Tag: Speaking Evil

Letters, Studies

Beware The Sadducee Spirit

Rohnel

Marking and Cutting Off False Brethren

Rohnel, and my beloved husband, Peter, angels and servants of God and Christ, by God’s design unto the twelve tribes scattered in the world beloved of God, called to be saints, to the little children and to the faithful: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 

1Pe 1:4  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 

1Pe 1:5  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 

Keep My Commandments and Live, says the Lord

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

Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 

Introduction

Warnings about false teachers, prophets, and antichrists are most vital for us today, after the true Gospel of God, the Father, has been preached. This study overlaps with the one entitled Warnings and Commandments About Deceivers, yet due to ongoing risk and engagement within the flock, a specific warning about the spirit of the Sadducees is provided.

We are commanded to take heed and carefully guard our Doctrine, holding fast to what we have heard from the beginning. Our spiritual lives depend on it.

1Ti 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 

1Jn 2:24  Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 

Once the Holy Spirit comes, the Power of God, we entertain nothing to the contrary, no matter who speaks them, friend or foe. The Gospel is the Commandments of God, the Father, given through Christ, and we do not add to or take away from them.

Gal 1:8  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 

Gal 1:9  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 

We are free in Christ by the perfect Law of Liberty that now lives in us. We give no subjection to false brethren who bring in a different Gospel. We shun these deceivers and remain steadfast, taking heed that no one steal our crown in Christ Jesus.

Gal 2:4  And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 

Gal 2:5  To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. 

2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 

2Co 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

We face many perils, which are spiritual life-threatening experiences. We obey the Lord to escape these perils and to stay alive in the Holy Spirit. This is so important, we need to hear again, as our spiritual lives in Christ are at stake. If we fall back now, it is impossible to renew us again in this age.

2Co 11:26  In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren.

Heb 6:4  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 

Heb 6:5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 

Heb 6:6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 

False spirits come disguised as sheep, but inwardly, they are ravening wolves. Outwardly, they look like true brethren who love the Lord, but we know them by their fruits. They manifest as angels of light.

Mat 7:15  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 

Mat 7:16  Ye shall know them by their fruits.  Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 

Please read Gal 5:22 about the fruit of the Spirit, and Gal 5:19-21 about the works of the flesh, to see the difference. We know a deceiver by his or her fruit.

Mat 7:17  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 

Mat 7:18  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 

Mat 7:19  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 

Mat 7:20  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Mat 15:11  Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. 

Keeping the Lord’s Supper holy and not eating with those practicing sin, despite the outward forms of godliness, is a Commandment of Christ, and we take heed. It is the latter times, the Gospel is preached, and the end of the ages IS come upon those who have heard and is hearing. We cut off all occasions of those who bring deception into our heavens.

2Co 11:12  But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 
2Co 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 
2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 

Watchmen

With this being said, let us now see who the true watchmen of the flock are. Watchmen sit on the wall of the temple, which are the Commandments, and watch over the sheep and the holy city, that is to say, spiritual Jerusalem. It is a parable. True watchmen enter in before the sheep and are not hirelings. They give their spiritual lives for the sheep. Shepherds act, and hirlings flee when the thief enters. Shepherds the Lord raises are appointed to please God and not men, and give their lives for the sheep. They keep the charge of God’s altar.

Joh 10:11  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 

Joh 10:12  But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 

Joh 10:13  The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 

Heb 13:9  Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. 

Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. 

Shepherds judge according to the Commandments regarding all things and do not judge according to the flesh, that is to say, their accusing and excusing thoughts within, which is judging according to appearance.

Gal 1:10  For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

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

Paul reminded the Ephesian elders of the responsibility of a watchman, a warning he often gave to the Assembly in tears. Please read Acts 20:27-31.

The Sadducee Spirit

In this letter, we focus on the Sadducee spirit. We all know that Scriptures apply within us first and foremost, but in this letter, we look at the outward Sadducee. We explore several characteristics of the Sadducees. One: A very dangerous and deceiving spirit. Two: Who is the outward Sadducee today? Three: What do they say? Do they speak against authority? Four: Do they regard the angels of the Lord? Five: Do they believe in the resurrection from the dead? Six: Do they speak against the Holy Commandments, committing the sin unto death? Seven: Commandments regarding our dealings with the Sadducee spirit and deceivers.

ONE: The spirit of the Sadducees is a very cunning and deceiving spirit. Sadducees are gathered in spiritual Jerusalem, and the Lord uses them to sharpen the skills of His appointed Apostles and leaders in every age since Christ. They are vessels of dishonour, and are amongst God’s true people until the Day of the Lord when Christ destroys them with the brightness of His coming [2 The 2:1-12]. Spiritual Sadducees are needed because they teach the people of God to discern between good and evil [Heb 5:14]. This is all by God’s design.

