwittingly worked for the enemy, just as Samson did: He was physically blinded, and enslaved by the enemy, because of his own bad decisions.

There are deceitful leaders, who claim the mantle of “religion,” but who only use the church as a political platform. They start Political Action Committees, and Social Reform movements. They draw others to follow them, and they stir up people to anger and unrest.

In some cases, their activity may turn out well, in the short run, but often, there was a hidden agenda. The founder of the movement turns out to be “not as advertised.” They sought money, power, or fame, and often had a “secret life” that gave the lie to everything they said they believed. Sadly, when they are exposed, it also gives “ammunition” to those who claim that “all Christians are hypocrites.” They give unbelievers cause to feel more secure in their unbelief.

We are warned to stay out of the reach of such “waves” and movements. We are commanded to follow Jesus.

Wandering Stars

The phrase “wandering stars” is actually in reference to “planets.” (The Greek phrase is “asteres planetai”) They look like stars, but they do not maintain a reliable position in the sky, and (at that time) they could not be used for celestial navigation.

Today we have reliable predictions as to where in the sky a given planet should be at any given time. So, if a person wanted to use a planet for navigation, they could do so, but with great caution. But, at that time, though the planets looked like very bright stars, people could not use them for navigation, as they kept changing their relative positions in the sky.

Recently, Ann and I noticed some bright lights, to the east of us, low in the sky, hours after sunset. I first thought that they were planets, and I wondered which planets they were. But these were  more unreliable than planets: They were the landing lights of distant aircraft, facing toward us, so that we had to watch carefully, to see their movement. It was fun to watch the steady stream of aircraft moving into the landing approach pattern, but we can never use such lights to guide our walk on earth. They are not in a stable location in the sky.

Don’t get your directions in life from a false teacher! They might seem to be “shining lights,” but if they are not directing you right back to the Word of God, they are unreliable guides.

God addresses false teachers quite sternly, both here and in 2nd Peter 2. Here, it says that, because they have rejected the light of God’s Word, and because they have taught others to do so, what awaits them is the blackness of darkness forever. What a grim, terrifying statement!

So, How Do We Learn to Spot a False Teacher?

We do so by learning God’s Truth so intimately that any divergence away from His Word is immediately obvious! And the only way to do that is to deliberately, consistently, feed yourself on His Word. Study it, in orderto root yourself securely in His truth. Allow His Holy Spirit to speak to you through the Word. Go to Him in Prayer, seeking His face, to learn His ways.

Then, when a false teacher opens his or her mouth, your spirit will receive the warning “nudge” of the Holy Spirit, alerting you to listen very carefully: there is something wrong!

Reference to Enoch

Here is another apocryphal quotation. The Book of Enoch is not part of the Canon of scripture. But John uses it to remind us that judgment is coming. All through scripture He repeats the reminder, that God is still the Majesty on high, and He is the Omnipotent, Holy Judge.

14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

The clear message here is that “no one is ‘getting away with’ anything.” Judgment is coming! Jesus is the Eternal Judge, as well as our Savior. He is the Eternal Judge of all the Earth, as revealed in Genesis 18:25, and John 5:22. He is the coming King, in Revelation 19, arriving to destroy the enemies, and to exact judgment on the Earth.

Observe the Character of False Teachers

16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.

They murmur against God, and cannot be content. These people pursue their own interests and desires, good or bad, and they do not focus on the things of God. They are great talkers: They use inspiring words, to impress people, and to influence others to think the way they do.

Other translations render this last phrase as, “they seek admiration from other men, and give their admiration to others, to gain advantage.” They seek social advantage and influence, and are willing to say and do the things that gain that advantage.

We Have Been Warned

17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

In our times we have watched the stream of televangelists who have become incredibly wealthy through their preaching. Journalists have caught some in their lies and some in their immorality, and their hypocrisy. But it did not stop them: they kept right on preaching and condemning those who exposed them.

God warned us that they were coming. And the world has flocked after such leaders, openly applauding them for their excesses, and extolling them as “men of God.”

Conclusion, Response of the Believers

So…What are We Supposed to Do?

Jude switches his focus from pointing out the coming hazards and the coming judgment, to giving us final instructions as to how to live in the age of apostasy, when everything around us is collapsing into unbelief and apathy.

First: How do We Respond to God?

What are we to do, to pursue our relationship with Him? (verses 20 and 21)

20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

  • Building up (edifying) yourself in your holy faith (Do the things that God says edify believers)
  • Praying in the Holy Spirit. (Fervent, honest prayer, pouring your heart out before the Lord, and depending on the Holy Spirit to direct your thoughts.)
  • Keep yourselves in the Love of God. It is our responsibility to direct our love back toward God, who is the origin of the Agapé love. (1st John 4:7-21)
  • Look for the Mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ unto Eternal Life. We look only to Jesus for eternal life. We recognize that it is only by His Mercy and Grace that He does not condemn us for our sins. God calls us to continually turn our eyes toward Him, and seek His Mercy and Grace by which to live.

