What Does The Bible Mean To Judge One's Self?

1st Corinthians 11:31-32, “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.”

To judge one's self simply means that if we take care of the sin problem, then God won't have to. For example: 1st Thessalonians 4:6 warns that if we defraud any Christian brother God will avenge that sister or brother, “That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.” If we cheat someone out of money, commit adultery with their spouse, or whatever that offends them, we have an obligation to go make things right with them, which of necessity requires restitution (repayment) and reconciliation (apologizing) to restore harmony. 

This is why God says in Matthew Matthew 5:23-24, "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.​"​ We cannot be right with God and wrong with man. At a bare minimum we ought to try to be at peace with all men, doing our part to be honest, undo our wrongs and seek forgiveness after we've made restitution and sought reconciliation. In many cases saying “I'm sorry” is not enough. There needs to be repayment for damages caused and some form of penance made to the victims. It all depends on the circumstances.

Judging one's self means that we have done all that we can to right a wrong in our past, so that God doesn't have to do it for us. 2nd Corinthians 5:9-11 warns that we will all stand at the Judgment Seat Of Christ in eternity and give account for the good and the bad we've done in the body. 2nd Corinthians 5:9-11, “Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.” Here we learn that the believer's judgment will not be one of punishment for sins in criminal court, but of monetary loss of rewards in civil court for our lack of good character in Christ. 

If we fail to right our wrongs, then God will avenge those whom we have hurt (Romans 12:19-21). Hebrews 13:4 warns that God will judge all adulterers and whoremongers, but marriage is honorable in all. A believer must confess and forsake the sins in one's life to avoid God's judgement. Jesus has already paid for our sins, so there is no punishment, but we must still give account for the sins that we permit in our redeemed state, which will result in loss of rewards (1st Corinthians 3:15).

The Old Testament equivalent to 1st Corinthians 11:31-32 is found in Isaiah 55:7, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” This passage does NOT speak about salvation, which is by faith alone. Many preachers misinterpret this Scripture passage in the Old Testament. This verse speaks of national healing for the rebellious nation of Israel, which would be equivalent today to the Christian believer. The Church does not replace Israel, but we as God's saints are the chosen ones. We are the kings, priests and princes who shall reign with Christ a thousand years. Only those Jews and Gentiles alike who have been redeemed by faith in Jesus Christ are the true children of Abraham (Galatians 3:9-29). Galatians 3:9, “So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.”