2Ti 2:20  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 

2Ti 2:21  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. 

They are deceiving because they have been around for many years and outwardly do not appear like ravening wolves. This strong enemy is near or in the camp, and only those with spiritual discernment can discern them. Only those who have Christ, the Living Commandments, within, discern them because they have the Spirit of God. The Spirit of Christ is the risen Christ within, and are the Commandments of God given to Christ and His Christ.

Psa 55:12  For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: 

Psa 55:13  But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. 

Psa 55:14  We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. 

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

1Co 2:16  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. 

TWO: Who are they exactly? Sadducees are spiritual Jews with lots of knowledge about the Scriptures, searching the Scriptures daily, but they are without the Promise [John 5:38-40]. They have sought the Lord for many years and have a form of godliness.

2Ti 3:2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 

2Ti 3:3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 

2Ti 3:4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 

2Ti 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 

They are of the false circumcision. These deceivers are the rich young rulers, unwilling to forsake all their spiritual riches [knowledge] and follow the Living Christ they have now encountered, after hearing the Gospel preached to them. They deny the Power of Christ, that is to say, the Comforter or the risen Christ.

Act 11:2  And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, 

Act 13:45  But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 

The Sadducee spirit is a spirit of jealousy and a spirit with a root of bitterness. Pilate knew the real reason Christ was turned over to him to be crucified was because of the Jews’ envy. Christ warns against the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees [Matt 16:12].

Mat 27:18  For he [Pilate] knew that for envy they [The Jews] had delivered him. 

Heb 12:15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 

Heb 12:16  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 

There are types and shadows of spiritual Sadducees in the Old Testament. Sadducees are also spiritual Moabites and Ammonites, and they never enter into the congregation of the Lord, the true Temple which the Lord pitches in this age or in ages past. They are saved according to the Lord’s plan in the future of which we now do not speak. Moabites and Ammonites are those formed by the seed of the wicked one to keep the seed of flesh alive  [See Genesis 19 about Lot and his daughters] and think spiritually. When the wall was being built, meaning when the Commandments and the Gospel are received in our hearts, we clearly see the need to separate from the Ammonites and the Moabites.

Neh 13:1  On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; 

Nehemiah, as a type and shadow of us, rebuilt the walls of the temple outwardly, which symbolize the Apostles and leaders today and in every age, building the wall of the city. The walls are the Commandments in type and shadow which surround and protect the Holy City of God, that is to say, His flock. Read the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah and see how the enemies of the  Jews always tried to hinder the Jews from completing the work. As it was back then, so it is today. The enemies of the spiritual Jews constantly stir up contention, so the preaching of the Gospel is hindered.

Neh 4:1  But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. 

Act 4:1  And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 

Act 4:2  Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 

Act 4:3  And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. 

Jas 3:16  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 

Most of the contention to the preaching of the Gospel comes in the early days of the Church, when the foundation is being laid, and comes from the Sadducees. It is these Jews of the circumcision, the Sadducees and the Pharisees, who bring division into the House of God and who stir up most of the contention in the church.

Act 23:7  And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. 

Act 23:8  For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. 

Sadducees seek to bind the Apostles, that is to say, put them in a spiritual prison, and take away their ability to preach the Gospel in the House of God by stirring up dissension and strife. The Book of Acts is a parable.

Act 5:17  Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, [which is the sect of the Sadducees], and were filled with indignation, 

Act 5:18  And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. 

THREE: Sadducees do not receive the Lord’s Words of Spirit and Truth [John 6:63]. They count on their feigned words of godliness to deceive the simple and speak evil of the way of Truth that is the Gospel preached by the leaders the Lord sets in the church.

2Pe 2:1  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 

2Pe 2:2  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of Truth shall be evil spoken of. 

2Pe 2:3  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 

One telling behaviour pattern in their words is that they speak against the government and the rule of order that the Lord sets in the Church. These filthy dreamers despise the dominion of the Apostles and Prophets the Lord has established in His church, and speak evil of them.

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

2Pe 2:10  But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government.  Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

These deceivers manifest all the works of the flesh and readily deceive, beguiling the young in the Faith of Christ, which is why faithful watchmen are needed and commanded to act.

2Pe 2:14  Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 

Col 2:18  Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 

Col 2:19  And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. 

Jude reminds us to be diligent, contend for the Faith, and not let these deceivers enter and defile the flock.

Jud 1:4  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Jude brings it all back to the fruit as these deceivers promote themselves, feasting with us at the Lord’s table, bringing no Spirit [water, no Commandments] in their witness and showing no fear of the Lord, that is to say, obedience to the Lord’s Commandments.