Then: How do We Respond to Those Around Us?

22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

In the context of having warned us of ungodly teachers and deceivers, it would seem that the “some” here, must refer to unbelievers around us, though some assume it is referring to correcting sinning believers.

If we see this passage (verses 22, 23) as being about evangelism (which makes sense, as that is what the Lord left us here to do!) then we may see three categories of sinners:

One

On some, having compassion: “…making a difference” This is a strange phrase, and it is rendered differently in different translations. The distinction (difference) mentioned may be that the person on whom they are having compassion may be “making distinctions” or doubting, arguing against the gospel, or questioning the truth of God’s Word. (Some commentators see it that way.) But it sounds as though we are the ones who are called to be discerning. We may discern that a person’s doubts only amount to excuses for unbelief. We may “challenge their thinking” by using the Word of God as the Sword of the Spirit; gently reminding them that they are running out of time.

Two

“And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire…” There may be some that require rather drastic urging, warning them of the coming judgment. Jesus spent far more time warning of the coming Judgment and a literal Hell, than He did describing the Joys of Heaven.

Three

…hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. There may be some that require us to exercise great caution to avoid our being drawn into the sin that is enslaving them. This has frequently happened to believers who attempted to “get close to someone” as an avenue of approach for the Gospel. They tried to “become relevant” to ungodly people by joining them in their activities.

But eventually they found that in doing so, they had wandered away from their own walk with God, and were ensnared by sin, themselves. They ruined their own testimony and instead of “becoming relevant” by joining the world, they became completely irrelevant, as there is no distinction between their life and the lives of the ones whom they are attempting to reach. Bear in mind that light dispels darkness. How? by being the opposite of darkness, not by joining it. Light exposes the deeds of darkness for what they are.

Jude’s Final Benediction

Jude closes his letter by blessing the believers, and by committing them unto the care of God. He blesses God, and declares that all Glory belongs to Him.

24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

God is the One who keeps us from falling. He is the One who will present us faultless before His throne. He is to be our eternal Joy, as Our Savior and Our God.

25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Lord Jesus, as You are making us intensely aware of the darkness of the World around us, draw us deeper into Your Light and deeper into Your Truth, so that we truly shine in that darkness, reflecting Your Light, and so that we will have answers for the doubts of those who ask a reason for our faith.

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Do You Know How to Recognize a False Teacher?

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A Letter to the Children (Part 10)

© 2025 C. O. Bishop

1st John 4:1-6

Introduction

John gives another warning against false teachers, here. But he couches it in terms that can be confusing. He says, “try the spirits.” We saw in Ephesians 6:10-18 that there is a war in progress. He says that our enemies are spiritual beings. The human individuals seeming to be our enemies are simply the unwitting victims. They are tools of the real enemies. God gives us a test. Is the human agent speaking by the Spirit of God, or as an agent of the enemy?

For years, I have read and re-read this passage, and found it very confusing. How do you get a “spirit” to confess anything?

Thirty years ago, a teacher claimed to use this verse to check for demon possession. He said he addressed the person, saying, “I want to speak to your spirit!” Then, depending on their response, he demanded, “Do you confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh?” And their “spirit” verbally responded, “No!” He claimed thereby to determine that the person “had a demon.” But there are some problems with this:

In the first place, nowhere else in scripture can we see such a thing is even possible, let alone a recommended practice. (Regarding demon possession, there is no mention in the epistles at all, either in how to detect it, or how to evict such a spirit, if we knew it was there!)

In the second place, consider the remote context, 1st John 2:18-20, and the immediate context, 1st John 4:1, 3-6. Both suggest that the issue, rather than detecting demon activity, is about detecting false teachers and false brethren. And, in both places he referenced multiple “antichrists.”

But, What Does He Mean, When He Says to “Try the Spirits?”

1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

So, we immediately see, in verse one, that the key phrase is “many false prophets.” False teachers, and false prophets are one of the plagues of the church age. And it seems that one of the key clues in “spotting false teachers” is, “What do they teach about the incarnation?”

2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

If we simply see the name “Jesus Christ” as His “first and last name,” then the question, “Did He come in the flesh” would be akin to asking whether Robin Hood ever existed. Or better yet, asking whether some modern celebrity was ever born. It becomes a silly question. God does not “ask silly questions,” so, He must intend the question to go deeper.

What Is He Really Saying?

John is asking whether the Savior, the Messiah, actually was “God in the Flesh.” Was He truly the Creator God, who alone was the “offended party” because of our collective sin? More to the point (as we recently read, in 1st John 3:16) did He, as God, choose to become a man, live a perfect life, and arrange to become the only possible sacrifice for the sins of the Human Race?

