WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.960 Good morning. My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain 00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:14.140 Presbyterian Church, and it's my joy to bring God's Word to you today. Special welcome. If you're 00:00:14.140 --> 00:00:18.859 new or visiting with us, we're glad that you're here. And we're glad that you're here not because 00:00:18.859 --> 00:00:24.900 we're filling seats, but because we're following Jesus together as one community. And as we follow 00:00:24.899 --> 00:00:29.820 Jesus together, we've become convinced that there's no one so good that they don't need God's 00:00:29.820 --> 00:00:35.379 grace, and no one so bad that they can't have it, which means that God has something to say to 00:00:35.379 --> 00:00:42.340 everyone in his Word, which is why we come back to it week after week. We've been studying the book of 00:00:42.340 --> 00:00:47.420 1 Peter, and as I've been telling you, the book of 1 Peter is a letter. It's a letter written by a man 00:00:47.420 --> 00:00:53.439 named Peter, and he writes it to churches in the first century AD in the 60s who are living in part 00:00:53.439 --> 00:00:58.599 of the Roman Empire in Asia Minor, what would now be known as modern-day Turkey, and he writes this 00:00:58.599 --> 00:01:04.179 letter because these Christians are struggling. They're struggling because they are feeling out 00:01:04.179 --> 00:01:08.200 of place in the world as they follow Jesus, and they're facing opposition from the world as they 00:01:08.200 --> 00:01:13.859 follow Jesus. So Peter writes to both encourage them and instruct them. He writes to encourage them 00:01:13.859 --> 00:01:20.439 that Jesus is worth it. Jesus is worth living and loving for. He's worth suffering and dying for. 00:01:20.439 --> 00:01:29.379 And he also writes to instruct them how to live as Christians in the world and how to respond when 00:01:29.379 --> 00:01:35.679 they face opposition in the world as Christians. Now, last week we were in a section about the church, 00:01:35.719 --> 00:01:41.060 and before that we were in several sections about suffering. We're returning to suffering this week. 00:01:41.900 --> 00:01:46.859 By the way, we're getting very near to the end of 1 Peter, so we're going to close out chapter 4 today, 00:01:46.859 --> 00:01:51.000 and then we have three more sermons to get us through chapter 5. Next week is going to be the 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:54.640 church again. We'll have one more sermon that touches on suffering, and then we'll have a 00:01:54.640 --> 00:02:01.400 conclusion to take us to the very end. You'll remember that there are three different types 00:02:01.400 --> 00:02:05.340 of suffering, at least three different types in the Bible. First would be suffering for your own 00:02:05.340 --> 00:02:10.979 personal foolishness or sin, and I'm going to give you examples today related to jobs. So if you are lazy 00:02:10.979 --> 00:02:18.479 and you spend most of your time at your job on Facebook and you get fired, that's a type of 00:02:18.479 --> 00:02:24.459 suffering. It's suffering for your personal sin and foolishness. Suffering type 2, suffering for the 00:02:24.459 --> 00:02:29.179 general presence of sin in the world, or we could even add other people's sins. So let's say you were 00:02:29.179 --> 00:02:38.679 born in 1985 or 1986, and you graduated from college in 2008. Well, in 2008 it came out that borrowers were 00:02:38.680 --> 00:02:43.659 lying to lenders, lenders were lying to banks, and banks were lying to regulators. So guess what? 00:02:43.700 --> 00:02:49.900 There were no jobs for you. That's a type of suffering, not because of your sin, but because of the sin of 00:02:49.900 --> 00:02:56.319 other people. Then type 3, there's suffering for righteousness sake, or suffering for the name of 00:02:56.319 --> 00:03:00.840 Jesus Christ, or as we're going to be told in this passage today, suffering as a Christian. This would be 00:03:00.840 --> 00:03:05.159 you have a job, your employer finds out that you're a Christian, and they decide they don't want that type 00:03:05.159 --> 00:03:11.099 of person working for them, and so they fire you. So these are our three categories, and we're going 00:03:11.099 --> 00:03:15.819 to head in to this passage. We're starting at verse 12, and we're going to see, Peter's going to review 00:03:15.819 --> 00:03:20.419 a lot of things that he said before, but we're also going to take a special focus on what he refers to 00:03:20.419 --> 00:03:26.840 as a fiery trial or a testing. So we're going to ask, in what sense is suffering a trial or a test for 00:03:26.840 --> 00:03:33.479 Christians? How does God use suffering in our lives to test us? We're going to continue our now, 00:03:33.479 --> 00:03:38.000 what will be a four-week streak as well, of having a hard passage to figure out, a hard verse, and here 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:43.179 we're going to have to figure out, talk about what does it mean for judgment, this is verse 17, to begin 00:03:43.179 --> 00:03:48.199 at the household of God. If God's grace is extended to believers, if they have been taken, have the 00:03:48.199 --> 00:03:55.899 penalty of sins been removed, in what sense do Christians still face God's judgment? How can Peter say 00:03:55.899 --> 00:04:02.500 that judgment begins with the household of God? And so it's with that focus that we are in 1 Peter 00:04:02.500 --> 00:04:08.360 chapter 4, starting at verse 12. So I invite you to open your Bible, you'll find it at the end of your 00:04:08.360 --> 00:04:14.120 worship guide, or on your phone. And as we come to this passage, remember that this is God's word. 00:04:15.419 --> 00:04:22.079 And God tells us that while the grass withers, and the flowers fade, his word stands forever. 00:04:23.220 --> 00:04:25.420 So that's why we read it now, starting at verse 12. 00:04:25.420 --> 00:04:52.379 Verse 15. 00:04:52.379 --> 00:05:16.040 Verse 18. 00:05:16.040 --> 00:05:36.740 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:05:36.740 --> 00:05:43.639 Our Father in heaven, we praise you and thank you that you are a faithful creator, 00:05:44.280 --> 00:05:50.620 and we can trust our souls to you. And one of the reasons that we can trust our souls to you is that you 00:05:50.620 --> 00:05:55.800 speak to us, rather than leaving us alone. And so we simply ask that you would do that this morning. 00:05:56.660 --> 00:06:01.920 That you would send your spirit to help us, that we would be able to hear from you. 00:06:01.920 --> 00:06:10.259 That we would be encouraged and challenged, and that we would respond in love and faith in Jesus Christ. 00:06:10.879 --> 00:06:13.819 And so we ask these things in his name. Amen. 00:06:13.819 --> 00:06:13.960 Amen. 00:06:17.700 --> 00:06:20.460 There's a man whose name is Jeff Henderson. 00:06:20.459 --> 00:06:27.579 And for a long period of time, Jeff worked at a very high level in marketing for Chick-fil-A. 00:06:28.439 --> 00:06:34.759 And while he was working in marketing for Chick-fil-A, there was a time when he was interacting with the Chick-fil-A stores in the Atlanta area. 00:06:35.259 --> 00:06:42.439 And they came to him and they said, hey, we've been doing this Eat More Chicken cow campaign for about 10 years now. 00:06:44.000 --> 00:06:46.379 Don't you think it's time we tried something else? 00:06:46.379 --> 00:06:49.439 I mean, people have probably got the message at this point, right? 00:06:49.480 --> 00:06:52.339 They've seen the signs of the cows on the road. 00:06:52.680 --> 00:06:55.980 By the way, this had made its way into the Advertising Hall of Fame. 00:06:58.019 --> 00:06:59.339 Isn't it time we picked something new? 00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:01.100 People know this by now. 00:07:01.159 --> 00:07:03.339 They know that the cows want them to eat more chicken. 00:07:04.399 --> 00:07:05.639 So he said, that's a great question. 00:07:06.120 --> 00:07:07.420 Why don't we do some market research? 00:07:07.500 --> 00:07:11.120 And we are going to look and see how people in the Atlanta area are responding to this. 00:07:11.139 --> 00:07:12.079 Are they aware of this? 00:07:12.079 --> 00:07:21.680 They did this research and after 10 years of the campaign, it was just starting to catch on. 00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:27.519 People were just starting to realize that it was time to eat more chicken. 00:07:28.659 --> 00:07:31.079 And so they decided we need to continue with this. 00:07:31.139 --> 00:07:34.759 We need to continue this same message over and over again. 00:07:34.860 --> 00:07:35.599 It's been 10 years. 00:07:35.699 --> 00:07:36.979 Maybe we need another 10 years. 00:07:36.980 --> 00:07:43.720 I mention that because we are coming to another passage on suffering. 00:07:44.939 --> 00:07:51.319 By my count, I've given you the three categories of suffering at least six times now in this sermon series. 00:07:52.120 --> 00:07:53.740 And you might be thinking, we've heard this before. 00:07:53.819 --> 00:07:54.900 Why do we need to hear it again? 00:07:55.460 --> 00:07:57.259 You might be thinking the same thing for Peter. 00:07:57.560 --> 00:08:00.340 Peter said this over and over again at this point. 00:08:00.600 --> 00:08:03.819 Why does he need to keep telling these people about suffering? 00:08:03.819 --> 00:08:07.980 Of course, this raises a larger issue of how we read the Bible. 00:08:08.120 --> 00:08:13.180 I hope that as you come here and as we are together week after week and I'm teaching you, 00:08:13.240 --> 00:08:15.360 I hope that you learn things that are true about the Bible. 00:08:17.079 --> 00:08:20.039 But I also hope that you learn how to read the Bible. 00:08:21.860 --> 00:08:23.719 I don't want you to just walk away with truths. 00:08:23.860 --> 00:08:26.740 I want you to be able to dig into God's word for yourself. 00:08:27.159 --> 00:08:30.980 And so one, it's important when we come to God's word to understand these categories of suffering. 00:08:30.980 --> 00:08:36.139 It can be very confusing when folks come to passages and they think it's about one type and it's not about another. 00:08:37.360 --> 00:08:40.440 But the other point is that God uses repetition. 