Tag: Law of Gentiles

Letters

A Salvation by Faith Versus Works

Peter

Obedience is the Work of Faith

Peter and Rohnel, servants of Jesus Christ,  to the scattered pilgrims in the faith. Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

A false doctrine keeping many in darkness and unable to receive the Gospel of the Living Commandments is the lie that teaching obedience to the Commandments is teaching of salvation by the works of men. The insinuation is that when the Commandments are preached as the way of salvation, one is not walking by faith and instead is trying to save themselves by their own work or obedience. Nothing could be further from the truth.  Faith is faith in the Living Christ, the Commandments to save us.

This study exposes and contrasts the works of men, which do not save from the works of God, which do bring salvation.  The works of the Father are the Holy Commandments and what Christ always speaks and does. As His Christ, being made into sons of God, we bear the same witness as we are Christ in this world once the Promise comes.

Joh 5:36  But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

The faith of Christ is faith in the Living Commandments to save us from sin. Those given the faith of Christ are the blessed of God who strive to know and obey all His Commandments and enter into the narrow gates into the holy city of heavenly Jerusalem.

Rev 22:14  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 

The “works salvation” lie is sustained and perpetuated by other false doctrines that ignore the scores of witnesses in the Old and New Testaments, who confirm that obedience is all that matters. Obedience is salvation, and any other teaching is a false Gospel.

Gal 6:15  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 

Do not be deceived about who is righteous and what walking by faith looks like. Here is a sample of what could be a lengthy list of witnesses from the old and the new.

Joh 14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments. 

Lev 22:31  Therefore shall ye keep my commandments, and do them: I am the LORD. 

1Pe 1:15  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 

Deu 8:11  Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: 

1Jn 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 

Psa 119:98  Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. 

1Jn 3:7  Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 

One believing the lie that teaching and admonishing one to obey the Commandments is a salvation of one’s own works, ensures that the Commandments are esteemed lightly and given only lip service. The Gospel, the power of salvation, remains far from one’s heart and mind when one believes the lie. Being blinded by God, one cannot receive the preaching of the Gospel and falsely claim it is the works of men. The grace of God that is the Commandments is thus turned into lasciviousness and a lukewarm walk and conscience towards the Lord.  Isaiah prophesied of this as the Lord Himself quoted in the Gospels.

Mat 15:8  This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me [My Commandments]

Mat 15:9  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 

The natural man within loves the darkness and does not come to the light until the Father draws them. Flesh and carnal minds trust in themselves, their knowledge, and hate the light of the Commandments.

Joh 3:20  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 

Joh 3:21  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. 

It serves the Lord’s purposes of election to blind the entire world and only reveal Himself to a chosen few in every generation. As in all Scripture, there are two sides to the sword, including what are “works”. There are the works of the flesh and the works of God. The works of men, the flesh, do not save, but the works of God bring salvation. Carnally minded men have mixed up the Scriptures, concocting many false doctrines by taking verses by themselves, without considering the sum, thus creating doctrines that keep them and their followers in spiritual darkness. Those marked of God, given faith, are receiving the marvelous light of Christ arising upon them that shows us the way to walk.

Isa 60:1  Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. 

Isa 60:2  For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. 

Those outside of faith are engulfed in spiritual darkness.

Mat 6:23  But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 

It is only through the Lord’s mercy that our eyes are opened to see, and we come to the light of the Gospel, the hidden mystery of Christ.

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 

1Pe 2:10  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 

The Works of God

Salvation is the Lord’s work, and the absolute sovereignty of God in directing our every step. The glory is all the Lord’s. Yet we are commanded to work out our own salvation, which means we strive to obey our Heavenly Father and the Gospel we believe, knowing that disobedience brings more grace and more trials until we are brought into subjection to the Commandments.

Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 

Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 

Salvation comes through the work of the Commandments, that is, the Living Word, the Lord from heaven, who dwells in us when the Promise comes. As many studies on the website show, the faith of Christ, which we are given as a gift, is the Spirit of the Father and the Son, who now dwell in us as we are the Temple of the Living God. The free gift, given to a few in this age, is also known as the grace of God and brings salvation at the appointed time.

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 

Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast. 