Did Jesus, as the Immortal, Eternal God, choose to take upon Himself mortal flesh, and die in our place to satisfy the righteous demand of His Own Holiness? That is the question!

And, as we have seen throughout the years, this is one consistent mark of all the cults: They absolutely deny the full Deity of Christ. Some will “hedge,” and try to say that He was a “lesser God” or a “manifestation of God.” Most conclude that “He was a wonderful man, and a great teacher: A genuine prophet, perhaps…but not God!”

The Spirit of Antichrist

3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

This is another puzzling passage, as it uses the word “antichrist,” and we are primarily familiar with that word as used to describe the Antichrist: The person described in Revelation 13:1 and following. (Some think it is only a political entity…but it surely seems to be a person, to me!)  

Since we primarily understand the word, “antichrist” in that prophetic context, and since John is the only New Testament writer to use that word, we need to reexamine what the word means.

What Does “Antichrist” Mean?

The prefix “Anti-” usually means “against.” But it can also mean a “replacement.” Theologians use the paired words, “type” and “antitype.” There is no question of conflict or evil: It means something in the Old Testament which is a prefiguring of something (or someone) in the New Testament. ( A GOOD something!)

The Ark in Genesis is a “type” (a prefigure, or photograph: The old term would have been “tintype,” when photography was in its infancy.) It is an Old Testament picture of Christ. So, Jesus, then, is the “antitype:” (He is the “real thing.”)

Noah’s Ark reflects the truths of the Messiah in about eighteen different ways, and Jesus fulfilled all of them. So, in terms of our focus of attention, we have shifted our gaze away from a gigantic wooden barge, (with the capacity to offer shelter and salvation to those who trusted in it,) to a miraculous incarnation…a Person!

Who Is the Person?

That Person has the capacity to save all who trust in Him. In Him we have security for eternity. He bore the judgment of God, and He rose above it, just as did the Ark. There is only One Way in: after you entered, God closed the door, ! Once you enter His Grace, by faith, He will never lose you! The list goes on and on. Jesus is the Antitype, as the perfect fulfillment of all that the Ark predicted.

Want one that will really boggle your mind? 1st Corinthians 10:4 states categorically that the Rock in the Desert, from which 2.4 million Israelites (and all their herds!) received the water to survive …WAS Christ. And it was accompanying them through the desert! He doesn’t even say it was a “figure of Christ:” He says, “that Rock was Christ!” Think on that one for a while!

What about Negative meanings?

But, we are looking for a “negative sense” of the prefix “anti-.” And Both possibilities are open: The spirit of antichrist is the spirit in the world, today, that tries to thwart and contradict any teaching regarding one’s personal need for a Savior, and particularly, any teaching revealing Jesus as God in the Flesh: The Creator, willingly dying for His Creation! The spirit of antichrist stands against all Biblical teaching regarding the incarnation, and against any teaching of our clearly stated individual need for such a Person as our Savior.

Many False Christs

However, the history of our world is also full of “false messiahs:” Replacement messiahs. There have been several of them in our lifetime. The Korean false prophet, Sun Myung Moon, was a charlatan. He claimed to be the Messiah.

The “Guru Maharaji,” was an Indian teenager fifty years ago. He claimed to be the “Perfect Master.”

Father Divine lived in New York, sixty years ago. He openly claimed to be God. There have been many other false messiahs, some more famous, some less so.

Jim Jones claimed to be a prophet, and Divine. He physically threw down his Bible onstage, and said, “You don’t need the Bible! You need Me!” Then he hustled his followers off to South America and forced them into a mass suicide. His enforcers simply shot anyone who attempted to back out of drinking the cyanide-laced drink, or who attempted to escape .

David Koresh claimed he was the “final prophet.” He and many of his followers died in a police standoff at the “Branch Davidian” Complex, in Waco, Texas. They died either by gunshot or self-inflicted immolation, as the followers set the whole place on fire and most of them died in the flames.

All False Christs are of the Spirit of Antichrist

The point is: any “Replacement Messiah” teaching is also the spirit of antichrist at work. But one thing they share in common: They uniformly deny that Jesus is Almighty God, in Human flesh.

Incidentally, what importance does that lend to the teaching of the Virgin Birth? It turns out that the Virgin Birth is absolutely necessary to the true Messiah. All the prophecies concerning the Messiah, including that of the Virgin Birth, were fulfilled in that One Man. The very first prophecy of the Savior, in Genesis 3:15, necessitates the Virgin Birth!

Our “Secret Weapon”

4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

The Indwelling Holy Spirit (in fact, the Indwelling Christ) is the “secret weapon” of the Church. “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the World!” Jesus promised to send the indwelling Holy Spirit in John 14:16-17, but He went on to (at least) imply in verses 18-21, that both the Father and the Son would also indwell the believers, in the person of the Holy Spirit.

