Judgment Has Begun

Text - 1 Peter 4.15-19

1 Peter 4:15–19 NASB 2020

15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? 19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God are to entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

Title - Judgment Has Begun

Intro

“bawal ang judgmental”

people are clamoring for freedom of expression without consequences

people are becoming more daring in doing wrong, without fear of judgment

“judge not so you will not be judged”

people think this statement means we should not judge anymore

“justice delayed is justice denied”

because the judicial system is very slow in providing social justice, people tend to think their sinful acts have no more consequence.

Main Idea

There is a need for people to hear what God has to say about the sinful things that they are doing.

God wants His church to speak and declare His words in the ears of this sinful world!

Whether we like it or not - God’s judgment has begun!

I. It has begun for the world

Christ came for judgment

John 9:39 NASB 2020

39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”

Condemnation comes as a consequence

John 3:16–17 NASB 2020

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him.

God’s love DOES NOT mean there will be no judgment

the world MUST believe in order for them not to be judged

those who do not believe are already judged!

John 3:18–19 NASB 2020

18 The one who believes in Him is not judged; the one who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light; for their deeds were evil.

Christ’s death was God’s judgment against Satan

John 12:31–33 NASB 2020

31 Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.” 33 Now He was saying this to indicate what kind of death He was going to die.

Christ’s death was not Satan’s judgment on Him. Rather, it was God’s judgment against the devil and his works!

Hebrews 2:14 NASB 2020

14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, so that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

II. It has begun for the Church

When the Holy Spirit was promised, Jesus indicated how its work is related to judgment

John 16:7–11 NASB 2020

7 But I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I am leaving; for if I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world regarding sin, and righteousness, and judgment: 9 regarding sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 and regarding righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you no longer are going to see Me; 11 and regarding judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

convict - prove or show guilty

The Holy Spirit will prove the world to be guilty before God

regarding sin - because do not believe in Christ

regarding righteousness - because Jesus demonstrated God’s righteousnes and now he is gone to heaven

regarding judgment - because the devil jas been judged, marked for judgment in the last day, because Christ has paid the sin of the world with his own blood

The Holy Spirit - now in the Church - is condemning the world WHILE sanctifying the people of God.

The Church is the focal point of God’s judgment in the present time

the saints are the starting point of God’s judgment

before God judges the world, He must first judge His people

1 Peter 4:17 NASB 2020

17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

Now one escapes God’s judgment

BEWARE those who do not obey the gospel!

there are only 2 places of judgment -

with the household of God

with the world

1 Corinthians 11:32 NASB 2020

32 But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

NOTE - Churches that have removed God’s judgment of sin

pride has become a virtue, not sin

homosexuality - a creation of God, not a perversion by Satan

woman preachers - usurping authority over the men

Isaiah 5:20–25 NASB 2020

20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes And clever in their own sight! 22 Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine, And valiant men in mixing intoxicating drink, 23 Who declare the wicked innocent for a bribe, And take away the rights of the ones who are in the right! 24 Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes stubble, And dry grass collapses in the flame, So their root will become like rot, and their blossom blow away like dust; For they have rejected the Law of the Lord of armies, And discarded the word of the Holy One of Israel. 25 For this reason the anger of the Lord has burned against His people, And He has stretched out His hand against them and struck them. And the mountains quaked, and their corpses lay like refuse in the middle of the streets. Despite all this, His anger is not spent, But His hand is still stretched out.

The true church is being sanctified -

Ephesians 5:25–27 NASB 2020

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

How - by means of persecution

1 Peter 4:15–16 NASB 2020

15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.

2 Thessalonians 1:4–5 NASB 2020

4 As a result, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. 5 This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you indeed are suffering.

How - by the Word of God

2 Timothy 3:16–17 NASB 2020

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.

III. It is serious work

The righteous will be saved with difficulty

1 Peter 4:18 NASB 2020

18 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner?

“it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than...”

Matthew 19.23-26

Jesus has been busy throughout the church ages

he stands in the midst of the church

“I have somewhat against you...”

“remember… repent...”

“hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches...”

We must endure God’s judgment right now - His disciplines

Hebrews 12:5–7 NASB 2020

5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor faint when you are punished by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He punishes every son whom He accepts.” 7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

IV. It will be rewarded

1 Peter 4:19 NASB 2020

19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God are to entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

Discipline has its rewards

Hebrews 12:11–13 NASB 2020

11 For the moment, all discipline seems not to be pleasant, but painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. 12 Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is impaired may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

the peaceful fruits of righteousness is the result of godly discipline

The reward of discipline is sanctified life!

Conclusion

How do you endure the time of judgment?

Abide in the Spirit

1 John 2:27–28 NASB 2020

27 And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him remains in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you remain in Him. 28 Now, little children, remain in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not draw back from Him in shame at His coming.

Remain in the Spirit

Listen to the Spirit

Receive the correction of the Spirit

Let the Holy Spirit teach you

Let the Holy Spirit convict you of what is right and wrong, truth and error, good and evil

Remain in Him

SONG - wala nang hahanapin pa…