Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

I Don't Judge My Own Self

1Cor.4:1 So let a man think of us as Christ's servants, and stewards of God's mysteries. 4:2 Here, moreover, it is required of stewards, that they be found faithful. 4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by man's judgment. Yes, I don't judge my own self. 4:4 For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord. 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.

Was the apostle Paul being arrogant in stating that he did not judge himself, how indeed can a person not judge themselves and improve in this life?

John 8:15 You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one.

John 8:16 Even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent me.

Thus, when one reads Paul's words above they think its a nice thought, a good staying if a person is doing all things will in preaching and teaching the Good News of the kingdom, but is that true, or even the context of Paul's words above?
Romans 14:4 Who are you who judge another's servant? To his own lord he stands or falls. Yes, he will be made to stand, for God has power to make him stand.

5:37 But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'No.' Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.

No! Actually it is not true, either Paul spoke the truth, or he lied, there really is no in between when it comes to God's inspired word that was written by his Holy Spirit through his prophets. So what are we missing, and why is it so important that we understand the truth of Paul's words here as mature Christian's?

Heb.6:1 Therefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on to perfection--not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God,
6:2 of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
6:3 This will we do, if God permits.

Christ Anointing

Some Christian's spend a life time of making those anointed by God's Spirit into men of flesh and blood talking as if they are still under the tutorage of men in the flesh. Subsequently, there was an number of events where Christ own family wanted and tried to demean Christ anointing putting him back under the control of his mother, and brothers in the flesh.

Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to me, and doesn't hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can't be my disciple.

Although, the family or those under the flesh could not see God's anointing upon Christ Jesus they certainly had no excuse for not recognizing the works of God through Christ that were being done.

John 10:38 But if I do them, though you don't believe me, believe the works; that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father."

The demeaning of Christ as if he was still being directed by flesh and blood instead of God's powerful Holy Spirit was a put down to make Christ more manageable by his family members. Moreover, the apostle Paul himself was dealing with a fleshly congregation in Corinthian's that wanted more then anything to find fault in Paul's flesh to bring him under control of so called teachers within their congregation.

John.2:3 When the wine ran out, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no wine." 2:4 Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does that have to do with you and me? My hour has not yet come."
2:5 His mother said to the servants, "Whatever he says to you, do it."

If fault can be found in ones past, or childhood, or in something they once said, it gives excuse to demean the person as not relative in all areas of their life. Sadly, and profoundly this thinking is a huge mistake when dealing with God's anointed. Christ was sent by God as his messenger not judged by human flesh to determined if the message was from a man, or from God too them?

John.1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn't recognize him.
1:11 He came to his own, and those who were his own didn't receive him. 1:12 But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God's children, to those who believe in his name:
1:13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 1:14 The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Today many approach the apostle Paul in the same manner and see him boasting while telling others not to boast in the flesh, they see his statement above as prideful putting his righteousness above others none of which is true in context to what he is saying. First, to start with the flesh acts as if the message is nothing more then a man speaking as do all men who are liars, from there we come up with essentially demeaning the apostle Paul as stating some things that are true when convenient, while discrediting him in other statements that we think makes him a faulty man attempting to speak for God.

2 Peter 1:20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation.

2 Peter 1:21 For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.

Context, Setting, Law

Secondly, the very premise of Paul words applies to all of God's anointed throughout the history of our bibles. The anointed of God are a test stone that causes division and anger for those not loving truth. All coming into contact with God's anointed will be judged now or later. God takes personal responsibility for them and their lives he alone stands as the corrector of his anointed, he alone send forth his message through them and he will make sure what they speak has certain suggest as if he puts his stamp of approval upon it!

Isa.40:13 Who has directed the Spirit of Yahweh, or has taught him as his counselor?

Isaiah 55:11 so shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing I sent it to do.

To demean God's anointed is to demean God! Now lets start with context. The context of Paul's words above should have been known to those he was speaking to, or his words would make no sense as of what is true today for many Christian's.

Rom.8:33 Who could bring a charge against God's chosen ones? It is God who justifies. 8:34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

Paul speak from law, not emotions, which emotions has nothing to do with law or the power of God's law. Each anointed child of God was cleared of judgment of their flesh. Simply put, putting Paul or Christ back into the flesh is to disrespect what God had done. Christ was not kind to his own mother when she command Christ as if he were her little boy to do something even if she felt impelled by Holy Spirit, she was not God, or did she have headship over Christ.