Colossians 1:27 lets us know just how important this is: “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”  YES! Jesus lives in You! That is your “secret weapon!”

In Romans 8:9, God says that if you don’t have the Holy Spirit, you do not belog to Him. And that is true! But in 1st Corinthians 12:13, He says that the moment you trusted Christ as your Savior, the Holy Spirit placed you into the Body of Christ and that you were indwelt with the Holy Spirit. Also, Ephesians 1:13, 14 says the Holy Spirit is your guarantee that you will spend eternity with Jesus. He is the “earnest”…the “engagement ring” that says “YES, Jesus is coming back for you!” He will never leave you: Never forsake you! You belong to Him forever!

So, Who is Listening to Whom?

5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

When people who claim to be believers consistently reject the written Word as authority in their lives, we have reasonable cause to doubt that they truly are believers. Worldly people most comfortably embrace Worldly teachings. Christians most joyfully embrace the teachings of Christ, and thereby the teachings of the whole Word of God. John and Paul repeatedly identified Jesus as “The Word,” and “The Word of God.” If you are willing to reject the written word of God, you must confess that, in doing so, you are rejecting the authority of Jesus.

To Whom Do You Listen?

At the very least, a believer should be willing to go back and check the scriptures to see whether what they are hearing is truly what the Bible teaches. The folks in Berea (Acts 17:11) who, for the first time, heard the Gospel of Christ, at least had the sense to go back and read the Old Testament Scriptures, to determine the truth of what Paul and his fellow-laborers were teaching. They were Jews who believed the authority of the written Word of God. The Old Testament was all they had, so that is where they went! And they found the answers there! They confirmed the Gospel in the Old Testament!

Jesus taught his disciples from the Old Testament. In Luke 24:25-27, He began with the books of Moses, but traced through all the prophets. He demonstrated to them that He Himself was the central theme of the entire Old Testament! That is why we attempt to emulate Jesus, and to consistently teach the whole counsel of God.  It is also why we avoid teaching extrabiblical opinions or politics, including current events and special holidays. 1st Peter 2:2 defines “Sheep food” as being the Word of God.

The Responsibility of Feeding the Flock

God has given us the responsibility of “feeding His Flock.” We dare not “throw in some stuff that we just kinda think they might enjoy,” and thereby dilute the Word, or, worse yet, replace it with Human Reasoning. Our core content has to be the Written Word of God.

Believers will find themselves drawn to such teaching and they will thrive on it. The Word will eventually repel unbelievers and they will leave, or it will convict them and they will be saved. So, when a church grows, that resolutely teaches the whole Word of God (and only the Word of God,) it usually is healthy growth. People who are hungry for the Word will tend to stay. Those who are not, eventually will drift away, perhaps because “church isn’t entertaining enough,” or “the teaching is uncomfortable,” or for some other cause.

But all we can do is follow the directive of Jesus: “Feed My Flock! Tend My Lambs! And that is what we hope to do! Feed the Flock on the Word of God, and Trust Jesus for the results!

Lord Jesus, convict our hearts to follow Your Word, to seek Your Face in the Pages of Your Word, to seek Your fingerprints in the circumstances in which we live. We trust in Your guidance and we desire to see Your will worked out in our lives.

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How to Understand the “Other Side” of John 13:34, 35

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A Letter to the Children (Part 8)

© 2025 C. O. Bishop

1st John 3:7-16

Examining The “Other Side” of John 13:34, 35

Remember that Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples….” Well, the word, “ALL” includes us, as believers. Jesus gave the World three means by which to judge the church…meaning us! They are to “critique” us…we who “claim the name of Jesus.” Jesus gave those three criteria to the World. He invites them to look at our lives and judge whether what we say is true, and whether our lives reflect the truth of God’s Word.

  • The Agapé Love: John 13:34, 35
  • The Unity of the Spirit: John 17:21; Ephesians 4:3
  • The Good Works that God has ordained for us to do. Matthew 5:15, 16; Ephesians 2:10

We can use those same three ways (and others,) to look within the church and recognize potential trouble before it grows too big to deal with. Paul warned the Ephesians elders, in Acts 20:28-31, that predators (“grievous wolves”) would arise from within the church, even from among the leadership, trying to lead away people to follow them instead of Christ: They try to persuade people to believe their doctrine instead of believing the sound teaching of the Word of God.

And those elders in Acts 20 were to guard against such predators. So, how can we recognize the counterfeits? Primarily by becoming so familiar with the “genuine article” that fakes are obvious.

There are Different Sources of Wisdom

In James 3:13-18, God warns all the believers, as to how to distinguish the difference between Godly Wisdom and counterfeit “wisdom” from other sources. He names three “other sources:” The world, the flesh, and the devil (He used the words, “earthly, sensual, devilish.”) But He gives a nine-fold “checklist” as to how to recognize God’s Wisdom. If any of those attributes of Godly Wisdom are clearly missing, especially in a continuing, repeating pattern, then we can safely conclude that the source is not the Lord.

