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THE ORDER OF GOD'S JUDGEMENT.
"Beloved ones, do not be puzzled at the burning among you,
which is happening to you for a trial,*
as though a strange thing were befalling you. On the contrary, go on rejoicing
forasmuch as you are sharers in the sufferings of the Christ, that you
may rejoice and be overjoyed also during the revelation of his glory. If you are
being reproached for the name of Christ, you are happy, because the Spirit of
glory, even the Spirit of God, is resting upon you. However, let none of you
suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a busybody in other
people's matters. But if he suffers as a Christian, let him not feel shame, but
let him keep on glorifying God in this name. For it is the appointed time for
the Judgement to start with the House of God. Now if it starts first with
us, what will the end be of those who are not obedient to the good news of God?
"And if the righteous [man] is being saved with difficulty, where will the
unGodly [man] and the sinner make a showing?" So, then, also let those who
are suffering in harmony with the Will of God keep on commending their souls to
a faithful Creator while they are doing good." (1 Peter 4:12-19).
| AN EXPLANATION OF MAKING "A SHOWING"? |
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Question: |
Since
beneficial Judgement starts with the House of God, "what will the end
be of those who are not obedient to (refuse to obey.
NEB)
the good news of God?" (1 Peter 4:17).
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Answer: |
We are supplied the answer in this question: "And
if the righteous [man] is being saved with difficulty, where will the unGodly
[man] and the sinner make a showing?" Since the unGodly man and the
sinner cannot make a showing, they will not be saved. Those who
are not being spiritually cleansed will
not feel Spirit "burning", for their spirit will
not be
tested as to its fitness. (4:18). |
THE "BURNING... HAPPENING TO YOU FOR A
TRIAL".
To those without prior knowledge of
this "burning" in their spirit: When the Spirit of
God rests upon you for a trial, you will not only be puzzled at why you are
experiencing the heaviness of this inner feeling of "burning", but
you will react to it according to your disposition. You are then tested. The
Spirit of God is a sanctifying Spirit for one's benefit, so that we might live
"as to the Spirit from the standpoint of God." (4:6). That is to
say, according to His spiritual requirements (His Will) for us. The
"burning" is for a trial, literally felt when The Christ tests one's
spirit. (John 5:22 & 27. 2 Cor 5:10).
THOSE OF THE
HOUSE OF GOD ARE NOT JUDGED PERPETUALLY.
Because those deemed to be of the
House of God are sanctified (spiritually cleansed), the meaning of "the appointed time for the Judgement to start with the House of God"
(4:17) is that:
| (1) |
The
Spirit of God's Judgement is a sanctifying Spirit, the beginning of a spirit
cleansing process. Inherited Adamic sin is taken into account with the
propitiatory covering for one's sins through The Christ's sacrifice.
(1 John 2:1-3). |
| (2) |
All
those claiming to be servants of God but not of the predetermined number of
144,000 anointed members of the House of God are judged with reference to their
treatment of anointed ones while they were on earth. (Matt 25:31-46.
Rev 7:4-8). |
| (3) |
After
all anointed Household members are gathered and judged through the testing of
their faith, next to be judged are those obediently following in their footsteps
as Christ's disciples to "make a showing" successfully. Their
spirits are tested by a "burning" sensation within them. It goes
on to say: "…go on rejoicing forasmuch as you are
sharers in the
sufferings of The Christ, that you may rejoice and be overjoyed also during
the revelation of his glory". (4:13). Those who truly are sharers in the
sufferings of The Christ receive a Spirit "burning" of approval,
having shared in Christ like reproaches. Only these are deemed happy
"…because the Spirit of glory, even the Spirit of God, is resting upon you."
(4:14). The fulfilment of their faith is their inheritance of everlasting
spirit life in the paradise of God, having successfully become a "new
creation".
(Gal 6:15,16).
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* TRIAL: |
The action of testing or
putting to the proof
the fitness, truth, strength, or other quality. |
22/1/83.
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