00:08:41.779 --> 00:08:47.320 He repeats things over and over to highlight and underscore how important they are. 00:08:48.759 --> 00:08:50.700 Peter knows that we've heard about suffering before. 00:08:52.539 --> 00:08:56.019 And yet when we read the Bible and we see something repeated over and over, 00:08:56.019 --> 00:08:59.379 we're able to say, ah, that must be very important. 00:09:00.539 --> 00:09:03.860 That must be something that Peter desperately wants us to take away. 00:09:05.199 --> 00:09:09.059 So if there's anything else that Peter wants us to know, it's pretty clear he wants us to know this. 00:09:09.259 --> 00:09:10.399 You're going to suffer as a Christian. 00:09:12.019 --> 00:09:17.740 And when you suffer, he's repeating here everything that's come before in chapters 1 through 3. 00:09:17.899 --> 00:09:18.740 So let's look. 00:09:19.480 --> 00:09:20.220 We have verse 12. 00:09:20.299 --> 00:09:21.500 Don't be surprised at suffering. 00:09:22.399 --> 00:09:24.279 Okay, we probably already knew that at this point, right? 00:09:24.860 --> 00:09:26.460 He's been talking about suffering a lot. 00:09:26.799 --> 00:09:27.879 It's a fiery trial. 00:09:27.960 --> 00:09:28.940 Does that sound familiar at all? 00:09:29.039 --> 00:09:34.860 Well, chapter 1, we were told that we had the tested genuineness of our faith would come out. 00:09:35.399 --> 00:09:37.740 So he's telling us in chapter 4 what we saw in chapter 1. 00:09:40.080 --> 00:09:42.059 We talked about that, by the way, in September. 00:09:42.440 --> 00:09:44.600 We talked about the idea of not being here for the snacks. 00:09:45.980 --> 00:09:47.879 We're not here just for what we can get. 00:09:48.039 --> 00:09:50.419 Trials prove that we're here for Jesus Christ. 00:09:50.419 --> 00:09:52.079 We're seeing it in chapter 4. 00:09:52.159 --> 00:09:53.120 We saw it in chapter 1. 00:09:54.620 --> 00:09:57.819 Then we see what we've seen before in verses 13 and 14. 00:09:58.519 --> 00:10:04.779 13, rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you also may rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:08.899 In other words, this is what we saw in chapter 1. 00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:11.779 There's going to be praise and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 00:10:12.120 --> 00:10:13.259 Chapter 1, verse 7. 00:10:13.259 --> 00:10:20.960 I told you when we looked at chapter 1, verses 6 through 9, that suffering is the DNA test that proves that we belong to God. 00:10:22.319 --> 00:10:25.220 So we suffer and we rejoice because we know we belong to God. 00:10:26.720 --> 00:10:28.220 Chapter 1, verses 10 through 12. 00:10:28.299 --> 00:10:31.100 I told you sufferings, part of the story, sufferings, the path to glory. 00:10:32.059 --> 00:10:33.460 It's the same thing Peter's saying here. 00:10:33.460 --> 00:10:37.580 If you suffer, remember Jesus suffered, you're associated with him. 00:10:37.920 --> 00:10:40.960 Jesus' sufferings led to glory, your sufferings will lead to glory. 00:10:41.720 --> 00:10:43.180 Jesus was vindicated by God. 00:10:43.280 --> 00:10:44.480 You will be vindicated by God. 00:10:44.820 --> 00:10:45.860 None of this is new. 00:10:47.280 --> 00:10:51.980 Chapter 2, when we talked about slaves and masters, Jesus' path is our path. 00:10:53.660 --> 00:10:56.720 Chapter 3, Christ's sufferings led to victory. 00:10:56.840 --> 00:11:00.540 That's why we had the whole discussion about him proclaiming to the spirits in prison, 00:11:00.539 --> 00:11:02.799 and it's also why we had the whole discussion about Noah. 00:11:03.579 --> 00:11:05.559 Noah suffered, he was rescued. 00:11:05.959 --> 00:11:07.699 You suffer, you will be rescued. 00:11:08.059 --> 00:11:09.939 Jesus suffered, he was vindicated. 00:11:10.079 --> 00:11:11.360 Jesus suffered, he was victorious. 00:11:11.480 --> 00:11:12.719 You suffer, you'll be victorious. 00:11:14.579 --> 00:11:18.000 Peter is telling us these things over and over again, 00:11:19.059 --> 00:11:22.019 and so our response is to realize this is really important. 00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:29.500 There's a saying that we don't rise to the occasion, we fall to the level of our training. 00:11:29.940 --> 00:11:34.159 The level of the training that Peter wants for us in suffering is to respond instinctually. 00:11:34.820 --> 00:11:37.019 When we suffer, we should remember immediately. 00:11:37.480 --> 00:11:40.120 If someone wakes us up in the middle of the night and asks us about suffering, 00:11:40.200 --> 00:11:41.080 we need to be able to say, 00:11:41.419 --> 00:11:42.740 Jesus suffered and he was glorified. 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:44.039 When I suffer, I will be glorified. 00:11:45.840 --> 00:11:48.639 And so Peter tells us that over and over again, 00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:50.419 that it would sink into our hearts. 00:11:51.139 --> 00:11:52.960 That's why he's reviewing this for us. 00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:54.399 That's why when we read the Bible, 00:11:54.559 --> 00:11:57.220 things are repeated over and over and over again 00:11:57.220 --> 00:11:58.980 to tell us what is so important. 00:11:59.399 --> 00:12:00.899 Same is true in other parts of the Bible. 00:12:01.019 --> 00:12:02.100 You read one of the Gospels. 00:12:03.080 --> 00:12:04.899 Jesus doesn't just heal someone once. 00:12:06.460 --> 00:12:08.420 He heals them over and over and over. 00:12:08.519 --> 00:12:09.440 To make the point, 00:12:09.820 --> 00:12:11.620 Jesus is a healer and a restorer. 00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:12.940 You read the Gospel of Luke, 00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:14.899 you're going to hear over and over again 00:12:14.899 --> 00:12:16.399 about the appropriate use of money. 00:12:16.820 --> 00:12:18.200 Luke could have told us once, right? 00:12:18.220 --> 00:12:20.300 But he wants us to know how important it is. 00:12:20.660 --> 00:12:22.100 Peter could have told us once, 00:12:22.100 --> 00:12:26.960 he wants us to know how important this is. 00:12:28.300 --> 00:12:30.399 There's nothing else you take from this letter. 00:12:30.560 --> 00:12:32.519 This is the letter about suffering 00:12:32.519 --> 00:12:34.040 for the name of Jesus Christ. 00:12:35.159 --> 00:12:37.159 And Peter wants written on your heart 00:12:37.159 --> 00:12:40.360 that Jesus' sufferings led to glory. 00:12:40.500 --> 00:12:42.159 Your sufferings will lead to glory as well. 00:12:44.500 --> 00:12:45.360 By the way, 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:49.480 why do you think this is so important to Peter? 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:53.980 We haven't talked about Peter as a person. 00:12:54.060 --> 00:12:55.519 I haven't talked about him as a person much 00:12:55.519 --> 00:12:56.379 since chapter one. 00:12:57.560 --> 00:13:00.159 Peter had a really poor theology of suffering. 00:13:01.500 --> 00:13:02.419 Mark chapter eight, 00:13:02.899 --> 00:13:05.759 Peter rebukes Jesus for talking about suffering. 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:08.500 And Jesus says, 00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:09.420 get behind me, Satan. 00:13:11.019 --> 00:13:11.500 Then, 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:14.500 when Peter sees Jesus' suffering 00:13:14.500 --> 00:13:17.379 and has the opportunity to suffer on Jesus' behalf, 00:13:17.539 --> 00:13:18.919 suffer for the name of Jesus Christ, 00:13:18.980 --> 00:13:19.980 for being called a Christian, 00:13:20.600 --> 00:13:22.700 Peter decides that's the time 00:13:22.700 --> 00:13:23.720 he's gonna deny Christ. 00:13:25.700 --> 00:13:27.500 Peter has learned the hard way 00:13:27.500 --> 00:13:28.899 the truth about suffering. 00:13:29.799 --> 00:13:30.120 And so, 00:13:30.279 --> 00:13:32.000 like a parent who warns their child 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:33.299 over and over again 00:13:33.299 --> 00:13:35.039 not to repeat their mistakes, 00:13:36.659 --> 00:13:38.860 Peter is speaking on a very personal level 00:13:38.860 --> 00:13:39.639 to these people 00:13:39.639 --> 00:13:41.659 that they would know the truth 00:13:41.659 --> 00:13:44.379 about suffering as a Christian. 00:13:44.500 --> 00:13:47.480 And so, 00:13:47.539 --> 00:13:48.519 that's everything we're seeing 00:13:48.519 --> 00:13:49.639 at the beginning of this section. 00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:51.200 We are seeing a review. 00:13:51.980 --> 00:13:52.679 Suffering's a trial. 00:13:53.139 --> 00:13:54.559 Suffering means you're associated with Jesus. 00:13:54.720 --> 00:13:56.279 Suffering means you belong to Jesus. 00:13:57.799 --> 00:13:59.820 We have some new ideas relatively here. 00:13:59.980 --> 00:14:00.139 So, 00:14:00.379 --> 00:14:01.120 verse 14, 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:01.740 he's gonna build, 00:14:01.860 --> 00:14:01.960 right? 00:14:01.960 --> 00:14:02.919 A good teacher's gonna review 00:14:02.919 --> 00:14:03.940 and then add something more. 00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:05.580 Verse 14, 00:14:05.659 --> 00:14:07.100 if you were insulted for the name of Christ, 00:14:07.139 --> 00:14:07.759 you are blessed 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:08.759 because the spirit of glory 00:14:08.759 --> 00:14:09.960 and of God rests upon you. 00:14:09.980 --> 00:14:10.059 Now, 00:14:10.100 --> 00:14:11.899 we've seen this idea of blessing before. 00:14:12.559 --> 00:14:13.720 The spirit resting on you, 00:14:13.759 --> 00:14:14.039 I believe, 00:14:14.120 --> 00:14:15.179 is new in the book of Peter. 00:14:15.980 --> 00:14:17.279 And we could take this several ways. 00:14:17.439 --> 00:14:17.539 One, 00:14:17.639 --> 00:14:18.459 some people take it to mean 00:14:18.459 --> 00:14:18.840 there's a, 00:14:19.220 --> 00:14:20.439 God gives his presence to you 00:14:20.439 --> 00:14:21.600 in a special way 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:22.480 if you're suffering. 00:14:22.799 --> 00:14:23.679 That could be true. 00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:24.360 That's not clear. 