Judgment and Community: Cultivating Holiness in the Church
Summary
In the exploration of Matthew 7:1-6, the focus is on the dynamics of judgment within the context of the church community. The passage is often cited to caution against the act of judging others, but a deeper examination reveals that it is not a prohibition against judgment per se, but rather a directive on how to approach judgment within the Christian community.
The passage begins with a warning against judging others, as the measure one uses will be the measure received in return. This is not a call to abandon discernment but to approach one another with humility and self-reflection. The metaphor of the speck in a brother's eye and the log in one's own eye illustrates the importance of self-examination before attempting to correct others. The goal is not to be free of logs but to assist others in becoming free of specks, thereby contributing to the purity and holiness of the church.
The church is described as a collective body, not just a gathering of individuals. The New Testament, including the Gospels, is addressed to the church to edify and exhort it, not merely to tell the story of Jesus. The church is called to be holy, blameless, and pure, reflecting the character of Christ. This is not an individualistic endeavor but a communal one, where members are responsible for one another's spiritual well-being.
The text emphasizes the importance of removing self-righteousness before helping others with their faults. This process involves asking probing questions, building relationships, and demonstrating love. It is through understanding and gentleness that one can effectively help a brother or sister with their faults, leading them to repentance through the kindness of God.
The passage also addresses the issue of those within the church who persist in sin, likening them to dogs and pigs who return to their filth after being cleansed. These individuals are not to be comforted with the message of grace but confronted with the reality of God's judgment, with the hope that they may come to true repentance and transformation.
The church is called to be actively involved in each other's lives, bearing one another's burdens, and working together to maintain the purity of the church. This involves regular assembly and participation in the life of the church, as digital or isolated Christianity is insufficient for the sanctification process.
In conclusion, the church is to strive for a community that reflects the holiness and purity of Christ, where judgment is exercised with love and humility, and where members are committed to each other's spiritual growth and well-being.
Key Takeaways:
- Judgment within the church should be exercised with humility and self-awareness, recognizing one's own faults before addressing the faults of others. This approach fosters a community that is supportive and edifying, rather than critical and divisive. [06:19]
- The church is not merely a collection of individuals but a unified body that is called to holiness and purity. Each member has a responsibility to contribute to the spiritual well-being of the community, which includes helping one another overcome sin and grow in faith. [11:02]
- Love and relationship are foundational to effective accountability within the church. Without genuine love and a deep understanding of one another, attempts to correct or guide can come across as judgmental and unhelpful. Building strong relationships within the church is essential for fostering a culture of mutual care and growth. [21:04]
- Those who persist in sin within the church community should be confronted with the reality of God's judgment, not to condemn but to lead them to true repentance and transformation. This tough love approach is necessary for the health and purity of the church. [47:08]
- Regular assembly and active participation in the life of the church are non-negotiable for the sanctification of its members. The concept of an isolated or digital-only Christian experience is contrary to the biblical model of the church, which emphasizes the importance of physical gathering and communal life. [12:11]
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 7:1-6
"Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with what measure you measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces."
2. Ephesians 5:25-27
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless."
3. Galatians 6:1-2
"Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ."
### Observation Questions
1. According to Matthew 7:1-6, what is the consequence of judging others?
2. In Matthew 7:3-5, what metaphor does Jesus use to illustrate the importance of self-examination before correcting others?
3. What is the ultimate goal of Christ for the church as described in Ephesians 5:25-27?
4. According to Galatians 6:1-2, how should one approach a fellow believer who is caught in a trespass?
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus emphasize the need to remove the log from one's own eye before addressing the speck in a brother's eye in Matthew 7:1-6?
2. How does the metaphor of the speck and the log in Matthew 7:3-5 relate to the concept of self-righteousness?
3. What does Ephesians 5:25-27 suggest about the communal responsibility of the church in maintaining holiness and purity?
4. How does Galatians 6:1-2 inform our understanding of the role of gentleness and self-awareness in the process of restoring a fellow believer?
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you judged someone. How can you apply the principle of self-examination from Matthew 7:1-6 before addressing others in the future?
2. Identify a "log" in your own life that you need to address. What steps will you take this week to work on removing it?
