Good morning and welcome in. Today we’re going to take a look at a passage of scripture from the book of Romans.
James 5:9 – Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
The word grudge is defined as to be unwilling to give or to allow something. In this case, it’s refusing to grant a person forgiveness and mercy. As Christians, we are supposed to be very forgiving and merciful with each other, understanding that each of us have come short of the glory of God. A grudge develops because of the refusal to forgive another person when they seek reconciliation with you. Instead of releasing someone from the debt of their sins, (as the Lord Jesus Christ does for us,) they refuse to forgive, retaining a bitter grudge in their heart. Instead of forgiving, they stand in judgment over another, and in their eyes, deem them unworthy of their forgiveness.
Romans 2:1-2 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.
When you judge others in this manner, you condemn yourself. The reason why is because each of us are sinners in the eyes of God. Each of us in the church pray and ask God for forgiveness as we need it. When someone approaches you and apologizes yet you refuse to forgive them, and you hold it against them, you condemn yourself because God will not forgive you. When you treat others this way you abide in a state of unforgiveness with God. The only way to be released from that is to apologize to God for treating the offender that way, and to forgive and to reconcile with them.
Luke 6:37 – Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
When people refuse to show mercy and forgiveness they become very lofty and filled with pride. As I have talked about for years, it’s the “I’m better than you syndrome.” Something that people really need to understand in the church is that each of us are sinners who require forgiveness from God. If God so loved us we also ought to love one another. The same is also true about forgiveness. Because God forgives you, you also need to forgive others. When you refuse to do so, you are setting yourself up as judge and jury, and at the same time usurping the command of Christ to show them mercy. The Lord Jesus extends forgiveness to all of us. Who are you to stand in judgment and condemn someone in your own mind as unworthy of your forgiveness?
James 4:11-12
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.
12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
The Lord Jesus wants us to forgive when someone approaches and apologetically says, I repent. Just to say I’m sorry is a confession of fault. It’s an admission of regret. In the following passage, Jesus commands that you must forgive them. If true forgiveness has happened, the past deeds will be forgotten and reconciliation will follow. Reconciliation immediately follows because there is no grudge anymore and the deeds have been forgotten. God remembers our sins and iniquities no more when we confess our faults to him.
Luke 17:3-4 – Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
Remember that the Lord Jesus was hated by many because He was showing mercy and forgiveness to sinners. When people cried out to Him for mercy, He healed them and forgave them of their sins. In the parable of the proud pharisee, the pharisee stood in judgment over the humble publican, yet it was the publican who cried out for mercy and was forgiven for his sins. Because Christ treated others in this manner when they asked Him for mercy, who are you to judge somebody else when they ask you for the same? The truth is there is no excuse.
……..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.
How can a man judge another man unworthy of their forgiveness? How can a sinner condemn another sinner? The Bible concludes that there are none righteous, no know not one. How do the unrighteous judge the unrighteous because they are exactly the same in God’s eyes. If you have sinned just one time in your entire life, the only way you will be able to enter heaven is to go to Christ Jesus for forgiveness. There is no other way to access eternal life. You are just as guilty as everybody else, just as if you had done it yourself.
James 2:10-13
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
The Apostle John taught that if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. Nobody’s perfect no matter how much that someone thinks they may be.
Mark 10:17-22
17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
Here’s an example of someone who felt that they hadn’t sinned. Jesus simply took him to an area in his life where he did have faults. None are righteous in God’s sight. Look at the man that God chose to write a lot of a new testament that we have today. The Apostle Paul referred to himself as the chief of sinners. The entire purpose of the law in the old testament was to convict us of our sins so that we would go to Jesus for forgiveness and then show that forgiveness to others
Matthew 7:1-2 – Judge not, that ye be not judged.For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
When you refuse to forgive those who are seeking forgiveness from you, you are completely going against the commands of Christ and setting yourself up for eternal disaster. In the long run, you are only hurting yourself. You are placing yourself in the ranks of the unforgiven. When you refuse to forgive others it only comes right back at you from God. So I guess…..
…..what goes around comes around.
Let’s think about those things for today, and Lord willing I’ll talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.❤️
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