Judging Ourselves

Jud 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
Jud 1:15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
Jud 1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
Jud 1:17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Jud 1:18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
Jud 1:19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
Jud 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Jud 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jud 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
Jud 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Jud 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
Jud 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.


Murmurers
Complainers
Walking after their own lusts
Mouths speaking great swelling words
Admiring others for advantage
Mockers
Sensual
No Spirit
Ungodly sinners
Ungodly deeds


There is no doubt whatsoever that the ungodly are among the majority of people. Our lives, our lifestyles, society as a whole is ungodly. We want to shout no it's not, but it is, it really is. The ungodly are the norm. If you had to examine your own life how would you classify yourself- ungodly or godly? What makes a person ungodly or godly?


ungodly
1. Not revering God; impious.
2. Sinful; wicked


godly
1. Having great reverence for God; pious.
2. Divine.


reverence
1. A feeling of profound awe and respect and often love; veneration.
2. An act showing respect, especially a bow or curtsy.


irreverence
1. Lack of reverence or due respect.
2. A disrespectful act or remark.


The ungodly do not revere God.
The ungodly are sinful.
The ungodly are wicked.
The ungodly are disrespectful of God in their words and actions.


The godly revere God.
The godly are not purposefully sinful.
The godly are not purposefully wicked.
The godly respect God in their words and actions.


When we think of being sinful we have to know what sin means and the word of God tells us this--


1Jn 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.


The law of God is the ten commandments and they are summed up here by Christ--


Mar 12:28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
Mar 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
Mar 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Mar 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Mar 12:32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
Mar 12:33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
Mar 12:34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.


Love God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.
Love thy neighbor as thyself.


Being sinful is not loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and not loving thy neighbor as you would be loved.


What does it mean to love God that way? The rest of the commandments give us a big clue. Having no other Gods before God. Not taking God's name in vain. Not worshipping any idols. Worshipping on the seventh day Sabbath.


We can stop here and contemplate just this bit of what it means to revere God, to not sin. We have to ask ourselves simply what place God holds in our lives. Starting there we can begin to determine our own place in the grand scheme of things. Do we put God first? If we answer no then we are truly in danger of being among those who will not be among the saints of God at Jesus' return. Think about it... it's a simply way to judge ourselves. Perhaps a person can say it doesn't matter, but the Bible says otherwise, God says otherwise.


By the grace of God, by the mercy and forgiveness we find in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior may we discern where we stand, either among the godly or ungodly. By the Holy Spirit may we be among the godly, through the righteousness of Jesus, in His love.


Amen.