According to Paul, we should judge sinful living (corrective judgment), but only believers who live in sin. Jesus and James warned against judging others (in a condemning manner). Don’t miss this powerful Bible lesson.

Created: Sunday, August 20, 2023

Judge Sinful Living, It’s Helpful For Protecting God’s Children

STM Bible Lesson

Lesson focus: 1 Corinthians 5:12-13. Bible lesson background 1 Corinthians 5:1-13: The Believer’s Study Bible – Among the other difficulties encountered by the Corinthian church was its failure in the important responsibility of church discipline (corrective judgment).
The Bible Knowledge Commentary – The godly response would have been grief for this brother (compare 1 Corinthians 12:26; Galatians 6:1-2), leading to discipline which would exclude him from intimacy with the congregation until he would repent (compare Matthew 18:15-17; Luke 17:3).

1 Corinthians 5:12-13 [read 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 (12-13)]: It is not my business to judge those who are not part of the group of believers. God will judge them, but you must judge those who are part of your group. The Scriptures say,
“Make the evil person leave your group (congregation; Deuteronomy 22:24; Matthew 18:17; 1 Corinthians 5:5 and 7).” (ERV); KJV: For what have I to do to judge^G2919 them also that are without (in the world)? do not ye judge^G2919 them that are within (in the congregation)? 13 But them that are without God judgeth^G2919.
Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.; G2919 κρίνω krino (kriy’-nō) v. [per Thayer’s Greek Lexicon] of the disciplinary judgment (corrective judgment) to which Christians subject the conduct of their fellows, passing censure upon them as the facts require. Found 114 times in the KJV.

Judge sinful living

One person that continues to live in sin can infect all the others. A man in the Corinthian congregation was having sex with his stepmother. See 1 Corinthians 5:1.
1 Corinthians 5:6-7 [read 1 Corinthians 5:1-8 (6-7); compare Matthew 16:5-12 (6 and 12); Mark 8:13-21 (15 and 21)]: What a terrible thing it is that you are boasting about your purity and yet you let this sort of thing go on. Don’t you realize that if even one person is allowed to go on sinning, soon all will be affected? 7 Remove this evil cancer—this wicked person—from among you, so that you can stay pure. Christ, God’s Lamb, has been slain for us. (TLB); KJV: Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven [yeast; i.e., of sin, and especially the unrepentant sinner], that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened [i.e., a godly church without unrepentant sinners in it]. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

Help each other

Galatians 6:1 [read Galatians 6:1-5 (1)]: Brothers and sisters, someone in your group might do something wrong. You who are following the Spirit should go to the one who is sinning. Help make that person right again, and do it in a gentle way. But be careful, because you might be tempted to sin too. (ERV); KJV: Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Jesus said “Judge in the right way”

John 7:22-24 [read John 7:10-24 (22-24)]: Moses gave you circumcision, and so you circumcise a child on the Sabbath day. But circumcision did not really come from Moses. It came from Abraham. 23 You circumcise a boy on the Sabbath day. You think that if you do, you won’t break the law of Moses.
Then why are you angry with me? I healed a man’s entire body on the Sabbath day! 24 Stop judging only by what you see. Judge in the right way. (NIRV); KJV: Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man. 23 If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken;
are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? 24 Judge^G2919 not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Settle disputes

Christians should settle legal disputes without going to court. That is when it only involves believers.
1 Corinthians 6:2 and 5 [read 1 Corinthians 6:1-11 (2 and 5)]: Or don’t you know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? Since this is true, aren’t you able to judge small cases? 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that no one among you is wise enough to judge matters between believers? (NIRV); KJV: Do ye not know that the saints shall judge^G2919 the world? and if the world shall be judged^G2919 by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 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^G2922 between his brethren?; G2922 κριτήριον kriterion (kriy-tee’-riy-on) n. [per Liddell-Scott-Jones Definitions] court of judgement, tribunal (a special court or committee that is appointed to deal with particular problems).

Understanding “judge not”

Luke 6:37 [read Luke 6:37-42 (37); compare Matthew 7:1-6 (1)]: Do not judge [others self-righteously], and you will not be judged; do not condemn [others when you are guilty and unrepentant], and you will not be condemned [for your hypocrisy]; pardon [others when they truly repent and change], and you will be pardoned [when you truly repent and change]. (AMP); KJV: Judge^G2919 not, and ye shall not be judged^G2919: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

Commentaries

Adam Clarke’s Commentary: These exhortations are pointed against rash, harsh, and uncharitable judgments, the thinking evil, where no evil seems, and speaking of it accordingly.
Barnes’ Notes: But what he refers to is a habit of forming a judgment hastily, harshly, and without an allowance for every palliating circumstance, and of expressing such an opinion harshly and unnecessarily when formed.
The Believer’s Study Bible: No one of us can know the heart of another, and thus to draw conclusions as to the “why” of people’s actions, especially when those actions are indifferent or even good, is to invite God’s judgment upon one’s life.
Bible Exposition Commentary: Not only will God judge us at the end, but people are also judging us right now; and we receive from people exactly what we give. The kind of judgment, and the measure of judgment, comes right back to us. We reap what we have sown.

Corrective judgments for protecting God’s children

Church leaders are the primary judges for matters in the body of Christ.

Shepherds are accountable

Paul was sure that he warned the people against sinful living. As such, their blood (failure to live holy) was not on him.
Acts 20:26-27 [read Acts 20:17-38 (26-27); compare Ezekiel 3:18-21 and 33:2-9; 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12]: So today I can tell you one thing that I am sure of: If any of you should be lost, I am not responsible. 27 This is because I have told you everything God wants you to know. (ICB); KJV: Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

Bishops (elders, overseers) must correct false teaching

Titus 1:9 [read Titus 1:9 (9); compare Matthew 7:15-20; 2 John 1:7-11; Romans 16:17; Ephesians 5:11]: By holding on [firmly] to the trustworthy [faithful] word [message] just as it was taught to them, overseers can encourage [exhort] people with true [sound; healthy] teaching, and they can correct [reprove; refute] those who are against it. (EXB); KJV: Holding fast the faithful word as he (a bishop {vs. 7} hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Pastors must rebuke sinning elders

1 Timothy 5:20 [read 1 Timothy 5:17-25 (20)]: You should rebuke in front of everyone [in the church] those elders who continue to sin, so that the rest [of the congregation] will be afraid [of sinning]. (AUV)); KJV: Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

The Great White Throne Judgment

Revelation 20:12-13 [read Revelation 20:11-15 (12-13)]: And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. Then books [scrolls] were opened, and [another book/scroll, which is] the book [scroll] of life was opened [3:5; Daniel 12:1–2]. The dead were judged by what they had done, which was written [recorded] in the books [scrolls].
13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades [the realm of the dead, also known as Sheol; 6:8] gave up the dead who were in them. Each person was judged by what he had done. (EXB); KJV: And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged^G2919 out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged^G2919 every man according to their works.

To show our love for others, instead of waiting for God’s final judgment. It’s helpful to judge sinful living now (corrective judgment), so the person can use this chance to repent and correct their ways.
I pray that you have enjoyed and will make the most of this Bible lesson. Blessings to you and your loved ones—♥ Tim. ☺