We lack bold prophets like Nathan who can't be bought, who have the courage to point a holy finger and cry out, "Thou art the man." God's Ultimatum The only way sin in the church can be challenged is by prophetic, Elijah-like preaching from men of God who have judged and forsaken their own sins. The cry for toleration often flows from unjudged flesh. So many have hidden dark parts in their own lives that they must excuse the sins of others.
The church today seems powerless or unwilling to even judge righteous judgment - because we have lost a sense of defilement caused by wickedness in our midst. Then Paul adds these hopeful words, "And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:11). This suggests they had once been enslaved to a besetting sin, led astray by some form of idolatry. Paul was addressing the church at Corinth, adding further, "Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led" (1 Corinthians 12:2). What could be clearer than the following warning: "Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, not effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9,10). But, as our text continues, if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? (I Peter 4:18).Paul admonishes us not to be deceived about God's hatred for sin in His house. There, some shall suffer loss. Nevertheless, each person at this judgment shall be saved (I Corinthians 3:14,15).
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 (I Corinthians 5:5).įinally, all Christians must appear before the judgment seat of Christ (II Corinthians 5:10), where every one of us shall give account of himself to God ( Romans 14:12). There is a sin unto death (I John 5:16). The classic passage on the believers chastening (Hebrews 12:5≡1) concludes with the assurance that its purpose is to yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby ( Hebrews 12:11).īut when such chastening fails to work, the next judgment may even be physical death. ∻ut when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world (I Corinthians 11:32). If he does not, however, the next phase of judgment is the chastening of God. ∿or if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged (I Corinthians 11:31), and God will forgive (I John 1:9). When a believer sins, he should judge and confess that sin. 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. 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 ( Romans 8:1).
∿or the time is come that judgment 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).
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