00:14:24.819 --> 00:14:25.639 What we do know 00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:26.740 is that if you're suffering, 00:14:26.959 --> 00:14:28.419 God's spirit is with you. 00:14:28.419 --> 00:14:31.679 We could put it another way. 00:14:32.679 --> 00:14:34.379 If God's spirit wasn't with you, 00:14:35.199 --> 00:14:36.439 you wouldn't be able to suffer 00:14:36.439 --> 00:14:37.419 for righteousness' sake. 00:14:39.339 --> 00:14:39.639 And so, 00:14:39.799 --> 00:14:40.000 God, 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:40.839 your suffering 00:14:40.839 --> 00:14:42.259 for the name of Jesus Christ 00:14:42.259 --> 00:14:43.439 reminds you 00:14:43.439 --> 00:14:44.519 that God is with you. 00:14:44.579 --> 00:14:44.899 Otherwise, 00:14:45.099 --> 00:14:46.379 you wouldn't have made it this far. 00:14:48.360 --> 00:14:48.599 So, 00:14:48.719 --> 00:14:48.959 again, 00:14:49.019 --> 00:14:49.779 he's reminding us 00:14:49.779 --> 00:14:51.360 of God's presence with us, 00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:52.480 his presence 00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:53.759 with people who suffer. 00:14:55.819 --> 00:14:56.740 Verse 15, 00:14:56.740 --> 00:14:58.259 just summarizing 00:14:58.259 --> 00:14:59.000 what we've been saying 00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:00.000 for many weeks now, 00:15:00.539 --> 00:15:02.060 don't fall into suffering type one. 00:15:03.539 --> 00:15:04.299 Don't suffer 00:15:04.299 --> 00:15:05.680 for your own sin 00:15:05.680 --> 00:15:06.720 or foolishness' sake. 00:15:07.539 --> 00:15:07.940 And then, 00:15:08.039 --> 00:15:08.639 verse 16, 00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:09.279 he continues 00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:10.639 to encourage them here. 00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:12.379 If you're a Christian, 00:15:12.560 --> 00:15:13.600 the world is going to 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:15.019 try to make you feel ashamed. 00:15:17.980 --> 00:15:18.500 Instead, 00:15:19.500 --> 00:15:22.080 let glorify God. 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:24.259 The world may be ashamed of you. 00:15:25.299 --> 00:15:26.399 Jesus Christ is not. 00:15:26.740 --> 00:15:27.299 Amen. 00:15:30.419 --> 00:15:31.759 And when you suffer, 00:15:32.019 --> 00:15:33.220 you bring him glory. 00:15:34.180 --> 00:15:35.700 Because you are saying, 00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:38.299 I believe Jesus is worth it. 00:15:39.580 --> 00:15:42.000 He is worth suffering for. 00:15:43.379 --> 00:15:44.180 And so, 00:15:44.259 --> 00:15:45.200 when we suffer 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:46.620 for the name of Jesus Christ, 00:15:46.700 --> 00:15:47.740 we automatically 00:15:47.740 --> 00:15:48.620 are bringing 00:15:48.620 --> 00:15:50.139 praise and honor 00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:50.779 and glory 00:15:50.779 --> 00:15:51.500 to him. 00:15:54.379 --> 00:15:55.539 Peter's continuing 00:15:55.539 --> 00:15:56.500 continuing to encourage. 00:15:58.500 --> 00:15:58.899 Look, 00:15:58.959 --> 00:15:59.500 this is everything 00:15:59.500 --> 00:16:00.019 we've covered. 00:16:00.179 --> 00:16:01.120 I'm coming near the end 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:02.019 of my letter to you. 00:16:02.419 --> 00:16:03.240 Remember this. 00:16:05.459 --> 00:16:06.419 When you suffer, 00:16:07.419 --> 00:16:08.639 you belong to Jesus. 00:16:09.639 --> 00:16:10.919 You bring him honor. 00:16:12.099 --> 00:16:13.559 He is with you. 00:16:15.299 --> 00:16:16.059 And so, 00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:16.819 you are blessed. 00:16:16.820 --> 00:16:20.820 this is a good teacher 00:16:20.820 --> 00:16:22.100 reviewing 00:16:22.100 --> 00:16:23.320 what's come before. 00:16:26.320 --> 00:16:26.960 There's going to be 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:27.540 a new emphasis 00:16:27.540 --> 00:16:28.440 in this section, 00:16:28.540 --> 00:16:28.680 though, 00:16:28.700 --> 00:16:29.500 and it's going to be 00:16:29.500 --> 00:16:29.980 an emphasis 00:16:29.980 --> 00:16:31.480 on the fiery trial 00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:32.260 or the test. 00:16:32.379 --> 00:16:32.940 Verse 12. 00:16:34.200 --> 00:16:34.879 Don't be surprised 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:35.660 at the fiery trial 00:16:35.660 --> 00:16:36.200 when it comes. 00:16:36.840 --> 00:16:37.580 Don't be surprised 00:16:37.580 --> 00:16:38.160 by suffering 00:16:38.160 --> 00:16:38.700 as a Christian. 00:16:38.800 --> 00:16:39.680 That's part of following 00:16:39.680 --> 00:16:40.260 after Jesus. 00:16:40.379 --> 00:16:40.900 He suffered, 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:41.420 you'll suffer. 00:16:41.419 --> 00:16:43.559 And suffering 00:16:43.559 --> 00:16:44.360 is a type 00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:45.039 of test. 00:16:45.879 --> 00:16:46.599 And test here, 00:16:46.659 --> 00:16:47.279 he's talking about 00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:47.939 the idea 00:16:47.939 --> 00:16:48.539 of something 00:16:48.539 --> 00:16:49.259 that reveals 00:16:49.259 --> 00:16:49.879 what's true. 00:16:50.139 --> 00:16:51.159 If you're a student 00:16:51.159 --> 00:16:53.599 and you take a test, 00:16:54.179 --> 00:16:55.279 that test doesn't 00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:56.240 create knowledge, 00:16:56.279 --> 00:16:56.500 right? 00:16:56.919 --> 00:16:57.360 Primarily. 00:16:57.759 --> 00:16:57.959 Now, 00:16:58.019 --> 00:16:58.839 if it's an essay test, 00:16:58.879 --> 00:16:59.299 you could argue 00:16:59.299 --> 00:16:59.860 that it helps you 00:16:59.860 --> 00:17:00.399 synthesize. 00:17:00.659 --> 00:17:01.360 But primarily, 00:17:01.539 --> 00:17:02.079 it reveals 00:17:02.079 --> 00:17:03.079 what you already know. 00:17:03.159 --> 00:17:03.740 It reveals 00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:04.440 what's true. 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:07.680 The same is true 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:08.339 of these trials. 00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:09.500 They reveal 00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:10.139 the faith 00:17:10.140 --> 00:17:11.080 that was already there. 00:17:12.040 --> 00:17:12.800 God uses 00:17:12.800 --> 00:17:13.400 suffering 00:17:13.400 --> 00:17:14.280 as a Christian 00:17:14.280 --> 00:17:15.480 to reveal 00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:16.020 the faith 00:17:16.020 --> 00:17:16.620 that you have. 00:17:16.700 --> 00:17:17.020 You could think 00:17:17.020 --> 00:17:17.840 about it another way. 00:17:18.300 --> 00:17:18.820 Some of you 00:17:18.820 --> 00:17:19.240 are married. 00:17:20.259 --> 00:17:21.060 When you took 00:17:21.060 --> 00:17:21.920 marriage vows, 00:17:21.980 --> 00:17:22.320 you said, 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:22.780 for richer 00:17:22.780 --> 00:17:23.340 or for poorer, 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:23.820 for better 00:17:23.820 --> 00:17:24.480 or for worse, 00:17:24.840 --> 00:17:25.360 in sickness 00:17:25.360 --> 00:17:25.940 and in health. 00:17:27.360 --> 00:17:28.460 So let's imagine 00:17:28.460 --> 00:17:29.500 that you're married, 00:17:29.560 --> 00:17:30.300 there's a married couple, 00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:31.480 and the husband 00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:32.600 loses his job 00:17:32.600 --> 00:17:33.700 for a long time. 00:17:35.520 --> 00:17:36.340 And his wife 00:17:36.340 --> 00:17:37.020 sticks with him. 00:17:37.019 --> 00:17:40.379 That is a test 00:17:40.379 --> 00:17:41.500 that reveals 00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:42.180 what's true. 00:17:42.400 --> 00:17:43.339 When she said 00:17:43.339 --> 00:17:44.500 for richer 00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:45.379 or for poorer, 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:46.819 she really meant it. 00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:50.279 Let's say 00:17:50.279 --> 00:17:50.779 you have 00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:51.400 a wife 00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:52.859 who comes down 00:17:52.859 --> 00:17:54.420 with a terrible illness 00:17:54.420 --> 00:17:55.779 and she ends 00:17:55.779 --> 00:17:56.200 the rest, 00:17:56.279 --> 00:17:56.779 she's gonna spend 00:17:56.779 --> 00:17:57.619 the rest of her life 00:17:57.619 --> 00:17:58.139 in a wheelchair 00:17:58.139 --> 00:18:00.259 and her husband 00:18:00.259 --> 00:18:01.000 sticks with her. 00:18:02.539 --> 00:18:03.639 That's a suffering 00:18:03.639 --> 00:18:04.339 that's a test. 00:18:04.339 --> 00:18:05.059 It reveals 00:18:05.059 --> 00:18:06.799 that when that man 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:07.819 said in sickness 00:18:07.819 --> 00:18:08.500 and in health, 00:18:08.699 --> 00:18:09.720 he really meant it. 00:18:12.740 --> 00:18:13.879 Jesus tests us 00:18:13.879 --> 00:18:14.539 in our suffering 00:18:14.539 --> 00:18:15.459 in the sense 00:18:15.459 --> 00:18:16.240 that he's asking us, 00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:16.980 when you said 00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:17.899 that you would 00:18:17.899 --> 00:18:18.919 take up your cross 00:18:18.919 --> 00:18:19.899 and follow me, 00:18:20.779 --> 00:18:21.720 did you really mean it? 00:18:24.399 --> 00:18:25.480 It's a test 00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:26.619 that reveals 00:18:26.619 --> 00:18:28.159 what is true. 00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:29.240 When we suffer 00:18:29.240 --> 00:18:30.519 for the name 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:31.259 of Jesus Christ, 00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:32.199 we reveal 00:18:32.199 --> 00:18:33.299 that we belong 00:18:33.299 --> 00:18:33.899 to him 00:18:33.899 --> 00:18:35.059 and that our faith 00:18:35.059 --> 00:18:35.619 is real 00:18:35.619 --> 00:18:37.339 and he is with us. 00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:40.460 Suffering 00:18:40.460 --> 00:18:41.359 tests us. 00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:42.659 Will we stick 00:18:42.659 --> 00:18:43.460 with our commitments 00:18:43.460 --> 00:18:45.299 when they cause us pain? 00:18:47.779 --> 00:18:48.759 Will we stick 00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:49.480 with our commitment 00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:50.299 to Jesus Christ 00:18:50.299 --> 00:18:51.419 when it causes us pain? 