1 PETER CHAPTER 4

 

Enthusiastic Love

 

 

Suffering For Christ

1 Peter 4:1, 2

 

In 1 Peter 4 Peter encourages Christ-followers to keep on keeping on. Peter gives practical instruction as to how they can endure by pointing to Christ’s perfect example.

 

1 Peter 4:1, 2 NLT:

1 So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin.

2 You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.

 

Peter begins in verse 1 with the words “so then” or “therefore” (in other translations). This directs us back to Christ’s suffering in 1 Peter 3:18, where Peter wrote: “Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.” So Peter begins chapter 4 by applying the principles of patient endurance when we find ourselves going through unjust suffering. Peter was preparing the people to whom he was writing because they were soon to suffer unjustly. He encouraged believers to arm themselves with the same courageous attitude or mind-set Christ had regarding suffering. The word translated “arm yourselves” (hoplisasthe) referred to a soldier putting on armor (Ephesians 6:13). With the same determination and care with which a soldier puts on his armor, Christians are to put on Christ’s “attitude”  toward persecution, which was a complete resolve to do God’s will.

 

Our attitude toward life most often determines the outcome of our life, and a believer must have the right attitudes if he/she is to live a life that is pleasing to God. [146]

 

Now with that said, there are two different ways that we might interpret 1 Peter 4:1. As usual when we have such situations of differing interpretations of the Bible, both can instruct us in God’s truth and therefore be considered valid interpretations. However, there is most often one interpretation that applies more than the other because of what we learn from the preceding or following verses. We must never interpret a Bible verse based only on the verse itself. We need to go back to the beginning of the chapter to determine how the specific verse is used in reference to the complete idea being expressed in that chapter.

 

Let us consider the first interpretation. It is certainly true that in order to endure suffering, Christians need to arm themselves with the same courage Christ had. They are to minister to one another with the same servant’s attitude that Christ showed  them. They are to commit themselves to faithfully serving God just as Christ did. They are to live in the present within the will of God with the understanding that in so doing they will live forever in Heaven in His presence.

 

One interpretation of these verses suggests that Peter is speaking in terms of the experience his people will have of suffering for the Christian faith. Those who suffer in meekness and in fear, who endure all the suffering that persecution can cause them and still not give in to sin, those are the Christ-followers that can be trusted to live a righteous life because temptation no longer has power over them. The idea here is that if a person can go through persecution and suffering and not deny the name of Christ, they come out on the other side with a character so tested and a faith so strengthened that temptation can no longer lead them into sin.

 

We like the logic here that every trial and temptation can make us stronger and better Christians. Every time we resist a temptation it becomes easier to resist the next temptation. You see Christians can easily get comfortable with sin; it can happen gradually, sometimes without even realizing it. We should hate sin just as Christ did. Sin has the power to destroy our lives both here and for eternity, if we have not accepted Christ as our Savior by the time we die.

 

Just look at what sin did to Jesus. He had to suffer because of sin as we read in 1 Peter 2:21; 3:18. Did you ever think about it that way? You and I caused Jesus to suffer because of our sin. How can we not hate what caused Jesus to suffer and die on the cross? Christ’s determination to obey God led to His suffering and death. If we arm ourselves with the same attitude Christ had, we will accept any pain we might experience as the result of our determination to obey God by denying our own evil human desires.

 

Jesus came to earth to deal with sin and to conquer it forever. He dealt with the ignorance regarding sin by teaching God’s truth and then living it for all the world to see. He dealt with sin by demonstrating His power to heal the sick. Jesus dealt with sin by offering forgiveness for it to all those who would repent and follow Him. He dealt with sin by dying on the cross and thereby striking the final deathblow to sin itself. Jesus was armed with a hatred for sin and a love for sinners.

 

Our goal in life should be to stop sinning, even though we will not be able to fully accomplish that while we are still here on earth (1 John 2:28–3:9). As we submit ourselves and place our faith and trust in God, and have the same attitude toward sin that Jesus had, we can leave the old life and begin living the new life.

 

Suffering + Christ in our lives, can = victory over sin.

 

We have no problem whatsoever with this interpretation. It is without a doubt sound biblical teaching. We can also look at 1 Peter 4:1,2 from the perspective that Peter had just been referring to baptism at the conclusion of chapter 3. And we can find no more powerful description of the meaning of baptism than is found in Romans 6. So before continuing with our discussion of the second interpretation of verse 1, let us go to Romans 6 and establish some background to better enable us to understand how this alternative explanation could possibly be the correct one. In Romans 6:6-12 NLT Paul writes:

 

6 Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.

7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.
8 And since we died with Christ,  we know we will also live with him.
9 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him.
10 When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God.
11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.

 

Paul tells us how our body of sin is destroyed. In verse 6 we see that our old self was crucified with Christ the moment we accepted Him as our Lord and Savior. That means that our old self is dead. Therefore, at the moment you believe that Jesus Christ died to pay the penalty that you should pay for your own sins, you become a new person. It could happen to anyone who has not yet been saved. All they would have to do would be to admit to Jesus that they were a sinner in need of a Savior and tell Him they believed He died to save them from their sins. That new person is then one with Christ because the Holy Spirit of Christ now lives within them. Ephesians 4:22-32 NLT tells us:

 

22 throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception.
23 Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes.
24 You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God’s likeness—righteous, holy, and true.
25 So put away all falsehood and “tell your neighbor the truth” because we belong to each other.

26 And “do not sin by letting anger gain control over you.” do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,

27 for anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil.

28 If you are a thief, stop stealing. Begin using your hands for honest work, and then give generously to others in need.
29 do not use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he is the one who has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior.

