“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God. So each of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:11-12
Romans 14:11 is a quote of Isaiah 45:23. It’s proof, therefore, of the deity of Jesus Christ because it equates the rights of God the Father with the rights/privileges of the Son.
It’s also proof that Judgment will be done by Christ, in righteousness. But this isn’t the full context of the passage. The context is that believers should know that as differences of opinion with other believers are concerned, we must develop tolerance for one another. The tolerance it speaks of is Biblical, not worldly, and the thing that ties it all together is the firm knowledge that we are all the Lord’s. We stand in humble submission to Him now, knowing that we are not the Judge of others. He is. Yes, surrender to Him in faith now and leave matters of ultimacy to Him. We are led by the Spirit and the principles of the holy Scripture, not each other.
Jesus said in John 7:24 “Do not judge according to appearances, but judge with righteous judgment.” What does He mean by this exactly? Getting this right is crucial to Christian living. Getting this right is essential to healthy homes and relationships. As always, the key is in knowing Scripture and applying its principles in context. That is, taking the holy and life giving principles of the Word and applying them to the particulars of life.
So, what do we know? We know that we’re truth suppressors (Romans 1:18) and, by default, liars (Romans 3:4). This doesn’t mean that we lie about every single thing but that in matters of ultimacy, that is to say what standard we use to judge, we’re prone to put ourselves on the throne. Before coming to faith in the Lord, we were liars, just like our father the Devil (John 8:44). We were dead in our lies (Ephesians 2:1). After coming to Christ, we’re a new man/woman and yet that renewal must work out in real time. We’re called to a life of faithfulness which requires a shift in worldview – away from self as the final reference point/standard and toward God.
To judge righteously is to judge within the context of the mind that’s not conformed to this world (the principles of sin and human autonomy) but is transformed by the renewal of the mind. The renewed mind asks in every particular “what does the Scripture say (Romans 4:3)?” It refuses to see itself as the center of life. The renewed mind knows it isn’t the standard of right and wrong. It makes every effort not to look at any aspect of life outside of God’s interpretation. The principle of Adam is that of independent reasoning. The principle of the new man is submission to God’s law of faith. To think righteously, therefore, is impossible to mankind unless he thinks analogically, seeing himself, others and the world as God’s, not his own. Sinners and saints see the same facts of life but use radically different interpretive principles in order to understand them.
God’s values are not man’s values. Man looks at the external. For example, he looks at wealth as a sign of success. Despite the word of caution from James (James 2:1-13) about regarding people according to the flesh, we invariably treat a wealthy man with more honor than a poor one. God sees man’s heart. Humility and obedience to Him in that heart that is true success. Kingdom priorities and worldly priorities are antithetical. Conflict comes from worldly priorities (James 4:11-12). Living a life of faith is the key to the good life, therefore, and not friendship with the world.
On that last Day we will see it all truly. All will be exposed. Perhaps that janitor will be unveiled as the ambassador of Christ, though he was so very low in worldly esteem, and not the CEO whom we all lauded and praised. Or, yikes…maybe it’s the CEO after all. We simply can’t see the heart as God does. Who is the one who’s faithful? All of us stand before God as sinners in need of faith and these worldly distinctions are differences of inches when the goal is millions of miles.
Maybe that overlooked janitor is the faithful one, doing his work in the Lord’s name and silently prayerful for his fellow workers. No one saw it. Everyone missed his true beauty and valor. He drove the old car. He lived in the shabby house. But he was the great King’s friend. He obeyed the law of faith in Christ and his life was a living sacrifice.
On the last Day all will be open before God and whatever is not of faith will be burned up. This passage of Romans 14 isn’t addressing unbelievers but those in the family of Christ who are called to live as His slaves. And His servants are to manage His gifts…they are to work for His honor, not their own.
The law of faith is to govern our minds. The whole context of Romans must be brought to bear over our entire lives or else Romans 12:1-2 doesn’t make sense.
Okay…okay…but what are we to make of areas of life that aren’t specifically dictated by Scripture? Live by the rule of faith! Is what we’re doing to the glory of God, the service of neighbor, or for the simple and astonishing privilege of fellowship with Him? That’s the key. And let’s remember that “So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us no judge one another anymore, but rather determine this – not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way (Romans 14:12-13).” Some people arrogantly dismiss this warning via the protestation that Paul is speaking only about dietary issues in Romans 14. But Romans is everywhere painting with the broad brush of principles. The previous chapter about authorities was the perfect example.