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 

We enter the Kingdom of God and overcome sin by working the work of God, which is obeying His Commandments. There is no other way of salvation, which is defined as being saved or overcoming our sins. The Lord admonishes us to labour or work for the meat that is obeying the Gospel of His Commandments. Any other meat [knowledge] is a false gospel and is the works of men and a salvation that does not save.

Joh 6:27  Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 

Joh 6:28  Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 

Joh 6:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 

The Spirit of Grace is the Living Commandments that chasten us when we disobey, and thus we are taught the righteousness of Jesus Christ by judgment in our day of the Lord. We overcome by exercising the faith God has given us. Salvation comes by way of many trials, the tests of our faith, where one is either chastened for disobedience or promoted in faith when we obey and pass the trial. Every trial is a test of faith. When the Lord comes in these trials, will he find faith on our earth? These trials are most precious to God as they bring forth Christ, the Son of God, and manifest His glory.

1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 

1Pe 1:8  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 

1Pe 1:9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

The Works of the Law which Save Not

The law of Moses is the same as the law of the Gentiles, and also known as the law of sin and death, and is the law by which nobody is saved. This is because all flesh is weak and has no power of itself to overcome the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life God put into our sinful clay bodies. It is only through the Holy Spirit, the indwelling power of God, that one is delivered from their bondage to sin.

Rom 8:11  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 

Every man is first of their father, the devil, being bound by their carnal mind and the law, which is the basic understanding of right from wrong, but unable to escape the bondage of flesh. All men have this law in them and by nature do the things contained in the law, which is pointing the finger and accusing and excusing in reasoning out how to behave in a given situation. These are the works that justify no man.

Rom 2:14  For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 

Rom 2:15  Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) 

Creating false doctrines out of one verse is a recipe for error and deception, all by the Lord’s design, and is what men have done in leading many away from the true Gospel. The works of the law of sin and death can be used lawfully, but do not bring lasting change to anyone’s heart. We are justified through the works of the law of faith, and there is a vast difference between the two laws.

Gal 2:16  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the [carnal] law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 

The works of the law are the works of men, a corrupted version of the Commandments of Jesus Christ. A mixed table, part truth and lies, which is the devil’s method to deceive and hold us in bondage until the Lord comes to set us free. The Spirit of Grace destroys the power of the devil and the resulting lies and spiritual death that kept us in bondage all our prior lives.

Heb 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 

Heb 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 

1Co 15:55  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 

The works of the flesh that do not save anyone bring glory and gain to the flesh. The works of God bring glory only to God and not to man.

Mat 23:5  But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 

To be carnally minded is death [Rom 8:6] and keeps one from hearing Christ’s Words in Spirit and in Truth. The Lord comes and sets us free from this bondage, and the end of death, the last enemy, is orchestrated by the Commandments. The spirit of Satan and death are cast into the lake of fire, of the fiery Commandments, and burned up. The other side of this event is the bringing forth of the new man, our resurrection from the dead. The Commandments perform both the destruction of death and the resurrection from death by calling us out of our graves.

Joh 5:25  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live

Joh 11:43  And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 

Carnal minds trust in their own spiritual riches and reason that one is saved by such knowledge, and thus we enter an endless loop of pursuing more, every learning, but never able to come to knowledge of the Truth, that is, the Living Christ, the Commandments. The true “works” salvation that does not save anyone is seeking to circumcise our own hearts and minds by pursuing more and more knowledge of the Scriptures. Men glory in themselves and their knowledge, but are not willing to come to Christ, the Commandments, until He drags us to Himself.

Joh 5:38  But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 

Joh 5:39  You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.

Joh 5:40  But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. 

Solomon came to see that all the pursuits of men are vanity when they try to establish their own righteousness apart from Christ.

Ecc 12:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

The chosen of the Lord are unprofitable servants, doing their duty, which is to obey the Gospel.

Luk 17:10  So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. 

The good works for which we have been created to perform is obeying the Commandments. As Christ in the world, we are setting an example and working in the vineyards of the Lord to bring Christ to birth and thus spread the love and light of God.