32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

 

The old self is your former way of life, your former way of living. The new self is like Jesus according to 2 Corinthians 5:14-20:

 

Whatever we do, it is because Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live.
15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them.
16 So we have stopped evaluating others by what the world thinks about them. Once I mistakenly thought of Christ that way, as though he were merely a human being. How differently I think about him now!
17 What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!
18 All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did. And God has given us the task of reconciling people to him.

 

One who accepts Christ as Savior is a new creation that is not yet perfect. A radical difference should be noticed by our friends and family as well as new people we meet. So when someone comes along claiming to be a Christian and yet they gossip, take advantage of others for their own personal gain, act as if life is all about them, are selective in who they want in their church, are accepting of beliefs that are forbidden in Scripture, such as homosexuality and abortion, these people are not showing signs of a life that has been joined with Christ. Where there is no evidence of such a change, there is very likely no salvation.

 

That is one reason Betty and I started Village Church. The truth of the Gospel should be taught somewhere in the message each week. Pastors need to have the courage to teach the truth even though it might not be popular with their congregations, even if it means they might be asked to leave.

 

Now let us take a close look at the phrase in Romans 6:6 that says “Our body of sin is done away with.” Before a person is saved their body is totally controlled by the sinful nature. Even if an unsaved person does good things, and many of them do, it is for the purpose of bringing glory and recognition to themselves. When a saved person does good, they give all the glory and credit to God. So because of our union in Christ’s death, the body of the believer is no longer under the control of sin. It is no longer to be controlled and dominated by sin according to 1 Corinthians 6:19,20:

 

do not you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,
20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

 

Your body is no longer under the power of sin, so you do not have to give in to the temptation when it rears its ugly head. The sin of the flesh which is part of every human being is no longer the controlling source of power in the believeer. A saved person will have the greater power of the Holy Spirit to overcome any temptation to sin. You can successfully resist it by asking the Holy Spirit who now lives in you for help. The dominant rule of sin over the body is broken. Now let us look at Romans 6:16:

 

16 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.  (NLT)

 

When you ask Christ into your life, you get a new king and master. Jesus replaces Satan and this allows you to choose righteousness instead of self-will. In your own strength this is impossible but by yielding to the Holy Spirit, that is, letting the Holy Spirit control you rather than your own thoughts and desires, you can then choose to obey God. Galatians 5:24 does a good job of summarizing all of this:

 

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.    (NLT)

 

The sinful nature has been killed in terms of its dominance, not necessarily in terms of its presence. A man by the name of Martin Jones came up with the following illustration to which we have added our own personal touch.

 

There were two fields with a little road running down the middle of them and separating them. All of his life, before he knew Christ, this man named Ron lived in the field on the south side of the road. This field was ruled by Satan, and Ron served this master faithfully. He allowed Satan to dominate him, dictate to him, and tell him what to do. His humanness, his flesh, and his body were therefore used for sin.

 

And then one day, by the grace of God, someone called to him from the field on the north side of the road, the field that was under the dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ, and therefore controlled by righteousness and holiness which reflected the nature of the field’s Ruler. Again, by the grace of God, Ron responded to the call and crossed over to the other field with Satan hanging on to his coattails trying to pull him back. But when he entered the new field, Satan had to reluctantly let go as Ron was transformed, no longer wanting to serve Satan but Christ.

 

But Satan never gives up easily and at various times Ron would hear Satan calling to him from across the road, telling him how much pleasure he would have if he only would come back to Satan’s field. And although Ron was no longer under Satan’s dominion, Satan in his own clever and devious way made Ron think that maybe it would be fun to just visit Satan’s field occasionally for a good time. But whenever he did that, he realized immediately the terrible mistake he had made and rushed back to the field of His Lord and Savior, Jesus. After a while, although he was still tempted to listen to Satan’s call, Ron learned that Satan did not care a lick about him, and all that he wanted to do was snatch people away from Christ so that he could destroy them and weaken the Kingdom of God. So when Ron was tempted again by Satan’s call, He called out to his Lord Jesus and Jesus told him just how to resist the temptation.

 

Although sin no longer dominates us as Christians, we can fall victim to that very thing from which we have been delivered. Then as Paul moves on to Romans 6:8-10 NLT, we find that:

 

8 Since we died with Christ, we know we will also share his new life.
9 We are sure of this because Christ rose from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him.
10 He died once to defeat sin, and now he lives for the glory of God.

 

In verse 8 we see that we have died with Christ and now have risen in new life with Christ. We participate in the same holy life that Jesus lives, now and forever. Then in verse 9, we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will never die again. Death has no more control over Him. Consequently it has no more control over those of us who have been joined to Christ by faith. We know this because verse 9 says that Christ is never going to die again. God raised Jesus from the dead and in so doing demonstrated that the power of sin and death had been defeated. When Christ defeated death He conquered sin and this was a final victory, to which nothing else needed to be added. [147] Almost takes your breath away, does it not?

 

And then verse 10 confirms that Christ died once and that death has no more power. Because Jesus died once and came out of the grave breaking the power of sin, those who believe in Him have also broken the power of sin permanently. It will never lay claim on them again. It will never be their master.

 

Verse 10 tells us that Jesus died to sin. Romans 6:2 tells us that believers died to sin. What is the connection? Whatever it means for Jesus it means for us. It means that Jesus died as the penalty for sin. Romans 6:23 says that “The wages of sin is death.” [148]

 

Therefore death, especially spiritual death, is the penalty for being a sinner. When Jesus died on the cross, He died to sin in terms of paying the penalty for sin. Jesus paid the penalty and met the demand of sin. God said in Genesis 2:17: “You sin, you die.” Jesus said, “I’ll take the penalty of death for everybody”(2 Corinthians 1:9-10). So He paid the penalty of sin for everyone ever born.

