1 Corinthians 4:4

Christ's Servant, God's Steward

³ But [as for me personally] it matters very little to me that I may be judged by you or any human court [on this point]; in fact, I do not even judge myself. ⁴ I am aware of nothing against myself and I feel blameless, but I am not by this acquitted [before God]. It is the Lord who judges me. ⁵ So do not go on passing judgment before the appointed time, but wait until the Lord comes, for He will both bring to light the [secret] things that are hidden in darkness and disclose the motives of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.

Before God

It is the Lord

Vindicate Me

No

Psalm 143:2

And do not enter into judgment with Your servant,
For in Your sight no man living is righteous or justified.

Psalm 130:3

If You, Lord, should keep an account of our sins and treat us accordingly,
O Lord, who could stand [before you in judgment and claim innocence]?

2 Corinthians 1:12

This is our [reason for] proud confidence: our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world [in general], and especially toward you, with pure motives and godly sincerity, not in human wisdom, but in the grace of God [that is, His gracious lovingkindness that leads people to Christ and spiritual maturity].

Job 9:2-3

“Yes, I know it is true.
But how can a mortal man be right before God?

Job 9:20

“Though I am innocent and in the right, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty;
Though I am blameless, He would denounce me as guilty.

Job 15:14

“What is man, that he should be pure and clean,
Or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous and just?

Job 25:4

“How then can man be justified and righteous with God?
Or how can he who is born of a woman be pure and clean?

Job 27:6

“I hold fast my uprightness and my right standing with God and I will not let them go;
My heart does not reproach me for any of my days.

Job 40:4

“Behold, I am of little importance and contemptible; what can I reply to You?
I lay my hand on my mouth.

Psalm 7:3-5

O Lord my God, if I have done this,
If there is injustice in my hands,

Psalm 19:12

Who can understand his errors or omissions? Acquit me of hidden (unconscious, unintended) faults.

Psalm 26:12

My foot stands on a level place;
In the congregations I will bless the Lord.

Psalm 50:6

And the heavens declare His righteousness,
For God Himself is judge. Selah.

Proverbs 21:2

Every man’s way is right in his own eyes,
But the Lord weighs and examines the hearts [of people and their motives].

John 21:17

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with a deep, personal affection for Me, as for a close friend]?” Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time, “Do you [really] love Me [with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend]?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You [with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend].” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

Acts 23:1

Then Paul, looking intently at the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), said, “Kinsmen, I have lived my life before God with a perfectly good conscience until this very day.”

Romans 2:13

For it is not those who merely hear the Law [as it is read aloud] who are just or righteous before God, but it is those who [actually] obey the Law who will be justified [pronounced free of the guilt of sin and declared acceptable to Him].

Romans 3:19-20

Now we know that whatever the Law [of Moses] says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that [the excuses of] every mouth may be silenced [from protesting] and that all the world may be held accountable to God [and subject to His judgment].

Romans 4:2

For if Abraham was justified [that is, acquitted from the guilt of his sins] by works [those things he did that were good], he has something to boast about, but not before God.

1 Corinthians 4:5

So do not go on passing judgment before the appointed time, but wait until the Lord comes, for He will both bring to light the [secret] things that are hidden in darkness and disclose the motives of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.

2 Corinthians 5:10

For we [believers will be called to account and] must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be repaid for what has been done in the body, whether good or bad [that is, each will be held responsible for his actions, purposes, goals, motives—the use or misuse of his time, opportunities and abilities].

1 John 3:20-21

whenever our heart convicts us [in guilt]; for God is greater than our heart and He knows all things [nothing is hidden from Him because we are in His hands].