Mat 5:14  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 

Mat 5:15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 

Mat 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Christ comes not to destroy the old law but to fulfill it to perfection when He comes as the Promise of the Living Commandments. The greatest in the Kingdom teach and do the Commandments, which have not changed, knowing this is the work of God to which they have been appointed.

Mat 5:17  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 

Mat 5:18  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 

Mat 5:19  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 

Resting from Our Works

When Christ comes as the Living Commandments, the Spirit of Truth and Grace, the end of the law of Moses/Gentiles for righteousnes is come.  With the faith of Christ now abiding in us, we are no longer bound to the carnal law for the lawless. We have entered into the promised rest.

Rom 10:4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. 

To enter the Kingdom of God, we are entering into the Sabbath of the Lord. Entering the Sabbath means always obeying the Commandments every hour of every day. We hallow the Lord’s Sabbath, the true Sabbath, which is a parable to stand and do the Commandments. Rather than reason in our carnal mind, we just do what the Commandment says, proving ourselves as the people of the Lord, being disciples indeed.

Eze 20:19  I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; 

Eze 20:20  And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God. 

When we come to the Commandments that are Christ, we enter into the rest of God. We cease from the works of the carnal mind and just stand in the Commandments.

Mat 11:28  Come unto me [Commandments], all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

Mat 11:29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 

Mat 11:30  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 

When we do not hallow the Lord’s sabbath, we are not obeying His Commandments. A time comes when He kindles the fire in us, the Living Word that brings the judgment which is causing us to enter into His rest.

Jer 17:27  But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched. 

Doing the work of God is pressing into the Kingdom and labouring to enter into His rest. Our labour is the many trials of our faith and the resulting chastening that is teaching us righteousness. We run this race with endurance all the way to the end, and the Living Christ does not fail to deliver us and bring us into His rest.

Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 

Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 

Only a remnant is being saved out of Spiritual Israel in every generation through the works of the Spirit of Grace that is the Promise. Few there be shall find the narrow way to enter, and everyone else is blinded. The stumbling stone that is a rock of offense to them is the Commandments, as the mystery remains hid from their eyes. So it is to this very day.

Rom 11:5  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 

Rom 11:6  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. 

Rom 11:7  What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded 

Faith without the Works of God

Faith without the accompanying works of God, meaning our obedience under the law, is dead faith. An active and living faith bears the fruit unto righteousness; it bears the works of God. Saying we have faith is not enough. We need to be disciples indeed and do the works of faith to prove our faith and become the Sons of God. James’s words are spiritual and harmonize perfectly with the sum of the Scriptures and are the truth.

Jas 2:20  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 

Giving spiritual bread and clothing to our hungry and naked brothers is done by doing the Work of God, which is preaching and obeying the Gospel. We provide them with a cup of water, a piece of bread, and clothing by doing the Commandments rather than passing them by. Admonishments and rebukes give spiritual food and clothing that carnal flesh is hesitant to give.  We are commanded to care for the sheep.  Brotherly love unfeigned demands that we put the needs of others above our own.

Jas 2:14  What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 

Jas 2:15  If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 

Jas 2:16  And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 

Jas 2:17  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 

Jas 2:18  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 

Ceasing from our carnal works, we fervently begin working for the Lord, working in His vineyard with the implements of the Gospel and the Commandments. When the Gospel has been preached to us, the Lord is calling us to get to work in His vineyard. Those who do not work are not eating of the Gospel and thus making little or no progress toward entering the Kingdom of God and overcoming their sins.

2Th 3:10  For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 

2Th 3:11  For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 

The Lord has given us work to do while we are baptized with the baptism of John and are washed by the Commandments. We do not fall asleep but watch and are always about the Father’s business.

Mar 13:33  Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 

Mar 13:34  For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 

Mar 13:35  Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 

Mar 13:36  Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 

Mar 13:37  And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. 

We live by every Word, and thus we are the blind man to whom the Lord has opened our eyes to see Him. Our eyes have been opened to see the Commandments, so that the works of God may be made manifest by us and in us.

Joh 9:1  And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 

Joh 9:2  And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 

Joh 9:3  Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 

Only those who do the will of the Father, which requires doing the work of God, enter into the Kingdom of God.

Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 

Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

Our only boast is in the Lord. It is only by His mercy that we receive the Truth and are able to press into the Kingdom of God that has appeared to us.