Self-Will-Sourced “Wisdom”

Some people claim their “own wisdom.” But it is rooted in the flesh: Self-will. Self-proclaimed wisdom. (Romans 1:22 “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.”)

Crowd-Sourced “Wisdom“

Some may say, “Well, Everybody knows that…” but if whatever it is that “everybody knows” is not in full agreement with the Word of God, then they are simply tapping into the “pooled error,” and “pooled folly” of the World. Romans 3:10-12 says, regarding the human race, “10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together [collectively] become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Paul was quoting Psalm 14.)

And some will go so far as to teach counter to the Bible: They imply that the Bible is just “out of date,” or “obsolete,” or they claim that parts of it are “mythological” in nature. This practice is directly from the pit, as Satan said, in Genesis 3:4, “Thou sssshalt not ssssurely die…!” (Hear the hiss of the Serpent!)

You see, one of Satan’s “sharpest weapons” is Denying the truth of God’s Word. First, He convinces us that “We are pretty sharp characters! We are really wise!”

Then he convinces us that collectively, we are obviously wiser than any one of us acting alone could be. (Many times, in history, ONE person alone has stood for what was right. Others persecuted and often killed them for their faithfulness to the truth. But history proved that the ones who stood alone were correct, and that their persecutors were simply murderers!)

The teaching, here in 1st John 3:7-16 corroborates all the other passages about “false brethren.” (Compare 2nd Corinthians 11:26 “…perils among false brethren.”

Also, Galatians 2:4 “…false brethren unawares brought in.” Unbelievers infiltrated the church, and were corrupting the teaching.)

False Brethren

7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. [Remember that the verbs here are continuous, not intermittent. This is a lifestyle issue, and a “common practice” issue, not a question of “sinless perfection.”]

8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

It is possible that this verse is in direct reference to the New Nature of the born-again believer. It would fit, as it refers to “His Seed:” the new nature of a born-again believer is created in the likeness of God in righteousness and true holiness (see Ephesians 4:24.) that new nature truly cannot sin. But our problem is that we still have our old sinful nature, which cannot be repaired so as to practice righteousness. So there is a constant war in progress.

10 In this the children [tekna] of God are manifest, and the children [tekna] of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

Origin of All Humans

Please remember that all of us began life as the “spiritual offspring” of the Evil One. (Ephesians 2:1-3 says, “1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

No human (apart from Jesus,) is exempt from this fact: Jesus confirmed it in John 8:44. He told His accusers that they were the children of their father the Devil. But the Ephesians passage tells us that we all started there, too! (Paul included himself in that “we.”)

In What Way is the Church Different?

So, how does the church differ from the rest of the human race? 1st Peter 1:16-23 says,

“6 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But [you were redeemed] with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”

Those are all “Positional Truths.” They are true of all believers, because of their “position” in Christ, without regard to “how they are doing” right now. But, if those things are not true of a person, he or she is not a believer at all. Can I “see into another person’s heart?” (No, I can’t!) But God does give us certain clues, and He expects us to use them for the protection of ourselves and of the flock.

So, What is the Primary Command in Question?

11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. [John 13:34, 35]

12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

John draws a sharp contrast, here, between Righteous behavior and Evil. The evil will always desire to destroy the righteous: It will not seek peace and reconciliation.

13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

Remember that Jesus warned us about this: In John 15:18, 19, He said, “18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”

Believers can Fail in this, too!

We don’t want to be too quick to point a finger and declare that someone else is not a believer. But it does remain a possibility. How people respond to the Word of God is a good predictor to how they will respond to Jesus Himself: He is the Word!

14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

I can at least apply this test to my own  heart: Do I love the brethren (with the Agapé love?) Or do I see them primarily as a “bother,” and an irritation, as opposed to a “brother,” and a blessing? Do I wish for restoration of full fellowship, or do I just wish they would all “just straighten up and fly right?”

Remember that, in Revelation 12:10, Satan is called “the accuser of the brethren.”  I do not want to be a “junior accuser,” and join him in that evil work. I want to be careful not to become critical of others.

However, if we can easily see a continuing practice of accusations, gossip, harsh criticism, etc., a total lack of regard for God’s Word, and if we can observe a general discomfort around other believers, it might be a cause for suspicion that the person may not be saved. We need to be careful, though: A believer who is out of fellowship can behave exactly like an unbeliever. (In similar manner, a person in a deep coma looks pretty much like a dead corpse…but we don’t bury them…because they aren’t really dead! They just look that way!)

The Love of the Brethren as a “Litmus Test”

15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

It is interesting to see that the teaching Jesus gave (Matthew 5:21, 22) in the Sermon on the Mount, regarding “hatred vs. murder” is reiterated in very clear terms, here in 1st John. Jesus expanded upon His Law, and pointed out that the root cause of murder was unreasoning anger and hatred. He said that the motive itself made you guilty before God.

