CHRIST'S SUFFERING IN THE FLESH SHOULD ARM THEM FOR THE BATTLE AHEAD WITH ONE EYE ON THE COMING JUDGMENT AND ON THE RESURRECTION (1 PETER 4:1). Peter tells us that by being made one with Christ in His sufferings we will have our eyes fixed on the right goal, and will avoid falling back into the old... [ Continue Reading ]
APPLICATION OF THE PREVIOUS THEME, AND REMINDER OF THE COMING JUDGMENT (1 PETER 4:1). Having portrayed the great and all encompassing victory of Jesus Christ through suffering, Peter now applies the ideas directly to his readers. As previously with the world of Noah and the disobedient angels, judg... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, you arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that you no longer live the rest of your time in the flesh to the desires of men, but to the will of God.' Peter now specifically applies his words... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For the time past may be seen as sufficient to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles, and to have walked in lasciviousness, lusts, wine-parties, revellings, carousings, and abominable idolatries,' For they are to recognise that the time for reckless partying is over now that they have something... [ Continue Reading ]
‘In which they think it strange that you do not run with them into the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you,' Nothing would have produced more comment than the change that took place in men and women's lives in those days when they became Christians. Their friends would have been puzzled. ‘Wha... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Who will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.' Peter now gets to the heart of what the reason was, and no doubt this was part of the Christians' explanation for their behaviour. It was because they knew that they would have to give account to Him Who is ready to judge... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For to this end was the gospel preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.' His reference to the judgment of the dead raised a question that puzzled many early Christians concerning the position of believers who... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But the end of all things is at hand. Be you therefore of sound mind, and be sober unto prayer,' However, not only did the dead need to be prepared for that future judgment, but so also did the living. For that judgment, which would bring in the end of all things, could come at any time. It was ‘at... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE LIGHT OF THE COMING JUDGMENT AND RESURRECTION THEY ARE TO LIVE WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY (1 PETER 4:7). In view of the urgency of the times therefore they are to live out their Christian lives accordingly, revealing true love and hospitality, ministering to one another by means of the gifts gi... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins, using hospitality one to another without murmuring,' Instead of indulging in ‘lasciviousness' (‘lustful living' - 1 Peter 4:3) they were to be fervent (‘at full gallop') in Christian love among themse... [ Continue Reading ]
‘According as each has received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God; if any man speaks, as it were oracles of God; if any man ministers, as of the strength which God supplies,' The same earnest love will also ensure our right use of whatever gifts... [ Continue Reading ]
‘That in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.' For Peter's final concern is that in all things, in both our words and our actions, glory might continually be brought to God through the continual magnifying of Jesus Christ... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial among you, which is coming on you to prove you, as though a strange thing happened to you, but in as much as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory also you may rejoice with exceeding joy.' The... [ Continue Reading ]
PERSECUTION IS A NECESSARY RESULT OF THEIR BEING UNITED WITH CHRIST IN HIS SUFFERINGS FOR IT IS THE FIRST STAGE IN THE JUDGMENT THAT IS COMING ON ALL (1 PETER 4:12). Peter still has his eye firmly fixed on the fact that Judgment is coming for all men (1 Peter 4:18). And he sees what is happening to... [ Continue Reading ]
‘If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you; because that which is of glory and the Spirit of God rests on you.' For if it is for the name of Christ that they are misused and reproached and persecuted then they can take it as an indication that they are truly blessed, because it w... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evildoer, or as a meddler in other men's matters, but if a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this name.' Once again we have a Petrine contrast, typical of what we have seen all the way through h... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For the time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if it begin first at us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?' In context the ‘judgment beginning at (or more literally ‘from') the house of God' refers to the persecution that they are undergoing. It is... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And if the righteous is scarcely saved (‘be saved with difficulty'), where shall the ungodly and sinner appear?' This is a citation of Proverbs 11:31 LXX. The saving of the righteous is no easy task. They are ‘saved with difficulty'. Peter is very much aware of how great the cost of our salvation h... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Wherefore let them also that suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing unto a faithful Creator.' Believers suffer in order that they might be purified and cleansed. Thus their suffering is in the will of God. It is because He is working in them to will and to do of His go... [ Continue Reading ]