I have always been intrigued by this scripture, and so am glad to bring it to our collective attention now. This strikes me as something important because of the whole sale, enormity of general misunderstanding, lies and falsehoods! So many PEOPLE CLAIM TO BE A CHRISTIAN.... but don't even know what the term means! Let start with Webster's Dictionary, please: "A follower or imitator of Christ." Well, right off the bat, people need to KNOW and READ about the life of Christ, but have they even MADE time to crack open the Bible once ?? Usually, not ever! Fact: If they just read the two simple books of, John and also, Romans, they would instantly have a good grasp of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and what it means to be a follower of Jesus. [Hint: if you read those books a 2nd time, you will even learn MORE!!] And second, you don't have to go to church to be a Christian, but you do have to know the Bible, at least basically. Remember that many churches now days don't even teach the truth of the Bible, but only the 'traditions of men!' So, you'd have to know what's in the Bible before you could make a simple decision to know for sure if a preacher, pastor, or priest is teaching the truth of the Bible, or not ! Logic, huh??
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. There is no way that I can personally tell what's in the heart of another human ... but his/ her actions do tell me a lot. If they hate, or shun the Bible, never read it by themselves, NEVER talk about it, or what it says on any subject, or about Salvation, the Gospel or God's Will, I can safely assume that they are NOT a real Christian. Because, the Holy Spirit is active in all Christians, and they find is hard NOT to talk about something they hold so dear as the teachings of the Bible ! Just the answers, or lack of them, of a few questions can tell me SO MUCH about that person, that I can usually sum them up very quickly. How can a person claim to love something, or some body -- and at the same time treat it with disgust? Can you tell a person that you love him or her -- and then treat them terribly?
I've been studying the Bible for the past 40 years, and am very knowledgeable, yet I know that I still have a long way to go in working out many personality flaws. And so, knowledge alone won't Save you either. You must have the humility of the heart to surrender yourself completely to Jesus Christ... and acknowledge that we are yet sinful beings.. until we get to heaven.
I confess that sometimes I feel so frustrated because I have not yet matured, even as the Bible calls us Saints. It means so much to me that my marriage relationship succeeds and lasts forever as we live on earth. Yet, the devil, is so active and would love to take us down, to silence my humble Christian based Blog, and my tongue. I ask for your heart felt prayers, please, to help me continue in my fight -- my struggle. I will also pray for those who ask me.
But, as the short question and answer below points out, that Christians will suffer, be tested by varying degrees -- those "Left Behind" will really catch the full fury of the Storm that is coming soon ! Talk about being 'prepared' and being a "Prepper" --what else could be so important as being Saved now, today! Some folks have already had many warnings, and help offered -- while others in the world may have only had ONE CHANCE to get it right. And if one is Muslim or otherwise, turning to Jesus could mean certain DEATH for them. {Strike while the iron is hot!}
If your spouse hates to sit down long enough to just read or study the bible with you for a short time, say 1/2 hour... there might be something wrong in your life, or her life...
Warm Regards,
Tom Schuckman
Judgment Begins At The House Of God
Q. Can you tell me what 1 Peter 4:17 means? “For the time is come that judgement must begin at the house of God?: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of Christ” This verse has really impacted me.
A. The Greek word translated judgment in this verse comes from a root meaning to pick out or select. I think Peter was saying if we’re suffering persecution for our faith not to be surprised but to see it as the process by which the true believers will be separated from those who are not.
It’s not so God can tell who are his, because He already knows. It’s so we can tell. The way we tell we’re true believers is that we won’t waver in our belief even under persecution.
The persecution we face from the world is uncomfortable but proves our faith. But the judgment unbelievers will face comes from God and the outcome of that will be devastating.
A. The Greek word translated judgment in this verse comes from a root meaning to pick out or select. I think Peter was saying if we’re suffering persecution for our faith not to be surprised but to see it as the process by which the true believers will be separated from those who are not.
It’s not so God can tell who are his, because He already knows. It’s so we can tell. The way we tell we’re true believers is that we won’t waver in our belief even under persecution.
The persecution we face from the world is uncomfortable but proves our faith. But the judgment unbelievers will face comes from God and the outcome of that will be devastating.
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