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Don’t You Know Jesus Said, “Do Not Judge” (Matthew 7:1)?

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IS THAT REALLY WHAT IT MEANS?

Has this ever happened to you? You share a few words with a friend, neighbour, family member, co-worker, or fellow Christian out of concern for their soul, and in return, you are accused of being judgmental, and from those who are mildly familiar with the Bible, you’re told that Jesus condemns judging another.

Check it out! Open up to Matthew 7:1 and read the words of Jesus. See? Jesus told us not to judge! Now, close your Bible. … I’m serious – close your Bible. Ok, is it closed? Good. Do you know why I asked you to close your Bible? It’s simple; that is what I’ve seen people do after quoting this verse to me. You read the verse, and then you close your Bible. Apparently that’s how this verse works.

Understand the Bible Better: The Power of Words and Context

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IS THAT REALLY WHAT IT MEANS?

“Inconceivable!” If you have seen the movie The Princess Bride, you recognize this as the word used repeatedly by Vizzini, a witty Sicilian criminal mastermind. After hearing his boss use it several times, the hired swordsman, Inigo Montoya declared, “You keep using that word. I don’t think it means what you think it means.” There have been times I’ve had the same thought about how folks use the Bible— “…I don’t think that verse means what you think it means.”

Jesus Will Not Reign on the Earth for 1,000 Years

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SERIES: DO YOU REALLY KNOW JESUS?

The teaching that Jesus will reign upon the earth for 1000 years is part of the Premillennial doctrine common to many denominational churches in today’s religious world. The teaching relies in large part on Revelation 20:1-7, which speaks of the devil being bound for 1,000 years, and the faithful of God living and reigning with Christ for the same period of time.

Jesus Christ is God Come in the Flesh

Jesus

SERIES: DO YOU REALLY KNOW JESUS?

For many people in Jesus’ day, it was a challenge to accept His divinity. In fact, it was His claims to divine nature that caused the Pharisees to oppose Him so vehemently, even to the point of seeking His life. After Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, some who believed in Christ went to the opposite extreme—affirming that Jesus did not come in the flesh. The apostle John wrote:

Jesus – More Than A Man – the Divine Son of God

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SERIES: DO YOU REALLY KNOW JESUS?

While in conversation with Jesus, the Jews asked Him, “Who are You?” (John 8:25), and again, “Whom do You make Yourself out to be?” (8:53). In the context, He identified Himself as “the Son of Man” (8:28; cf. Daniel 7:13), the “Son” of God (8:36, 54) and the “I AM” (8:24, 28, 58). He was as clear as could be about His identity; He claimed to be deity—God. And, His questioners understood Him, for “…they took up stones to throw at Him…” (John 8:59). On a subsequent occasion, He asked them why they sought to stone Him (John 10:31-32). Their response, “…because You, being a Man, make Yourself God” (10:33).

Was Jesus a Legalist? What the Bible Actually Teaches

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SERIES: DO YOU REALLY KNOW JESUS?

At the time this article was written, the #1 result for the words “Jesus” and “legalist” on the internet is an article titled, “Why Jesus Hates Legalism.” The author calls legalism a sin and tells us that “Jesus had more conflicts with the legalists of His day than any other group.”1 In fact, the writer tells us that Jesus deliberately provoked the legalists by not following their hand-washing customs and by healing people on the Sabbath. Obviously, the writer of the article in question, like many others, identifies the Pharisees as legalists.

That Voice You Hear – It’s Not Jesus

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SERIES: DO YOU REALLY KNOW JESUS?

From time to time, I’ve had conversations with folks who insist that Jesus speaks directly to them. Some borrow language from an encounter Elijah had with God in 1 Kings 19:12 (“a still small voice”). One described the Lord’s voice as being loud and authoritative. Another said that she hears multiple voices, and must discern which of them is God speaking to her.

Jesus is NOT just about love

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SERIES: DO YOU REALLY KNOW JESUS?

In 1980, The Commodores released their 11th album, “Heroes.” The final track was a song written by Lionel Richie entitled, “Jesus Is Love.” Some warned Richie that the song would ruin his career. Anyone familiar with 80s pop music know how his career turned out.

The “My Jesus” Mentality: When Faith Becomes Self-Made

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SERIES: DO YOU REALLY KNOW JESUS?

According to The World Factbook1, one third of the world’s population (2.4 billion people) identify themselves as Christian. This includes everyone from those who are Christian in name only to those who might be viewed by others as fanatical. For the former, the idea of knowing Jesus may be far fetched—how can you really get to know a man who lived almost 2,000 years ago? However, for many in Christendom, getting to know Jesus better is a daily pursuit.

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