CHOOSE YOUR JUDGMENT

Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on February 6, 2019 under AM Bible Study |

AM Bible Study Group: February 6, 2019 from 1 Peter 4:6

Theme: When it comes to suffering for our faith, choosing to be judged by men in order to live for God is a choice that leads to life.

(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).

This morning, we consider just one verse. Some have suggested that it is the most difficult verse in 1 Peter to interpret. One commentator even went so far as to say it was the most difficult verse in the whole Bible. But if handled rightly, it is not only understandable, but also a very necessary word of encouragement to us as Christians as we stand for Jesus in difficult times.

It speaks of two kinds of judgment—a temporal one from men, and an eternal one from God. And it tells us that, as followers of Jesus, it is far better to choose to suffer the temporal judgment from men. In 1 Peter 4:6, the apostle Peter writes,

For this reason, the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit (1 Peter 4:6).

Now; it would be a good idea to start by making clear what this verse is not saying. It is not saying—as many have attempted to make it say—that unbelievers who have died will—one day—have a second chance in the place of judgment to be saved. The idea of “another chance” for the unsaved dead is not found in the Bible. Instead, the Scriptures make it clear that “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). The verse that comes just before our verse this morning—1 Peter 4:5—says of those who oppose the followers of Jesus, “They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.”

So; what is this verse saying? It is reminding us that the gospel of Jesus Christ was proclaimed to ensure ultimate victory to those who believe—to completely take away the fear of death—and to thus make it possible for us to suffer confidently for Jesus at the hands of men.

In this world, because of the Lord Jesus, we must face the reality of “judgment” of one form or another. And as this verse shows us, it is far better and far wiser to suffer the temporal judgment of wicked men as a follower of Jesus than it is to suffer judgment before God for refusing to be committed to Jesus. It is no shame to us, or any ultimate loss to us, if we suffer temporal judgment from wicked men—if, as the Bible tells us—that temporal judgment then gives way to eternal life in Christ! As Jesus Himself said;

“Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:34-38).

This one verse, then, is a call to wisely choose our judgment. It is a call to follow in the steps of our Lord; who Himself suffered for a brief while at the hands of wicked men in order to secure eternal victory for us—and complete deliverance from the judgment of God. As Jesus Himself once said;

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life” (John 5:24).

First, notice, then, the implication that lies behind this call from 1 Peter 4:6; that …

1. A FINAL JUDGMENT FROM GOD WILL COME.

We see this in its first few words, “For this reason …” These words point us back to the previous context of this verse; and the reference it makes to our God “who is ready to judge the living and the dead”.

Peter had just gotten through reminding us, in verses 1-4, of that old gang we used to run around with. He wrote,

Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you (1 Peter 4:1-4).

That old gang thinks it “strange” that we don’t run with them anymore. They “speak evil” of us for trusting in Jesus and following the path of righteousness. And of course, we should pray for them, and love them, and hope that they too will come to Christ. But the painful fact is that they judge us; and we suffer as a result. It’s tempting to want to avoid their judgment. But we need to remember that their judgment isn’t ultimate. They may “judge” us; but they are not our Judge. Peter goes on to say; “They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead” (v. 5).

And that is something we need to remember. There is an ultimate judgment coming. The judgment of men against us for following Jesus is only temporal. It is not at all final. When we are temporally judged by men, we need to keep the true final judgment in perspective—where, before God, there is no condemnation at all to those who are in Christ.

We see next that, because of the promise of this final judgment …

2. THEREFORE, THE GOSPEL WAS PREACHED.

“For this reason,” Peter writes, “the gospel was preached also to those who are dead …” In other words, it was in the light of this great final judgment before the throne of God that the gospel was preached, and the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus was proclaimed.

But who are the “dead” to whom this gospel was preached? As we have already said, it is not to be understood as the souls of dead unbelieving people in Hades. Rather, Peter is speaking of people who had been living on this earth to hear the gospel being preached to them, and who believed that gospel, and who were saved by faith in Jesus, and who had since that time died—perhaps even at the hands of unbelieving people who ‘judged’ them for their faith. The New International Version translates these words correctly when it says, “For this reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead …”

When Peter calls them “dead”, he didn’t mean that they were dead “spiritually”. He would only have meant that the bodies of these faithful believers had died. Their spirits, however, were very much alive, and were in the presence of Jesus Himself, and are now forever safe from the temporal judgment of wicked men. The Bible refers to such believers as having “fallen asleep”; and when you “fall asleep”, you will one day be “raised up”. The apostle Paul wrote;

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

These departed believers—only “asleep” for a while in the Lord—are those who had heard the gospel, had believed, had died physically, and are now forever safe in the presence of the Savior. The judgment of unbelieving men didn’t ultimately affect them. The number of those believers—now safe in heaven—has expanded greatly since the day Peter wrote those words. And that’s why God made sure the gospel was preached, and had been preached since, and is being preached today, and will be preached until the day that Jesus returns in glory!

Now; in the original language, their judgment by men is stated in the past tense—that is, that they might be “judged” by men. But the result of that temporal judgment is put in the present tense—that is, that they now presently “live” according to God in the spirit. Their bodies lie in the ground—awaiting the day of resurrection; but their spirits now live, in a glorified state, in victorious fellowship with the Lord Jesus.

They now serve as an example to us who are living for Jesus today, and who are called upon to suffer Him as they did. They show us that …

3. WE CAN CHOOSE TO BE JUDGED BY MEN IN CONFIDENCE BEFORE GOD.

I believe this all makes perfect sense when we read on in Peter’s letter. In verses 12-19, he wrote;

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part, He is blasphemed, but on your part, He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now

“If the righteous one is scarcely saved,
Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator (1 Peter 4:12-19).

In this fallen world, then, we can choose which judgment we will suffer. And when given the choice, we should always know that it is far better to choose to faithfully stand with our Lord Jesus and to suffer the temporal judgment of men, rather than deny our Lord and suffer judgment before God. In Christ, to be judged in the flesh by men is the choice that leads to life.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Now; the suffering Christians to whom Peter wrote must have been greatly encouraged by this verse. There were dear brothers and sisters in Christ from within their midst who had suffered under the judgment of men for their faith. Some of them, no doubt, had laid down their lives for Jesus under the judgment of men, because they would not deny Him. But men only killed their bodies—and could now do nothing more to harm them (see Matthew 10:28). Their victory is sure and secure. They will never have to fear judgment at the throne of God. They are safe in His keeping.

May we learn from this, then, to make the right choice whenever the choice is set before us—and to choose to be judged by men for our faith that we might live eternally with Christ.

For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

EA