Wednesday: Judgment and the People of God
Compare 1 Peter 4:17-19 with Isaiah 10:11-12 and Malachi 3:1-6. What are they saying in common?
In all these passages, the process of judgment is portrayed as starting with the people of God.
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Peter even links the sufferings of his readers to the judgment of God. For him, the sufferings that his Christian readers are experiencing might be nothing less than the judgment of God, which begins with the household of God. “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator” (1 Pet. 4:19, NKJV).
Read Luke 18:1-8. How does this help us understand God’s judgment?
In biblical times, judgment was usually something highly desired. The picture of the poor widow in Luke 18:1-8 captures the wider attitude toward judgment. The widow knows that she will prevail in her case if only she can find a judge who will take her case. She has insufficient money and status to get her case heard, but she finally persuades the judge to hear it and to give her what she deserves. As Jesus says, “And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him?” (Luke 18:7, NKJV). Sin has brought evil into the world, and God’s people throughout the ages have long waited for God to make things right again.
“‘Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested’” (Rev. 15:4, NKJV).
| Think of all the evil in the world that has gone, and still goes, unpunished. Why, then, is the concept of justice, and God’s righteous judgment, so crucial for us as Christians? What hope do you get from the promise that justice will be done? |
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I had 6 girls in my office yesterday. Five were accusing one. They were all innocent. So much pain because we do not allow God to be the Judge - the Righteous Judge. A child of God will always experience hardship and tribulation, but we are commanded to live in peace with everybody, even those that torment us. Stay blessed.
Nick - I think in a secular world we are often misunderstood. I work in a totally secular environment with a workforce which loves "to party". and as a member of a team, I attended where and when I can. However, if is evident in my sober habits and morals that I am not comfortable and therefore over time I have stopped attending social gatherings. Automatically, you then feel left out, ostracized to a degree, whether intentionally or unintentionally when weddings or other celebrations are held and you are not invited (they know about my Sabbath habits). But, as the lesson points out - I should not be surprised at that! My concern though is have I been so spiritually arrogant that it has been a turn off for my work colleagues and given them a wrong concept of Adventism - "a holier than thou attitude" simply because I am uncomfortable with their behavior. From my view, it is following my faith but their view may be different - and I guess that is as it will be when we are "pilgrims and strangers" here.
Yes,it may give this impression but it depends on your attitude towards them. If you show them love,kindness, patience,it make all the difference.
"..[W]hen the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8. This question asked by Jesus in the parable of the widow really struck me. There are many of us who go around with a form of "godliness", but do we really have our calling and election sure? God help us to truly be guided by the Spirit and grounded in the Word, as we are covered by His perfect love.
Agree
Notice how in the parable of THE WIDOW, she PERSEVERED with her petitions to the UNJUST JUDGE and got her request from him. God wants us to learn to be PERSEVERING with OUR FAITH towards him to bless us with our needs to overcome sin in our lives and also reflect HIS SON JESUS' CHARACTER of LOVE TO OTHERS. This is the kind of FAITH JESUS wants to see IN HIS PEOPLE when HE RETURNS. This is the kind of faith HE was asking about as to whether there would be any WHEN HE RETURNS. May we learn to develop and have this type of faith in ALL OF HIS PROMISES for ALL OUR NEEDS here in this world before HE RETURNS.
'Suffering of christian readers that they are experiencing might be nothing less than the judgement of God'
Can someone help me understand this judgement that God allows the christian to experience?
Is it pruning, that God allows you to undergo for purification?
Can we qualify suffering for Christ as God's judgement or some suffering that brings to realization like the prodigal son?
Please help.
Thank you
Christian judgment will be crucial for those who don't follow the commandments of God. As well as for not passing the Gospel to people, any type.
We always talk from our lips that we love the Lord. We exalt His name, extol His name but our manners are contrary towards to our brothers and sisters. The worst thing is, even in church, the protestants are persecuting their brothers and sisters, also they are not wanting to see good things happen for them. Most of them are, but not all. Pity for them from our loving God and may the grace of the Lord fall upon them.
No one can fool God, He knows our pre-moves and our everything and He is our Creator. The second coming of Jesus, some of us we will be judged for being awful unfaithful to Him.
The Apostle Peter is the only one that indicates that judgment starts with the house of God. He is also the only one that says that the righteous are "scarcely saved."
But was King David "Scarcely Saved," when God sent him the Prophet Nathan to tell him the story about the "Little Lamb" that was unrighteously killed for food etc.? And was the Thief on the cross "Scarcely Saved," when he asked Jesus to "Remember him in Jesus' Kingdom?" And were the Ninevites "Scarcely Saved," when GOD spared their city because of their REPENTANCE? And for that matter, did Jesus "Scarcely go to the cross for ALL SIN?" So if "Judgment starts with the house of God," then it must be that it starts with MERCY, FORGIVENESS, LOVE, ABUNDANCE OF GRACE, ETC. FROM GOD to them as well as TO THE REST OF THE WORLD.