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:54.139 In that sense, 00:18:54.460 --> 00:18:55.740 it is a test. 00:18:57.139 --> 00:18:57.599 And so God 00:18:57.599 --> 00:18:58.359 uses suffering, 00:18:58.419 --> 00:18:59.000 we're gonna get to this 00:18:59.000 --> 00:18:59.619 in the next section, 00:18:59.700 --> 00:19:00.480 he uses suffering 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:01.480 to reveal the faith 00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:02.019 of his people. 00:19:02.019 --> 00:19:02.799 It's something 00:19:02.799 --> 00:19:03.579 that brings him 00:19:03.579 --> 00:19:04.319 honor and glory. 00:19:04.379 --> 00:19:05.099 In the same way, 00:19:05.519 --> 00:19:06.119 Job suffered, 00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:07.139 not for righteousness' sake, 00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:07.740 but just Job 00:19:07.740 --> 00:19:08.480 suffered in general. 00:19:09.299 --> 00:19:09.819 In a sense, 00:19:09.859 --> 00:19:10.180 he suffered 00:19:10.180 --> 00:19:11.039 for righteousness' sake 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:11.940 because Satan 00:19:11.940 --> 00:19:12.599 wanted to test 00:19:12.599 --> 00:19:13.099 his faith. 00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:14.920 Job brought honor 00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:15.639 and glory to God 00:19:15.639 --> 00:19:15.980 in that. 00:19:17.299 --> 00:19:18.039 And the Spirit 00:19:18.039 --> 00:19:18.379 of God 00:19:18.379 --> 00:19:18.940 was with him. 00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:22.259 That's just 00:19:22.259 --> 00:19:23.680 the first discussion 00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:24.240 or hint here 00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:24.680 to test 00:19:24.680 --> 00:19:25.420 in verse 12. 00:19:25.619 --> 00:19:26.019 And that's gonna 00:19:26.019 --> 00:19:26.759 take us 00:19:26.759 --> 00:19:28.640 to verse 17, 00:19:28.759 --> 00:19:29.099 which is 00:19:29.099 --> 00:19:31.079 in our list 00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:31.879 here of hard 00:19:31.879 --> 00:19:32.940 to understand passages. 00:19:33.420 --> 00:19:33.440 So, 00:19:34.119 --> 00:19:34.779 verse 17, 00:19:34.940 --> 00:19:35.400 for it is time 00:19:35.400 --> 00:19:35.980 for judgment 00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:36.680 to begin 00:19:36.680 --> 00:19:37.539 at the household 00:19:37.539 --> 00:19:37.960 of God. 00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:38.579 And if it begins 00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:39.039 with us, 00:19:39.440 --> 00:19:39.859 what will be 00:19:39.859 --> 00:19:40.299 the outcome 00:19:40.299 --> 00:19:40.740 for those 00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:41.220 who do not 00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:41.920 obey the gospel 00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:42.359 of God? 00:19:43.460 --> 00:19:44.119 If you're familiar 00:19:44.119 --> 00:19:44.759 with the basics 00:19:44.759 --> 00:19:45.339 of the gospel, 00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:46.279 the basics are this, 00:19:46.299 --> 00:19:46.960 that we deserve 00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:47.859 God's punishment 00:19:47.859 --> 00:19:48.599 and that punishment 00:19:48.599 --> 00:19:49.079 is death, 00:19:49.140 --> 00:19:49.720 that's the penalty 00:19:49.720 --> 00:19:50.299 for sin. 00:19:50.700 --> 00:19:51.079 But God 00:19:51.079 --> 00:19:51.859 has removed 00:19:51.859 --> 00:19:52.519 the punishment 00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:53.059 for those 00:19:53.059 --> 00:19:53.480 who have faith 00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:54.259 in Jesus Christ 00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:55.599 because Jesus Christ 00:19:55.599 --> 00:19:56.640 took God's punishment 00:19:56.640 --> 00:19:57.339 on our behalf, 00:19:57.539 --> 00:19:58.019 which means 00:19:58.019 --> 00:19:58.660 there's no judgment 00:19:58.660 --> 00:19:59.220 for Christians, 00:19:59.299 --> 00:19:59.480 right? 00:20:02.019 --> 00:20:02.640 And yet, 00:20:02.700 --> 00:20:03.359 Peter says, 00:20:04.619 --> 00:20:04.980 it's time 00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:05.539 for judgment 00:20:05.539 --> 00:20:06.099 to begin 00:20:06.099 --> 00:20:06.619 at the household 00:20:06.619 --> 00:20:07.099 of God. 00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:08.640 What does he mean? 00:20:10.759 --> 00:20:11.879 We have to understand 00:20:11.879 --> 00:20:12.579 that judgment 00:20:12.579 --> 00:20:14.379 has several stages 00:20:14.379 --> 00:20:14.920 to it. 00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:16.720 And when we talk 00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:17.240 about judgment, 00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:17.940 often we mean 00:20:17.940 --> 00:20:18.920 God's punishment, 00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:20.359 but judgment 00:20:20.359 --> 00:20:20.740 is actually 00:20:20.740 --> 00:20:21.119 a little bit 00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:21.799 more comprehensive 00:20:21.799 --> 00:20:22.319 than that. 00:20:23.160 --> 00:20:23.400 So, 00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:23.839 I've been 00:20:23.839 --> 00:20:25.679 doing some judgments 00:20:25.679 --> 00:20:27.019 at my house 00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:27.419 recently. 00:20:28.339 --> 00:20:29.559 I'm a purger, 00:20:30.579 --> 00:20:31.699 so at least 00:20:31.699 --> 00:20:32.459 every year or so 00:20:32.459 --> 00:20:33.119 I go through 00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:33.959 and I figure out 00:20:33.959 --> 00:20:34.519 what I don't want 00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:34.799 anymore 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:35.359 and what needs 00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:36.079 to leave my house. 00:20:36.740 --> 00:20:36.939 So, 00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:37.599 recently I've been 00:20:37.599 --> 00:20:38.240 taking some trips 00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:38.779 to the Goodwill 00:20:38.779 --> 00:20:41.659 and when I go 00:20:41.659 --> 00:20:42.099 and I stand 00:20:42.099 --> 00:20:42.720 at my closet, 00:20:43.500 --> 00:20:44.740 there is a stage 00:20:44.740 --> 00:20:45.519 of judgment there. 00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:46.819 I'm assessing 00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:47.480 all the items 00:20:47.480 --> 00:20:48.039 in my closet. 00:20:48.159 --> 00:20:48.579 Have I worn 00:20:48.579 --> 00:20:49.199 that recently? 00:20:50.259 --> 00:20:50.599 If I haven't 00:20:50.599 --> 00:20:50.980 worn it since 00:20:50.980 --> 00:20:51.459 the last time 00:20:51.459 --> 00:20:51.859 I purged, 00:20:51.899 --> 00:20:52.399 it might be time 00:20:52.399 --> 00:20:52.699 to go. 00:20:52.879 --> 00:20:53.500 Does that fit 00:20:53.500 --> 00:20:53.920 anymore? 00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:55.019 Do I like 00:20:55.019 --> 00:20:55.339 that? 00:20:56.380 --> 00:20:57.480 In that sense, 00:20:57.599 --> 00:20:58.339 every item 00:20:58.339 --> 00:20:59.200 in my closet 00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:00.440 experiences judgment. 00:21:00.660 --> 00:21:01.619 There is a sorting 00:21:01.619 --> 00:21:02.880 element to judgment. 00:21:04.160 --> 00:21:04.880 There's also 00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:05.559 a penalty 00:21:05.559 --> 00:21:06.400 or a punishment 00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:07.460 element to judgment. 00:21:07.640 --> 00:21:07.880 So, 00:21:08.380 --> 00:21:09.460 there are some 00:21:09.460 --> 00:21:10.400 items that will 00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:10.940 not stand 00:21:10.940 --> 00:21:11.420 in the judgment. 00:21:12.700 --> 00:21:13.539 Those items 00:21:13.539 --> 00:21:13.940 go into 00:21:13.940 --> 00:21:14.900 the Trader Joe's bag. 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:16.460 The items 00:21:16.460 --> 00:21:16.759 that are in 00:21:16.759 --> 00:21:17.579 the Trader Joe's bag 00:21:17.579 --> 00:21:18.140 are banished 00:21:18.140 --> 00:21:18.920 from my presence 00:21:18.920 --> 00:21:19.299 forever 00:21:19.299 --> 00:21:21.279 and I take them 00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:21.920 to the Goodwill. 00:21:21.920 --> 00:21:24.720 all of my 00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:25.080 clothing 00:21:25.080 --> 00:21:26.320 experience judgment 00:21:26.320 --> 00:21:28.340 in the first stage. 00:21:28.759 --> 00:21:29.800 Not all of them 00:21:29.800 --> 00:21:30.580 experience the 00:21:30.580 --> 00:21:31.580 punishment of judgment. 00:21:33.140 --> 00:21:33.620 Everyone 00:21:33.620 --> 00:21:34.460 experienced the 00:21:34.460 --> 00:21:35.180 sorting element 00:21:35.180 --> 00:21:35.700 of judgment, 00:21:35.940 --> 00:21:36.700 not all the 00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:37.480 penalty element 00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:37.940 of judgment. 00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:39.680 So, 00:21:39.840 --> 00:21:40.800 there's a sense 00:21:40.800 --> 00:21:41.360 in which then 00:21:41.360 --> 00:21:41.860 when we're talking 00:21:41.860 --> 00:21:42.539 about this judgment, 00:21:42.620 --> 00:21:43.039 we have to have 00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:43.600 that category 00:21:43.600 --> 00:21:44.120 in mind. 00:21:44.119 --> 00:21:47.259 everyone in this 00:21:47.259 --> 00:21:47.759 world will 00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:48.799 experience God's 00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:49.179 judgment 00:21:49.179 --> 00:21:51.859 in the first 00:21:51.859 --> 00:21:52.259 sense. 