JUDGMENT BEGINS AT THE HOUSE OF GOD

Rev. Bertrand L. Comparet

   One verse of the Bible was formerly quoted more often than it is today ‑‑‑although today we are arriving at the time of its fulfillment: that is I 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 be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God,?"

  But strangely enough, this verse is almost always used by the ministers to threaten their own congregations with judgment and condemnation, as though it was the Christians who should be in fear of this judgment. Perhaps that does get more money in the offering that Sunday: but is this a correct use of the word of God? Let's examine this subject in detail.

  This is a Christian nation: it was founded by Christians, who came to this continent when it was an untamed wilderness, peopled by fierce savages; but they came here, as their own records tell us, to establish Christian communities where they could worship God without interference. Even today, although we have allowed the entrance of millions of people who hate our God and everything we hold sacred, yet the great majority of our people are still Christian. They are not completely perfect, of course: people were never sinlessly perfect at any time ‑‑‑that is why there was need for Jesus Christ to come and save us by His sacrifice made for us on the cross. But His death and resur­rection were not in vain: He has cleansed us of the guilt of our sins: if He had not, then He would have died in vain. But God's purpose can never fail: He has saved us from the judgment for our sins, and re­deemed us as His children, who had strayed like lost sheep. Therefore, it is not the Christians who need fear the judgment: indeed, I John 4: 17 tells us, "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have forgiveness ­in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world."  Now it is still true that "Judgment must begin at the house of God"‑‑‑but we see that it is not judgment upon the Christians. Who, then, are to be judged, among those who are found in this nation which is the household of God?

     Those who hate our God are loud in their denunciation of us for our supposed sins ‑‑‑which consist mostly in not helping them to commit their own sins on a scale as great and profitable as they desire. Should we hang our heads in shame and plead "guilty" to their accusa­tions? Never! Isaiah 54:17 gives the answer: "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in Judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord." Yes, our righteousness is of Him: the righteousness which God imputed to Christians because Jesus Christ died and was resurrect­ed to accomplish this very thing. Therefore, every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn."