On Suffering, Judgment and Punishment

This morning I was reading some scripture that mentioned judgement. It got me thinking about several things, including this verse from 1 Peter:


(NIV)1 Peter 4:16-17
However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. [17] For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?


I really like the comments of David Guzik on this verse, especially point two - see below:


For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God: In the context of suffering, Peter tells us that judgment begins at the house of God. God uses suffering as a judgment (in a positive, purifying sense) for Christians (the house of God) now.


i. Now is our time of fiery trial (1 Peter 4:12); the ungodly will have their fire later. The fire we endure now purifies us; the fire the ungodly will endure will punish them.


ii. We must always remember that there is never any punishment from God for us in our sufferings, only purification. For the Christian, the issue of punishment was settled once and for all at the cross, where Jesus endured all the punishment the Christian could ever face from God.


iii. The same fire that consumes straw will purify gold. The fire is the same, but its purpose in application is different, and its effect is different upon the straw and the gold. Even so, Christians do suffer some of the same things the ungodly do, yet the purpose of God is different, and the effect is different.


I think many times, we are apt to think in our difficulties that God is punishing us, but that is never true, as David says in point two.  Jesus bore the punishment for us all, so that we would never need to be punished by God.  God's motivation towards us is always Love.