00:21:52.459 --> 00:21:53.079 Everyone will 00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:53.639 be sorted. 00:21:54.339 --> 00:21:54.879 Think Matthew 00:21:54.879 --> 00:21:55.799 chapter 25, 00:21:55.899 --> 00:21:56.479 the separation 00:21:56.479 --> 00:21:57.039 of the sheep 00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:57.639 from the goats. 00:21:58.159 --> 00:21:58.759 Everyone's going 00:21:58.759 --> 00:21:59.359 to be there 00:21:59.359 --> 00:22:00.119 for that portion 00:22:00.119 --> 00:22:00.719 of the judgment. 00:22:03.039 --> 00:22:03.719 When I'm going 00:22:03.719 --> 00:22:04.279 through my closet, 00:22:04.459 --> 00:22:04.699 sheep, 00:22:04.979 --> 00:22:05.239 sheep, 00:22:05.639 --> 00:22:05.839 goat, 00:22:06.219 --> 00:22:06.439 sheep, 00:22:06.759 --> 00:22:06.939 sheep, 00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:07.459 goat. 00:22:07.459 --> 00:22:09.559 Goats go to 00:22:09.559 --> 00:22:09.879 Goodwill. 00:22:09.880 --> 00:22:13.340 All of my 00:22:13.340 --> 00:22:13.580 clothing 00:22:13.580 --> 00:22:14.200 experienced 00:22:14.200 --> 00:22:14.600 judgment 00:22:14.600 --> 00:22:15.320 in that 00:22:15.320 --> 00:22:15.660 sense. 00:22:15.780 --> 00:22:16.240 Not all of 00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:16.820 them experienced 00:22:16.820 --> 00:22:17.340 judgment in 00:22:17.340 --> 00:22:17.820 the sense 00:22:17.820 --> 00:22:18.120 that I 00:22:18.120 --> 00:22:18.620 separated 00:22:18.620 --> 00:22:19.000 them from 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:19.360 myself 00:22:19.360 --> 00:22:19.720 forever. 00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:24.080 When we 00:22:24.080 --> 00:22:25.260 suffer as 00:22:25.260 --> 00:22:25.880 Christians, 00:22:26.580 --> 00:22:28.580 that is part 00:22:28.580 --> 00:22:29.320 of God's 00:22:29.320 --> 00:22:29.660 sorting. 00:22:31.080 --> 00:22:32.080 It is his 00:22:32.080 --> 00:22:33.280 way of saying 00:22:33.280 --> 00:22:34.540 that person 00:22:34.540 --> 00:22:35.940 belongs to 00:22:35.940 --> 00:22:36.300 me. 00:22:36.299 --> 00:22:40.440 I have 00:22:40.440 --> 00:22:41.599 proof that 00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:42.220 that person 00:22:42.220 --> 00:22:42.759 is a 00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:43.799 sheep and 00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:44.159 not a 00:22:44.159 --> 00:22:44.399 goat. 00:22:46.460 --> 00:22:47.200 Because if 00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:47.700 they were a 00:22:47.700 --> 00:22:48.419 goat, they 00:22:48.419 --> 00:22:48.839 would not 00:22:48.839 --> 00:22:49.240 stand. 00:22:50.119 --> 00:22:50.740 They would 00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:51.500 not suffer 00:22:51.500 --> 00:22:52.139 for righteousness 00:22:52.139 --> 00:22:52.619 sake. 00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:54.839 And so 00:22:54.839 --> 00:22:55.279 there's a 00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:55.659 sense in 00:22:55.659 --> 00:22:56.039 which the 00:22:56.039 --> 00:22:56.899 sorting portion 00:22:56.899 --> 00:22:57.500 of God's 00:22:57.500 --> 00:22:58.059 judgment is 00:22:58.059 --> 00:22:58.700 going on 00:22:58.700 --> 00:22:59.379 even now. 00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:01.759 Every time 00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:02.980 we suffer 00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:03.359 for the 00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:03.720 name of 00:23:03.720 --> 00:23:03.960 Jesus 00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:04.480 Christ, 00:23:04.859 --> 00:23:05.440 that is 00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:05.839 part of 00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:06.199 God's 00:23:06.199 --> 00:23:06.919 sorting out 00:23:06.919 --> 00:23:08.659 of those 00:23:08.659 --> 00:23:08.899 who will 00:23:08.899 --> 00:23:09.279 stand in 00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:09.619 the judgment 00:23:09.619 --> 00:23:09.959 and those 00:23:09.959 --> 00:23:10.179 who will 00:23:10.179 --> 00:23:10.359 not. 00:23:10.419 --> 00:23:10.679 He is 00:23:10.679 --> 00:23:11.199 showing. 00:23:11.500 --> 00:23:11.879 We're not 00:23:11.879 --> 00:23:12.199 earning 00:23:12.199 --> 00:23:12.819 something from 00:23:12.819 --> 00:23:13.000 him. 00:23:13.659 --> 00:23:15.699 In my 00:23:15.699 --> 00:23:15.959 earlier 00:23:15.959 --> 00:23:16.299 example, 00:23:16.419 --> 00:23:16.679 when the 00:23:16.679 --> 00:23:17.059 husband or 00:23:17.059 --> 00:23:17.359 the wife 00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:17.939 keeps their 00:23:17.939 --> 00:23:18.359 vows, 00:23:18.639 --> 00:23:18.959 they don't 00:23:18.959 --> 00:23:19.579 suddenly become 00:23:19.579 --> 00:23:19.959 married at 00:23:19.959 --> 00:23:20.279 that point. 00:23:20.339 --> 00:23:20.519 They were 00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:20.899 married the 00:23:20.899 --> 00:23:21.399 whole time. 00:23:22.220 --> 00:23:22.980 But now 00:23:22.980 --> 00:23:23.639 that they 00:23:23.639 --> 00:23:24.179 were serious 00:23:24.179 --> 00:23:24.480 that they 00:23:24.480 --> 00:23:24.939 really meant 00:23:24.939 --> 00:23:25.159 it is 00:23:25.159 --> 00:23:25.759 finally revealed. 00:23:25.859 --> 00:23:26.220 They meant 00:23:26.220 --> 00:23:26.579 it all the 00:23:26.579 --> 00:23:27.019 way back at 00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:27.379 the beginning. 00:23:27.959 --> 00:23:28.359 They meant 00:23:28.359 --> 00:23:28.659 it on the 00:23:28.659 --> 00:23:29.079 wedding day. 00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:31.199 But now 00:23:31.199 --> 00:23:31.699 the judgment, 00:23:31.819 --> 00:23:32.379 as they stand 00:23:32.379 --> 00:23:32.699 and remain 00:23:32.699 --> 00:23:33.399 faithful in 00:23:33.399 --> 00:23:33.679 suffering, 00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:34.159 it becomes 00:23:34.159 --> 00:23:34.759 clear that 00:23:34.759 --> 00:23:35.119 they meant 00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:35.299 it. 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:37.619 And so 00:23:37.619 --> 00:23:38.019 that's a 00:23:38.019 --> 00:23:39.000 sorting that 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:39.440 happens. 00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:40.039 By the way, 00:23:40.099 --> 00:23:40.900 this is a 00:23:40.900 --> 00:23:41.700 helpful category 00:23:41.700 --> 00:23:42.740 for coming to 00:23:42.740 --> 00:23:43.359 other portions 00:23:43.359 --> 00:23:43.859 of Scripture. 00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:44.420 If we have 00:23:44.420 --> 00:23:45.180 this holistic 00:23:45.180 --> 00:23:45.920 idea of 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:46.180 judgment, 00:23:46.460 --> 00:23:46.799 it's helpful 00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:47.140 in reading 00:23:47.140 --> 00:23:47.920 Matthew 25. 00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:48.700 It's helpful 00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:49.079 in reading 00:23:49.079 --> 00:23:49.700 Romans 2. 00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:50.140 It's helpful 00:23:50.140 --> 00:23:50.480 in reading 00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:50.779 the end 00:23:50.779 --> 00:23:51.460 of John 5. 00:23:51.779 --> 00:23:52.400 It makes 00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:53.019 sense of 00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:53.539 how judgment 00:23:53.539 --> 00:23:53.940 works. 00:23:55.180 --> 00:23:55.559 This is the 00:23:55.559 --> 00:23:56.299 way Psalm 1 00:23:56.299 --> 00:23:56.900 speaks, by the 00:23:56.900 --> 00:23:57.019 way. 00:23:57.079 --> 00:23:57.480 It says, 00:23:57.920 --> 00:23:58.180 the wicked 00:23:58.180 --> 00:23:58.579 will not 00:23:58.579 --> 00:23:59.200 stand in 00:23:59.200 --> 00:23:59.599 the judgment. 00:24:00.619 --> 00:24:01.119 So there's a 00:24:01.119 --> 00:24:01.359 judgment. 00:24:01.519 --> 00:24:01.819 Some people 00:24:01.819 --> 00:24:02.359 will stand in 00:24:02.359 --> 00:24:02.460 it. 00:24:02.519 --> 00:24:02.839 Some people 00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:03.160 will not. 00:24:03.160 --> 00:24:05.900 In that 00:24:05.900 --> 00:24:06.340 sense, 00:24:07.340 --> 00:24:08.360 judgment 00:24:08.360 --> 00:24:09.279 begins at 00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:09.800 the household 00:24:09.800 --> 00:24:10.360 of God. 00:24:11.080 --> 00:24:11.400 In other 00:24:11.400 --> 00:24:11.779 words, the 00:24:11.779 --> 00:24:12.660 sorting element 00:24:12.660 --> 00:24:13.200 of judgment 00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:13.960 has begun 00:24:13.960 --> 00:24:14.580 for Christians 00:24:14.580 --> 00:24:15.200 even now. 00:24:18.700 --> 00:24:19.200 And he 00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:19.540 asked this 00:24:19.540 --> 00:24:19.840 question, 00:24:19.960 --> 00:24:20.380 if it begins 00:24:20.380 --> 00:24:20.820 with us, 00:24:20.900 --> 00:24:21.200 what will be 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:21.800 the outcome 00:24:21.800 --> 00:24:22.740 for those 00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:23.320 who do not 00:24:23.320 --> 00:24:23.740 obey the 00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:24.220 gospel of 00:24:24.220 --> 00:24:24.380 God? 00:24:24.420 --> 00:24:24.740 In other 00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:25.060 words, if 00:24:25.060 --> 00:24:25.660 this is how 00:24:25.660 --> 00:24:26.840 God treats 00:24:26.840 --> 00:24:27.800 the faithful, 00:24:27.799 --> 00:24:31.200 unfaithful, 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:33.480 if God 00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:34.480 allows Christians 00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:35.059 to have a 00:24:35.059 --> 00:24:35.579 little bit of 00:24:35.579 --> 00:24:36.099 suffering in 00:24:36.099 --> 00:24:36.619 this world, 00:24:38.419 --> 00:24:39.200 imagine how 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:39.919 much suffering 00:24:39.919 --> 00:24:41.000 those who are 00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:41.579 not Christians 00:24:41.579 --> 00:24:42.379 will experience. 