Our Judgment Is Now

This sermon explores the solemn reality that God's righteous judgment begins with the house of God, using First Peter 4:17-19 to explain that present suffering serves as a purging fire to remove lingering sin from believers. The message contrasts the temporary, beneficial trials of the church with the eternal destruction awaiting those who reject the gospel, drawing on Psalm 73 and 2 Thessalonians 1 to highlight the severity of unrepentant sin. It emphasizes that these judgments are acts of divine love intended to sanctify believers and prepare them for eternal glory, rather than punishment for past sins. The preacher encourages the congregation to view their trials with gratitude and to actively cooperate with God by mortifying their own flesh, rather than waiting for external correction. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a posture of humility and self-examination, urging believers to pray for God to search their hearts and lead them in the way everlasting.