Jud 1:11  Woe unto them!  for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 

Jud 1:12  These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 

The Sadducee spirit appeals to flesh, which naturally does not want to be ruled over. But rulership is the way of God’s House, and when Christ comes, He comes by way of His Christ, His chosen Apostles, and the leaders He raises up who rule the House of God with a rod of iron.

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 

Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 

Mat 19:28  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 

FOUR: Sadducees do not believe in angels. Angels are servants of God sent to those who obtain salvation. Angels are flames of fire and are ministering spirits.

Act 23:8  For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. 

Heb 1:7  And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. 

Sadducees deny these angels, being jealous of them and speak against them in stirring up sedition and discord among brethren, which the Lord hates.

FIVE: Spiritual Sadducees are the rich ones who need nothing and claim there is no resurrection because it is in the past for them. The discerning see this spirit of error leading away from the Lord’s Commandments. Here is a stern warning in Deut 13:1-5 about deceiving and lying prophets and dreamers of dreams, which are Sadducees. Read all. They are to be cut off, and the Israel of God is to have no part with them.

Deu 13:5  And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in.  So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee. 

One example of the Sadducee spirit is Hymenaeus and Philetus, who believed the resurrection was already past, meaning they claimed to have the Holy Spirit already when they did not. Sadducees believe they receive the Holy Spirit when they go down to the altar and give their hearts to Jesus. The Comforter is not a reality to them, and they deny the Power of God, that is to say, they deny the risen Christ. They deny Christ IS COME in our flesh today and every day.

1Ti 1:19  Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: 

1Ti 1:20  Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

2Ti 2:17  And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 

2Ti 2:18  Who concerning the Truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. 

This spirit is the spirit of anti-Christ. Any spirit confessing Christ IS COME in our flesh is of God; any spirit not confessing this is not of God.

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 

1Jn 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 

1Jn 4:3  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. 

Antichrist means an opponent of the Messiah. John introduces the term antichrist and links them to those who fellowship with us.

1Jn 2:18  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 

1Jn 2:19  They [antichrists] went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. 

While antichrists have some truth, it is mixed with lies. The liar is a son of Satan, the carnally minded, father of death, who denies the Father and the Son, the Promise of God IS COME in our flesh.

1Jn 2:21  I have not written unto you because ye know not the Truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the Truth. 

1Jn 2:22  Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ?  He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son [The Promise].

SIX: Sadducees commit the sin that is not forgiven in this age. This sin is to speak against the Lord’s Commandments. It is the sin unto death, and this makes them spiritual Moabites and Ammonites who do not enter into the Lord’s congregation in this age.

Mar 3:28  Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: 

Mar 3:29  But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: 

1Jn 5:16  If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

When the Commandments, the Spirit of the Lord is denied, these deceivers are to be denied.

Luk 12:9  But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. 

Luk 12:10  And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Spirit it shall not be forgiven. 

Please refer to the study on Blaspheming the Holy Spirit for more details.

SEVEN: What are the Commandments regarding Sadducees and deceivers? Here is a repeat of a few of the Commandments given earlier on, so it is written in our hearts and minds to remember and to obey to be found faithful and worthy to stand before the Lord. Separating from false brethren who disrupt the church and sow discord and spread lies are important Commandments we ignore at our own peril.

Tit 1:10  For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 

Tit 1:11  Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. 

1Ti 6:3  If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 

1Ti 6:4  He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 

1Ti 6:5  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the Truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 

2Th 3:14  And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 

We do not eat spiritually with those who bring false Gospels and are thus spiritual fornicators, idolaters who make merchandise of the Lord’s people. We let the Lord judge those who are without the Gospel. These Scriptures are not history lessons; they are Commandments for today.

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 5:13  But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

2Ti 3:1  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 

2Ti 3:2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 

2Ti 3:3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 

2Ti 3:4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 

2Ti 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 

2Jn 1:8  Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 

2Jn 1:9  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 

2Jn 1:10  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 

2Jn 1:11  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. 

Final Exhortation

When the Gospel is preached, the harvest is ripe, and the time IS come for the separation of the wheat from the tares and the sheep from the goats. The Lord’s angels, the watchmen the Lord has raised, carry out this separation by warning and teaching the sheep.

Mat 25:31  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 

Mat 25:32  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 

Mat 25:33  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 

All in Christ shall suffer persecution from those the Lord has deceived. Only the called, chosen, and faithful remain in the end. Christ is always winnowing down His flock.

2Ti 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 

2Ti 3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 

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

Will you and we be found faithful?

Luk 18:7  And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 

Luk 18:8  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? 

Receive ye the Gospel, receive ye the Holy Spirit.

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.