 

When we accepted Christ as Savior we died in Christ, and our penalty was paid also. That is why a believer does not have to go to Hell to pay for their sins. The wages, which means what you deserve to get for your sin, is your death, but when you believed in Jesus as your Savior, you died in Jesus who had paid that penalty. Consequently the penalty for your sin was paid by Him and that is why sin has no further claim on you. So when it says in Romans 6:2 that we died to sin and in verse 10 that Jesus died to sin, we come together. Both of us can die to sin together in the sense of paying the penalty for sin. There is only one way for you to deal with your sin; you must die. And you either die in Hell forever paying for them, or you die in Jesus Christ where they are paid for instantly and you then qualify to spend forever in Heaven. The choice again is yours.

 

Now there is one more thing we have to cover here. Jesus not only died to the penalty of sin, but He died to the power of sin. You might say, “Wait a minute, was Jesus under the power of sin?” Absolutely. He bore our sins in His own body. In fact in 2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT, we read:

 

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

 

Jesus was temporarily under the power of sin in a manner beyond our ability to understand. Imagine Jesus on the cross with all the weight of all the sin of all the people who ever lived throughout history heaped upon Him. He was under the power of sin and it killed Him. We need to clearly understand that Jesus was God and without sin. He did not have to die. He could have hung there on the cross for as long as He wanted to, and the Romans could have pierced His body with spears all day long and He would not have died. The reason that Jesus died was that He was willing to take all the sin of all time upon Himself and chose to pay for all of that sin with His death. You see, He still had power, but it was His decision to die for our sin that caused His death. [149] In effect, Jesus volunteered for the most dangerous of all missions in all of history, saying to God: “Yes Lord, I know I am the only One who can be the perfect sacrifice for sin; put it all on Me.” And when that happened, Jesus died. He would not have died without our sin being placed on Him because He was sinless.

 

By dying He bore the penalty for sin. By being raised from the dead, He broke the power of sin, and if you are a believer, you and I came out of that grave with Him and we are no longer under the power of sin either. We became a new person.

 

So let us take a look at this new person and what they can become. Paul describes this growth  process, which is called sanctification, beginning in Romans 6:11 NLT:

 

So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus.

 

Having risen from the dead and being dead to sin, the believer is now ready to move on. Paul is telling us that he has a desire to do what is right, a desire to see victory in his life, and a desire to do those things that please God. Here is a man who is struggling with sin, but who really wants to stop doing those things that make him miserable. Do we have those same desires? How can we achieve this goal? How does someone stop doing those things that have no business being in the life of a believer?

 

We need to understand the word “knowledge.” It is basic to the principle of the Word of God that people first have to know what is true before they can put it into practice. The book of Hosea tells us that the people were destroyed because of a lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). Proverbs 1:7 NAS says:

 

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

 

In other words God wants us to know Him. He says that is far more important than trying to show Him, or anyone else, how good we are. In this context the word “know” means to acquire information through your mind and pass it down to your heart so that you can make it happen. [150] We get that knowledge in the Bible.

 

We come to know that God is in control as we experience His work in our lives; saving, guiding, opening and closing doors, arranging circumstances to help us become what He wants us to be. We could preach a whole series of sermons on knowing God, and maybe we will someday.

 

Suffice it to say that what Hosea is talking about here is a long way from mere head knowledge; it is heart knowledge gained through the experience of God’s working in our lives. Isaiah writes in Isaiah 1:2,3, NLT:

 

Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth! This is what the Lord says: “The children I raised and cared for have turned against me.
3 Even the animals—the donkey and the ox—know their owner and appreciate his care, but not my people . . . No matter what I do for them, they still do not understand.” [151]

They did not know so they could not function properly. You will never be able to please God without knowing what He wants you to do. Paul writes in Philippians 4:6-8. NLT:

 

6 do not worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
7 If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing ... Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Then in Colossians 3:5-10 Paul writes:

 

5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. do not be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry.

6 God’s terrible anger will come upon those who do such things.
7 You used to do them when your life was still part of this world.
8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.
9 do not lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old evil nature and all its wicked deeds.
10 In its place you have clothed yourselves with a brand-new nature that is continually being renewed as you learn more and more about Christ, who created this new nature within you.

 

In verse 5, where it refers to idolatry, you may blow that off thinking idolatry is something that happens in Africa or among primitive peoples. But no, folks, it happens to those of us in the good old USA too. Paul specifically here equates idolatry with being greedy for the good things of life. Idolatry also happens any time we put ourselves above God. So when we want to be totally in charge of our life, that is idolatry because God wants to be in control of our life. God is to be Number One.

 

You cannot do what you do not know, so we begin by knowing. How many times do you hear someone say something like: “I do not believe God would do that,” or “I do not believe Jesus was really God,” or “The Bible is nothing more than a collection of mythological stories,” or “God wouldn’t send a good person to Hell. I do a lot of good things and have lived a good life for the most part, I’m sure I’ll be OK.” Where do people get such confidence? People who say these things know very little if anything at all about the Bible. They do not really know God. They do not have first-hand experience with the character of God. They are basing all their knowledge on assumption, on what they want to believe, or what a neighbor or co-worker has suggested rather than on the facts. And if they do not change their attitude, what a shock awaits them at death. We must read and know the Bible before we can reach any conclusions, either for or against what it claims is the truth. Most people are just plain ignorant concerning the most important decision they will ever make. What a tragedy!

 

In order to function properly we need to know that the power of sin has been broken. We need to know that we do not have to fall victim to the power of sin in our lives. We need to know that sin cannot force us to do that which is against what we know God would want us to do. And how do we know that? By receiving Christ as our Savior and experiencing Him setting us free from the power of sin. Now once you know that, you are on your way to victory because it puts confidence in your heart. The doubt is gone and the fear is gone. You know you are dealing with a defeated enemy that no longer has control of you. All of this begins with knowing  God‘s Word in the Bible, and with knowing God Himself. The more you know about the Bible, the easier it will be to accept the things the Bible teaches.

