THE BELIEVER'S JUDGMENT (12 views) Subscribe   
   From:  Christ, our Hope (amym38)     10/31/2003 1:07 pm  
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THE BELIEVER'S JUDGMENT 
"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?" (I Peter 4:17). 

There is a terrible day of judgment coming for those who reject Christ, but for those who do believe the gospel and trust the Lord Jesus for salvation, "There is therefore now no condemnation [i.e., judgment]" (Romans 8:1). Yet our text tells us that judgment actually begins with those who obey the gospel! This apparent contradiction vanishes when one realizes that it is merely for the purpose of preparing those who are already saved to serve Him in eternity. 

When a believer sins, he should judge and confess that sin. "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged" (I Corinthians 11:31), and God will forgive (I John 1:9). If he does not, however, the next phase of judgment is the chastening of God. "But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world" (I Corinthians 11:32). The classic passage on the believers chastening (Hebrews 12:5-11) concludes with the assurance that its purpose is to yield "the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby" (v.11). 

[for the rest of this devotional, click on link below]:

http://www.icr.org/pubs/dop/dp0310.htm#30

 
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