Is it Possible; Is it Even Allowed? Can a Christian Judge Themselves

“Great ideas throughout this posting, Pilgrim! I'm curious how our spirit gets tied/meshed with the Holy Spirit as we take this "gospel" journey? “

We have a living spirit that is condemned because of sin , Jesus spirit comes to live within our body with us to redeem our spirit from death

Consider how a shepherd operates

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, ( see the holt spirit doesn’t replace our spirit he comes to redeem our spirit )

that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:14-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The spirit that witnesses that we are gods children comes as we hear and believe the gospel

“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭6:63‬ ‭KJV‬‬

So an example is when we begin to hear and believe what he’s teaching we learn and believe

“And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

See Jesus is teaching us to adress almighty God as our Heavenly Father and because we believe in Jesus and our faith is in him we have no reason to doubt or dispute this the lord is teaching us witnessing to us to our inner man “ you are a child of God because you believe in me the son of God he loves you “

“for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.”
‭‭John‬ ‭16:27‬ ‭KJV‬‬

this spirit of faith from the gospel is what changes the spirit of our mind teaches us the truth

“But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:20-24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

as we hear and believe the gospel we are changed from glory to glory

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭1:16-17‬ ‭

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3:18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus sent the gospel out for a reason his word has the power to change condemned sinners without hope , to born again children of God who will live forever in glory

humans have issues inside

“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭7:21-23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

accepting the living word of God in the gospel changes our mind and belief and understanding of God and ourselves who were meant to be

Gods word can change sins stronghold I. Our mind and heart

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬


The Holy Ghost comes to guide and lead and teach and comfort and be our companion in this world leading us home to the father our friend lord and companion oir shepherd and guide our king is with us forever

We are told to judge ourselves and received God's correction when we take communion... so YES we are supposed to judge ourselves and if we are doing sin we should confess it to the Lord as being sin, ask for forgiveness and STOP doing the sin!

1 Corinthians 11:24-32
And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

*NOTE - 1 Corinthians 11:24-32 is another proof text that OSAS is false doctrine, otherwise this verse would not be saying what it's saying:

1 Corinthians 11:32
But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

It's possible: 1 Cor 11:21

When we REPENT under Holy Spirit CONVICTION OF SIN, we're judging ourselves and caling on God to SAVE US from our SIN. Christianity is a "Death to self", and a rising in newness of life IN HIM.

Super encouraging. Our Almighty Creator is also our Heavenly Father now thanks to Jesus. We are His children and heirs of His Kingdom because He loves us and desires an eternal relationship with us.

It's so hard to see through all of this at times, though, as we get wrapped up in the affairs of this world and the struggle of our daily survival within it at times. Circumstances seem so bad for the immediate future, and there seems to be little hope as we see the wars, natural disasters, and even our own daily sufferings with pain, illness, and loss of loved ones.

The beauty is within all of the ugliness that we are not only given the Word of God to encourage us. God is living within us to strengthen us and provide that faith, hope, and joy we need to keep pushing forward towards the high mark of becoming more like Jesus every day.

Our work is not in vain thanks be to God!

“Super encouraging. Our Almighty Creator is also our Heavenly Father now thanks to Jesus. We are His children and heirs of His Kingdom because He loves us and desires an eternal relationship with us.”

amen brother it has always been his desire from beginning to end it’s why he made us to be with him in peace and live forever as family he our loving father and we mankind his beloved and eternal children who don’t lie to and cheat on and steal from and kill one another but instead those who love one another in his honor who created us and also saved us after we failed him and now offers eternal reconciliation by Christ Jesus


“It's so hard to see through all of this at times, though, as we get wrapped up in the affairs of this world and the struggle of our daily survival within it at times. Circumstances seem so bad for the immediate future, and there seems to be little hope as we see the wars, natural disasters, and even our own daily sufferings with pain, illness, and loss of loved ones.”

Very true and very wise words also a perception I share

“The beauty is within all of the ugliness that we are not only given the Word of God to encourage us. God is living within us to strengthen us and provide that faith, hope, and joy we need to keep pushing forward towards the high mark of becoming more like Jesus every day.”

Even wiser and more edifying words

In the gospel we have such a versatile teacher sometimes we fail in life no matter how much we try to be perfect so in the gospel we find forgiveness from a forgiving and merciful God , because he loves us

But other times our attitude becomes complacent and we aren’t even really trying to do our best and then we find warnings and calls to repentance calls for us to wake up and get on track

At times we need a different word because of those circumstances and battles we’re facing at the time and it’s always there in the gospel

If we need forgivness we can find the promises and assurances in Jesus words

If we need to be warned about being comfortable with our sinful living and assuming it’s not a big deal or we won’t have to answer for it that’s always present in his words as well . If we need comfort assurance strength Hope wisdom truth warning light life

Its always found if we really listen to jesus and believe his promises and we dont let anyone pull us away from our faith in just him and what he promised and said when he came to save us

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭16:15-16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When we hear that it’s a summary we don’t all learn about immediately everything Jesus taught but very much like children who are born we learn as we go but we now understand that Our God actually loves us deeply and beyond measure and he gave his life , more than that the life of his only begotten , in order to cover all the wrongs we have done in order that our sins can be removed and forgotten as if we had never sinned at all

Its really amazing that God doesn’t view us as ants to be simply destroyed and he’ll start over he is t just the almighty who site up high and demands from people . Instead he loves us so much that he came to join our struggle when all was lost to sin and death when we had no hero to save us , no man To intercede no way to cover our sins before God no way to be saved from death

when everything was lost and night was darkest , the son was born and rose up to light the world and show the way of life and salvation

many gods are spoken about but the True God is really someone special and worthy to be praised and exalted above the heavens to be worshipped and acknowledged by all creation

And he will be one day

I'll let you have the last word on this one brother...Amen!