 

Now what does it mean when you admit that you are really dead to sin and alive to God through Jesus Christ? First it means that when we are tempted we can have confidence in the power of the Holy Spirit who comes to live within us when we give our life to Christ. He will keep us from sinning if we just ask Him for help (1 Corinthians 10:13).

 

What more could anyone ask? For a believer, there will never be a temptation or trial that they cannot in the power of God have victory over.

 

Now we  ask you to pay attention with all your heart to what we are telling you.

 

When you are free from the fear and temptation; when you are free from fearing an ultimate disaster because of your failures and your sins; and when you are free from fearing death, then you can fully enjoy the grace and blessings of Jesus in your walk with Him. That is what happens when you know and believe these things to be true.

 

John Stott has said that:

 

“The major secret of holy living is in the mind. It is in knowing that our former self was crucified with Christ, in knowing that baptism into Christ is baptism into His death and resurrection, and in considering that through Christ we are dead to sin and alive to God. We are to recall, to ponder, to grasp, to register these truths until they are so integral to our mindset that a return to the old life is unthinkable.” [152]

 

When Christ died, was His payment for sin sufficient? Absolutely! Therefore, when we died in Him that payment was sufficient for us. Sin can no longer make any claim on us. T

That is why we do not fear that God will cast us out even if we do sin. The penalty was perfectly paid by Jesus and the power of sin over us was broken.

 

Paul goes on to say in Romans 6:12 NLT:

 

(Therefore) [153] do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to its lustful desires.

Verse 12 begins with the word, “therefore.” Whenever we see a “therefore” at the beginning of a sentence, we need to look back at what was just said. Verse 11 told us, “You must consider yourselves dead to sin.” So “therefore” “do not let sin control the way you live.” To make this practical in your day-to-day life, we could suggest that you ask God for help whenever you feel you want to do something you should not. Then get in touch with people who can help you not to do it. Ask a trusted friend or family member to pray for and with you. Talk with someone you trust either face-to-face or on the phone, maybe someone you know has struggled with the same issue, and explain what your dilemma and/or temptation is. Accept the love and support that individual probably wants to give you.

 

You know what temptation is like. It is that little voice inside that calls out:

 

“I see it, I want it.”	“It will feel good.”
“I deserve it.”	“It won’t hurt anybody.”
“No one will ever know.”	“Everybody else is doing it, why shouldn’t II?”
“Just wait, I’ll get even.”	“Just a little won‘t hurt.”

 

 

 

You know exactly what we are talking about If you pamper the body, entertain the body, and continually expose the body to temptation, you are going to have a problem because it is the body and all its sensory connections and feelings that are exposed to the world and can become channels through which temptations can draw you into sin, and then sin can have its way with you because you let it happen. That is exactly what Paul is telling us in verse 12, that sin would like to have control over us. But you do not have to allow it to have control over you. You have the power to choose. Your will to want to resist is a key ingredient here. If you want to resist you have the power to ask God to give you the strength to resist.

Through our faith in Christ as our Savior, we are identified with Him in His suffering and death, and therefore, because of that, we too can have victory over sin. We are being identified with the same suffering and death that Christ experienced. So in conclusion, Romans 6 is telling us that the experience of baptism is like being buried with Christ in death and raised with Him from death to newness of life. We believe this is probably what Peter is saying in 1 Peter 4:1,2. Let us look at it once again:

 

1Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh,arm yourselves also with the same intention (for whoever has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin),

2 so as to live for the rest of your earthly lifeno longer by human desires but by the will of God. (NRSV)

 

Paul spoke of baptism at the end of chapter 3. We must remember that this is the baptism of a person who is voluntarily coming from a condition of unbelief to one of belief. In that act of baptism they are identified with Christ. They, therefore, share in Christ’s suffering and even His death, and He shares His risen life and power, which gives us victory over sin. The rule of sensual pleasure is gone and the rule of Christ is begun. One day the judgment of God will come against the sin of the world and the pleasures of Heaven will compensate us far more than any of those self-indulgent pleasures we thought we could enjoy on earth. We died with Christ thereby suffering the same as He suffered. Because we were then part of Him, we rose with Him from the grave and because He lives in us and we are part of Him, we now possess the ability to stop sinning.

 

We believe both explanations we have looked at are powerful lessons we can derive from these two verses in 1 Peter 4:1,2. Let us now go and do what we now know we have the power to do.

 

 

LOVE AND SERVE ONE ANOTHER

1 PETER 4:3-11

 

We would like to begin this section by repeating the closing verses of 1 Peter 3 that we studied earlier. We would like to then add to that the first two verses from 1 Peter 4 that we just looked at. This should give us a solid background to go forward in 1 Peter 4. Let us go back and read 1 Peter 3:19-22 NLT and then see if we can expand on these verses as we move forward into chapter 4.

 

19 So he (Jesus) [154] went and preached to the spirits in prison—
20 those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood.
21 And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
22 Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority.

 

So, what does it mean for a believer, like Noah, to be kept safe through the waters of judgment and find themselves living in a completely new situation? It means we no longer desire to live the rest of our earthly lives satisfying only the things we want for ourselves. We no longer want to give in to the things that we know are wrong. It means that we now live to satisfy the will of God. We will see this here in verses 1-6 of 1 Peter 4. Because the end may come at any time, which includes our death, verses 7-11 instruct us that we are to commit ourselves to loving and serving one another, following the example of God’s grace toward us. Now let us recall how Peter began this chapter in verses 1 and 2.

