It is true that the Bible tells us not to judge. This is found in Matthew 7:1-2. No man has the right to judge the heart and motives of another man. When we do this we are going against what the Bible teaches.
On the other hand, the Bible teaches we can know a man by what he does. We are told not to cast our pearls to the swine and that we must not give that which is holy to the dogs (Matt. 7:60). How could we know those who are like swine and those who are like dogs without passing judgment? We are told in Matthew 7:15-20 that we can know a tree by the fruit it bears. How can we do this without passing judgment?
Can we know if a person is lost? Some say we cannot know. Some say we have no right to even try. Well, I am not very much interested in what men have to say on this matter. I am very much interested in what God has to say about it. This question involves the Word of God and its truthfulness. Can we depend on the Bible? Is it true in all it has to say? If so, then what is found therein can be received and accepted without any hesitation.
I am assuming that we all believe the Bible, as I write the answer to this question. The Bible says we must be born again to be saved (John 3:1-7). If one is not born again, then is he saved or lost? If the Bible is true, then we all know he is lost. Who said so? Jesus Christ said so. Does one have to believe that Christ is the Son of God to be saved? John 8:21-24 says that one must believe Christ to be the Son of God in order to be saved. Who said this? Christ himself said this. Then we may conclude that if one dies having rejected the Christ, then that person is lost.
Do we have to contact the blood of Christ to be saved? The Bible says so (Heb. 9:22; Rev. 7:14). If one does not contact the blood of Christ, then he is lost and will be eternally lost. Does one have to obey the gospel to be saved? The Bible says so (II Thess. 1:7-9). Then if one does not obey the gospel and dies in that condition, we may know he is lost. Who says so? God says so in the Bible. For us to say otherwise is but to say the Bible is not true.
There can be no doubt but that Christ will pronounce the final verdict on all men (Acts 17:30-31). He is the one that will send the disobedient and unbelieving to eternal darkness (Matt. 25:46). But just because Christ does this does not mean that we cannot know if one is lost according to the Bible.
-Malcolm L. Hill, January 12, 1934 – June 26, 2012
