1 Peter 1.17
The Final Judge
(10/4/98 Sun. p.m.)
Introduction:
Have you noticed the recent trend to televise court cases. Some infamous cases have been televised, but I’m thinking more of the showing of everyday petty cases that are shown on TV.
Judge Judy or Judge Wapner appear to be infinitely in control of the situation and to have an extreme amount of wisdom in dispensing justice.
Maybe it was because of Judge Wapner that I was shocked when I got to observe a judge in real life.
He was in the midst of dealing with a number of men who were in jail for one reason or another. As each prisoner made his way forward the judge would banter with him, giving a very light sentence to each. The disregard for the law was clearly evident in the way those men handled the court hearing.
Then the real shocker came when the judge proceeded to relate a filthy joke to the group complete with the filthy language.
Judges in their courtroom and filthy language don’t seem to mix do they. A judge is a person who is to be respected.
I would like to submit to you today that there is One Judge Who always judges righteously and Who always knows right from wrong. This Righteous Judge, the Final Judge, expects us to live in reverence to His holy name.
Big Idea: Because God judges righteously, we must live reverently
I. The Righteous Judgment of God (vs. 17)
II. The Reverent Life of the Believer (vs. 17)
1 Peter 1:17
I. The Righteous Judgment of God (vs. 17)
A. He’s the Father (vs. 17)
1. “call”- a couple of things. To call on for help. To actually call Him Father.
2. God is the Heavenly Father
a. He provides our needs as a Father meets the needs of His children
b. He loves us as a Father loves his children
c. He is a tender, caring Father. As every father should be.
Illustration: “There are times when God chooses to protect His trusting children in unusual ways. Felix of Nola found this to be true when he was fleeing from his enemies. Calling on God for help, he took refuge in a cave. He had scarcely entered when a spider began to spin a web over the opening. The pursuers saw the spider’s lacy veil blocking the entrance and didn’t bother to look inside. They figured that no one could have entered without disturbing that delicate curtain of silk.
So they left, and the life of one of God’s noble men was spared for additional service for Christ. Felix of Nola later summed up his experience in these words, ‘Where God is, a spider’s web is a wall; where He is not, a wall is but a spider’s web.’ ”
We all as Christians have hopefully learned to “call on the Father.”
Problem: Peter goes on to show that this is only half the picture.
B. He’s the Judge - not a popular theme these days. He’s not only the Father, He’s also the Judge. Some theologians would rather think of God as being a loving Father than the Judge of Righteousness.
Illustration of this type of thinking:
“How could a loving Father send someone to a hell which is an eternal torment?”
You see, the fact that God is the Father is only half the picture. It’s like looking at only one side of a quarter and saying that the coin only has the head of George Washington on it. Flip it over and you’ll see something different. Same coin, different facet. So it is with the Fatherhood of God and the justice of God. Same God, different attribute.
He is loving, but He is also just.
1. “Judgeth”- definition: To evaluate one’s actions to determine whether they are right or wrong.
2. He is not driven by favoritism- “without respect of persons”
a. There is no corruption in His justice. He cannot be bought, cannot be bribed.
b. It matters not who you are. Young and old, rich and poor, religious and non-religious, blue collar and white collar, man and woman. . .every person is evaluated by God. He’s the unbiased Judge. He’s driven by justice.
3. The basis for judgment-
a. Our works. Our deeds or actions. What we do as an individual. Notice it is “every man.”
b. More specifically- do we line up with God’s holiness spoken of in 1:16.
c. I for the pastoral oversight of this church will one day answer in person to God. I will answer in person for the shepherding of my family and will one day answer for my life in relation to my personal relationship with God.
d. You will one day give account in person for your actions also. For the way you are living your life, dealing with your family, occupation, the church, your personal relationship with God.
3. The timing-
a. Some scholars seem to feel this judgment refers to the present, some the future.
b. I believe this judgment is going on at the present and will extend into future end time events.
c. It refers to the judgment of God over believers in its entirety.
d. With each passing day, evidence is being collected which will one day be revealed.
e. You see even as we speak the data is being gathered!
You see, the unresting eyes of God are watching at this very moment. His eyes bore to our very soul. He knows everything. He evaluates each of us individually.