1 Peter 4:1,2 NLT:

1 So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin.

2 You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.

 

Peter had a great deal to say about time. [155] Certainly the awareness of his own impending martyrdom had something to do with this emphasis. [156] If a person really believes in eternity they should want to make the best use of their time. If we are convinced that Jesus is coming, it should be our desire to prepare ourselves to meet Him and be able to give a favorable account for our lives. [157] Whether Jesus comes first, or death comes first, we want to make the rest of the time count for eternity, because our rewards in eternity will be based on how we live here. Peter described four attitudes that a Christian can develop in his/her lifetime if he/she desires to make their life all that God wants it to be. [158]

 

Christians who have put into practice those things Christ taught have regarded themselves dead to sin. They live the rest of their lives not for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. [159]

 

If we do the will of God, we will be spending the time we have left in doing those things which please and satisfy God and thus finding happiness in life as well. But if we give in to the world around us, we will waste the rest of the time we have left and regret it when we stand before Jesus. The will of God is not a burden that He places on us. Rather it is the divine pleasure and provision that makes all our burdens light. The will of God comes from the heart of God (Psalm33:11) and therefore is an expression of the love of God. We may not always understand what He is doing, but we know that He is doing what is best for us. [160]

 

We also learned from verse 2 of 1 Peter that those who died with Christ through faith, according to 1 Peter 2:24, are genuinely prepared to suffer with him in any number of  ways, including death.

1 Peter 4:3 NLT:

3 You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.

 

Christians were encouraged to live for the present in God’s will because old habits were a thing of the past. In blunt language Peter emphasized that there must be a definite break from what unbelievers choose to do. Here he lists immorality and lust, feasting and drunkenness, wild parties, and the worship of idols. But that is not the end of it. If you turn to Galatians 5:19-21, you will find a lot more:

 

19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,
21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

 

There are times when looking back at your past life is not a good thing to do because Satan could be using those memories to discourage you. But Jesus urged Paul to remember that he had been a persecutor of believers (1 Timothy 1:12ff), and this encouraged him to do even more for Christ.

 

Lost sinners imitate each other as they conform to the fashions of this world as Paul tells us in Romans 12:2 NLT:

 

2 Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

1 Peter 4:4 NLT:

4 Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you.

 

Christians are to live in the present for the will of God because their old friends, and I use that word loosely, are now their self-appointed critics. Godless men and women are genuinely surprised by the changed lives of those who once were like them. A changed life often generates ridicule from those who reject the teachings of Christ. [161]

 

Unsaved people do not understand the radical change that their friends experience when they trust Christ and become children of God. They do not think it strange when people wreck their bodies, destroy their homes, and ruin their lives by running from one sin to another. But let a drunkard become sober, or an immoral person become moral, and their friends and family think they have lost their mind.

 

We must be patient with these unbelievers even though we do not agree with their lifestyles or participate in their sins. After all, unsaved people are blind to spiritual truth (2 Corinthians 4:3, 4) and dead to spiritual enjoyment (Ephesians 2:1). In fact, although they would not admit it, our contact with unbelievers is important to them because we are the ones who carry the message of the truth that they need. When unsaved friends attack us, this is our opportunity to tell them about the truth of Jesus. You may remember what Peter said earlier in 1 Peter 3:15 ESV:

 

 In your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.

1 Peter 4:5 NLT:

5 But remember that they will have to face God, who will judge everyone, both the living and the dead.

 

Those who have spent their lives indulging themselves in personal pleasures and in idolatry will someday have to stand before God and be judged for their behavior. Jesus Himself confirmed this any number of times. In Matthew 12:36 He says: “I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.”

Peter warned that these people must one day face the One “who will judge everyone.” No one will escape this final judgment of the words and works of their earthly life, when Christ will judge both the living and the dead according to Acts 10:42 NLT: “And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead.” It is the unbeliever, not the believer, who will have to defend themselves at their final trial. The believer will one day stand before God to account for his/her life, but that will be to receive their rewards. [162] This is of course because of our faith in Jesus as Savior which erases all of our sins in the sight of God. God looks on the believer after death as one who has never sinned. Revelation 11:18 tells us:

 

18 The nations were filled with wrath, but now the time of your wrath has come. It is time to judge the dead and reward your servants the prophets, as well as your holy people, and all who fear your name, from the least to the greatest. It is time to destroy all who have caused destruction on the earth.”

 

The unsaved may judge us, but one day, God will judge them. Instead of arguing with them, we should pray for them, knowing that the final judgment is with God. This was the attitude that Jesus took, as Peter described for us in 1 Peter 2:23: “He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.” And also the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 2:24–26 NLT:

 

24 A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.

25 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.

26 Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.

1 Peter 4:6 NLT:

6 That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead—so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit.

 

In verse 6 Peter, in contrast with verse 5, encouraged his readers with the fact that rather than facing judgment for their sins, those who had heard and believed the gospel of Jesus Christ faced an altogether different future. The penalty for their sin has been paid by Christ on the cross. The last earthly encounter with sin is physical death. Believers still die physically, but for Christians physical death does not lead to judgment but to eternal life. “They now live forever with God in the Spirit.” Those armed with a Christ-like attitude will live forever in God’s presence. [163]

 

Peter was reminding his readers of the Christians who had been martyred for their faith. They had been falsely judged by men, but now, in the presence of God, they received their true judgment. “Those who are now dead” means those who are now dead at the time Peter was writing this letter. The Gospel is preached only to the living because there is no opportunity for salvation after death. Hebrews 9:27 tells us: “And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment.”

 

Peter has described the unbeliever’s choice as a drive to satisfy their human desires. He now describes the lifestyle that unbelievers can make no sense of, but which reflects the will of God for His people. This includes: self-control, prayer, mutual love, hospitality, using spiritual gifts for the benefit of others, serving wholeheartedly and “with the strength God provides,” seeking in all things to win praise for God through Jesus. Not focusing on oneself makes no sense to selfish people. But to those of us who have been taught to love by Christ, it is the only way to live. [164]

 

1 Peter 4:7 NLT:

7 The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.

 

In many Jewish scriptures (including Daniel12:1–2), the end of the age would be preceded by a period of great suffering.

