AUTHENTIC JUDGMENT

 Romans 2:1-4 shows us how legitimate judgment of someone's sin is done ... and why we happen to be incapable of doing it.

Paul writes:

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 

We should hear echoes of Jesus's challenge to the men who caught the woman in adultery: "You who is without sin can cast the first stone." 

So Requirement #1 could be stated like this: None who are guilty of crimes themselves can issue a legitimate judgment.

In the section before this, Paul laid out a list of sinful behaviors including truly horrendous acts like murder, but then also envy, gossip, slander, and arrogance. He adds being generally senseless, faithless, heartless, or ruthless. 

So you and I are pretty much disqualified right off the bat. 

Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? 

Requirement #2: Legitimate judgments can only be made by someone who knows the Truth. ALL of it. A proper judge not only needs to know exactly what a person did or failed to do, but must also be able to look into that person's heart and see their deepest motivations. 

You and I, being mere men and women, cannot do this. (And when we think we can, we are fooling ourselves.)

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?

Requirement #3: Before getting to the sentencing, an authentic judge, out of kindness, will patiently tolerate a whole lot, in hope of the offender's repentance. 

You and I, though, tend to be biased in favor of prompt punishment for others' sins.

In the end, it looks like on all three counts there is only One qualified to judge. 

We need to come to grips with this fact.