The Gavel Was Never Yours

You heard about the divorce. You heard about the relapse. And before the story was even finished, you'd already made up your mind — they were never really saved to begin with.

Or somebody straightens up, starts showing up early, starts saying the right things, and you stamp your approval on their soul like you were the one sitting on the judgment seat.

You weren't.

John 5:22 puts that seat in one set of hands only: the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son. Not some of it. All of it. Because rightly judging a soul means reading every intent of the heart, and you don't have that kind of eyesight. Neither do I.

There are people in your church right now who are saved and living like they're lost. There are people who look put together on the outside and are lost as a goose. You cannot tell which is which by how straight they sit in the pew or how loud they say amen.

So here's the safest sentence you'll ever say about somebody's soul: "I don't know, but God knows."

It won't make you sound wise at Sunday dinner. It'll make you sound like a man who knows his place.

Pray for them. Love them. Ask more questions before you open your mouth. But quit passing judgment that was never yours to pass. The gift of discernment was never meant to make you judge over every soul that walks through your church doors.

Christ alone sees the heart. Christ alone quickens whom He will. The gavel was never yours. It belongs to the Son, and He's not looking for help holding it.

Listen to the Full Case

This post is one thought pulled from a much longer case. Hear the whole argument on John 5 — Christ's Claim to Deity — below:

Pastor Fortunato
Founding Pastor & Preacher of the Word.
Pilgrim Baptist Church — Cookeville, Tennessee

https://pilgrimbaptist.church/
https://www.sermonaudio.com/solo/pilgrimbaptist/