00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:46.059 If this is what 00:24:46.059 --> 00:24:46.859 judgment looks like 00:24:46.859 --> 00:24:47.799 now for you 00:24:47.799 --> 00:24:49.099 here, imagine 00:24:49.099 --> 00:24:49.759 how much worse 00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:50.279 it will be. 00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:52.399 It is something 00:24:52.399 --> 00:24:53.339 that's painful, 00:24:53.460 --> 00:24:54.799 right, that 00:24:54.799 --> 00:24:55.720 reveals help. 00:24:55.720 --> 00:24:57.420 When I was 00:24:57.420 --> 00:24:57.920 little and I'd 00:24:57.920 --> 00:24:58.240 go to the 00:24:58.240 --> 00:24:59.180 doctor for 00:24:59.180 --> 00:25:01.100 checkups, he 00:25:01.100 --> 00:25:01.279 would have 00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:01.579 this little 00:25:01.579 --> 00:25:02.240 rubber mallet, 00:25:03.700 --> 00:25:04.819 and this may 00:25:04.819 --> 00:25:05.100 have happened 00:25:05.100 --> 00:25:05.380 to you, it 00:25:05.380 --> 00:25:05.720 hadn't happened 00:25:05.720 --> 00:25:06.259 to me recently, 00:25:06.620 --> 00:25:07.200 for some reason 00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:07.539 they've gotten 00:25:07.539 --> 00:25:08.100 smart and they 00:25:08.100 --> 00:25:08.519 don't do this 00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:09.039 to adults, 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:11.720 but they hit 00:25:11.720 --> 00:25:12.059 you with the 00:25:12.059 --> 00:25:12.480 mallet on the 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:12.940 knee, right, 00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:14.480 and you're 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:15.100 supposed to swing 00:25:15.100 --> 00:25:15.600 your knee out 00:25:15.600 --> 00:25:16.039 to prove that 00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:16.740 your reflexes 00:25:16.740 --> 00:25:17.200 are working, 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:18.059 and if your 00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:18.700 reflexes are 00:25:18.700 --> 00:25:19.140 working, of 00:25:19.140 --> 00:25:19.539 course you have 00:25:19.539 --> 00:25:20.039 no choice, 00:25:20.079 --> 00:25:20.559 right, but to 00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:20.839 kick the 00:25:20.839 --> 00:25:21.120 doctor. 00:25:22.600 --> 00:25:23.579 And so it's 00:25:23.579 --> 00:25:24.360 something that's 00:25:24.360 --> 00:25:24.860 painful, 00:25:24.859 --> 00:25:27.000 that reveals 00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:27.399 health. 00:25:29.959 --> 00:25:30.500 That's the 00:25:30.500 --> 00:25:31.240 same sense in 00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:31.719 which judgment 00:25:31.719 --> 00:25:32.339 begins at the 00:25:32.339 --> 00:25:32.740 household of 00:25:32.740 --> 00:25:32.879 God. 00:25:32.939 --> 00:25:33.299 It's something 00:25:33.299 --> 00:25:33.839 painful, 00:25:34.500 --> 00:25:34.899 suffering for 00:25:34.899 --> 00:25:35.339 the name of 00:25:35.339 --> 00:25:35.839 Jesus, that 00:25:35.839 --> 00:25:36.859 reveals health. 00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:40.000 If this is 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:41.099 what, you 00:25:41.099 --> 00:25:41.559 might imagine 00:25:41.559 --> 00:25:41.879 the doctor 00:25:41.879 --> 00:25:42.279 saying, if 00:25:42.279 --> 00:25:42.659 this is what 00:25:42.659 --> 00:25:43.000 I do to 00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:43.439 the healthy, 00:25:45.199 --> 00:25:46.119 imagine what 00:25:46.119 --> 00:25:46.500 happens to 00:25:46.500 --> 00:25:46.879 the sick. 00:25:50.719 --> 00:25:51.419 If this is 00:25:51.419 --> 00:25:52.079 what you are 00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:52.779 experiencing, 00:25:52.779 --> 00:25:54.460 what will be 00:25:54.460 --> 00:25:54.960 the outcome 00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:55.500 for those 00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:55.759 who do 00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:56.139 not obey 00:25:56.139 --> 00:25:56.599 the gospel 00:25:56.599 --> 00:25:57.059 of God? 00:25:58.759 --> 00:25:59.720 How much 00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:00.859 more suffering 00:26:00.859 --> 00:26:01.680 will they 00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:02.660 experience one 00:26:02.660 --> 00:26:02.940 day? 00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:06.039 That continues 00:26:06.039 --> 00:26:06.359 to be the 00:26:06.359 --> 00:26:06.660 point he's 00:26:06.660 --> 00:26:07.180 making in 00:26:07.180 --> 00:26:07.859 verse 18. 00:26:08.200 --> 00:26:08.440 If the 00:26:08.440 --> 00:26:08.980 righteous is 00:26:08.980 --> 00:26:09.319 scarcely 00:26:09.319 --> 00:26:10.420 saved, what 00:26:10.420 --> 00:26:11.000 will become 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:11.839 of the 00:26:11.839 --> 00:26:12.539 ungodly 00:26:12.539 --> 00:26:13.500 and the 00:26:13.500 --> 00:26:13.720 sinner? 00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:17.019 Scarcely 00:26:17.019 --> 00:26:17.700 saved here is 00:26:17.700 --> 00:26:18.039 not talking 00:26:18.039 --> 00:26:18.480 about God's 00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:18.899 power, 00:26:18.900 --> 00:26:19.900 sinning 00:26:19.900 --> 00:26:21.180 and 00:26:21.180 --> 00:26:21.900 sinning 00:26:21.900 --> 00:26:23.240 and 00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:23.480 sorting 00:26:23.480 --> 00:26:23.840 now. 00:26:25.620 --> 00:26:25.820 The 00:26:25.820 --> 00:26:26.060 righteous 00:26:26.060 --> 00:26:26.280 is 00:26:26.280 --> 00:26:26.600 scarcely 00:26:26.600 --> 00:26:27.060 saved 00:26:27.060 --> 00:26:27.680 in the 00:26:27.680 --> 00:26:28.080 sense 00:26:28.080 --> 00:26:28.640 that the 00:26:28.640 --> 00:26:28.920 righteous 00:26:28.920 --> 00:26:29.480 suffer 00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:30.460 because 00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:30.660 they 00:26:30.660 --> 00:26:30.920 belong 00:26:30.920 --> 00:26:31.100 to 00:26:31.100 --> 00:26:31.400 Jesus. 00:26:33.060 --> 00:26:33.780 There's a 00:26:33.780 --> 00:26:34.320 difficulty 00:26:34.320 --> 00:26:34.980 to remaining 00:26:34.980 --> 00:26:35.500 a Christian. 00:26:36.840 --> 00:26:37.380 It's not 00:26:37.380 --> 00:26:37.759 easy. 00:26:39.700 --> 00:26:40.400 If it's 00:26:40.400 --> 00:26:40.880 not easy 00:26:40.880 --> 00:26:41.300 to be a 00:26:41.300 --> 00:26:41.620 Christian, 00:26:42.180 --> 00:26:42.640 what will 00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:43.120 become of 00:26:43.120 --> 00:26:43.680 the ungodly 00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:43.940 and the 00:26:43.940 --> 00:26:44.100 sinner? 00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:44.720 Imagine 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:45.100 how much 00:26:45.100 --> 00:26:45.540 worse it 00:26:45.540 --> 00:26:45.860 is for 00:26:45.860 --> 00:26:46.140 those who 00:26:46.140 --> 00:26:46.420 are not 00:26:46.420 --> 00:26:46.800 Christians. 00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:49.180 put it 00:26:49.180 --> 00:26:49.819 another way, 00:26:50.819 --> 00:26:51.659 if the 00:26:51.659 --> 00:26:51.859 righteous 00:26:51.859 --> 00:26:52.379 suffer in 00:26:52.379 --> 00:26:52.919 this life, 00:26:53.879 --> 00:26:54.480 imagine how 00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:54.799 much the 00:26:54.799 --> 00:26:55.180 wicked will 00:26:55.180 --> 00:26:55.599 suffer in 00:26:55.599 --> 00:26:55.960 the next. 00:26:58.059 --> 00:26:58.839 In other 00:26:58.839 --> 00:26:59.220 words, 00:27:00.019 --> 00:27:01.500 choose your 00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:01.879 suffering. 00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:04.500 You can 00:27:04.500 --> 00:27:05.220 suffer now 00:27:05.220 --> 00:27:06.339 or you can 00:27:06.339 --> 00:27:06.940 suffer later, 00:27:07.700 --> 00:27:09.519 but you 00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:10.619 cannot put 00:27:10.619 --> 00:27:10.940 it off 00:27:10.940 --> 00:27:11.299 forever. 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:13.200 Speaking to 00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:13.740 Christians who 00:27:13.740 --> 00:27:14.200 might be 00:27:14.200 --> 00:27:14.680 tempted to 00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:14.899 think, 00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:15.480 is it 00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:15.960 worth it? 00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:16.660 Is it 00:27:16.660 --> 00:27:16.920 worth 00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:17.420 suffering 00:27:17.420 --> 00:27:17.840 for the 00:27:17.840 --> 00:27:18.160 name of 00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:18.460 Jesus? 00:27:19.620 --> 00:27:19.940 Peter 00:27:19.940 --> 00:27:20.660 reminds them 00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:22.259 the suffering 00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:22.579 that will 00:27:22.579 --> 00:27:22.980 come if 00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:23.380 you're not 00:27:23.380 --> 00:27:23.880 with Jesus 00:27:23.880 --> 00:27:24.980 is much, 00:27:25.140 --> 00:27:25.980 much worse. 00:27:28.340 --> 00:27:28.940 And so 00:27:28.940 --> 00:27:29.900 remain 00:27:29.900 --> 00:27:30.860 faithful 00:27:30.860 --> 00:27:31.920 to the 00:27:31.920 --> 00:27:32.160 end. 00:27:32.259 --> 00:27:32.539 You can 00:27:32.539 --> 00:27:33.019 skip 00:27:33.019 --> 00:27:33.860 suffering 00:27:33.860 --> 00:27:34.160 now, 00:27:34.220 --> 00:27:34.440 but you 00:27:34.440 --> 00:27:34.779 can't 00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:35.120 skip it 00:27:35.120 --> 00:27:35.380 forever. 