Judging by Appearance

Christian Judgment Bible Verses

Christianity Oasis provides this Judging by Appearance study on Christian judgment & Biblical judgment Bible verses bringing forth truth, understanding and peace.


Daily Bread Devotional Bible Study
The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians
Chapter 5


Judging by Appearance

Christian Judgment & Biblical Judgment Bible Verses

Welcome to our Christianity Oasis Daily Bread study program. This is our thought provoking Judging by Appearance study taking an in depth look into Christian Judgment and Biblical Judgment Bible Verses. The absolutely important judging by appearance and judgment Bible verses message will truly bring a smile to the lips and heart and shine the LIGHT of Truth upon your be-YOU-tiful Christian walk path.

Judging by Appearance Adventure
Christian Judgment & Biblical Judgment Bible Verses Facts

Glad to have you back again at Daily Bread to study the Word together. As we left off in our last study, Paul was talking about things that are temporal vs. things that are eternal, saying that the trials we face now will end, but we look forward to things that are forever.

  • Temporal vs. Eternal
  • Visible vs. Invisible
  • Mortal vs. Immortal
  • Corrupt vs. Incorruptible
  • Fleshly vs. Spiritual

The body is all those things on the left hand side in the comparisons above. Now, here we are on this earth, and we have our mind, our body and our spirit, and our mind and spirit are "housed" or clothed within our bodies.

Jesus said:

John 6:63

It is the spirit that quickeneth [gives life], the flesh profiteth nothing.

Judging by Appearance Lesson
Christian Judgment & Biblical Judgment Bible Verses Truth

There are a few lessons to learn from what Paul is about to explain to us. One, is to know that your body, in the spiritual sense, is the Temple of the Holy Spirit. In the fleshly sense, it is nothing. Take care of it for God, not because you want to look good for mankind. Another lesson is, don't judge by appearances, because appearance is of the flesh. And yet another message, don't let fleshly things control you or influence you, because when you are acting in the flesh, or acting for the flesh, you're absent from the presence of the Lord. Paul explains these things about our "earthen vessels" that we occupy.

2 Corninthians 5:1

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle [our body] were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

In other words, if this short lived body that we reside in now were dead, we have a permanent home in heaven.

2 Corninthians 5:2-3

2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from Heaven:
3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

So, our bodies encapsulate our spirit. One might say that the flesh keeps our spirit anchored to the earth along with gravity. We groan, Paul says. Our spirit yearns to be free from this carnal, mortal, decay-able, heavy, vulnerable blob so that we can be clothed with our heavenly clothing which will never leave us unprotected.

Judging by Appearance Warning
Christian Judgment & Biblical Judgment Bible Verses Vow

So to say the exact same thing yet another way, we grieve, dragging around these heavy, cumbersome bodies that our spirits are trapped within while on this earth, ever longing for our permanent home, which God has prepared for us, so that the parts of us which die, can be devoured by ... Life!

We've been taught by the media, movies, books, etc., that the bad usually overcomes the good, but Paul paints a wonderful picture for us of everlasting life swallowing up all the undesirable things. A refreshing switch from the expected in the form of hope from Paul ... Always encouraging.

Humanly speaking, Paul explains that as long as we're in our mortal bodies, we will not be in the presence of the Lord, because He is spiritual, so we put off our bodies, in other words, we try and look at things spiritually whenever possible, in order to be present with Him.

Judging By Appearance Danger
Christian Judgment & Biblical Judgment Bible Verses Hope

2 Corninthians 5:11

For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done [while] in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Here's a little Daily Bread Crumb to go along with what you just read. The Buddhists and the Hindus have a word for this, which is "karma." Our recent generations describe it with the phrase "what goes around, comes around." Paul just straight up tells the Truth about it though, here and in Galatians 6:7, where he says, Whatever you sow, you will also reap. It's judgment, friends, plain and simple.

Here's a couple of things to ponder on while you think about this, and I never grow tired of mentioning this, Your sin will never outweigh God's Grace. Now, here's a question. Do we sometimes pay our debts for bad deeds during this life, before judgment day? We know that charity removes a multitude of sins, 1 Peter 4:8 so are there other things that we go through that also erase bad deeds? Not punishments from God, but maybe unfortunate happenings that are beyond our control. What if you become the victim of something that had nothing to do with your own choices, does that count? What about sacrifice? What about suffering? Fasting? Prayer? Generosity? All these things are interesting things to think about. One thing is for certain. Repentance brings forgiveness, so don't rely on misfortune to clean up your score card with God. Rely on His mercy and your Faith in Christ. The other things are works that do build good character, if you don't do them out of obligation, but out of love.

Judging by Appearance Concerns
Christian Judgment & Biblical Judgment Bible Verses Fear

As we return to Paul's letter, remember that Paul is still discussing the accusations of people against him and Timothy, though he throws in some spiritual messages here and there.

2 Corinthians 5:11-12

11 Knowing therefore the terror [fear] of the Lord, we persuade [convince] men [of our worthiness]; but we are made manifest [evident] unto God; and I trust also are made manifest [obvious] in your consciences [too].
12 For we commend not ourselves again unto you [we're not bragging], but give you occasion to glory on our behalf [we want you to be proud of us], that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart [when you encounter those who more concerned with appearance than Truth].

Well, from that last statement, now we can deduce that someone has criticized the appearance of Paul's Ministry or perhaps even Paul's physical appearance. Don't forget what God told Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7, The Lord sees not as man sees, for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. This all fits in real well with Paul's message about the flesh, too, doesn't it?

Judging by Appearance Discussion
Christian Judgment & Biblical Judgment Bible Verses Woe

Next Paul says in so many words, Now, if we're crazy, that is between us and God, but if we are sane, it is for your good. Because the love of Christ rules us. We see it like this, that if Christ died for all, then everyone was dead, and because He died for all, those who live, from now on, shouldn't live for themselves, but for Him who died for them, and rose again. So, from now on, we don't know any man in a human sense anymore, yes, though we have known Christ as a human being, but now we no longer know Him in that way. So if any man is of Christ, he is a new creature, the past is forgotten and all things have become new.

That was a great definition that Paul just explained of being "born again" or "reborn."

2 Corinthians 5:18-21

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled [made peace with] us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation [peace];
19 To wit [that is to say], that God was in Christ, reconciling [making peace with] the world unto [for] Himself, not imputing [counting] their trespasses unto [against] them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation [peace].
20 Now then we are ambassadors [representatives] for Christ, as though God did beseech [ask] you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead [behalf], be ye reconciled to [restored to harmony with] God.
21 For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

Judging by Appearance Conclusion
Christian Judgment - Biblical Judgment Bible Verses

To understand this last verse better, I encourage you to read Isaiah, Chapter 53, especially Verses 6, 9 and 11. Our merciful Father, provided a scapegoat for us ... His most cherished thing in the universe ... His Son.

There were lots of great and important messages in this short chapter. This is one of those that if you read it again, you're sure to find something you missed the first time around, and if you read it a third time, you'll probably find even more!

More great study ahead as we continue through this second letter from Paul to the Corinthians, right here at Daily Bread, so hurry back!

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