But here, we see a contrast laid out for us!

16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Notice Two things:

First,

It does not say, “We perceive the love of Christ.” It says, “We perceive the love of GOD, because HE laid down His life for us!” It (again) highlights the Deity of Christ! He is truly “God in the Flesh,” and He (as GOD) has laid down His life for us! (Ponder that one for a while!)

And,

Second:

The opposite of Murder is “laying down one’s life” for others. It usually does not mean “losing one’s life.” But it always means “laying down” one’s own life, with its plans, privileges and priorities, to meet the actual need of the brother or sister in question.

It means setting aside what seems good for me, in favor of what the real need in the other person’s life is. And what they need may not even be what they want: A brother whose sin is about to destroy his marriage (or in some other way is having serious consequences) probably will not “truly appreciate your pointing it out to him.”

Jesus Commands us to Go!

But Agapé love requires that you do so, anyway. Jesus taught that responsibility in John 13:6-16, in the washing of the disciple’s feet. Galatians 6:1-5 spells out that responsibility, and makes it clear what the real issue is: Restoration is the only acceptable motive. If you think you are there to “straighten ‘em out,” please don’t go.

Am I “comfortable” with coming to a brother and “washing his feet” by alerting him to the danger of the sin in which he is entangled? NO! I am not! But it has to be done. And, in truth, it may “blow up in my face!” He may mark me as his enemy, for my attempting to help. That is a risk we take. But if someone who is calls himself a brother continually rejects all admonition, God tells us to understand that he may not be a believer. (Matthew 18:15-17)

In that case, we approach him as we would approach a non-Christian, and we offer forgiveness and eternal life on the basis of the Blood of Jesus. We do not malign them, nor do we reject them, but rather, we consider them a “mission field.”

It is entirely possible for an unbeliever to “infiltrate” a local church. We don’t have to be blind to that possibility, nor need we be alarmed when it happens. We have been warned in advance!

Lord Jesus, help us to see the World through Your eyes, and to Love the Brethren in sincerity! Give us the Wisdom from Your Word to discern reality and meet their needs appropriately in the Love of Christ.

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What Does The New Testament Say About “Judging?”

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What About “Judging?”

© 2024 C. O. Bishop

Introduction:

As a matter of course, this Sunday we would have gone forward into 1st Corinthians 5, simply because last week we completed chapter four. However, the various subjects of chapter 5 are fairly uncomfortable for most people. They include the concepts of sin and judgment, as well as some things such as polygamy, which is illegal in our culture, but fairly common in other cultures. Finally, it deals with “church discipline” which is a very uncomfortable idea for most people.

In particular, Paul names a specific sin of sexual immorality involved, which we may feel is not an appropriate subject for a Church service. But he deals with the subject of judgment rather strongly, there, as well, and not in a “negative” sense. In that passage, he commands the Church to judge something.

Since our modern society tells us that “judgment is a bad thing,” we need to study what God says about judgment and make our best determination about what we are to do. (Are there other things we should consider? Under some circumstances, God commands us to not judge. Under some circumstances God commands that we must judge! And under some circumstances He simply advises us to use good judgment, or to judge carefully what we should do.)

What Can We Learn About Judgment?

We usually think of “judging, and judgment,” only in a negative sense: The unbelieving World acts as if “all judgment is bad.” (But is it?)

Jesus is the Judge of all things, and over all the World. Genesis 18:25, says Abraham recognized Him, face to face, as the Judge of all the earth. And, in John 5:22 Jesus confirmed that He, Himself, God the Son…is that Judge!

So, it follows, at the very least, that not all judgment is “bad.” Further, we use the same word,  saying, “One has to exercise good judgment, to avoid the snares and bad decisions in life!” So, we admit, by our words, that there is such a thing as “good judgment.”

But then we insist that “there must be a different kind of judging, that Jesus condemned!”

Perhaps we need to examine the various Greek words used in the New Testament, and translated as “judge, judging, or judgment,” to see what Jesus truly said about the matter:

Several Greek Roots for the New Testament Passages about Judgment:

Primary Greek Root: Krinō

Krinō is the infinitive verb, “to judge.” It includes, but is not limited to, the concept of condemning. It also includes the concept of making a good decision or discerning between good and bad.

Krinō can also include making an authoritative decree as a Judge, in a civil matter, or making a weighty decision in church matters, that calls for “good judgment.” Or it can even mean just “stating an opinion.” (Krinō is used 110 times in various grammatical forms, and it is translated as “judge” 87 of those times.)

Secondary Greek Root: Krima

This means to judge or condemn. (This is where we get our English words, “crime,” “criminal,” and “incriminate.”.) (It is used only 29 times…and it is translated as “judgment” 13 of those times. The other uses are mostly “condemnation” or “damnation.”)

