“For the time has come for judgement, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgement begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News?” – 1 Peter 4:17
Judgement begins with us. Many people believe that because they are a “Christian” that this is a free pass on God’s judgement. The problem is, nowhere in Scripture is that idea found. In fact, as seen by this passage from Peter, it starts with us as the household of God. Others attest to this truth. God judges everyone, whether living or dead (see verse 5).
Judgement starts with the household of God because we carry the most responsibility on earth. How is this so? It is because we are God’s ambassadors here on earth. His representatives. And if we wrongly represent who He is and what He stands for, we must answer for our wrongful representation. This is why it is so important to obey the Good News that God has given to us. Failing to do so results in a terrible fate. Peter even talks about those who know the Good News but then turn back to a life of sin rather than remaining in holiness and righteousness. He says in 2 Peter 2:21, “It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life.”
When Christ says that all who believe in Him will be saved, He is not simply just talking about proclaiming Him as Lord and Savior. He is saying that your proclamation of belief should then produce fruit that reflects this belief. The fruit produced should reflect holiness and righteousness. Anything less than this is a result of false faith.
“The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.” – 1 Peter 4:7
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This post reminded me of another Scripture in Ezekiel 3 …
16 At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me.
18 If I say to the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ but you do not warn him or speak out to warn him from his wicked way to save his life, that wicked man will die in his iniquity,c and I will hold you responsible for his blood. 19 But if you warn a wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness and his wicked way, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved yourself.
20 Now if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. If you did not warn him, he will die in his sin,d and the righteous acts he did will not be remembered. And I will hold you responsible for his blood. 21 But if you warn the righteous man not to sin, and he does not sin, he will indeed live because he heeded your warning, and you will have saved yourself.”
22 And there the hand of the LORD was upon me, and He said to me, “Get up, go out to the plain, and there I will speak with you.”
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