Do I know the Judge?
Yesterday
Our focus was on verse 12, examining James question, ‘who are you to judge?’
Today
We want to LOOK at The Only Judge and Wrap This Paragraph Up!
Open GODcha to the Book of James.
NOTE:
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Or, you can use your hardbound Bibles and follow along.
You can print off this post and put in a Notebook!
Let’s Pray
Oh Lord, open our hearts to be moved by You and Your Spirit this day. Give us ears to hear what you are saying to each one of us personally. Please give us the understanding we need to be transformed to be more like Christ. Thank you!
LOOK at What God Says
Let GODcha lead you.
Open the LOOK Section
How will you get underway?
READ God’s Word
Read James 4:11-12 again.
Do you see how all this reading is hiding God’s Word in our hearts.
Let’s focus on verse 12.
Do you remember what judge means?
Who do we think we are?
Why do we set ourselves up in God’s role?
There is only one
Lawgiver and Judge
who is able to save and destroy.
Let Truth Explain Truth 
The One Judge
CR-Cross References-Word Search Tutorial >
Listen Up!
1. Why is God the One and only Judge?
God is the LORD our judge; He is the one who gave us the Law; He is our king; He will save us. (Isa 33:22)
Understand: Because God is the King and gave us the Law, He is the only One who can Judge.
LISTEN…
Do I recognize God as my King and my Judge?
Respond to God. . .LIVE it out!
2. Who does God judge?
a. Right now, the Lord judges believers to discipline them so they will NOT be condemned (judged) with the world. (1Co 11:32)
LISTEN…
Has God had to discipline me?
What has God had to do to wake me up; root sin out of my life and stir my heart to repent to move me to righteousness?
Respond to God. . .LIVE it out!
b. One day God will judge the world, everyone. Vengeance is His. (Act 17:31); (Heb 10:30)
LISTEN…
Am I ignoring God’s warnings, which is putting me in the path of His judgment? Why?
Respond to God. . .LIVE it out!
3. How will God judge?
God will judge according to His Word. (Joh 12:48)
LISTEN…
What must I do to live my life according to God’s Word?
Unlock the Meaning
James tells us God is the One, the only One, who is able to save and destroy that are 
key.
Understand God’s Words
Save, soâzō; To deliver, make whole, preserve safe from danger, loss, destruction. (III) Specifically of salvation from eternal death, sin, and the punishment and misery consequent to sin.
Destroy, apóllum; be destroyed, perish. Rain, destruction. In a judicial sense to sentence to death (Matt. 27:20; James 4:12).
Tip: Remember to take the meanings back to the text.
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save (deliver from eternal death, sin and punishment) and to destroy (sentence to death); but who are you who judge your neighbor?
Truth Explains Truth
God is Able to Save and Destroy
What does God tell us?
a. God is the One who kills and makes alive. (Deu 32:39)
b. God saves those who act in accordance with His Word, believing in Christ. (Mat 1:21); (Mar 16:16)
c. Fear God who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Mat 10:28)
d. God will destroy those who DO NOT receive the Word of Truth. (2Th 2:10-12)
LISTEN…
Do I believe in Christ, thus saved from sin and eternal death?
Or, have I refused to receive the Word of Truth?
If I am not saved, don’t I want to be saved, and not destroyed?
Will I humble myself and submit to God by doing His Word?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
Now Let’s Wrap Up:
The Sin of Slander
Open the Deeper Discovery
Let’s View GODcha’s
#14
LEARN Questions
14. As you look at the next test of faith, what do you understand about the one who speaks against a brother or judges a neighbor, who is actually speaking against the Law?
What will the One who gave the Law do, CR?
When is it okay to judge, CR? (v11-12)
What Did We Discover
Sum Up It Up!
We LEARN:
The command is Not To Speak Against/Judge Your Brothers
To do so, is coming from a heart of pride and hate.
To judge others is to judge the Law.
Rather, do the Law, Love your neighbor.
God Is the Only Judge
He will judge ALL.
He will either save, or destroy.
Believers 1st Judge Yourself
Be discerning to judge sin in the church.
Let no one judge you about legalistic matters.
We see: We might have thought speaking against our brother/neighbor was not very serious.
But God is telling us that it is one of the most damaging of all because it breaks the Royal Law.
Understand: If the habit of our lives is to speak against others, then it reveals an old self, not a new creature in Christ.
“Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain but it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving.” Dale Carnegie
Now, bring James’ purpose into this.
James is concerned that his readers understand genuine faith.
Those with true faith are doers of the Word. They obey what God says!
It would seem that those who continuously slander are those with a ‘dead faith’.
And hearing these Truths could turn them from the error of their ways, and save their soul from death!
Oh, you did fantastic!
Once again, do you realize –
Nobody told you what the text says or means;
Nobody told you what to believe or think;
You didn’t guess or come up with speculations to answer the questions.
You LOOKED at what God said, and discovered what He means.
You Discovered Truth for Yourself!
Oh, are you fired up and eager to learn more? I am and hope you are too!
Let’s View GODcha’s
#14 LIVE Questions
Chat With God
DO NOT SKIP THIS!
It will all have been a waste of time if you don’t hear and respond to God.
LISTEN…
14. Do I continually speak against others?
Who is my brother, my neighbor?
Do I need to examine myself and see if I am of the faith?
Am I willing to confess and repent?
Respond to God. . .LIVE it out!
That’s a Wrap!
Reflect and meditate on what God taught us about Himself!
Have a heart to heart with God, your Creator!
He loves you and desires you, and I, to know Him and understand His will and ways!
Keep Your Discovery
Copy and paste what we LEARNED in your notes.
Journal your conversations with God.
Turn What We LEARNED into a Prayer
Perhaps. . .
OH FATHER, THE ONLY LAWGIVER AND JUDGE, THE ONE WHO IS ABLE TO SAVE AND DESTROY. We bow before You God, the RIGHTEOUS JUDGE, (Psa 7:11). Knowing we had nothing but filthy rags to offer You, (Isa 64:6), we praise You and thank you so much for Your abundant grace that You have poured out upon us, saving us from sin and death! Though you resist the proud, You multiply grace to the humble. Oh, may we clothe ourselves in humility, and be humble, submissive to You, and resistant to Satan. May we guard our hearts with all diligence, and set a guard over our mouths! Help us to think right about ourselves, others, Your law, and You! May we obey Your law, and out of our love for You, forgive others, love others, and restore others. In our beloved Savior’s name we ask these things. Amen!
Next: We will begin to dive into the the next paragraph, James 4:13-17.
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