Judging According to Hearing

In every respect man is but a deeply fallen and sinful creature. Whatever we perform without the guiding and protecting hand of the Holy Spirit is never pleasing in the sight of a most perfect God. Whether we are a possessor of grace or not, all our wrong deeds and sinful actions will be judged to be evil by the great Judge of all judges. The sins of the Bible saints, whether Abraham, Moses, David, or one of the others, were also punishable by God.

Let none of us be of the impression that saving grace is ever granted to a soul by reason of worthiness in the person himself, or that his sins are not so severe that they should not be punished. That is never the reason that grace was or can be bestowed. The only reason that a most righteous God can bestow mercy upon them is because Christ has been punished for their sins. Just take note of that which we read about David in 2 Samuel 12:10 and in that which follows. How much grief and sorrow he had to meet with in his own family and kingdom as a result of his falling into, and sometimes even living in, sin!

Therefore how true it is what we read in Romans 2:11, “For there is no respect of persons with God.” This “no respect of persons” involves both the punishing of sin and the granting of grace. To Cain, the first manslayer, God said, “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door” (Genesis 4:7). Cain was not rejected because he was not elected, but because he had no faith in the promise given regarding the Seed of the woman, the Savior for sinners such as he was. To the Jews who sought to kill Jesus, of which we read in John 5, Jesus answered, “As I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me” (John 5:30). This divine Word is directed unaltered as well to Cain and King Saul as to Abel and David, indeed, to all that hear God’s law and gospel, including us. Whether we are young or old, confessing members or baptized members of the church, we are called to judge as we hear.

What a shame that an upright and straightforward judgment is so often lacking! Don’t we often first take into consideration who is doing, saying, or writing something? After we have found this out, then we are ready with our judgment. Certainly, for persons confessing Christianity, it is their duty concerning all matters, not to seek their own will and opinions, nor the desire or will of good friends, but the will of God. It is He that has a right and good reason to condemn all sinners, but also has a willingness to be gracious to whomsoever He pleases. Job said, “He (God) will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons” (job 13:10).

What a shame that an upright and straight-forward judgment is so often lacking!

To judge according to hearing is a universal Christian duty. If the Roman Catholic Church says that abortion is murder, or teaches the virgin birth of Christ, then we should not judge these wrong because they are the viewpoints of the Roman Catholics. On the other hand, if a Protestant, even though he be called a Calvinist, says that homosexuality must be tolerated because it is a disease rather than a sin, or that Christ is not the covenant Head of His people, etc., then we should not judge these as right because they are the viewpoints of a Protestant Cajvinist.

Judge according to hearing! If this were practiced more, it would safeguard us from much grief and misery, and above all, from God’s displeasure. Not judging according to hearing, whether it be accepting or not accepting the person before we may even have heard the case of the word spoken, is a great evil. Putting our hand into our own bosom, will it not come out altogether leprous?

What a necessity to have a personal, soul-saving knowledge of the Seed of the woman, Jesus Christ, who was born to suffer and die, and to judge according to hearing without respect of persons! Those given to Jesus Christ by the Father will have all their guilt and debt redeemed, because He bore their punishment. Oh, eternal wonder of both God’s righteous judgment and redeeming grace for descendants of Adam’s fallen race! May we all belong to that number who have heard or will hear the acquittal of their sins pronounced by a righteous God and Father, an acquittal without respect of persons. May grace be received to walk behind and follow the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.

The Lord will judge in righteousness
For all that are oppressed;
To all His saints His gracious acts
And ways are manifest.

—Psalter 277:5

C. Feyter serves as elder in the Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Fort MacLeod, Alberta.

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