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God.

1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God.

She was walking in the flesh with thoughts from human nature that is in all woman as mothers. Those feeling did not give her rights over God's anointing in Christ. No one needs to be told that yet it is human nature. When someone is chosen or given a high position even in the world respect it is the power of the position that is given respect too. The mother or brothers of that person don't try to put the family member back into a little boys body to make themselves feel empowered or familiar, nor important, as being more important that the position.

Matthew 10:35 For I came to set a man at odds against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

Matthew 10:37 He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn't worthy of me.

Matthew 12:46 While he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to him. 12:47 One said to him, "Behold, your mother and your brothers stand outside, seeking to speak to you."

Matthew 12:49 He stretched out his hand towards his disciples, and said, "Behold, my mother and my brothers!

Each child of God, was anointed by God for his purpose, not man's, basic teachings, these brothers and sisters were doing what? Serving men in the flesh as more important then what they were bought and paid for by Christ life to do, God's will, and not man's will!

1Cor.3:1 Brothers, I couldn't speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ.
3:2 I fed you with milk, not with meat; for you weren't yet ready. Indeed, not even now are you ready,
3:3 for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren't you fleshly, and don't you walk in the ways of men?
3:4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," aren't you fleshly?
3:5 Who then is Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom you believed; and each as the Lord gave to him?

They were freed of judgment of their flesh they were not to look at the flesh as though it could be perfected, or that its imperfection gave them rights to demean the anointing of God's Spirit upon them.

John 6:63 It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.

John 8:15 You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one.

Not Judging

Christ made it clear if we judge the flesh, we plant flesh, and what we get back is the judgment of the flesh, nothing more! In other words, all flesh is imperfect to God's judgment, none of it could stand in the perfect judgment of God. Subsequently, it was not as if, some had perfected themselves better in the flesh then others; when indeed the flesh is dead to God in Christ without judgment because it is buried put away from his judgment any longer.

Matt.7:1 "Don't judge, so that you won't be judged.
7:2 For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you.

Romans 7:18 For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don't find it doing that which is good.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.{NU omits "who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit"}

Romans 8:6 For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace;

Romans 8:7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God's law, neither indeed can it be.

If none could stand in the flesh, and God had to kill it in his own judgment then how could Paul or any anointed judge themselves in the flesh if they belong to God through Christ Jesus life? It was impossible and a meaningless judgment is it not?

Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.

Rom.7:4 Therefore, my brothers, you also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you would be joined to another, to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit to God.

The judgment was done completed at their anointing in Christ of their flesh, it was proven none on earth let alone them could stand righteous in their flesh. Why then were they demeaning the apostle Paul by judging his flesh, that is, knowing him by the flesh?

2 Corinthians 1:17 When I therefore was thus determined, did I show fickleness? Or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be the "Yes, yes" and the "No, no?"

2 Corinthians 5:16 Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.

They thought it gave them power over Paul just as all flesh does, by putting down the flesh and its sins it builds up those in the flesh. But the truth is in this case they brought God's own judgment upon themselves in the flesh. Their hearts were being uncovered, that is, what God's anointed do, that is, their commission as if by fire. God's anointed are not loved by the world or the flesh, they cause us much suffering in our flesh if we are given to worship of men or the flesh.
The flesh adjust words in legal wrangling, but the Spirit causes us a fire to remove the dross of false teaching, who can stand, is the real question?

1 Peter 4:17 For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. If it begins first with us, what will happen to those who don't obey the Good News of God?

Malachi 3:2 "But who can endure the day of his coming? And who will stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire, and like launderer's soap;

Luke 3:16 John answered them all, "I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the latchet of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire.

Judgment

The house of God is under judgment, it is a house of judgment a fire that Christ anointing started on earth. God anointed are corrected and taught by God alone, no flesh, or human being is going to intermingle in God's house. This should be a simple statement of fact, but to the flesh is seem a mystery?

Luke 12:49 "I came to throw fire on the earth. I wish it were already kindled.