Receive ye the Gospel of salvation and walk therein.

 

Commandments

Judging: The Accusing and Excusing Mindset

Rohnel

The Commands of Christ Jesus

The Power of an Endless Life

Ronel and my beloved husband, Pete, unto the Church of Christ, which is in God, the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Speaking to the Church to exhort, comfort, and edify.

To Judge/Judge Not/How to Judge

Our Lord and Saviour, Christ, gives us Commandments regarding judging.  The sum of the Scriptures contains and reveals these Commandments, that is the Truth.  We are commanded both to judge and not to judge, and are to consider the measure in how we make judgments.  Speaking in parables to the multitudes, we are told this.

Mat 7:1  Judge not, that ye be not judged. 

Mat 7:2  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 

Some stop there, ignoring the rest of the Scriptures and believing the lie that Christians are not to judge whatsoever.  We are to judge all things in the Spirit under the law of faith, that is, the Commandments.  Paul rebuked the carnal Corinthians who were not making the commanded judgments within the church.

1Co 5:11  But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 

1Co 5:12  For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 

Without judging, we do not discern or differentiate between the holy and profane, so judgments are essential to stay on the narrow way of Christ.  Our judging is known as righteous judgment, and it is the role of God’s priests to teach the people of God how to judge righteously.

Eze 44:23  And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

We do not judge in the flesh; we judge according to the Commandments, which is the Living Word and is the righteous judgment of God.  We need to be clear about the difference.

What is judging in the flesh?

To judge in the flesh is to have an accusing and excusing mindset [the pride of Life], which is called the Law of the Gentiles, a Law unto ourselves. We are born this way, that is, with an accusing and excusing mindset.  It is innate to all flesh and all humanity.

Rom 2:14  For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 

Rom 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) 

To judge in the flesh is the same as evil speaking, even if we keep the words to ourselves. We are commanded not to speak evil, which is carnal reasoning about any man.  Judging in the flesh brings forth many other works of the flesh and this defiles our heavens and our earth.

Eph 4:31  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 

Eph 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Tit 3:2  To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. 

Tit 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 

Why are we commanded not to judge? We are commanded not to judge because that makes us judges and not doers of Christ’s Law, His Commandments, the Law of Liberty, the Law of Freedom:

Jas 4:11  Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 

Jas 4:12  There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? 

There were judges in the OT, and that was under the Law of Moses. This typifies our time before Christ, before the King is raised up over Israel.  Those in Christ operate under Christ’s Law of faith:

Deu 1:16  And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. 

Deu 1:17 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.

We, being the true flock of God, are commanded not to judge but rather to forgive:

Luk 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: 

Luk 11:4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive everyone [rather than judging them] that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. 

What does it mean to forgive? It means to get rid of an accusing and excusing mindset, the law of sin that reigns in our members, in other words, to forgive means not to be carnally minded but to be spiritually minded:

Rom 8:6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 

Rom 8:7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 

Rom 8:8  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 

Rom 7:14  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 

Rom 7:15  For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 

When we judge and speak evil of another, hating one another, we have an evil eye. These are spiritual words. This is what we do spiritually when we accuse or excuse one another.

Mar 7:21  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 

Mar 7:22  Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 

Mar 7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. 

In the parable of the Vineyard, Christ pointed out that the first laborers complained because the last laborers received the same reward as the first ones, yet they worked less. Their eyes were evil. They judged according to their carnal minds; they judged according to their flesh.

Mat 20:15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 

Judging according to the flesh, that is how a matter appears to us, thinking we know, has us in danger to be cast into the Lake of Fire, which is now for us, the fire that burns with brimstone, the chastening grace [discipline] of the Lord upon our sins [evil mindset, accusing and excusing each other]. This mindset of death is destroyed [consumed] in the fiery Commandments in our day of the Lord.

Mar 9:47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 

Rev 20:10  And the devil [prince of the air, carnal mindset] that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 

An evil eye is not to have the singleness of Christ’s doctrine, but rather judging after appearances. The Commandment is to judge righteous judgment, which is to judge according to His Commandments and not to judge after the flesh. The Lord changes not, as even the OT judges judged in righteousness according to the Law of Moses and not according to their own carnal thinking:

Joh 7:21  Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel. 

