Question Box: Judgement Begins with Us?
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We got a card in the Question Box asking us to talk specifically about 1 Peter 4:17:
17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
What does this mean? Is it as scary as it sounds?
Interpreting the passage - 1st Look at the Context
Immediate Context
Context of the whole book.
Context of the whole Bible
1 Peter 4:12–19 .
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.
16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
18 And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
Book Context: Suffering as Testing and Purifying
Two Big Ideas:
Suffering purifies our faith.
God is building us into a “temple”.
Earlier in the 1st chapter of 1st Peter it is acknowledged that the recipients of this letter have been going through a time of difficulty and trial (1:6). Peter says that these trials are for the purpose of refining their faith (1:7).
Peter then writes that one of God’s purposes for refining the faith of his followers, and commanding repentant living, is that he is building all of us into a Temple. A place for his presence to dwell in. This is important to remember for later.
But Peter isn’t done talking about the trials that the believers are facing. He addresses it more extensively in chapter 3, and again here at the end of chapter 4.
So, as we look at this “mystery verse” we see that it is surrounded by this repeated theme of suffering with Jesus.
Immediate Context: Persecution is Normal
1 Peter 4:12.
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
Peter knows how important of a topic this is to address. First of all, they are experiencing suffering already (see chapter 1). But he also wants to make sure that their faith isn’t shaken when they go through suffering (4:12).
You see fiery trials are also known as painful tests. Our suffering is always a test and an opportunity. It is a test to see if you will choose to wait on God. It is also an opportunity to see God’s power and presence show up in your life.
1 Peter 4:13.
13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
I don’t think many of us take this verse seriously. I think we see this statement as a hyperbole. But if we go a little bit farther...
1 Peter 4:14.
14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
There is something special that happens when we suffer alongside Jesus.
This doesn’t just require us to be persecuted for sharing the gospel or for being a Christian. Earlier in 1 Peter 3, it mentions the blessings that come from suffering for righteousness sake, that is for doing what is right. That’s an important distinction to make. Its a whole lot more common to suffer for doing what is right than because you love and follow Jesus. He does offer a caution though...
1 Peter 4:15–16 .
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.
16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
Don’t be a jerk.
Most of us already know not to steal and kill, but it would be well for us to pay attention to that last one. Meddler; coming from a Greek combo word that squishes together the words for “one-another’s” and “overseer”. In our terms; a gossip or a busy-body. We don’t get Jesus points if we get hit a tree while trying to drive two cars.
1 Peter 4:17–18.
17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
18 And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
This is where we are confused because we usually only hear judgement used in a bad way. What isn’t immediately obvious is two passages in the Old Testament that Peter has in mind when he writes this.
Ezekiel 9:3-6 and Malachi 3:1-4 also describe judgement that begins at the house of God.
In these passages his judgement purifies his people.
True believers are preserved. Phonies are destroyed.
Remember that Peter has in mind the big picture of believers being brought together into a “temple” for God’s presence to dwell in. Also, suffering has been repeatedly brought up, as something that refines and purifies believers. So when we read about a judgement that begins at the house of God. The best way to interpret it, within the overall context is that God is sovereignly working through the suffering that is in the world to purify his church.
In context, 1 Peter 4:17 is about God purifying his people, not condemning them.
Let me repeat; this verse that says, “it is time for judgement to begin at the house of God” is referring to God’s intention that his new temple - all his people as a whole - would be purified. In that passage in Ezekiel, he started at the temple and he brought purifying judgement on his people Israel. The faithful followers were spared, those who only pretended, were destroyed by the angel. Now as God brings the purifying judgement with the fiery trials that all people face, authentic Christians will be drawn closer to him. Look at the trajectory of your life.
Everyone eventually faces pain and grief.
And mostly, grief includes anger.
It’s pretty natural, even to be angry with God.
But do you stay there? Or do you eventually come back and trust that God really does love you?
1 Peter 4:19.
19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
This is your application point for the sermon, and it comes straight out of the text.
When you go through suffering, entrust yourself and your family to God.
Why? Because we know that he is faithful.
Romans 8:28.
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
He is working for your good; that means that everything is going to be okay. It is in fully surrendering to whatever God is doing that we can have peace.
It sounds something a little like this:
“God; this situation is absolutely [scary, heartbreaking, painful, infuriating,...] and I don’t know what’s going on. But I know that you will never let me down. You have always been faithful to me, and you love me, and you are using this for my good. I accept however this situation ends up, because I know that you are in control. I entrust that control to you. May your will be done.
“When through fiery trials they pathway shall lie,
my grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake!”
— How Firm a Foundation