Isaiah 10:27 It will happen in that day, that his burden will depart from off your shoulder, and his yoke from off your neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing oil.

1 John 2:27 As for you, the anointing which you received from him remains in you, and you don't need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, you will remain in him.

God's anointed knows no one by the flesh any longer, not even the Christ in his flesh. Thus, how does flesh correct the Spirit of God in any form?

Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.

The children of God have life, they are given the life of Christ which is spirit, they are anointed into a spirit body, not a fleshly body, so how can flesh in any form correct the Spirit of God that teaches and corrects his anointed?

1Cor.2:10 But to us, God revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
2:11 For who among men knows the things of a man, except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God, except God's Spirit.
2:12 But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God.
2:13 Which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things.
2:14 Now the natural man doesn't receive the things of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can't know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
2:15 But he who is spiritual discerns all things, and he himself is judged by no one.

These brothers and sisters were what? Paul made it clear fleshly, how could their judgment be of any value to Paul or any other anointed followers? What was the point in judging the flesh when it could not according to God even know the things of God?

1 Corinthians 1:29 that no flesh should boast before God.

1 Corinthians 3:21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours,

1 Corinthians 4:7 For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn't receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

Those that boast in the flesh about teaching God's anointed, boast in what is dead, and of no value at all! No matter how skilled and deep their knowledge and research done, it has nothing to do with the Spirit and corrector of God's children. If these actually belonged to God in Christ they would stand corrected by the Spirit words of Paul as a body member. Those anointed would without doubt accept them as coming from Spirit and truth, not from a man, as they were of the same Spirit, the same body, and the faith of the body, not their own.

1 Corinthians 4:21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

1 Corinthians 16:22 If any man doesn't love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed{Greek: anathema.}. Come, Lord!{Aramaic: Maranatha!}

2 Corinthians 6:6 in pureness, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love,

2 Corinthians 8:7 But as you abound in everything, in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that you also abound in this grace.

Each child of God is in conflict with the flesh, it lust and wars against the Spirit of God in them. It is the judgment upon the house of God. The Spirit cannot contact flesh and its thoughts without a war, the finality of that war is complete captivity to every thought and mighty thing raised up against the Kingdom of God that the flesh has created and built its own kingdoms by it own fleshly will. Let us clarify, a kingdom is any ruling power of ones life that is not of God.

1Cor. 3:11 For no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ.
3:12 But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or stubble; 3:13 each man's work will be revealed. For the Day will declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself will test what sort of work each man's work is.
3:14 If any man's work remains which he built on it, he will receive a reward. 3:15 If any man's work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as through fire.
3:16 Don't you know that you are a temple of God, and that God's Spirit lives in you? 3:17 If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him; for God's temple is holy, which you are.
3:18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise.

Nothing these brothers built in teaching, or business, position or power would stand in Christ. The Spirit is their builder that is what they are born again for, to be found faithful to. Who would judge if they were a faithful servant? Certainly not men, not a religion, not even their own judgments, but God's.

John 12:26 If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there will my servant also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

1 Corinthians 4:10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You have honor, but we have dishonor.

Hebrews 5:4 Nobody takes this honor on himself, but he is called by God, just like Aaron was.

Hebrews 3:3 For he has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who built the house has more honor than the house.

The time in the flesh is a humiliation for those trapped in a body of flesh under the corruption of the sin of Adam. Their freedom does not come from more flesh, or its projects. Nevertheless, we were warned it will be shown up as if by fire, and if our works remain they will be by Spirit which fire cannot touch, but if by flesh, humiliation and destruction of our hearts delight which are found in them, but God's anointed will be saved, why? Not for our name sake, but for his that is why Paul stated what he did to those brothers and sisters above!

Matthew 6:21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 12:35 The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure{TR adds "of the heart"} brings out evil things.

Matthew 13:44 "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found, and hid. In his joy, he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.

Ezekiel 36:22 Therefore tell the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: I don't do [this] for your sake, house of Israel, but for my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations, where you went.

Ezekiel 21:7 It shall be, when they tell you, Why do you sigh? that you shall say, Because of the news, for it comes; and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it comes, and it shall be done, says the Lord Yahweh.

Completed April 13, 2017