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? – 1 Peter 4:17
The Lord is tired of what is going on in His church and He is about to correct it. Many people do not believe in the judgment of God. They put it off to somewhere in the future or let it lay somewhere in the past. However, if you look throughout the Scriptures, you will see the judgment of God taking place – even in the New Testament. It is a seducing spirit and a doctrine of the devil that is being preached in the church that says that judgment does not exist in this time.
Ananias and Sapphira fell dead because they lied to the Holy Spirit in Acts 5. Certainly they believe in the judgment of God and that it is for the New Testament.
King Herod was smote by an angel and died. And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. – Acts 12:21-23
Certainly he believes in the judgment of God for the New Testament era.
The Apostle Paul spoke to the Corinthians church about the judgment of God – To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. – 1 Corinthians 5
The Corinthian church, the Apostle Paul, and this man certainly believe in the judgment of God in this time.
The judgment of God came upon the sorcerer Barjesus in Acts 13 as the Apostle Paul declared he would be blind for a season. Yes, Barjesus believes in the judgment of God in the New Testament dispensation.
The Apostle Paul even warned us about judgment when he spoke of the Lord’s Supper. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. – 1 Corinthians 11:27-32
It is clear that the judgment of God did not end in the Old Testament. God still judges people. Just because we live in the dispensation of grace does not mean the judgment of God is done away with. Many believe God no longer judges. The false doctrine that 1 John 1:9 was not written to the church is part of this lie. No, God still judges.
The Apostle Peter said that judgment must begin in the house of God. He didn’t mean that to happen nearly 2,000 years after he lived. He meant it for all time. God will first judge His people, and then judge the world. God has no right to judge this world for its sins unless He judges His church for their sins.
No, judgment has not been done away with. However, we don’t need to get kooky and say everything is the judgment of God. Too many people have done that. But we don’t need to throw the baby out with the bathwater as the old saying goes. Just because there’s a little error and fanaticism, that doesn’t mean you throw out the truth.
With all this said – knowing that God still judges, we have hope.
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves . Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? – 2 Corinthians 13:5
For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. – 1 Corinthians 11:31
If we will examine ourselves, judge ourselves, ask the Lord if there is anything that we need to get out of us, then we will have no problem. If we will seek God and desire to live according to His ways, asking Him to remove things that need to be removed, then we will go on with God.
