The "Now" judgment
B. Keith Chadwell, July, 2010
1Pe 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?
1Corinthians 5;11-12 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away (put out from you; NKJ) from among yourselves that wicked person.
What then are we to expect, and when, if judgment begins at the house of the Lord? Let's look at the beginning of this judgment.
Do we not see this judgment beginning just after Pentecost with a couple of believers, married to each other who apparently agreed to sell some of their property for distribution to some other believers? They apparently agreed with each other, also, to lie about the price they received, to make themselves look more giving in the eyes of this new believer company. However, Peter perceived they had lied. He said, when accusing them that....... they lied to the Holy Ghost.
Guess, what? Peter (the apostle) was one of the administrators of this new, “now judgment” that God had for this couple of Christian liars who are a part of God's new creation. God, once again, is beginning His “New Creation” by separating the darkness from the light.
Gen 1:4-15 And God saw the light that it was good. And God divided between the light and the darkness. And God called the light, Day. And He called the darkness, Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
Judgment was pronounced, by Peter, on earth and swiftly delivered in the form of physical death for both of these New creation liars, on the spot. From what source the deaths came, we are not told, However, judging from the recorded reaction of all the believers around, it would be a safe bet to assume it was supernatural in origin, even if natural in appearances.
Act 5:11-13 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. ,,,,,
Some might say,"wow, wasn't that someting, but it doesn't happen that way now...no reason to fear, God does not discipline except through His word today."Really?? Jesus said; "NOW is the judgment of this world....."
Peter said; "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?
Peter, was acting on the authority given him in earth, to loose in heaven some form of heavenly power that then was manifest on earth for cause and effect, as purposed by God. For Peter, like Jesus, most certainly did not judge of himself, but his judgments were of and by the Holy Spirit authority He had been given.
So, if Ananias and his wife were true Christians and knowingly, willingly and deliberately lied to the Holy Ghost. What of their eternal Spirit? That is clearly answered by Paul in 1Corinthians 5:5 “To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. “
It may not always appear to happen that way, but for a Christian to knowingly, wilfully and deliberately continue to sin without timely repentance is always dangerous ground and should bring a fearful looking for of a judgment of some type; God knows.
"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people." (Heb 10:26-30 )
Yes, after the Holy Ghost is given to Peter and the other apostles and to those on whom the Holy Ghost fell on the day of Pentecost, judgment begins, at the house of God.
God's judgment is first recorded to fall on this brand new house of the Lord by the hands of who?
God had entrusted the keys to His government to His earthly servants. He had carefully trained and equiped these servants and had then placed this responsibility in their hands. These were His most mature and trusted servants and now leaders of His newly created Church. Trusted because He knew that they
would only do the will of their master in His stead. For what good Father in the natural would give power of attorney to a rebellious, disobedient child? How much more our Heavenly Father would not.
Judgment has now been given to the Saints of the most high God, as Daniel (Daniel 7:) predicted. The administration of that judgment has been given, by Jesus, to the saints of the most High God.
Act 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation (affliction) enter into the kingdom of God.
The flesh hates it. It hates subjection to authority, It hates discipline and correction. It hates not having it's own way.
Never the less, there is a maturity that is purposed by God that will only come forth thru the correction and discipline (tibulation) which the flesh hates. The people of God have the Fathers promise; "it is His good pleasure to give you His rule or His Kingdom", and we should continue in the faith through whatever tibulation is required until we do, in fact, attain to it. It is not out of reach, God's rule in our lives or His direction and dominion in every aspect of our lives is; “at hand”. What human would be so foolish to ignore and or reject the direction of every part of their lives 24-7 from the creater of the all things? I think plenty have, sadly, I must include myself in that number.
Some, the Bible says, will be “ever leaning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth”. However, to this and a laundry list of other undesirable, and ungodly traits to be manifest in the last days, by some in the Church, there is added this statement; “Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.” (2Ti 3:8 -9 )
Watch closely, if we will acknowledge it and even recognize it, we will see God's judgments come forth upone "His people" who sin wilfully after they have received the knowledge of the truth and do not repent. Judgment comes from God upon such men of corrupt minds, all the time and their folly shall be manifest unto all men. It has been happening, to one degree or another, since Penticost. We HAVE seen it and I believe such judgments in the Church will increase until it "shall proceed NO FURTHER."
The truth is; God's plan for bringing His Church to maturity and under the authority of Christ is, among other things, through instruction and discipline and includes judgment for sustained disobedience without repentance. How this is accomplished and when is Gods business, yet He does use His servants, those whose obedience has been fulfilled to administer some of this Judgment, God knows.
Here are a few examples of Gods recorded judgments of "His people" in the Church:
The judgment. By Peter, of the Christians who lied about their land sale.
Pauls thorn in the flesh, given to control his ego, due to abundant revelations.
Admonishment by Paul for Christians to Judge themselves in order that they need not be judged by God with sickness and even death or (however He might choose to do it).
Paul admonishing the Corinthians to come together (in the Spirit of Christ) and deliver one in their Christian fellowship who was sleeping with his fathers wife to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, in order that his Spirit be saved.
Jude speaks of ten thousands of the Lords Saints coming, along with Him, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
Jude further admonishes, in all of this, the Saints should keep themselves built up by prayinging in the Holy Spirit and Keep themselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Then, Jude further indicates that the Saints are to have compassion, on some of those commiting the listed sins, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. This is consistant with Johns admonishment to Saints: "If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and He shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. "
But wait...without His headship and gifting we can do NOTHING of value. As in the past, only destruction and chaos will result if we choose to judge the Church or anything else; just to feed our ego and defer to our flesh and our own understanding.
One final thought. Lest we be over zealous and/or presumptuous. We are to judge ourselves, lest we be judged. We are to insure our obedience to Christ is fulfilled and then and ONLY then, with the mind of Christ and on His timetable are we to Judge those in the Church, only as directed. We begin judgment with ourselves; “For we overthrow arrogant 'reckonings,' and every stronghold that towers high in defiance of the knowledge of God, and we carry off every thought as if into slavery - into subjection to Christ; while we hold ourselves in readiness to punish every act of disobedience, as soon as ever you as a Church have fully shown your obedience." (Weymouth translation: 2Corinthians 10: 5-6)
“ Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And (then) having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” (KJV 2Co 10:5-6 )
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