17 For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? 18 And also,

“If the righteous are barely saved,
    what will happen to godless sinners?”[a]

19 So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.

1 Peter 4:17-19 (NLT) 中文 

Suffering to judgement

Peter now moves from suffering and the glory that can come from it to judgment. God is a judge. This truth is often neglected in contemporary preaching. God is often only presented as the loving, gracious God who gives us whatever we ask of Him. We just need to have enough faith. While this is true, if we don’t also preach the judgment of God and His holiness and need to punish sin, I dare say that salvation is worthless, for from what are we saved?

Judgment of God’s house

So what does it mean that God first judges God’s household, us? He has adopted us by His grace, we are His children, brothers and sisters in His house. Doesn’t the Word tell us that we are not judged? Yes. “Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

Judgment involves suffering. In the context, Peter has been talking about the suffering of believers in Christ. So in a way followers of Christ are already being judged – in the sense of suffering. “The judgment that begins at the household of God also includes church discipline.” (gotquestions.org) The result is our sanctification and greater knowledge of God (Philippians 3:10). 

Judgement of unbelievers

But there is another judgment when those who have rejected God’s gracious gift of salvation are judged. The result is they will be eternally separated from God, in hell and the Lake of Fire. “Judgment is a recurring theme throughout the Bible (see Psalm 82:8). God’s plan includes a final judgment on the wicked and all who reject the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as payment for their sins (Matthew 10:15; Romans 2:2; Hebrews 9:27; 10:26–27).” (gotquestions.org)

Keep suffering

Peter concludes this section of suffering by returning to the original theme – the suffering of believers. His encouragement is to bear up under the suffering, knowing that it’s part of God’s perfect plan for us. Ultimately, we need to trust Him, that His way is perfect and he fulfills His promises – like, “And we know that [a]God [b]causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

RЯeflection

• Again we ask if you are experiencing trails. Maybe you are in the midst of a doozy now that is testing the core of your faith. You’ve even possibly considered giving up. Don’t give up. Cry out to Him. Seek Him in His Word, in prayer, in fellowship with other followers of Christ. He is pleased and glorified when we choose to trust Him in the midst of trials.
• Are you possibly one who has not come to faith in Christ yet and are learning that you are under the judgment of God for your sins? Don’t fret. There is hope. His grace led Christ to die for your sins. They’ve already been paid for. Repent and believe. Click here for more.