Your husband or wife or parents are not responsible for what you do. You are. It’s just you and God---alone in this evaluation.
I wonder, what does He see? Does He see those things for which one day He can say “Well done thou good and faithful servant?” Or are there things of which we will be ashamed?
This evaluation is not for salvation. Peter has already made it clear that these people are headed for heaven. Salvation is not by good deeds. The evaluation we are now discussing refers to what is taking place after salvation.
Transition: So we’ve seen that God is the Judge Who evaluates our lives in the present. We also know that one day we will stand in His court room person to Person (He wearing the robe of the Judge) and how we lived our lives will be considered.
Now let’s turn to our way of life in view of God’s justice.
II. The Reverent Life of the Believer-
A. “pass the time of your sojourning” (vs. 17)
a. American Heritage Dictionary defines sojourn- “To stay for a time; reside temporarily.”
b. Don’t get too hooked to this life! Keep in mind, you’re not here forever. It’s not even a dot in the face of eternity!
c. The historical situation:
aa. Peter is just reminding them once again that they would not be there forever! They were facing trials, difficulties, persecutions. It can’t last forever.
bb. He seems to be urging them to realize that through the suffering they needed to remain faithful. Don’t turn their back on God as would be the temptation during persecution.
cc. The original readers were being evaluated on the basis of how they responded to their trials.
Application: And so are you my friend. That suffering, that trial, is a basis for God’s assessment or your life.
B. Live in Fear (vs. 17)
1. “Fear”- terror, awe, fright, reverence. A reverent fright of the Judge which results in a change of behavior.
Illustration: Lawrence Jingst came up and mentioned the “No Fear” signs. The world brags that they have no fear. They are so bold, so strong, so confident.
They know not the Judge. This “no fear” attitude has no place in the life of a believer.
Those who do not fear God, do not know God!
2. Some Christians do not live in fear of the Judge because they feel that the judgment day is such a long way off.
“I’ll worry about that day when it gets here. I’ve got enough to worry about as it is. At least no matter what I do I’ll still make it to heaven.”
Remember, God is not restricted to judgment in the future. He can and does discipline today. Here. Now.
You think you have trouble now, just wait until the discipline of God enters your life. The trouble has just begun.
Remember: Those who do not fear God, do not know God!
C. Two Corollaries for application (corollary- a natural outcome of something already proven)
#1 Because God is the Judge, the believer must reverently (yes fearfully) rid himself of everything that is unholy.
Illustration: The fascination with sin.
One of my son’s favorite books is about a little monkey named George. Curios George that is. George is a well-meaning little monkey, but he has one problem: and overpowering curiosity. He’s always getting into trouble because he’s too curious.
It reminds me of some Christians with sin. Curious. The difference is, George always gets away with it. Christians never get away with it! God the Judge is watching.
The direct application of this passage is to live in reverence putting away unholiness
#2- Christians who habitually judge other Christians place themselves in the position of God.
Illustration:
Remember I said I had an opportunity to observe a judge as he was in his courtroom? What would have happened if I had marched up front and said, “all right judge, move over. You’re not doing a good enough job, so now I’m going to pronounce judgment on these men.”
We would never think of doing that would we? And yet some Christians think nothing of stepping into the position of God in the judgment of their brothers.
It’s a dangerous place (Pause) Stepping into the position of God.
Evaluating the actions of others. Is it right, is it wrong? Is it the way I would do it? All of this going on, and not a word spoken to the brother being evaluated.
A lot said behind the persons back in the privacy of one’s home, yet the brother knows nothing about it.
It’s a dangerous place, this taking the position of God.
1 Corinthians 4:5 (read it) It is the responsibility of the believer to wait for the final judgment by the final Judge. Ultimately, it’s only God’s judgment that really matters is it not?
He’s the only One Who is impartial. Not all the data is in yet. Neither you nor I know all the details. Therefore, we cannot take the position of God as the judge of the believer.
When we truly understand that God is evaluating each of us as an individual, I believe we will be so concerned that we please Him that we have no time to worry about anyone else’s business.
Conclusion:
Big Idea: Because God judges righteously, we must live reverently
I. The Righteous Judgment of God (vs. 17)
II. The Reverent Life of the Believer (vs. 17)
How are you living? Reverently I hope.