Joh 7:22  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.

Joh 7:23  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? 

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

Lev 19:15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness [The Law, Commandments] shalt thou judge thy neighbour. 

When we say we see and judge after the appearance of a matter, we do not see and are blind, poor, and naked in Spirit.

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 

Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 

A single eye is a symbol of Light, the Light and singleness of Christ’s Name, His doctrine, His Gospel, the singleness of heart, fearing God, which means to keep His Commandments:

Luk 11:34  The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. 

Luk 11:35  Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. 

Luk 11:36 If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light. 

Col 3:22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:

We all went astray from the living Commandments in times past, speaking evil, hating one another, judging one another, tempting Christ, not doing Christ’s Law, but now we are returning home, finding rest from our wicked works:

Act 7:51  Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 

Act 7:52  Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: 

Act 7:53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. 

Psa 116:7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee. 

Judging is to think above what is written, because we are puffed up one against another. To think above what is written is to imagine things, to dream:

1Co 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. 

Jud 1:8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion [Commandments], and speak evil of dignities. 

Zec 7:10 And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. 

2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 

Christ appears for us today and every day, showing us mercy through His Commandments:

Isa 42:16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

God’s ways are higher than ours:

Isa 55:8  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 

Isa 35:8  And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

Judging in the flesh is tempting the Lord Christ. Note that in this example, when Christ was tempted by the devil, the Lord did not reason with the devil but pointed to the Truth of the written Word.

Mat 4:3  And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeded out of the mouth of God. 

The chief priests and scribes tempt Christ to sin, to catch Him in His Words, to accuse or excuse the matter at hand, but once again Christ was without sin and answered them with the Commandment He received from the Father:

Luk 20:20  And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor. 

To catch Christ in His Words, to make Him reason with His mind.  Answering with the Commandment of the Father is our escape from the temptation.

Luk 20:21  And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly: 

Luk 20:22  Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no? 

Luk 20:23  But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me? 

Luk 20:24  Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar’s. 

Luk 20:25 And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.

In the example of the women caught in adultery, the scribes and Pharisees try to tempt Christ again, to start reasoning, accusing or excusing the woman:

Joh 8:6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 

Christ teaches us to pray to the Father not to lead us into temptation, that is, to argue within ourselves and have carnal thoughts.  The war is in our heaven.

Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 

Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 

When we judge/speak evil of one another, we tempt Christ, and are destroyed in our carnal reasonings [we are destroyed by serpents, which symbolize carnal thoughts].

1Co 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 

Jer 8:17 For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the LORD. 

There is One Lawgiver and one Judge, and He is our example and the measure we follow.

Isa 33:22 For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us. 

Jas 4:12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? 

Christ came to save us, not to condemn us before the Father.  Our salvation comes by way of righteous judgment brought upon us that chastens us, teaching us, and in due time causing us to come into obedience to the Commandments.

Joh 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. 

Joh 12:48  He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. 

Mat 18:11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 

We, that are spiritual [have the Spirit of Christ], judge all things but are judged of no man:

1Co 2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 

1Co 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 

1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 

1Co 2:15  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 

We, who are spiritual, judge all things but not the person themselves who is doing what the Lord is working in their life.  We ourselves are likewise judged of no man.

Why are we judged by no man? Because the Living Word [Christ] judges us:

Joh 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. 

1Co 4:4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. 

1Co 4:5  Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. 

We know that the law in the courts of this world, the Law of the Gentiles, is good if it is used lawfully, knowing that this law is not for a righteous man:

1Ti 1:8  But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; 

1Ti 1:9  Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 

1Ti 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; 

Why is the Law of the Gentiles not for a righteous man? Judge it for yourself. It is because, spiritually speaking, accusing and excusing quickly puts us into a prison of carnal mindedness, which leads to spiritual death. Read Rom 5:21:

Luk 12:57  Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right? 

Luk 12:58  When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison. 

Luk 12:59  I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite. 

We clearly see that we do not judge another man’s servant because to his own master [The Lord] he stands or falls:

Rom 14:3  Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 

Rom 14:4  Who art thou that judgest 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. 