So, in the following passages, we hope to examine examples of each of those ideas and the particular grammatical changes in the Greek root.

Four Other Greek Roots:

Hegeomai: This means “to consider.” It is only used once in the New Testament, and it carries the idea of “regarding,’ or ‘considering” Hebrews 11:11 (about the faith of Sara) “…because she judged Him faithful Who had promised.” We rarely use this form in modern English, but it was once quite common. (“We judged that a quart of water ought to be enough to prime the pump…”)

There are others: (dikē) is related to the concept of the judgment of a ruler. (It is only used in that way nine times.)

A few other examples related to the concept of knowledge or thinking: (three from the Greek root “gnosko.”) Or the concept of perception, (one from the Greek word “aesthesis.”)

The Majority of Biblical Examples Come from “Krinō”

The majority of the occurrences of the English words, “judge,” or “judgment” in the New Testament are from the root “Krinō,” in various grammatical forms. Here are five examples:

Matthew 7:1  “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” (This verse is most commonly quoted.) (krinete with negative prefix “mē.”) but “krima” (condemnation) appears in the very next verse: “with what judgment (krima) you judge (krinō) ye shall be judged (krinō)….” So, the “krinō” judgment, in this context, is connected to “krima,” implying condemnation.

Matthew 19:28 Judging, as righteous, ordained Judges… (Jesus said that the apostles would serve as judges over Israel.”…ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”) (krinontes…judging)

Acts 13:46 Judge: (krinō, krinete) (meaning, to “give an opinion:” especially an authoritative opinion…a judgment) “…ye put it from you and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life…”, and

Acts 15:19 “Wherefore my sentence is that we trouble not them which from among the Gentiles are turned to God.” (“Sentence,” here, is from the word “krinete”… meaning “judgment.”)

John 18:31 “Pilate said, take Him and judge Him according to your law.” (“Judge,” here, is from “krinate” meaning “to sit in Judgment”…in court)

There are Various Concepts of Judgment

1st Corinthians 6:1-8 is a very good passage within which to see the various uses of the verb “krinō.”

1Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law (krinesthai) before the unjust, and not before the saints?  2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge (krinousin)the world? and if the world shall be judged (krinetai) by you, are ye unworthy to judge (kritērion)the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge (krinoumen) angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

4 If then ye have judgments (kritēria) of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge (the word “judge” is not in the original, it is only implied by the context…it literally just says, “set them up”) who are least esteemed in the church. 5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge (diakrinai) between his brethren?

6 But brother goeth to law (krinetai) with brother, and that before the unbelievers. 7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law (krinata) one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? 8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

Multiple Uses: Multiple Implications

We can see that there are ten different uses, with six or eight different implications, all lumped under the Biblical word “judgment,” just in that one passage!

  • Go to judgment in a legal court
  • Judge over the world, in righteousness.
  • To Judge as an arbiter of justice between people of the world
  • Judge as one having to make decisions by good judgment: discernment.
  • Judge over angels (!) No idea where that takes place.
  • Judgments as court cases…civil disagreements.
  • Judge as an arbitrator.
  • Take to court, as opponents

Not all of these examples are negative. God advises some, and commands others, while He prohibits still others. We must read carefully and understand the context, to know what kind of “judgment” is in question.

Another Example:

Romans 14:1-4 gives a pair ofconflicting opinions that may arise between believers. And Paul says that they are not to “judge” each other over such issues.

“1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful (“diakrisis:” judgmental)  disputations. 2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge (“me krinetō”not judge) him that eateth: for God hath received him.

4 Who art thou that judgest (“krinōn” judging) another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

5 One man esteemeth (“krinei” judges…considers) one day above another: another esteemeth (“krinei” judges…considers)  every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.”

So, there we see another four applications of the word “krinō.”

  • Hold in Disregard
  • Criticize
  • Condemn
  • Consider (judging something to be a certain way.)

What Did Jesus Mean?

Jesus said, “For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” I would have guessed that the word He used was “krima,” meaning condemn, as a criminal. But it is not: The word is actually the Greek word “krinē.” And, in the subsequent verse, he uses two other forms of the same root word, “krinō”

He says those who believe on Him (meaning “trust in Him as Savior”) are not judged (“ou krinetai…not condemned,” KJV) but that those who do not believe are already judged (“kekritai…condemned,” KJV) because they have not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

So, we can see that the range of meaning in the infinitive verb krinō (“to judge”) is pretty huge!

Different Kinds of Judges

No one condemns a person for taking a position as a livestock judge in a county fair, or, if they are qualified to do so, a judge in any contest. We require a referee or an umpire, in most sporting events. Sometimes we employ electronic devices to eliminate errors due to human failings. But the judges are still there. And we want them there!

