Excuse Me (Romans 2:1)
"You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things." Romans 2:1
Paul wanted everyone in the churh to see their sin from God's point if view. There were those in the church who somehow thought that they were less sinful or more righteous than others because they had never committed some of the big things or at least not nearly as much as others. They thought that because they were "innocent" they had room to look down on other people's sins while excusing their own because of their "good" behavior.
But Paul quickly corrected their misunderstanding by explaining that God makes no distinction when it comes to judging our sins. God, unlike us, judges sin not in quantity but in quality. According to Paul, the quality of everyone's sin is equally gross. When it comes to how guilty we are, no one person is any better or worse, and therefore no one has the right to either look down on anyone else or to excuse their actions. By God's definition, no one is exempt from His judgement and for that very no one is qualified to pass judgment on anyone else.
It's not uncommon in the church for those who have been forgiven by God to somehow think that God needs our help judging the world. But somehow, in our efforts to assist God we also conveniently make excuses for our own sins while condeming others for theirs. But news flash, none of us are qualified to judge someone else's sin. The moment we begin measuring ourselves against any other standard than God's holiness everyone loses- we lose perspective, others lose value, and God loses His glory. However, when we see ourselves and others in light of God's holiness everyone wins- we gain an eternal perspective, we see people as valuable souls for whom Christ died, and God gets the glory in His church when judgment is excluded and grace is extended by all to all.
Father, help us to see ourselves and others in light of Your holiness today. Help us to extend to others the same grace you have given to us. Help us to walk in Your love that seeks to cover sin and leave all judgment up to You. Amen.
Paul wanted everyone in the churh to see their sin from God's point if view. There were those in the church who somehow thought that they were less sinful or more righteous than others because they had never committed some of the big things or at least not nearly as much as others. They thought that because they were "innocent" they had room to look down on other people's sins while excusing their own because of their "good" behavior.
But Paul quickly corrected their misunderstanding by explaining that God makes no distinction when it comes to judging our sins. God, unlike us, judges sin not in quantity but in quality. According to Paul, the quality of everyone's sin is equally gross. When it comes to how guilty we are, no one person is any better or worse, and therefore no one has the right to either look down on anyone else or to excuse their actions. By God's definition, no one is exempt from His judgement and for that very no one is qualified to pass judgment on anyone else.
It's not uncommon in the church for those who have been forgiven by God to somehow think that God needs our help judging the world. But somehow, in our efforts to assist God we also conveniently make excuses for our own sins while condeming others for theirs. But news flash, none of us are qualified to judge someone else's sin. The moment we begin measuring ourselves against any other standard than God's holiness everyone loses- we lose perspective, others lose value, and God loses His glory. However, when we see ourselves and others in light of God's holiness everyone wins- we gain an eternal perspective, we see people as valuable souls for whom Christ died, and God gets the glory in His church when judgment is excluded and grace is extended by all to all.
Father, help us to see ourselves and others in light of Your holiness today. Help us to extend to others the same grace you have given to us. Help us to walk in Your love that seeks to cover sin and leave all judgment up to You. Amen.
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