3. Think of a fellow church member who may be struggling with a fault. How can you approach them with gentleness and love, as suggested in Galatians 6:1-2?
4. How can you contribute to the holiness and purity of your church community, in line with the vision presented in Ephesians 5:25-27?
5. What specific actions can you take to build stronger relationships within your church to foster a culture of mutual care and accountability?
Devotional
Day 1: Humility in Judgment
Judgment within the church must be approached with a keen awareness of one's own imperfections. Before pointing out the speck in a brother's or sister's eye, one must consider the log in their own. This self-awareness fosters a spirit of humility and grace, which is essential when addressing the faults of others. [06:19]
James 4:11-12 - "Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?"
Reflection: How can you practice self-examination today to ensure that your judgments are fair and rooted in humility?
Day 2: Unity in Holiness
The church is a unified body called to live out the holiness and purity of Christ. Each member plays a vital role in the spiritual health of the community, and it is through collective effort that the church maintains its sanctity. This shared responsibility means actively helping one another to overcome sin and grow in faith. [11:02]
1 Peter 2:9-10 - "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."
Reflection: In what ways can you contribute to the spiritual well-being of your church community this week?
Day 3: Love as the Foundation
Effective accountability within the church is built on the foundation of love and deep relationships. Without genuine love, attempts to guide or correct can be perceived as judgmental. It is through understanding and gentleness that one can truly help a brother or sister with their faults. [21:04]
Ephesians 4:15-16 - "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."
Reflection: How can you strengthen a relationship within your church community to foster a culture of mutual care and growth?
Day 4: Confronting Persistent Sin
When individuals within the church persist in sin, they must be confronted with the reality of God's judgment. This is not done to condemn but to encourage true repentance and transformation. Such tough love is necessary for the health and purity of the church. [47:08]
2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 - "If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother."
Reflection: Is there someone in your church community who might benefit from a loving but firm conversation about their actions?
Day 5: The Necessity of Community
The sanctification process requires regular assembly and active participation in the life of the church. An isolated or digital-only Christian experience falls short of the biblical model, which emphasizes the importance of physical gathering and communal life. [12:11]
Hebrews 10:24-25 - "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Reflection: What steps can you take to ensure you are actively participating in the life of your church, beyond digital means?
Quotes
1) "If we don't love one another, we have no right to point out the faults in one another. You sound like a clanging gong, a crashing cymbal, when you come to somebody and say, 'I love you, so let me show you your fault,' and you have never demonstrated an ounce of love to that person." [21:04]
2) "Jesus is not interested in a logless church. Jesus is interested in a speckless church. He's not interested in a church with no logs; he wants no logs, but he also wants no specs in his church." [07:37]
3) "The church is worthy, or I'm sorry, Christ is worthy. Jesus is Worthy of a church that is pure, that is holy, that is blameless, that is spotless, that is wrinkle-free, that is speckless." [57:33]
4) "The kindness of God leads Christians to repentance. It's the kindness of God, the goodness of God, the grace of God. It is tempting to tell our brother all about the bad consequences if they continue down this road." [31:54]
5) "Church, we are our Brother's Keeper. We have a responsibility to your brothers and sisters at Norton Baptist Church to be watching out for them, to bear their burdens, to help them with the sins that they struggle with." [35:10]
6) "Online church is not Church. There's no such thing as a digital Church. You will never be sanctified the way God intends you to be sanctified by watching online." [11:36]
7) "If you are condemning others for their unrighteous acts, don't you yourself commit unrighteous acts? Or have you perfected yourself to the law? If that's the measurement you are going to use to your brother to condemn them, you are revealing that you are condemned." [18:08]
8) "The world needs the church, and the world needs a holy and blameless and pure church. And so we need to understand the word of God is written to the church, church. It's applied to you individually many times, I understand that, but it applies to the local church." [15:08]
9) "How much worse punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God and has regarded as defiled the blood of the Covenant by which he was sanctified, or claims to be sanctified, and has insulted the spirit of Grace?" [53:18]
10) "We must be very interested in having a pure, holy, blameless Church, a speckless church if you would. And I want to be clear, before we go too far, what is the local church? It's within the context of the local church that the bride of Christ, say the universal church, is going to be holy." [11:02]
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