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?

>>As we analyze the context in which we find our text we can readily gather that the apostle's exhortation contained in our text is directed toward our mental disposition.

ROM 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

>>The Apostle Peter first exhorts us to examine our attitude toward the fiery trials which are sent of the Lord.

1PE 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

>>These trials are sent for our purification, i.e., for our sanctification.

MAL 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

>>These trials are also sent for the trial of faith.

1PE 1:6-7 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

FOR OUR FIRST POINT, lets consider that when held in the context in which we find it, the word "judgment" in the first half of our text, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God," must be understood to mean, "A person's accountability in discerning right and wrong, good and evil."

FOR OUR SECOND POINT, let's consider that the word "judgment" in the second half of our text, "and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" must be understood as God's discernment of a person's mental attitude toward, and obedience to the law of the gospel.

>>FIRST, when held in the context in which we find it, the word "judgment" in the first half of our text, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God," must be understood to mean, "A person's accountability in discerning right and wrong, good and evil."

>>We see how David prayed for the spirit of wisdom and prudence for his son Solomon to discern between right and wrong, good and evil in PSA 72:1-2 Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.

2 He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.

>>Solomon understood the magnitude of his accountability in judgment as we see in

1KI 3:7-9 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.

8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

>>As we become more and more convicted of our accountability for our judgment we will begin to understand the heart of David in PSA 26:1-7 Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.

2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.

>>See how David lived with the full realization of how transparent he was before his Lord.

PSA 139:1-4 O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.

2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

>>As we see the context of our text we must understand that the Apostle Peter is admonishing the church to examine their mental disposition when he said, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God."

1PE 4:12-13 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

>>This is also followed with an admonition to examine our mental disposition, i.e., our accountability in discerning right and wrong, good and evil."

>>Are we truly suffering in the Spirit of Christ?

1PE 4:14-15 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

>>Again the apostle appeals to "A person's accountability in judgment, i.e., in discerning right and wrong, good and evil," as he comes to our text.

1PE 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

1PE 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:

FOR OUR SECOND POINT, let's consider that the word "judgment" in the second half of our text, "and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" must be understood as God's discernment of a person's right or wrong mental attitude toward, and obedience to the law of the gospel.

>>The very words of our text, i.e., "...that obey not the gospel..." tells us that God's discernment of our having done right or wrong will be based upon the law of the gospel.

MAT 7:2-3 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

>>That the judgment of God will be based upon our judgment of our fellow man comes through so clear in the law of charity!

>>Do we look at our fellow man in the best possible light?

1CO 13:1-3 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

>>As we pass through this vale of tears our heart often makes diligent search to know we are walking in God's favor.

PSA 17:3 Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

>>The prophet Jeremiah so beautifully explains how the Lord's discernment of our having done right or wrong will be based upon the law of the gospel, i.e., the new man of the heart in the Spirit of Christ.

JER 17:10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

>>Now our text says, "and if it [i.e., the judgment of God, discerning between right and wrong attitudes,] first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?"

MAL 3:5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.

>>Certainly we read in JAM 3:2, "For in many things we offend all," but the Lord looks at the heart, i.e., our attitude

ISA 10:12-14 Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.

13 For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man:

14 And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.

>>See the contrast between such haughty pride and the attitude of David in PSA 69:5-7 O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.

6 Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.

7 Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.

>>Our Saviour tells us plainly "...what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God," i.e., those who refused to repent in MAT 11:20-24 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:

21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.

23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

>>These things are hid from those who are wise in their own eyes.

MAT 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

>>What God has hid from the wise of this world is that, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven," MAT 7:21.

>>Jesus is speaking of that great judgment day in MAT 7:22-24 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. [i.e., Ye that depart from the law of love which Jesus taught so exhaustively in the preceding chapters.]

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

>>The apostle uses these things to admonish the church as he draws his conclusion.

1PE 4:17-19 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?

18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

>>See how the judgment of Christ shall divide between the righteous, and the ungodly or the sinner!

MAT 25:33-46 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.