 

Daniel 12:1-2 NRSV:

1 “At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book.

2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

 

Can you imagine the horror of living forever with a constant sense of shame and contempt? That alone would make Hell unbearable.

 

“The end of the world is coming soon” (ēngiken) is the same form of the verb used in James 5:8 to refer to the Second Coming of Christ. After mentioning Christians who had died in 1 Peter 4:6, Peter then referred to the imminent return of Christ for His Church. The shortness of the time remaining is motivation to live for and serve Jesus Christ (verse 2). As a result, Christians are to be clear-minded (Mark 5:15) and self-controlled (1 Peter 1:13; 5:8) so that they are able to pray (Ephesians 6:18). Prayer, which is a high priority during times of persecution, is to be clear, reasonable, earnest communication with God. [165]

 

Christians in the early church expected Jesus to return in their lifetime. [166] No matter what interpretation we give to the prophetic Scriptures, we must all live in expectancy. The important thing is that we shall see the Lord one day and stand before Him. How we live and serve today will determine how we are judged and rewarded on that day.

 

The phrase “be earnest” means to be sober-minded, keep your mind steady and clear. Perhaps a modern equivalent of the term would be “keep cool.” This was a warning against wild thinking about prophecy that could lead to an unbalanced life and ministry. Often we hear of sincere people who allow themselves to go outside the guidelines of Scripture when interpreting prophecy. There are people who set dates for Christ’s return, contrary to Christ’s warning in Matthew 25:13, which says: “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.” And Acts 1:6–8 NLT tells us:

 

6 So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”
7 He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know.
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

 

The opposite of “being earnest” or sober-minded is “frenzy or madness.” It is the Greek word mania, which has come into our English vocabulary by way of psychology. If we are sober-minded, we will be intellectually sound and not inclined to go off in all different directions because of some “new” interpretation of the Scriptures. We will also face things realistically and be free from denial which is a state of not being willing to recognize the truth. The sober-minded believer will have a purpose filled life and not be drifting. He/she will exercise restraint and not be impulsive. They will exercise “sound judgment” not only in interpreting Scripture, but also concerning the practical affairs of life.

 

Ten times in his Pastoral Epistles, Paul challenged people to “be sober-minded.” It is one of the qualifications for pastors (1 Timothy 3:2) and for the members of the church (Titus 2:1–6). In a world that is susceptible to all kinds of wild and crazy thinking, the Church must be sober-minded.

 

There is a practical application to the prophetic Scriptures. Peter’s emphasis on hope and the glory of God ought to encourage us to be faithful today in whatever work God has given us to do. We should try to practice what Luke emphasizes in Luke 12:29–48 NLT:

 

29 “And do not be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. do not worry about such things.
30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs.

31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.

32 “So do not be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.

33 “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it.
34 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
35 “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning,
36 as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks.
37 The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat!
38 He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.
39 “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into.
40 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”
41 Peter asked, “Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?”
42 And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them.
43 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward.
44 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns.
45 But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk?
46 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful.

47 “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but is not prepared and Does not carry out those instructions, will be severely punished.

48 But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.

 

If you want to make the best use of the rest of the time you have here on earth, live in the light of the return of Jesus Christ for we shall one day stand before Him. Romans 14:10–13 NLT:

 

10 So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
11 For the Scriptures say, “ ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.’ ”
12 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.
13 So let us stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.

 

 2 Corinthians 5:1–11; 14-21 NLT:

1 For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.
2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing.
3 For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies.
4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it is not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life.
5 God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.
6 So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord.
7 For we live by believing and not by seeing.
8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.
9 So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him.

10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

11 Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too.
14 Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.
15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.
16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.
19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.
20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

 

So 1 Peter 4:7 is simply telling us that if we are sober-minded, “we will be earnest in our prayers.” If our prayer life is confused, it is because our mind is confused. Dr. Kenneth Wuest, in his translation, shows the important relationship between the two: “Be calm and collected in spirit with a view to giving yourself to prayer.” The word “watch” carries with it the idea of alertness and self-control. It is the opposite of being drunk or asleep (1 Thessalonians 5:6–8). This command had special meaning to Peter, because he went to sleep when he should have been “watching unto prayer” (Mark 14:37–40).

 

You find the phrase “watch and pray” often in the Authorized Version of the New Testament. [167] It simply means to “be alert in our praying, to be controlled.” There is no place in the Christian life for lazy, listless routine praying. We must have an alert attitude and be on guard.

 

An expectant attitude toward Christ’s return involves a serious, balanced mind and an alert prayer life. The test of our commitment to the doctrine of Christ’s return is not our ability to draw charts or discern signs, but our thinking and praying. If our thinking and praying are right, our living should be right. [168]

 

1 Peter 4:8,9 NLT:

8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.
9 Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.

 

Love covers sins not in the sense of winning forgiveness for them, but in that our love for others keeps us from either broadcasting other’s faults, or being so angry with others that we refuse to accept or forgive them. [169] Proverbs 10:12 seems to prohibit gossiping about one another’s sins or slandering one another (James 5:20). The implication here may be that love overlooks one another’s faults, although some scholars have suggested that it means that those who love will themselves find grace in the day of judgment (1 Peter 4:5–6).

 

Hospitality in those days involved receiving others, especially taking in travelers of the same faith who needed a place to stay. Lodging and provisions were to be provided generously, not grudgingly. [170] A Christian’s unselfish love and concern for others should be demonstrated to the point of sacrificially giving for the welfare of others.

