Where Judgment Begins

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