Judging another person makes the judge inexcusable and self-condemned, because he does the same things himself.
Romans 2:1 says the judge 'condemnest thyself' and is 'inexcusable.' Les Feldick applies this to the moral man who would never dream of living like the people he judges: he is just as guilty. Since all humanity shares the same sinful old nature, no one can stand in judgment over another; only God can see the heart and only He is the judge.
Romans 2:1 — This is the key verse that tells what happens to the person who judges others: he is inexcusable and condemns himself because he does the same things.
Romans 2:1 directly states the consequence of judging another person: 'Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.' The judge is not left with any excuse, and his own judgment turns against him because the same sin is present in his life. Paul then extends this to the whole world. Romans 3:19 says the law speaks so 'that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.' Romans 3:20 adds, 'Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.' So the law does not rescue the moral judge; it brings the knowledge of sin and leaves everyone guilty before God.
Les uses Romans 2:1 to show that the 'moral man' is just as inexcusable as the immoral people he condemns. He says such a person wouldn't dream of living like 'those people' do, but Paul's words still apply: 'therefore thou art inexcusable.' Les repeatedly tells his audience that he is not looking down his nose or judging those in gross error; he is only showing what Scripture says and building God's case against all humanity. Les's key reason for refusing to judge is that 'but for the grace of God, you and I would be no different.' Because the old human nature is bent to rebel, any person could fall into deep sin. Even a successful businessman whose reputation took a lifetime to build can have his old Adam get the best of him. So no one should act as though he is naturally above someone else. Les also insists that human beings cannot look on the heart. We can see only an outward veneer, but only God knows who truly belongs to Him. Therefore, Scripture says 'judge not.' God alone is the judge — 'the one who died for me' — so believers are in no position to judge another person, even a believer whose lifestyle they question. When Paul asks, 'Do you judge another man's servant?' Les's answer is no: you are not the boss; God is.
Les says the old human nature is bent to rebel, and he often tells his students: 'Don't look down your nose at these people, because but for the grace of God, you and I would be no different.' He knows that but for God's grace he could be where they are, and by God's grace they can also be where he is. That is why he refuses to judge people even when he believes they are grossly in error.
No. Les explains that we can hear a person's testimony and arrive at human conclusions, but 'we can never look on the heart.' Only God can. The outward veneer we see is not the heart. That is why Scripture says 'judge not' — a person cannot judge whether someone else is truly a child of God, because only God knows.
God alone. Les asks, 'Who alone is the judge?' and answers, 'The one who died for me.' When believers come into contact with other believers who do not live the lifestyle they think they should, they are in no position to judge. Paul absolutely rejects judging another person out of hand. His everyday example is a servant: since you are not his boss and do not pay his wages, you do not judge him. 'Don't judge someone else. You're not the boss. God is.'
No. Les teaches that God has as much to say against the moral person and the religious person as He does against the immoral. Paul's conclusion is that all have failed, all are guilty, and none are righteous. Romans 3:19 says the law speaks so every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God, and Romans 3:20 says no flesh is justified by deeds of the law because the law gives the knowledge of sin. The law cannot be used to escape judgment.
The Moral Man Is Inexcusable
The person who prides himself on not living like the people he condemns is still without excuse, because Scripture says the judge is inexcusable.
All Categories of People Are Guilty
God is building His case against all humanity; the conclusion for all three groups — immoral, moral, and religious — is guilty, so Les avoids looking down his nose or judging and simply shows what Scripture says.
The Old Adam Can Surface in Anyone
Even a respected person can be undone by his old Adam after years of building a reputation, showing why self-righteousness is no ground for judging another.
But for the Grace of God
No one should look down on people in gross sin because but for God's grace, each of us would be just as lost; by grace, those people can also come to where Les is.
Only God Can See the Heart
Human beings can only see an outward veneer; they cannot look on the heart, so they must not judge whether a person is a child of God — only God knows.
God Is the Only Judge
Believers are not in a position to judge even fellow believers whose lifestyle differs from their own; Paul says don't judge another man's servant, for God is the boss and He has received him.
Moral and Religious Are Also Guilty
God has as much to say against the moral person as the immoral, and against the religious person; the conclusion is all have failed, all are guilty, and none are righteous.
The Law Makes Every Mouth Stop
The law's purpose is to make the whole world guilty before God, and by deeds of the law no flesh is justified; the law gives the knowledge of sin.
Romans 2:1: Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
This is the verse Paul uses to show the moral man that his judging does not excuse him.
Romans 3:19: Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
After showing all three categories of humanity guilty, Paul concludes every mouth is stopped.
Romans 3:20: Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
This explains why the moral judge cannot be justified by his own law-keeping.
Romans 2:1 says he is inexcusable and condemns himself because he does the same things. Les says the moral man is just as guilty as the people he would never dream of living like.
Les says he feels those people are grossly in error, but he refuses to judge them; he simply shows what Scripture says. He knows but for God's grace he would be no different.
No. Les says you are in no position to judge; God has received that person, and God is the boss. You may point to Scripture but you cannot judge another person.
Because all have failed and all are guilty. The law makes every mouth stop and makes all the world guilty before God. No flesh is justified by deeds of the law; the law gives knowledge of sin.
Watch the Teaching: Why Even "Good People" Can't Escape God's Judgment — Romans 2