No law-abiding person condemns another person for taking a position as a Judge in a court of Law. We only require that they do that job with integrity and justice; entirely following the law. Kindness and Mercy are additional qualities we admire in a good judge. We see Patience, in listening carefully to testimonies from upset, confused people, as another good trait.

Jesus is that sort of Judge.

He is perfect, and Holy, but He is kind, and just. His Mercy and Love took Him to the Cross to blot out the Holy judgment against us: not by denying it, but by fulfilling it. His blood, spilled at the Cross, fulfilled the righteous demands of His Holiness and made it possible for us to approach Him through that Blood Sacrifice.

We need to learn to emulate Jesus, the One perfect Judge, so that we do not fail to judge correctly and do not exceed His judgment and begin to condemn others.

Lord Jesus, take each of us in hand: Correct our heart attitudes toward those around us. Help us to Love as you Love, and not to harbor ill-will. Free us from our slavery to sin.

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What Does the Bible say about “Judging?”

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What about “Judging?”

© 2023 C. O. Bishop

We usually think of “judging,” and “judgment,” only in a negative sense. The unbelieving World claims that “all judgment is bad.” But, Jesus is the Judge of all things, and He is completely GOOD. Abraham recognized Him, face to face, and addressed Him as “the Judge of all the earth.” “(Genesis 18:25…compare John 5:22) therefore, we see that NOT “all judgment” is a bad thing. Furthermore, the specific Greek word being translated often determines the usage.

Primary Greek Root: Krinō  

For a primary example, the New Testament uses the verb “krino” to mean, “to judge.” This includes, but it is not limited to, the concept of condemning. In addition, it also includes the concept of making a good decision or discerning between good and bad. Next, it can also include making an authoritative decree , in a civil matter, as a Judge; or in church matters, making a weighty decision that calls for good judgment.

Finally, it can even involve something as common as just stating an opinion. (The New Testament uses this root 110 times as some form of krino, and translated it as “judge” 87 times.) So, in the following passages, we will see examples of each of those ideas, and the particular grammatical changes in the Greek root.

Other Root Words

Moreover, translators have also translated a few other Greek roots in the New Testament, as “Judge,” or “Judgment,” but these words are far less common:

The New Testament translates the Greek word Krima second-most-often as “Judge.” Krima means “to judge or condemn.” (We derive our words, “crime,” “criminal,” and “incriminate” from this root.) (The New testament uses Krima 29 times… and it translates it as “judgment” 13 times.)

Other Greek Roots:

Next, Hegeomai means “to consider.” The New Testament only uses it once, carrying the idea of “regarding, or considering.” Hebrews 11:11 (referring to the faith of Sara) says, “…because she judged Him faithful Who had promised.” We rarely use this form in modern English, but it was once quite common. (“We judged that a quart of water ought to be enough to prime the pump…”)

There are others, (dikē)  related to the concept of the judgment decreed by a ruler. (The New Testament only uses it in that regard nine times.)

And a few others are related to the concept of “knowledge…(thinking:)” three from the Greek root (“gnosko.”) Or the concept of perception, one from the Greek word (“aesthesis.”)

Various meanings of “Judgement from th e Root Word “Krinō

The majority of the occurrences of “judgment” in the New Testament are from the root “Krinō.”

Judge not…Matthew 7:1 (most commonly quoted.) (krinete with negative prefix mē.) but “krima” (condemnation) appears in the next verse “with what judgment (krima) you judge (krino) So, in this context, the “krino” judgment is connected to condemnation.

Judging, as righteous, ordained Judges…Matthew 19:28 (Jesus said that the apostles would serve as judges over Israel.) (krinontes…judging)

Judge: (krino, krinete) (meaning, to “give an opinion:” especially an authoritative opinion…a judgment) Acts 13:47, and Acts 15:19.

Judge,  (krinate) (meaning “sit in Judgment”…in court) John 18:31

Several Examples in One Passage

1st Corinthians 6:1-8 supplies us with several different examples, so it is a very good passage within which to see the various uses of the verb “krino.”

1Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law (krinesthai) before the unjust, and not before the saints?

2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge (krinousin)the world? and if the world shall be judged (krinetai) by you, are ye unworthy to judge (kritērion)the smallest matters?

3 Know ye not that we shall judge (krinoumen) angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

4 If then ye have judgments (kritēria) of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge (the word “judge” actually is not in the original, it is implied by the context…it just means “set them up”) who are least esteemed in the church.

5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge (diakrinai) between his brethren?

6 But brother goeth to law (krinetai)with brother, and that before the unbelievers.

7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law (krinata)one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?

8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

Conclusion

We see, obviously, that there are several different ideas lumped under the Biblical word “judgment,” and not all of them are negative. God advised some, He commanded others, (for example, 1st Corinthians 5:1-6) and He prohibited still others (See Romans 14:1-4.) We must read carefully and understand the context, to know what “judgment” is in question.

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