The principle is clear. We are all dead in sin (Romans 3:10) and there’s none who is righteous. Righteousness comes through faith alone and not by any human effort or program (Romans 3:27-28). So, we’re now to live in the new life of the Spirit, not by the letter of the law. The law brought death, not righteousness. But the temptation to erect a new set of rules to contain sin is forever with us, despite the clear reasoning of Romans. But if law could bring life, why did Jesus Christ have to die? And if the logic of faith is that Christ died for sin because man is dead in that sin, under its power, due its penalty, and amidst its presence, we must endeavor to understand this truth all the way through. Will we continue in sin now that we’re in grace? God forbid! In faith, we uphold the law! Romans 3 already covered this topic…but how quickly it falls out of our heads!
In faith, through faith, and by faith we live. We’re freed at last from the power, presence and penalty of sin through Christ alone. We live for Him with our talents and opportunities. Keeping this foremost in our minds is exactly that which frees us from petty controversies and the thousand little tyrannies of life. An overbearing, critical parent, a harsh and unloving spouse, a ruthless boss or leader, a downcast spirit…oh, how the truth about Christ breaks through all that. Those who’ve never experienced the love of Christ will always be obsessed with what’s wrong with others. Those who don’t understand the depth of the sin from which they’ve been rescued will constantly be alarmed at the imperfections they see around them. Many of us are saved and yet remain in a spirit of fear because we haven’t contemplated the Spirit of adoption as sons! The reality of sin that clings so close draws us to Him and we cry, “Abba! Father!”
Thus, when we judge righteously, we tell our brothers and sisters about Christ. We tell them about the glory that is living for Him. We leave them to Him. We exhort. We encourage. We preach. And if there’s something a brother or sister is doing that’s not to our liking – some personality thing or another – not a moral failing (adultery or idolatry, for example), then we write it off. He/she is God’s servant. And He can make them stand.
But we also know that every knee shall bow!
Cain will bow. Pharaoh will confess. All the enemies of God will admit the obvious, on that Day, what they refused to admit in this life. The issues and matters of this life will be sorted out by the King. God isn’t mocked. Judgment is coming (Romans 2:4; 2:14-15). This should bring humility. None of us should boast. More still, none of us should look at this teaching and gloat. Oh, my…how the true believer’s heart aches with knowledge of judgment for those who refuse to come to Him in faith. It’s one of the many wonders of the Christian life: how we can hate sin and yet weep over those blinded by it.
Also, Judgment Day fills us with calm as we face trials and persecutions. Jesus didn’t say to Saul, “Saul, Saul…why do you persecute such and such…?” He said, “Why do you persecute ME?” Don’t forget, Christian, especially in this age of arrogance and abuse of authority, that God sees His Son in you. You are not less than Stephen or Abel. You aren’t low, but high; you aren’t small in the loving eye of the Father, but are as precious as His Son Himself! So we don’t despair. Today we see the Lamb of God; tomorrow we’ll hear the Great Lion’s roar of righteousness.
And for those who come to Him and confess their sin, He’ll balance every account in their favor. No condemnation. No shame. No more fear. And every one of the world’s whips that’s tore your flesh for His sake as you’ve lived for Him will be obliterated. He’ll personally correct every single wrong and wipe away every single tear. Christ will not “write off” a loss like a business man does a bad debt. On that Day, at the Great White Throne Judgment, every account will be balanced. Every thing you’ve suffered in His name, every worldly pleasure denied you because you wouldn’t bow your knee to the Prince of Darkness, seeing his evil hand extending that bread to you, will be made right.
He is your Savior and God. Do you have pain? Do you cry today? Do you suffer? Worry? Shame? Fear? Give it all to Him. Christians keep short accounts in prayer (confessing our sins to Him) and in that way, with that knowledge, our hearts settled in Him, our conflicts with others fade. The path to peace is always the cross…the cross for our sins, and the cross for their sins.
But let’s get something straight. Let’s not forget something important. There is no Great White Throne Judgment for believers. “He who conquers (in faith), I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and started down with my Father on the his throne (Revelation 3:21).”
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