We belong to the Lord whether we live or die:

Rom 14:9  For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. 

Rom 14:10  But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

We are commanded to judge the things pertaining to this life between ourselves in the body of Christ by the Commandments, which are the least esteemed by the flesh.  Likewise, we are commanded not to have lawsuits against each other, going to the courts of the world within and without.  As the elect of God, we are being trained now to do the greater works of bringing all of mankind to Christ in the age to come.  Judging all things according to the Commandments is how salvation is wrought in the hearts and minds of every man in the appointed time.

1Co 6:1  Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 

1Co 6:2  Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 

1Co 6:3  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 

1Co 6:4  If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge [The Commandments] who are least esteemed in the church. 

1Co 6:5  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 between his brethren? 

1Co 6:6  But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. 

When we are defrauded or cheated, the excellent way, the Christ way, is to suffer, turn the other cheek and rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer for His Namesake.

1Co 6:7  Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? 

1Co 6:8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. 

1Pe 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. 

Having heard the Gospel of the Living Commandments, we no longer have any excuse to judge according to the flesh:

Rom 2:1  Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 

Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 

We give an account of every idle word spoken in our Day of Judgment, which judgment is now upon the House of God:

Mat 12:36  But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 

Mat 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

When we judge in the flesh, we disobey the Commandment not to be partial in our judgment.

Jas 2:2  For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 

Jas 2:3  And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 

Jas 2:4  Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 

Mal 2:8  But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. 

Mal 2:9  Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law. 

We take heed because we are now being judged by Christ’s Law of Freedom:

Jas 2:12  So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty [The Commandments]

The saviors that come up on Mount Zion are types and shadows of the shepherds after the Lord’s heart who feed His flock His Gospel that is the perfect Law of Liberty.

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S. 

We judge with righteous judgment according to Christ’s example.  We judge after what we are learning from Christ and not according to our own mindsets, not according to our own fleshly, carnally minded arguments.

Joh 8:15  Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. 

Joh 8:16  And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. 

We follow after Christ because we are not alone. We have the Living Word living in us, directing our steps:

1Jn 2:27  But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 

Isa 30:21  And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. 

If we endure and overcome the temptations set before us, we receive a crown of life:

Jas 1:12  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 

Zec 9:16  And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land. 

Zec 9:17  For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids. 

We are drawn away by our own innate carnal lusts when we argue, tempt, speak evil, and thereby judge. God tempts no man. We have itching ears according to our carnal mindsets and not according to sound doctrine, which is the Gospel of Christ.

Jas 1:13  Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 

Jas 1:14  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 

Jas 1:15  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 

Therefore, we strive to enter into the narrow gate, not to judge, not to speak evil, not to tempt any more, but rather to forgive, laying our lives down. If we do judge, we judge with righteous judgment according to Christ, saving the world, our hearers, from their unrighteousness. This is within and without us.

The commandments teach us to bridle our tongue to stop judging after the flesh. We need to be on guard against the temptation to adopt the accusing and excusing mindset of this world.  It takes no effort to slip into worldliness and begin speaking evil of others.  We take such impulses and thoughts captive to the obedience to the Commandment not to judge or speak evil of others.

Jas 3:3  Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 

Jas 3:4  Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 

Jas 3:5  Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 

Jas 3:6  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 

Just doing the Commandments is how we, the Lord’s people, refrain our tongue and cease engaging with and provoking those who walk according to the law of the Gentiles that have an accusing and excusing mindset.

In closing, when Christ comes with the Promise, the accuser of the brethren, the devil, is cast out of our heaven.  Those in Christ are not focused on finding faults and pointing the accusatory finger at what the Lord is working in the lives of others.  The law of sowing and reaping applies to judging, and we are to love one another, which is obeying the Commandments.  Nothing more and nothing less.  Our focus is on the faults and sins within ourselves and not in others.  By judging all things righteously in ourselves first, we are then able to minister effectively to our brothers or sisters in need.

Mat 7:1  Judge not, that ye be not judged. 

Mat 7:2  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 

Mat 7:3  And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 

Mat 7:4  Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

Mat 7:5  Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye. 

Receive ye the Gospel.