00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:35.720 You can 00:27:35.720 --> 00:27:36.059 have a 00:27:36.059 --> 00:27:36.440 little bit 00:27:36.440 --> 00:27:36.880 of suffering 00:27:36.880 --> 00:27:37.380 now for 00:27:37.380 --> 00:27:37.799 the sake 00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:38.180 of Jesus 00:27:38.180 --> 00:27:38.640 Christ, 00:27:39.519 --> 00:27:40.059 or you 00:27:40.059 --> 00:27:40.259 can have 00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:40.579 a lot 00:27:40.579 --> 00:27:41.019 of suffering 00:27:41.019 --> 00:27:41.600 later because 00:27:41.600 --> 00:27:42.220 you rejected 00:27:42.220 --> 00:27:42.980 Jesus Christ. 00:27:42.980 --> 00:27:45.120 this is 00:27:45.120 --> 00:27:45.380 what the 00:27:45.380 --> 00:27:45.620 righteous 00:27:45.620 --> 00:27:46.039 suffer. 00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:46.599 Imagine 00:27:46.599 --> 00:27:46.940 what the 00:27:46.940 --> 00:27:47.360 unrighteous 00:27:47.360 --> 00:27:47.880 will suffer 00:27:47.880 --> 00:27:49.140 one day. 00:27:51.299 --> 00:27:51.799 That's the 00:27:51.799 --> 00:27:52.059 point of 00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:52.799 Psalm 73, 00:27:52.799 --> 00:27:53.339 by the way, 00:27:53.380 --> 00:27:53.640 which we 00:27:53.640 --> 00:27:53.920 looked at 00:27:53.920 --> 00:27:54.460 last summer. 00:27:55.700 --> 00:27:55.839 The 00:27:55.839 --> 00:27:56.299 psalmist is 00:27:56.299 --> 00:27:56.799 crying out to 00:27:56.799 --> 00:27:56.920 God, 00:27:57.099 --> 00:27:57.380 hey, 00:27:57.440 --> 00:27:57.640 it looks 00:27:57.640 --> 00:27:58.519 like the 00:27:58.519 --> 00:27:58.960 ungodly 00:27:58.960 --> 00:27:59.299 have all 00:27:59.299 --> 00:27:59.700 the benefits. 00:27:59.799 --> 00:28:00.000 What do 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:00.339 I get? 00:28:01.940 --> 00:28:02.460 And then 00:28:02.460 --> 00:28:03.099 he realizes 00:28:03.099 --> 00:28:04.579 you stretch 00:28:04.579 --> 00:28:05.059 things out 00:28:05.059 --> 00:28:05.539 over a long 00:28:05.539 --> 00:28:06.019 enough period 00:28:06.019 --> 00:28:06.519 of time 00:28:06.519 --> 00:28:07.839 and the 00:28:07.839 --> 00:28:08.240 end is 00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:08.720 not good 00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:09.879 for the 00:28:09.879 --> 00:28:10.420 ungodly. 00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:12.920 And so 00:28:12.920 --> 00:28:13.180 there's a 00:28:13.180 --> 00:28:13.660 reminder and 00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:14.059 a challenge 00:28:14.059 --> 00:28:14.519 here is there 00:28:14.519 --> 00:28:15.139 often is that 00:28:15.139 --> 00:28:15.599 there are 00:28:15.599 --> 00:28:16.279 only two 00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:16.799 ways to 00:28:16.799 --> 00:28:17.039 live. 00:28:17.139 --> 00:28:17.379 We can 00:28:17.379 --> 00:28:18.000 live with 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:19.000 faith in 00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:19.519 Jesus Christ 00:28:19.519 --> 00:28:20.259 without faith 00:28:20.259 --> 00:28:20.599 in Jesus 00:28:20.599 --> 00:28:20.960 Christ. 00:28:21.180 --> 00:28:22.059 If we have 00:28:22.059 --> 00:28:22.519 faith in 00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:23.079 Jesus Christ, 00:28:23.079 --> 00:28:23.500 we will 00:28:23.500 --> 00:28:24.139 suffer a 00:28:24.139 --> 00:28:24.660 little now 00:28:24.660 --> 00:28:25.220 for his 00:28:25.220 --> 00:28:25.920 name and 00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:26.440 experience 00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:27.119 glory later 00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:27.639 with him. 00:28:28.819 --> 00:28:29.579 If we do 00:28:29.579 --> 00:28:30.039 not have 00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:30.440 faith in 00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:31.099 Jesus Christ, 00:28:31.259 --> 00:28:31.879 we may be 00:28:31.879 --> 00:28:32.500 able to avoid 00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:33.160 some suffering. 00:28:33.279 --> 00:28:33.619 We may be 00:28:33.619 --> 00:28:33.960 able to have 00:28:33.960 --> 00:28:34.839 comfort now, 00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:35.759 but God's 00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:36.500 judgment is 00:28:36.500 --> 00:28:36.940 coming. 00:28:37.160 --> 00:28:37.680 It is 00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:38.240 real and 00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:38.599 he will 00:28:38.599 --> 00:28:39.059 bring it 00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:39.700 fully and 00:28:39.700 --> 00:28:40.259 finally to 00:28:40.259 --> 00:28:40.799 this world 00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:41.500 one day. 00:28:41.940 --> 00:28:42.319 His 00:28:42.319 --> 00:28:43.079 judgment is 00:28:43.079 --> 00:28:43.660 coming for 00:28:43.660 --> 00:28:44.119 everyone. 00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:44.519 He will 00:28:44.519 --> 00:28:45.960 sort every 00:28:45.960 --> 00:28:46.460 person in 00:28:46.460 --> 00:28:46.920 this world. 00:28:48.319 --> 00:28:48.660 He will 00:28:48.660 --> 00:28:49.119 sort them to 00:28:49.119 --> 00:28:49.519 those who 00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:50.000 belong to 00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:50.279 him and 00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:50.599 those who 00:28:50.599 --> 00:28:51.000 do not. 00:28:52.519 --> 00:28:53.059 And those 00:28:53.059 --> 00:28:53.480 who do not 00:28:53.480 --> 00:28:53.960 belong to 00:28:53.960 --> 00:28:54.279 him will 00:28:54.279 --> 00:28:55.039 not just 00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:55.839 experience the 00:28:55.839 --> 00:28:56.599 sorting element 00:28:56.599 --> 00:28:57.079 of judgment, 00:28:57.380 --> 00:28:57.740 they will 00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:58.420 experience the 00:28:58.420 --> 00:28:59.279 punishment element 00:28:59.279 --> 00:28:59.799 of judgment. 00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:04.160 And so 00:29:04.160 --> 00:29:04.480 there's a 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:05.079 call to 00:29:05.079 --> 00:29:05.819 repentance and 00:29:05.819 --> 00:29:06.480 faith in 00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:07.220 Jesus Christ. 00:29:08.620 --> 00:29:09.160 There's a 00:29:09.160 --> 00:29:09.500 call to 00:29:09.500 --> 00:29:10.000 you if you 00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:10.339 do not 00:29:10.339 --> 00:29:10.740 have faith 00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:11.200 in Christ. 00:29:11.579 --> 00:29:12.099 Things might 00:29:12.099 --> 00:29:12.779 seem good 00:29:12.779 --> 00:29:13.339 now, right? 00:29:13.360 --> 00:29:13.759 We looked at 00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:14.259 the days of 00:29:14.259 --> 00:29:14.839 Noah a couple 00:29:14.839 --> 00:29:15.380 weeks ago. 00:29:15.940 --> 00:29:16.559 Everything was 00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:17.140 great in the 00:29:17.140 --> 00:29:17.440 days of 00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:19.360 Noah until 00:29:19.360 --> 00:29:19.779 the flood 00:29:19.779 --> 00:29:20.079 came. 00:29:22.920 --> 00:29:23.360 Everything 00:29:23.360 --> 00:29:23.839 might be 00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:24.460 going great 00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:26.299 until Jesus 00:29:26.299 --> 00:29:26.819 returns. 00:29:28.140 --> 00:29:29.039 And when he 00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:29.640 returns, it 00:29:29.640 --> 00:29:30.180 will be too 00:29:30.180 --> 00:29:30.440 late. 00:29:30.440 --> 00:29:31.820 God 00:29:31.820 --> 00:29:32.480 and so 00:29:32.480 --> 00:29:32.980 the time 00:29:32.980 --> 00:29:33.480 to repent 00:29:33.480 --> 00:29:34.320 is now. 00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:34.720 God 00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:35.519 offers his 00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:36.019 forgiveness 00:29:36.019 --> 00:29:36.799 to anyone 00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:38.019 and everyone 00:29:38.019 --> 00:29:38.680 who asks 00:29:38.680 --> 00:29:39.120 for it, 00:29:39.500 --> 00:29:40.340 who repents 00:29:40.340 --> 00:29:40.660 of their 00:29:40.660 --> 00:29:41.120 sin and 00:29:41.120 --> 00:29:41.700 follows after 00:29:41.700 --> 00:29:42.380 Jesus Christ 00:29:42.380 --> 00:29:43.019 in faith. 00:29:43.960 --> 00:29:44.480 If that's 00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:44.880 something that 00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:45.360 you're wrestling 00:29:45.360 --> 00:29:45.840 with or you 00:29:45.840 --> 00:29:46.299 want to talk 00:29:46.299 --> 00:29:46.820 about more, 00:29:47.080 --> 00:29:47.660 I'm happy to 00:29:47.660 --> 00:29:48.220 talk about it 00:29:48.220 --> 00:29:48.519 with you. 00:29:48.580 --> 00:29:49.200 After any of 00:29:49.200 --> 00:29:49.519 our elders, 00:29:49.660 --> 00:29:50.080 many of the 00:29:50.080 --> 00:29:50.600 people around 00:29:50.600 --> 00:29:50.960 you in this 00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:51.380 congregation 00:29:51.380 --> 00:29:51.660 would be 00:29:51.660 --> 00:29:51.960 happy to 00:29:51.960 --> 00:29:52.240 talk to 00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:52.539 you about 00:29:52.539 --> 00:29:52.740 it. 00:29:53.860 --> 00:29:54.440 But when 00:29:54.440 --> 00:29:55.000 God brings 00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:55.519 his judgment, 00:29:55.640 --> 00:29:55.840 there will 00:29:55.840 --> 00:29:56.420 only be two 00:29:56.420 --> 00:29:56.779 camps, 00:29:57.580 --> 00:29:58.460 those who 00:29:58.460 --> 00:29:59.019 belong to him 00:29:59.019 --> 00:29:59.279 and those 00:29:59.279 --> 00:29:59.519 who do 00:29:59.519 --> 00:29:59.740 not. 00:30:00.940 --> 00:30:01.379 There will 00:30:01.379 --> 00:30:01.639 be a 00:30:01.639 --> 00:30:01.940 sorting. 