“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. THE END”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭22:20-21‬ ‭KJV‬

Ok brother--I gave you the last word on your previous posting, and then you post this beauty which warrants a response...sorry.

I like how you close your summation above with "THE END". And, that's what's awesome: Christ is the End, yet He's also the beginning.

Revelation 1:8

King James Version


8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

God is eternal, which our finite minds cannot grasp (the Holy Spirit certainly helps with this one!).

The end of this mortal life for Christians means the beginning of eternal life with Christ.

The end of modern day Palestine, which is a complete mess and boiling pot right now, means the beginning of a Palestine governed and led by our Lord Jesus.

The end of this finite planet and it appears the universe in its current state as well means the beginning of the New Heavens and New Earth with the New Jerusalem as our capital and throne room of the Father and Son (the tree of life--Holy Spirit?--will be there as well).

Wow...does our God have some plans for us or what!?

I try to like every post where people are astonished by God.

I was secretly hoping you would add more haha

i just liked Jesus last words in scripture they really bring a present hope to heart and mind !!

Amen and amen to everything you said

“The end of this mortal life for Christians means the beginning of eternal life with Christ.”

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭5:24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.”
‭‭John‬ ‭8:51‬ ‭

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”
‭‭John‬ ‭11:25-

“Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:6, 8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee,

To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭23:43‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27:52-53‬ ‭

“But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?

it is sown a natural body;

it is raised a spiritual body.

There is a natural body,

and there is a spiritual body.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:35,

we’re just dwelling in temporary houses gonna move to the permanent mansions later with Jesus

Sounds good to me, Pilgrim. Paul gives us a good glimpse into what our "spiritual bodies" will look like when we pass into the "mansions" of heaven.

Do you think Jesus also gave us a glimpse of what the resurrected body/life looks like with his actions after the resurrection and prior to the ascension?

He could share a meal with the disciples, they could see and feel his presence, and they could even touch him. Yet, he could also appear/disappear at will and even hide His identity from them (see Luke 24 as an example)?

Yes brother remember Abraham shared a meal with the lord also in the plains of mamre who ate and talked with him concerning Isaac

i believe spiritual bodies are a step up not a step down as some might perceive in the ot there is a lot of evidence of heavenly visitors sinply appearing and talking with men of God and then no longer appearing ever again

So just in my own view a spiritual body is more and is able to exist knowingly and intelligently in both realms able to be sent by God to earth and also called by God to heaven.

some might think along the lines of movies where the spirit is less than our plain or immaterial invisable . But I see it as we are like hidden behind a veil and can’t see the other side of creation until we shed our body of flesh like a blindfold or bondage

“Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:6, 8-10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

So you have the spirit being judged for what he has done while in the body on earth as far as the spiritual heavenly body is say maybe the transfiguration ? Where Jesus appearance was drastically altered with brilliant light possibly it says he was spreading in glory there with Moses and Elijah this could be a glimpse of a glorified body

But we know for sure if we keep the faith

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

a remember what Paul had said ?

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:50-53‬ ‭

And also

“it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

And as we have ( on earth )borne the image of the earthy,

we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.”( in heaven )
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:44, 49‬ ‭

“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭7:9-10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

There’s alot of instances where heavenly beings are witnessed in scripture angels are never seen eating and drinking but often men from heaven appear and eat and drink with people like with Abraham at mamre . They seem to appear as men and also as angelic type figures beaming with light at other times one I recall bearing a great sword and being very large and imposing others are said th y we may entertain heavenly visitors who we don’t even realize they are

What I’m trying to communicate probably poorly is it seems to me spiritual bodies are more than what we understand as bodies now capable of transcending this realm into heaven and even lord of evidence he’s sent visitors to and from earth and heaven

“And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3:13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

So like this part

“and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, ( spiritual bodies ) and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27:52-53‬ ‭

See some hear the term spiritual and think invisible or not real but I’m saying more than real able to be seen but also able to transcend this realm of earth and ascend to heaven because of being in Christ

ado a spiritual body to me is a glorified eternal body capable of much more than our pitiful dying flesh bodies

about we’re told they came from God in heaven as messengers and went to god in heaven

i really believe the Bible supports very clearly one creation with two distinct realms of existence or two “ plains “ one that is temporary and will end the other that is eternal and will endure
and that we have a temporary body and also a permanent one for each realm

These are great thoughts my friend, and I think your theories are solid and supported by scripture. As you noted, we see through a glass dimly as Paul described when it comes to perception from our mortal point of view verses that which is eternal and lies beyond.

I want to get back to the original question/theme of this forum on judging ourselves as Christians.

God is our ultimate judge, of course. Yet, we also need to judge (perhaps assess) whether we are holding true to our faith and commitment to Jesus Christ:

2 Corinthians 13:5

King James Version

5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

I'll let you take it from here, brother, as I have to head off to the battle again.

Sorry I've been so sporadic lately--work/family obligations are heavy right now...

Shalom,

SF

never be sorry brother I always appreciate whatever thoughts and time your able to share may the lord watch carefully over your family !!

“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.”
‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1:10-14‬ ‭

The tabernacle was the building in which the spirit would dwell our body is like a temple for our living spirit from God we actually are that spirit living within a body like a vehicle we’re using for this world is my theory of what Peter is saying there he was about to die “ leave his tabernacle behind “ and enter the kingdom