Scripture(s) used in this post: 1 Peter 4:17
“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 – King James Version
Why does judgment begin in the house of God? To put it simply, it’s because we’ve forgotten God’s divine discipline.
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: Hebrews 12:4
God’s divine method of discipline with His children is chastening and rebuke. The word forgotten in the Greek is only used in this verse in the New Testament and can mean the following: make to forget, to forget entirely, or to be utterly oblivious of. Does our lack of awareness prove that we’re not being disciplined? Of course not! May God open our eyes to the judgment we’re facing in the church in America! We’re going to be looking at this topic in a very sobering way, remember that the devil always condemns and the Holy Spirit brings conviction when we need it. It’s time to be real with God and each other, as Jesus uncovers us. Here’s a quote from one of my favorite Puritan writers, Richard Sibbe:
Let this thought sustain us when we feel overwhelmed. Christ’s way is to first wound us, then heal us. No perfect soul will ever enter heaven.
Finally, I want to thank a dear brother Bob Sorge, for the book entitled “The Chastening of the Lord: The Forgotten Doctrine.” It’s a straight, yet sweet book and has opened up my heart to seek the Lord further about the topic. I highly recommend all of Bob’s books, but this one in particular has a special place in my heart.
