How to Study the Bible

Lincoln Park Church of Christ Sermons

Question: In the sermon on the mount, Jesus Said, “judge not” (Matt 7:1) but later He Said, “judge righteous judgement” (John 7:24). Explain please.

Opening: 3 keys to unlocking a puzzling passage are: context, context and context.

A. Exegete—what it meant, Hermeneutics—what it means. B. Matt 7:1-3 suggests a negative connotation for “Judging”. C. 2 kinds of judgements we are not qualified to make:
1–judging others. 2–pronouncing final judgement into heaven or hell.
D. Scripture says some things are evil. We are obligated to call evil evil.

I. Abortion

E. When we call abortion murder of a baby made in the image of God, we are quoting scripture.
1–Protester with signs say “it’s my body.” 2–I Cor 6:19-20 – 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price.Therefore honor God with your bodies.

II. Homosexuality

F. When we call homosexual relations wrong, we are citing Scripture (LGBTQIA+ —Lesbian Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersexual, and Asexual -All Inclusive sexual immorality).
1–Objection: Jesus does not condemn homosexuality!
Wrong! Matt 5 & 19–Divorce acceptable in case of Adultery (Greek—Porneia meaning any type of sexual immorality, Lev 18-22).
2–Gen 1:27 says, “God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
G. So God created males as males and females as females—Men cannot just decide to be a woman and it be OK. H. A woman cannot decide to be a man and it be OK. I. I’ve been asked, “if a person has decided to be baptized and dies on the way to the baptistery will he go to heaven?”
1–That is one of the kinds of judgements we are not qualified to make. 2–God knows hearts and we do not. (Gen 18:25) 3–God will make the final judgement.

III. Baptism

J. If a person dies just before baptism, God is qualified to make that judgement and we are not. K. Acts 22:16 says baptism washes our sins away—we are not authorized to make exceptions to that rule, but God is sovereign and can do as He wills.

Close: Stay out of the judging business.