 

1 Peter 4 :10 NLT:

10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

 

Believers should be faithful in using their spiritual gifts. Each gift (charisma) is to be used to serve [171] or minister to others. The “gift” stems from God’s grace. His grace is made evident in His church as believers exercise their spiritual gifts in service to each other.

1 Peter 4:11 NLT:

11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

 

Like Paul in Romans 12:4–8, Peter emphasized the diversity of gifts in the church and the need for all of them until the end when Jesus returns. If we really look for the return of Christ, then we shall think of others and properly relate to them. Love for fellow believers is important. Love is the badge of a believer in this world (John 13:34–35). Especially in times of testing and persecution. Christians need to love one another and be united in their hearts.

 

This love should be “fervent,” which is the word used in the NAS translation in verse 8. This is the same kind of effort an athlete demonstrates in straining to reach the goal. It speaks of eagerness and intensity. Christian love is something we have to work at, just the way an athlete works on his skills. It is not a matter of emotional feeling, though that is included, but of dedicated will. Christian love means that we treat others the way God treats us, obeying His commandments in the Word. It is even possible to love people that we do not like.

 

Christian love is also forgiving and that kind of love covers sin. Where there is hatred, there is malice; and malice causes a person to want to tear down the reputation of their enemy. This leads to gossip and slander. [172]

 

Our Christian love should not only be fervent and forgiving, but it should also be practical. We should share our homes with others in generous hospitality, and we should use our spiritual gifts in ministry to one another. In New Testament times hospitality was an important thing, because there were few inns and poor Christians could not afford to stay at them anyway. Persecuted saints in particular would need places to stay where they could be helped and encouraged.

 

Hospitality is a virtue that is commanded and commended throughout the Scriptures. Moses included it in the Law. [173] Jesus enjoyed hospitality when He was on earth, and so did the Apostles in their ministry. [174] Human hospitality is a reflection of God’s hospitality to us (Luke 14:16ff). Christian leaders in particular should be “given to hospitality” [175] .

 

Abraham was hospitable to three strangers, and discovered that he had entertained the Lord and two angels. [176] We help to promote the truth when we open our homes to God’s servants (3 John 5–8).

 

Finally, Christian love must result in service. Each Christian has at least one spiritual gift that he must use to the glory of God and the building up of the church. [177] We are stewards. God has entrusted these gifts to us that we might use them for the good of His Church. He even gives us the spiritual ability to develop our gifts and be faithful servants of the Church. There are speaking gifts and there are serving gifts, and both are important to the Church. Not everybody is a teacher or preacher, though all can be witnesses for Christ. There are those “behind-the-scenes” ministries that help to make the public ministries possible.

 

How long do you have left on this earth to serve God? Only God knows that. Whatever time is left, do not waste it. Invest it by doing the will of God.

 

 

SUFFERING FOR GOD’S GLORY

1 Peter 4:12-19

When you hear the word “suffering,” what comes to mind? Certainly nothing pleasant, and certainly nothing you would deliberately look for. People down through the ages have asked the question, “Why do we suffer?” And philosophers and theologians alike have given their thoughtful answers, usually agreeing in some way or another that there is benefit to be found in suffering. Tim Hansel has written the following observation:

 

“Most of the Psalms were born in difficulty. Most of the Epistles were written in prisons. Most of the greatest thoughts of the greatest thinkers of all time had to pass through the fire. Bunyan wrote Pilgrim's Progress from jail. Florence Nightingale, too ill to move from her bed, reorganized the hospitals of England. Semiparalyzed and under the constant menace of apoplexy, Pasteur was tireless in his attack on disease. During the greater part of his life, American historian Francis Parkman suffered so acutely that he could not work for more than five minutes at a time. His eyesight was so wretched that he could scrawl only a few gigantic words on a manuscript, yet he contrived to write twenty magnificent volumes of history. Sometimes it seems that when God is about to make preeminent use of a man, he puts him through the fire.” [178] [Emphasis added.]

 

If we look at 1 Peter we find that, anticipating hardships the believers in Asia Minor were about to undergo, Peter encouraged his readers to endure suffering with Christ-like faith so that they might be further identified with Christ, receive a blessing, and trust God completely. [179]

 

Today we will focus in on 1 Peter 4:12-19:

 

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;
13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.
14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;
16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.
17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
18 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner?
19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right. (NAS)

The emphasis of this passage was to explain the judgment of God. The Old Testament Scripture quoted here in verse 18 is from Proverbs 11:31. Verse 18 says: “If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?” Some people thought that judgment, including suffering and trials, could only mean punishment for sin even though Christ had taught otherwise (John 9:1-3). To them, the “fiery trials” of persecution in verse 12 seemed strange and out of keeping with God’s salvation. Other people understood that judgment can be both punishment for unbelievers and purifying, or cleansing for believers. This perspective on judgment enables believers to submit with a sense of peace to God’s ways of judgment, starting with the Church first and then the world (1 Peter 5:10). Peter wanted his readers to understand that there was judgment for the family of God that followed the pattern of Christ’s own sufferings. In that light, continued rejoicing is the proper response to suffering as a Christian as we see in verse 13. In verse 17 Peter referred to Ezekiel 9:4–6. Persecution is something that God allows in order to purge believers of their disobedience while serving as a warning of judgment on the ungodly. The implication of the use of Proverbs 11:31 is that the ungodly face terrifying final judgment. Those who suffer according to God’s will must place their confidence in God who is faithful and can be counted on to do what is right. [180]

 

Now after that overview let us walk through this section verse by verse.

 

1 Peter 4:12 NLT:

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you.

