Paul has just evaluated the Corinthians and found them wanting, and in the following chapters he finds even more failures among the Corinthians: moral problems and lawsuits against fellow believers. He also considers himself: “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me” (4:3,4).
Paul acknowledges, though he knows no charge that might be leveled against him, the Lord judges and knows where he fails. Good and bad news, here. On the one hand, we need not concern ourselves with what others think of us if we are following after the Lord. On the other hand, the Lord judges us, and because he sees all, even into the deepest recesses of our hearts, his judgment is faultless. He knows us even better than we know ourselves. That’s a bit humbling and frightening, yet, also full of hope when we consider his graciousness toward us. He removes our sins from us. He is longsuffering toward us. He forgives us. And he is making us holy. We must be careful not to think too highly of ourselves. Yet, in Christ, we are seen by God as perfectly righteous, covered by his blood, given his righteousness. Now, that’s reason to rejoice! Our hope is not in ourselves but in our God and, so, we can sing:
I will trust in the Lord,
I will trust in the Lord,
I will trust in the Lord till I die.
I will trust in the Lord,
I will trust in the Lord,
I will trust in the Lord till I die. –Spiritual
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