For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it begins at us, what shall be the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God -1st Peter 4:17.

The focus here is not on a building but on believers who do not obey. Throughout this letter, Peter speaks of those who are not part of God’s eternal family as being disobedient. Those who attend church but disobey the written Word of God.

Some think that because they attend church and go through the ritual, they are obedient, but according to the Word of God, we have been instructed not to be hearers but doers of what we hear. God has given the believers His written Word to read and apply to their lives daily.

Attending church, hearing the Word being preached and taught, and not applying it will cause one to be disobedient and defiant of the instructions. Defiant is rebellious, and the Bible considers it witchcraft (For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft [divination], and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the Word of the Lord, He hath also rejected thee from being king – 1st Samuel 15-23). Although the prophet was talking to the king, it can also apply to believers because the Word of God says, we are kings and priests (And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever, Amen – Revelation 1:6). Witchcraft is sorcery, that is, tampering with the powers of evil.

When people reject the teachings of the Bible, they are rebelling against God. No matter what good works they do, if they don’t obey the Word of God, they aren’t in the right relationship with God, which will cause their prayers not to be answered and a possibility of them going to hell (And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity – Matthew 7:23). Not everyone professing Christ is genuinely saved. Even the outward verbal acknowledgment of His lordship is in itself not enough to save the nonbeliever apart from true repentance and faith. A genuinely saved person is one that doeth the will of the Father; they are continually living in obedience to the will of God as the normal course of their life.

Today’s church is preaching Jesus, but it is Jesus, the “good Man, the miracle worker”, or great teacher, The One who loves you.” All of this means that they claim that man can reach his potential if he will only change a few habits, etc., thereby being more like Jesus. Today’s church is ignoring the problem of man, which is sin.

We can only be like Jesus when we submit ourselves to the written Word of God. The heart has to be regenerated; if not, man will continue to live a sinful lifestyle. Millions today think they are going to heaven because they don’t fornicate, commit adultery, don’t steal, etc., which is good; they don’t do these things, but total submission to the Word God is what Jesus was talking about when He said, “They that worship, must worship in spirit and truth.

We can’t hold on to offensives, unforgiveness, jealousy, or envy; none of these are right in God’s sight. We have to serve Him daily in spirit and truth, not when we attend church on Sunday. Suppose the believer places their faith in anything else, such as the Lord’s Supper, fasting, water baptism, good works, giving their tithes, performing good works and deeds in the church, or their religious denomination. In that case, they are in a state of spiritual adultery.

The Bible gives examples of what we should be as Christians, living a lifestyle like our Father. When we do this, the Spirit’s Fruit will manifest in us: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. When we live as a nonbeliever, although we’re believers the works of the flesh, the old nature will be manifested, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkness, reveling,

If we have truly received salvation, then our actions and thoughts should change. We can only live in the Spirit when the Spirit is indwelling in us. Because Christians are taught how to live, judgment will start at the house of God and then go to the nonbeliever.

As a Christian, you should have a consistent prayer life, fast, read, and study the Bible. If you apply what you hear in church and read the Bible, then you are living according to the will of God.