Where Judgment Begins
(1 Peter 4:17)
1 Peter 4:17
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
KJV
Introduction: I want to tell you right of the bat that this is not one of those sermons that you can’t wait to get in the pulpit to preach. As a matter of fact, I would really rather not preach this message. But God has placed it upon my heart and has told me to preach this massage. So with that said let’s look at this one verse and see what God has for us.
This passage of scripture seemed to me a little strange when I read it. I looked in my commentaries to see what the theologians had to say about this verse and was surprised at how they addressed this verse. Let’s look at the whole context of this verse.
1 Peter 4:13-19
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.
16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. KJV
It is obvious that Peter is talking to those Jews that would have to go through suffering. The church in Jerusalem was already under heavy persecution and would suffer even worse before it was over. Verse 14 tells us that to be happy if we suffer for the cause of Christ for in your persecution God is glorified.
Peter wants us to also know that the Christian life is hard enough with out coming under the chastening hand of God. That’s why he says in verse 15, “If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.” NIV
It has always been God’s plan to have a holy people. Those that would stand for Him no matter what happened in their lives.
Listen folks God will one day take unto him self a bride and this bride is to be without spot or blemish. So where does this purification process begin?
1.) It Starts With His Church:
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:
a.) It as always been God’s plan.
Jeremiah 25:29
29 See, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears my Name, and will you indeed go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword upon all who live on the earth, declares the LORD Almighty.’ NIV
Amos 3:2
2 "You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you
for all your sins." NIV
To the church’s of Asia Minor in Revelations Jesus said to the church in
Ephesus- I will remove your lampstand. (Revelation 2:5)
Pergamum- I am coming to judge you. (Revelation 2:16)
Thyatira- I am going to bring death and sickness to you congregation. (Revelation 2:22-23)
Sardis- I will a wake you. (Revelation 3:3)
Laodicea- I will spit you out. (Revelation 3:16)
b.) It is always done for a purpose.
Why was God going to bring judgment to the Churches in the Book of Revelation?
Ephesus - They had lost their first love.
Pergamum - The teaching of false Doctrine.
Thyatira – Condoning of immorality.
Sardis – They were dead.
Laodicea – They had become apathetic.
The Bible tells us that we are the light of the world. In the case of each church mentioned in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 their light had gone out. They were no longer a lighthouse for the lost but was shedding no light at all.
c.) It is always done to His people.
Hebrews 12:8
8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
God cannot and will not tolerate unconfessed sin in the life of the believer.
2.) It Sets Out To Correct:
Hebrews 12:7-11
7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
NKJV
a.) To refine us.
11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
b.) To reestablish us.
11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
c.) To reaffirm His love to us.
6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." NIV
3.) It Sifts Out Contamination:
1 Corinthians 5:9-13
9 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people- 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." NIV
a.) The Church cannot condone sin.
1 Corinthians 5:1-2
5:1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this? NIV
b.) The Church must not compromise scripture.
1 Corinthians 15:1-2
Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand,
2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. NASU
c.) The Church should confront the sinner.
Matthew 18:15-17
15 "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ’every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. NIV
1 Corinthians 5:2
2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this? NIV
1 Corinthians 5:5
5 hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord. NIV
1 Corinthians 5:13
13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. KJV
Conclusion: Why does judgment begin at the house of God? I hope you understand why. God wants His church to be holy and pure. I’m afraid that if the church won’t stand up and be the church that God’s judgment is going to fall on her. Are we a church that tolerates and promotes ungodly living? Do we tolerate and promote sin in our own lives? Let me say again, God will not and can not tolerate sin in the lives of His children. Oh, that we, the Church might walk worthy of our calling. Let the Church be the Church