I am not aware of any judgments that occur while being among the living, 2Corinthians 5:10 , Hebrews 9:27,28, 2 Timothy 4:1. If I have missed something please help me understand.
Hi Paul. All who are alive when Jesus comes will already have been judged inasmuch as Jesus will bring His reward with Him when He comes (Revelation 22:12).
Sieg, that is true. Jesus brings His reward from Heaven. What do you consider His reward To be, and are they the living that have been resurrected? There is no longer a chance or need of repentance. Once we are dead, our reward is final, what ever the outcome.
Hi Paul. Christ's reward will be salvation for those who are saved and eternal death for those who are lost. That reward will be for all who are alive at His coming and all who have died before then (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
When Jesus comes again, the saved will receive their reward at His coming (eternal life). The lost will receive their reward after the millennium and Satan's final battle against New Jerusalem (eternal death, also known as the second death).
Seig, The only ones that have been judged while living are those that see Jesus when He returns and have never tasted death. That may happen when ever God chooses. So the texts, 2Corinthians5:10, Hebrews 9:27-28, 2Timothy4:1 and 1Thessalonians 4:16-17 all need qualifiers to agree with my first comment. 1thessalonians 4:15 is the qualifier. We are all judged in one sense. God sees us and determines that all have sinned and have fallen short. Romans 3:23.
Paul: the entire living world was judged before the flood and all but 8 of the living were "found wanting." Likewise, the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah were judged and condemned "while living" (Genesis 18:20-33).
See also Michael Trunkey's post below.
The whole concept of "investigative judgment" hinges on us being accused and judged while we are alive. When Jesus comes his reward is with Him Rev 22:12. The last to live on Earth will be judged at the throne of God 'in absentia', as Jesus stands before the throne in our place, then declares us 'Righteous' and then empties all Heaven to come get us alive. Of course we continue the judgment in Heaven for those who were not found Righteous, even of angels, but we knew what was happening despite not being in the courtroom.
To be clear, today we are judged, of the things we say and do, and even our thoughts. Our lives are accumulating the evidence used in our favor, and the first to be judged are of the house of God. Why? Because the house of God go to sit with Jesus for 1000 years to finish the judgment of the wicked. My judgment began in Christ at the cross when he took my second death. It is declared in the courts above at Jesus decision in the near future. It is revealed as He comes in the clouds to collect me. This Judgment is good news to the saints, the ones who have waited for Him and are eager to see Him.
Judgement starts at the house of God, because we are the one how knows better and claim to follow him as his representatives, and when we knowingly does wrong, His judgement fall on us making us aware of this thing we have done while not exposing us so that we can come back in line with his will.
I found out that the word the Apostle Peter used in 1 Peter 4:8 "scarcely," in the original Greek was "Molis," a word that has as its first significance that of "with difficulty," or "with much work," and as secondary significances that of "hardly," or "scarcely." I think that taking into consideration how GOD saved THE THEIF ON THE CROSS and THE NENEVITES and KING DAVID etc. and etc. that the first two fit better than the second two for its true meaning of 1 Peter 4:18 and the Greek word used there by Peter "MOLIS."
Interesting. I tracked that back a bit more. First, Peter is quoting from Proverbs 11:31. But he is quoting from the Septuagint, which is where he got "molis". Different English translations translate Prov. 11:31 differently. Some follow the Septuagint. But the Hebrew is "shalem" which means rewarded. It can be taken positively or negatively. Some English translations contrast the positive reward of the righteous with the negative reward of the wicked. The word "shalem" is not repeated (concerning the wicked) but it's negative form is implied. If the concept of positive reward is carried into Peter's use of the OT verse, it changes the implications considerably.
Hi Paul Blanke,
Kindly read from Inspiration:- 1SM 125,GC 186
Some light will be shed regarding your query.
Thanks
Renford Mweemba, I looked at a text in 1Samuel3:1-40, and GC 125. One had to do with Saul and the GC125 was about Martin Luther. I am afraid I missed what I should have been looking for. Sorry.
Wow. I was reading the bottom section of Wednesday's lesson about punishment being Gods way of justice in the "final judgement". Has the Seventh day Adventist church lost its logo of the three angels messages and the meaning? Or is it possible that we never knew the meaning? "The three angels messages is righteousness by faith in verity". Punishment?
I remember my young son and me talking about God wiping away our tears, and the question came up “Who is going to wipe away God’s tears and heal his heart after he gave so much and sees so many whose choices put them into the lake of fire?” “Surely He has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.” [Isaiah 53:4] The lake of fire was prepared for the Devil and his angels, but not for even one human being. God's heart will be pierced with each soul who perishes in that fire. Is it any wonder that his anguish is described as indignation and wrath?