(“IF” Series #2)
1 Peter 4:12-19
Pastor Rick Jackson
I. THE JUDGMENT OF SUFFERING [v. 12-16]
1. DON'T BE SURPRISED AT SUFFERING [v. 12]
2. LEARN TO EMBRACE CHRIST'S SUFFERING [v. 13-14]
Acts 5:40-41 And to him they agreed: and when they had
called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak
in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of
the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his
name.
3. DON'T FAIL TO UNDERSTAND ALL SUFFERING IS NOT THE SAME
[v. 15-16]
II. THE JUDGMENT OF BELIEVERS [v. 17-19]
1. BELIEVERS ARE JUDGED SEPARATELY FROM UNBELIEVERS [v. 17, Rev.
20:4-6, 2 Cor. 5:10-11]
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was
given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness
of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast,
neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in
their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the
rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This
is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first
resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests
of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
For we must all appear
before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done
in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing
therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest
unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
2. BELIEVERS JUDGMENT IS NOT BASED ON THEIR GOODNESS [v. 18,
1 Cor. 3:10-15]
According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a
wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon.
But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can
no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon
this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's
work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be
revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a
reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself
shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
3. BELIEVERS CAN REST IN THE GOODNESS OF GOD [v. 19, 1:3-7]
III. THE JUDGMENT OF UNBELIEVERS [v. 17-19]
1. THEIR END IS UNPLEASANT [v. 17, 1 Th. 1:9-10, 2 Th.
1:5-10]
For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we
had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true
God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even
Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
Which is a manifest
token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the
kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: Seeing it is a righteous thing with
God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are
troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with
his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God,
and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with
everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of
his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired
in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that
day.
2. THEIR END IS BEFORE GOD [v. 18, Rev. 20:11-15]
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from
whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for
them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were
opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were
judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their
works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell
delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man
according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.
This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of
life was cast into the lake of fire.
3. THEIR END IS INEVITABLE [v. 19, Hebrews 10:29]
Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be
thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted
the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and
hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
