Censorious judgment: This kind of criticism comes under the prohibition expressed by Christ in Mt 7:1-4 and Lk 6:37-42. "Judge not" (the aorist negative imperative in the Gr.) states a definitive prohibition against the harmful habit of criticizing others while passing over our own faults (cf. Jas 4:11-12).
Civil litigations: Two sides of this subject are presented in the NT. On the one side, Paul was justified in demanding as a civil right before Roman authorities his complete vindication against the false charges of the Jews (Acts 25:9-12). This was at least a minimum benefit of his Roman citizenship (Acts 16:37-39; 22:27-29; cf. Rom 13:1-7). On the other side, Christians are urged to undergo injustice rather than to engage in lawsuits against other Christians before unbelievers (I Cor 6:1, 5-8). Paul's case before the Roman authorities aws entirely different from the situation existing among believers in the Corinthian church. Paul's appeal to Caesar was thrust upon him as the only alternative to almost certain death at Jerusalem. The Christians at Corinth were in no such need.
Questions of conscience: The following principles may clarify this somewhat difficult area of Christian conduct:
(1) The freedom of the new man in Christ must be maintained (Jn 8:32, 36; Rom 8:15; Gal 2:4; 5:1, 13; Col 2:16-23).
(2) This freedom must not degenerate into license or licentiousness (Gal 5:13; I Pet 2:16; II Pet 2:7, 10, 14; Jude 4).
(3) The sometimes dubious or debatable area between freedom and licentiousness may be traversed by Christian love for "the weaker brother" (Rom 14:1-23; I Cor 8:9-13; 10:23-33; Gal 5:13-15), by a proper concern for one's own weakness (Gal 6:1) and proneness toward superiority (Jas 2:8-13), and by a proper application of Christ's "judge not" (Mt 7:1-5; cf. Jas 4:11-12).
Self-judgment: The Christian is called upon not only to judge or examine himself (II Cor 13:5) but also to realize that God Himself is the Examiner (I Thess 2:4; cf. Ps 139:1-6, 23). This self-judgment should be a part of the spiritual preparation for the Lord's Supper (1 Cor 11:27-34). When properly conducted by the assistance of the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:26-27), this self-examination puts the Lord's Supper in its true perspective and thus obviates the divine judgment visited upon those who fail to discriminate between the ordinary meal and the Lord's Supper.
Judgments concerning faith and practice: Christians are required to "examine everything carefully" and to "hold fast to that which is good" (I Thess 5:21, NASB). They are also obligated to "test the spirits to see whether they are from God" (I Jn 4:1, NASB). Even in Christian gatherings they must "pass judgment" on what they hear (I Cor 14:29, NASB). The Corinthian Christians were commanded to pass immediate judgment on the immorality existing in their membership (I Cor 5:1-8). Even the passing stranger is not to be entertained if it is ascertained that he is not true in the faith (II Jn 10-11). And an anathema must be pronounced against those who would introduce a different kind of gospel (Gal 1:9). The principle back of all this required spiritual discrimination is that the Christian should never bring the Lord's judgment upon himself because of teh things in doctrine or in practice which he approaves (Rom 14:22).
The spiritual man of I Cor 2:14-15: This man is above the judgment of the unregenerate man for the simple reason that the two men are on different levels of spiritual insight and ability. The unregenerate man is a child of the devil (Jn 8:44; I Jn 3:10-12), devoid of the Holy Spirit (Jude 19), spiritually dead (Eph 2:1, 5; Col 2:13) and spiritually blind (Mt 23:16, 24; Jn 9:39-41), and a willing captive of sin (Rom 6:6, 16-23; II Pet 2:14). Thus such a person is morally unable to pass judgment on the spiritual man who has been resurrected into a new life in Christ (Col 3:1-3), indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:11) and by Christ (II Cor 13:5), and completely transformed as a new creature (II Cor 5:17).
Judgment in abeyance: In I Cor 4:3-5 Paul speaks of three judgments: (1) by "man's judgment," i.e., by a day in any human court (NASB) or by the world's public opinion; (2) by his own conscience, which while not condemning him is still inadequate to justify (i.e., definitively approve) his stewardship; and (3) by the Lord Jesus, who at His second coming will render full judgment. Thus the believer is urged to judge nothing, i.e., to pass judgment on no one else's ministry, until that future event. All the unknown factors that now motivate man's actions will then be revealed by the Lord; and then each man, beholding the justice of the verdict rendered, will have his praise from God (cf. Jas 5:9).
The Christian and future judgments: The Scriptures reveal a therefold relationship of the believer to future judgments: (1) as one who will be judged to determine his rewards (I Cor 3:11-15; II Cor 5:10; II Tim 4:1, 8), but not concerning his salvation (Jn 3:18; 5:24); (2) as one who will participate in the judgment of the world and of angels (I Cor 6:2-3; cf. Dan 7:18, 22, 27; Mt 19:28; Rev 2:26-27; 3:21); (3) as one who will not be judged with the wicked before the Great White Throne of God, because his name is found written in the book of life (Rev 20:11-15).