Gold Nugget 289 - Two Judgments

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      The carnal judgment of men takes into account only the natural and the material; those who have the mind and judgment of Christ recognize the supernatural and spiritual agency of God. …

      He was in the world, in all the simplicity of his spotless righteousness, in all the dignity of his sinless humanity, in the majesty of the Son of God; the fullness of wisdom, of love, and of pure goodness beamed forth in his every word and work, but “he was despised and rejected of men.”  He was reviled as a blasphemer, as one that had a devil, as a gluttonous man and a winebibber, as a friend of sinners, as a seditious, turbulent man, as one that was not worthy to live.

      So he was brought before the judges of the earth, accused, arraigned as a criminal; smitten, buffeted, scourged, spit upon, condemned; led forth to execution, numbered with the transgressors, nailed to the cross, left to die amidst the jeers and taunts of his murderers.  And when Pilate himself offered to release him, the offer was met with the cry. “Not his man, but Barabbas;” and Barabbas was a robber.

      That was the judgment of man.  And have we not here a type of the frequent contrariety between the judgment of men and the judgment of God.  The things, the persons, the characters, that God approves, find no favour with a corrupt and perverse world; the things, the persons, the sentiments, that God disapproves, receive the praise of men. 

      The opinions of the day, the voice of the multitude, the prevailing tone of thought amongst men, are no safe criterion of worth and truth  We must ever remember that there are two judgments, the judgment of man and the judgment of God, and that these are often diverse the one from the other.

      It should be our constant prayer that God’s Holy Spirit may give us “a right judgment in all things;” so that, on the various questions of interest which engage the thoughts of our own generation, we may be found in harmony, not with the conceits of men, but with the all-seeing mind of God.

The Pulpit Commentary, Acts I p. 98, Acts 3:12-26, (A.C. Hervey)

Gold Nugget 289 

Two Judgments

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