SATURDAY EDITORIAL

WORD OF WISDOM

JUDGE ~ (Hebrews shophet, pl. shophetim), properly a magistrate or ruler, rather than one who judges in the sense of trying a cause. This is the name given to those rulers who presided over the affairs of the Israelites during the interval between the death of Joshua and the accession of Saul (Judges 2:18), a period of general anarchy and confusion. "The office of judges or regents was held during life, but it was not hereditary, neither could they appoint their successors. Their authority was limited by the law alone, and in doubtful cases they were directed to consult the divine King through the priest by Urim and Thummim (Numbers 27:21). Their authority extended only over those tribes by whom they had been elected or acknowledged. There was no income attached to their office, and they bore no external Marks of dignity.

Source: Easton's Bible Dictionary

John 12:47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

He shall sit on the throne of judgment, not to condemn the world He came to save. The words He left in the world will decide the destiny of every man. All shall be judged by the things written in the books (Re 20:12). I judge him not - Not now, for I am not come to judge the world. See, Christ came to save even them that finally perish! Even these are a part of that world, which He lived and died to save.

Our Lord publicly proclaimed, that every one who believed on Him, as His true disciple, did not believe on Him only, but on the Father who sent Him. Beholding in Jesus the glory of the Father, we learn to obey, love, and trust in Him. By daily looking to Him, who came a Light into the world, we are more and more freed from the darkness of ignorance, error, sin, and misery; we learn that the command of God our Saviour is everlasting life. But the same word will seal the condemnation of all who despise it, or neglect it.

It was not His present purpose to condemn men. He would come to condemn the guilty at a future time. At present He came to save them. Why then does Christ not choose to condemn them? It is because He lays aside for a time the office of a judge, and offers salvation to all without reserve, and stretches out His arms to embrace all, that all may be the more encouraged to repent.

John 3:16 & 17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

There is no sweeter verse in the Bible. It declares: (1) That God is love. (2) That He loved the world instead of hating it. (3) That He so loved that He gave his Son. (4) That He came to keep men from perishing. Though "condemnation" is to many the issue of Christ's mission (Joh 3:19), it is not the object of His mission, which is purely a saving one.

If we could ask the dead sinners, they will tell us, that no matter how pretty sin may be, at the last it bites like a serpent. See the powerful remedy against this tragic end. Look and be saved, look and live; lift up the eyes of your faith to Christ crucified.

God having given Him to be our Prophet, Priest, and King, we must give up ourselves to be ruled, and taught, and saved by Him. God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, and so saving it. It could not be saved, but through Him; there is no salvation in any other. From all this is shown the happiness of true believers; he that believeth in Christ is not condemned. Though he has been a great sinner, yet he is not dealt with according to what his sins deserve. What does it matter if we have plenty of food to eat, and all kind of clothes to put on, if we are not born again?

John 8:15 I am presently only teaching you, I condemn no man: but yet if I want to do it, I might lawfully do it, for I am not alone, but my Father is with me.

We judge according to appearances but at this time He lets their lives and consciences judge them.

Those who follow Christ shall not be left without the truths which are necessary to keep them from error, and the directions in the way of duty, necessary to keep them from sin.

John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

We must judge according to the truth of things, so men do not turn us from that truth and carry us away. The world I am walking in now thinks I am a despicable person from among the rabble of Galilee, and a carpenter's son, whom no man considers to be very important: but mark the matter itself well, and judge the tree by the fruit.

God sent One to save us, that was dearest to Himself; and shall He not be dearest to us?

God's Blessings to each of you,

LJG/rECj