00:30:03.879 --> 00:30:04.440 And those 00:30:04.440 --> 00:30:04.639 who do 00:30:04.639 --> 00:30:05.099 not belong 00:30:05.099 --> 00:30:05.379 to him 00:30:05.379 --> 00:30:06.480 face only 00:30:06.480 --> 00:30:06.879 God's 00:30:06.879 --> 00:30:07.160 judgment. 00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:07.539 If the 00:30:07.539 --> 00:30:08.099 righteous is 00:30:08.099 --> 00:30:08.420 scarcely 00:30:08.420 --> 00:30:08.920 saved, 00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:09.359 what will 00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:10.440 become of 00:30:10.440 --> 00:30:11.259 the ungodly 00:30:11.259 --> 00:30:11.940 and the 00:30:11.940 --> 00:30:12.160 sinner? 00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:15.519 If it 00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:16.059 begins with 00:30:16.059 --> 00:30:17.059 us, what 00:30:17.059 --> 00:30:17.480 will be the 00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:18.039 outcome for 00:30:18.039 --> 00:30:18.420 those who 00:30:18.420 --> 00:30:18.759 do not 00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:19.240 obey the 00:30:19.240 --> 00:30:19.740 gospel of 00:30:19.740 --> 00:30:19.940 God? 00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:20.279 In other 00:30:20.279 --> 00:30:20.500 words, 00:30:20.579 --> 00:30:21.220 hold fast. 00:30:23.539 --> 00:30:23.980 This 00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:24.539 suffering is 00:30:24.539 --> 00:30:24.940 for a 00:30:24.940 --> 00:30:25.559 little time 00:30:25.559 --> 00:30:27.680 before Jesus 00:30:27.680 --> 00:30:28.700 returns for 00:30:28.700 --> 00:30:29.160 his people. 00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:31.279 And so 00:30:31.279 --> 00:30:31.799 that's why we 00:30:31.799 --> 00:30:32.539 end with this 00:30:32.539 --> 00:30:33.340 final admonition. 00:30:33.480 --> 00:30:33.720 Therefore, 00:30:33.880 --> 00:30:34.420 verse 19, 00:30:34.539 --> 00:30:35.019 let those who 00:30:35.019 --> 00:30:35.620 suffer according 00:30:35.620 --> 00:30:36.160 to God's 00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:36.980 will entrust 00:30:36.980 --> 00:30:38.340 their souls to 00:30:38.340 --> 00:30:38.819 a faithful 00:30:38.819 --> 00:30:39.500 creator while 00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:40.039 doing good. 00:30:43.580 --> 00:30:44.220 God is 00:30:44.220 --> 00:30:44.840 bringing justice 00:30:44.840 --> 00:30:45.380 to the world. 00:30:45.539 --> 00:30:45.980 Trust him. 00:30:47.980 --> 00:30:48.600 He's the 00:30:48.600 --> 00:30:49.319 creator of the 00:30:49.319 --> 00:30:49.580 world. 00:30:50.680 --> 00:30:51.140 Trust him. 00:30:52.660 --> 00:30:53.420 Trust him in 00:30:53.420 --> 00:30:53.779 suffering. 00:30:56.039 --> 00:30:56.819 Don't let 00:30:56.819 --> 00:30:57.660 suffering stop 00:30:57.660 --> 00:30:58.200 you from doing 00:30:58.200 --> 00:30:58.539 good. 00:30:58.700 --> 00:31:00.259 Because that 00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:00.940 would be to 00:31:00.940 --> 00:31:01.620 fail the 00:31:01.620 --> 00:31:02.160 test of the 00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:02.420 sorting. 00:31:04.580 --> 00:31:05.059 Instead, 00:31:05.319 --> 00:31:06.240 continue doing 00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:07.180 good knowing 00:31:07.180 --> 00:31:08.400 that it's a 00:31:08.400 --> 00:31:09.039 judgment, it's a 00:31:09.039 --> 00:31:09.660 sorting, it's a 00:31:09.660 --> 00:31:10.400 way that God 00:31:10.400 --> 00:31:11.100 proves that his 00:31:11.100 --> 00:31:11.819 people belong to 00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:12.120 him. 00:31:13.880 --> 00:31:14.840 By the way, 00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:17.299 Peter failed. 00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:20.799 Peter was 00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:21.960 tested by God. 00:31:23.180 --> 00:31:23.759 Remember when 00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:24.980 Jesus was going 00:31:24.980 --> 00:31:25.759 to his death, 00:31:26.259 --> 00:31:26.819 people asked 00:31:26.819 --> 00:31:27.299 Peter if they 00:31:27.299 --> 00:31:27.899 knew Jesus, 00:31:28.059 --> 00:31:28.539 and Peter, 00:31:28.659 --> 00:31:29.220 being afraid 00:31:29.220 --> 00:31:29.700 that he would 00:31:29.700 --> 00:31:30.279 suffer for the 00:31:30.279 --> 00:31:30.740 name of Jesus 00:31:30.740 --> 00:31:31.319 Christ, said 00:31:31.319 --> 00:31:31.599 no. 00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:35.179 And yet he 00:31:35.179 --> 00:31:35.779 repented and 00:31:35.779 --> 00:31:36.359 returned and 00:31:36.359 --> 00:31:36.879 was faithful. 00:31:38.879 --> 00:31:39.639 And so God's 00:31:39.639 --> 00:31:40.559 grace is even 00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:41.359 for those who 00:31:41.359 --> 00:31:42.359 are imperfect and 00:31:42.359 --> 00:31:43.359 faltering, calling 00:31:43.359 --> 00:31:44.980 everyone back to 00:31:44.980 --> 00:31:45.919 obedience in him. 00:31:45.919 --> 00:31:47.059 Peter feels so 00:31:47.059 --> 00:31:48.159 strongly about this 00:31:48.159 --> 00:31:49.659 in part because he 00:31:49.659 --> 00:31:50.220 was the one who 00:31:50.220 --> 00:31:50.919 failed the test, 00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:52.039 but has now chosen 00:31:52.039 --> 00:31:52.759 that suffering is 00:31:52.759 --> 00:31:53.119 worth it. 00:31:53.119 --> 00:31:54.319 he betrayed 00:31:54.319 --> 00:31:56.099 Jesus, and then 00:31:56.099 --> 00:31:56.799 later he died 00:31:56.799 --> 00:31:57.719 upside down on a 00:31:57.719 --> 00:31:58.879 cross, according 00:31:58.879 --> 00:31:59.599 to church history, 00:31:59.939 --> 00:32:00.459 for the name of 00:32:00.459 --> 00:32:00.739 Jesus. 00:32:02.399 --> 00:32:03.099 And so God's 00:32:03.099 --> 00:32:04.739 grace is enough. 00:32:05.879 --> 00:32:07.000 We don't pass the 00:32:07.000 --> 00:32:08.579 sorting, we don't 00:32:08.579 --> 00:32:09.219 stand in the 00:32:09.219 --> 00:32:10.859 judgment, ultimately 00:32:10.859 --> 00:32:11.739 based on our works, 00:32:11.799 --> 00:32:14.319 what we do, but we 00:32:14.319 --> 00:32:16.959 stand, verse 14, 00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:18.459 because the spirit of 00:32:18.459 --> 00:32:19.199 glory and of God 00:32:19.199 --> 00:32:20.039 rests upon you. 00:32:20.039 --> 00:32:22.940 In other words, if 00:32:22.940 --> 00:32:23.599 you belong to 00:32:23.599 --> 00:32:25.460 Christ, he is a 00:32:25.460 --> 00:32:26.119 faithful creator, 00:32:26.240 --> 00:32:28.180 verse 19, and his 00:32:28.180 --> 00:32:29.339 spirit is with you to 00:32:29.339 --> 00:32:31.899 help you stand and 00:32:31.899 --> 00:32:32.440 stay firm. 00:32:34.960 --> 00:32:36.220 And so ultimately, we 00:32:36.220 --> 00:32:37.859 rest on his strength 00:32:37.859 --> 00:32:38.920 and his ability, just 00:32:38.920 --> 00:32:41.619 like Peter did, turning 00:32:41.619 --> 00:32:42.659 away from sin and 00:32:42.659 --> 00:32:43.420 towards righteousness, 00:32:43.659 --> 00:32:44.539 remaining faithful, 00:32:44.720 --> 00:32:45.539 knowing that God is 00:32:45.539 --> 00:32:46.639 using it to reveal 00:32:46.639 --> 00:32:47.500 our faith. 00:32:47.500 --> 00:32:50.200 faith, that it's 00:32:50.200 --> 00:32:53.980 only for a time, and 00:32:53.980 --> 00:32:55.000 he is bringing his 00:32:55.000 --> 00:32:55.400 redemption. 00:32:55.559 --> 00:32:56.960 The reminder in this 00:32:56.960 --> 00:32:57.920 is the same reminder 00:32:57.920 --> 00:32:59.140 at the beginning, what 00:32:59.140 --> 00:33:00.099 happened to Jesus will 00:33:00.099 --> 00:33:00.720 happen to us. 00:33:01.559 --> 00:33:02.559 Jesus suffered, we 00:33:02.559 --> 00:33:02.980 will suffer. 00:33:04.019 --> 00:33:04.980 If we stick with him 00:33:04.980 --> 00:33:06.559 in suffering, we will 00:33:06.559 --> 00:33:08.039 be glorified as he is 00:33:08.039 --> 00:33:08.579 glorified. 00:33:09.859 --> 00:33:10.839 And so verse 19, we 00:33:10.839 --> 00:33:12.220 suffer, we trust God, 00:33:12.299 --> 00:33:13.119 and we do good. 00:33:14.359 --> 00:33:15.480 In what sense is 00:33:15.480 --> 00:33:16.200 suffering a task? 00:33:16.200 --> 00:33:17.039 It's a task in the 00:33:17.039 --> 00:33:18.460 sense that it reveals 00:33:18.460 --> 00:33:19.019 our faith. 00:33:20.620 --> 00:33:22.059 God uses it to show 00:33:22.059 --> 00:33:23.120 that our faith is real, 00:33:23.880 --> 00:33:25.620 and we can rejoice in 00:33:25.620 --> 00:33:26.660 it because it proves 00:33:26.660 --> 00:33:28.240 that we belong to him 00:33:28.240 --> 00:33:30.120 and that he is with us. 00:33:31.779 --> 00:33:33.279 And so because of that, 00:33:33.740 --> 00:33:34.740 we can suffer according 00:33:34.740 --> 00:33:35.940 to God's will, entrusting 00:33:35.940 --> 00:33:37.759 our souls to a faithful 00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:40.059 creator and continuing 00:33:40.059 --> 00:33:41.259 to do good. 00:33:42.860 --> 00:33:43.779 Please pray with me. 00:33:43.779 --> 00:33:48.019 Our Father in heaven, we 00:33:48.019 --> 00:33:49.299 thank you for your 00:33:49.299 --> 00:33:50.279 encouragement, and we 00:33:50.279 --> 00:33:51.799 thank you that you are a 00:33:51.799 --> 00:33:53.139 faithful and trustworthy 00:33:53.139 --> 00:33:53.740 creator. 00:33:53.899 --> 00:33:55.519 We ask that you would send 00:33:55.519 --> 00:33:56.879 us your spirit to help us 00:33:56.879 --> 00:33:58.000 do what you've called us 00:33:58.000 --> 00:33:59.319 to do because we know that 00:33:59.319 --> 00:34:00.379 we cannot do it without 00:34:00.379 --> 00:34:00.899 your help. 00:34:01.899 --> 00:34:02.940 That you would strengthen 00:34:02.940 --> 00:34:04.940 us, that you'd help us to 00:34:04.940 --> 00:34:05.819 reign faithful in 00:34:05.819 --> 00:34:06.799 suffering so that we could 00:34:06.799 --> 00:34:08.980 glorify God in that name. 00:34:09.800 --> 00:34:11.199 We ask all these things, 00:34:11.199 --> 00:34:12.579 not in our own strength, 00:34:12.639 --> 00:34:13.519 but in the mighty name of 00:34:13.519 --> 00:34:13.799 Jesus. 00:34:14.399 --> 00:34:14.679 Amen.