 

We should not be surprised that living according to God’s will involves suffering (verse 12). In fact we should expect to participate in and rejoice in the same kind of suffering that Jesus experienced. There is no shame in suffering as a Christian. When we suffer, we are simply to continue to commit our lives to God, and keep on doing good as verses 13–19 tell us to do. [181]

 

After all, suffering is where the rubber meets the road as far as seeing the difference between believers and nonbelievers. It is very easy to smile and be loving and patient when everything is going well. But how does a person react when things start going wrong? When illness hits, bills pile up, the car breaks down, and we are wrongly accused, do we maintain a patient, joyful attitude of trusting God? Or do we get grumpy, irritable, and worried? Do we turn everything over to God in anticipation of how He will work it out, or do we start using human means alone to solve our problems? Non- believers do not turn to God and rarely can remain joyful when everything goes wrong, so they are usually perplexed and amazed when they see how Christians can remain confident and patient as they go through troubles.

 

Persecution is part of the Christian life. Throughout history the people of God have suffered at the hands of the unbelieving world. Christians are different from unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14–18). They have different values, different goals, and different behaviors. This different kind of life produces a different kind of lifestyle. Much of what goes on in the world depends on lies, pride, pleasure, and the desire to get more. We have heard this referred to as the disease of Moropia. The main symptom of this disease is the idea that if some is good, more is better. A dedicated Christian builds his/her life on truth, humility, holiness, and the desire to glorify God.

 

God declared war on Satan after the Fall of man (Genesis 3:15), and Satan has been attacking God by attacking God’s people ever since. Christians are “strangers and pilgrims” in an alien world where Satan is the god and prince. [182] Whatever glorifies God will anger the enemy, and he will attack. For believers, persecution is not an unusual occurrence. The absence of opposition by Satan is what would be considered unusual. If you are a Christian and are not experiencing attacks by Satan, or trials of some sort, maybe you need to examine yourself as to whether you are fully committed to Christ or whether you are still trying to keep one foot in the world.

 

Jesus explained to His disciples that they should expect opposition and persecution from the world. [183] But He also gave them an encouraging promise: “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world"  (John 16:33 NAS). It was through His death on the cross, plus His resurrection, that He overcame sin and the world. [184]

 

The image of “fire” is often applied to testing or persecution even in modern conversation. “He is really going through the fire,” is a typical statement to describe someone experiencing personal difficulties. In the Old Testament, fire was a symbol of the holiness of God and the presence of God. The fire on the altar consumed the sacrifice (Hebrews 12:28–29). But Peter saw in the image of fire a purifying process rather than a divine judgment. [185]

 

Peter warned his readers about the coming of a more intense period of persecution. He again stressed mental readiness: “do not be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through.” The NAS translates this last phrase “the fiery ordeal among you.” Literally it could be translated “the among you burning.” This verse could be applied to the suffering Christians experienced under the Roman emperor, Nero. Christians were blamed for the burning of Rome. Some were actually covered with pitch and used as living torches to light the imperial gardens at night. Peter may have believed that the provincial officials were likely to follow their emperor’s example and burn Christians at the stake in Asia Minor. Such persecution should not take the Christians by surprise as verse 12 states: “as if something strange were happening to you.” [186]

 

It is important to note that not all of the difficulties of life are necessarily fiery trials. There are some difficulties that are simply a part of human life and almost everybody experiences them. Unfortunately, there are some difficulties that we bring on ourselves because of disobedience and sin. Paul touched on this in Galatians 6:7,8. However, the fiery trial Peter mentioned in 1 Peter 4:12 comes because we are faithful to God and stand up for that which is right. It is because we bear the name of Christ that the lost world attacks us. Christ told His disciples that people would persecute them, as they had Him, because their persecutors did not know God (John 15:20–21).

 

Note, too, the phrase in verse 12, “for your testing.” As we saw in chapter one, God allows trials and persecution to come into our lives to test us for various reasons, often to strengthen and purify our faith. When persecution comes along it is also often a test of our commitment. Are we going to continue to take a stand for our Lord in spite of being mistreated and slandered? Or will we slink off and turn our backs on our faith?

 

Persecution and trials do not just “happen,” in the sense of being accidents. They are a part of God’s plan, and He is in control. They are a part of Romans 8:28 and will work out for good if we let God have His way. [187]

 

1 Peter 4:13 NLT:

13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

 

Literally, Peter wrote, “Be constantly rejoicing!” In fact, he mentioned joy in one form or another four times in verses 13 and 14.  The world cannot understand how difficult circumstances can produce constant joy, because the world has never experienced the grace of God (2 Corinthians 8:1–5). Peter named several privileges that we share that encourage us to rejoice in the midst of a fiery trial.

 

Our suffering because of persecution means fellowship with Christ. It is an honor and a privilege to suffer with Christ and be treated by the world the way it treated Him. “The fellowship of His sufferings” is a gift from God according to Philippians 1:29; 3:10. Not every believer grows to the point where God can trust him or her with this kind of experience, so we ought to rejoice when the privilege is given to us just as the apostles did in Acts 5:41: “And they [the Apostles] departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.”

 

Christ is with us in the furnace of persecution (Isaiah 41:10; 43:2). When Daniel’s three friends were cast into the fiery furnace because they would not worship Nebuchadnezzar’s image, they discovered they were not alone (Daniel 3:23–25). The Lord was with Paul in all of his trials, [188] and He promises to be with us “to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). In fact, when sinners persecute us, they are really persecuting Jesus Christ according to Acts 9:4. The trial of our faith today is the assurance of glory when Jesus returns (1 Peter 1:7–8). This was the experience of Christ (1 Peter 5:1) and it will also be our experience.

 

Mature people know that life includes some postponed pleasures. We pay a price today in order to have enjoyments in the future. The piano student may not enjoy practicing scales by the hour, but he/she looks forward to the pleasure of playing beautiful music one day. The athlete may not enjoy exercising and developing his/her skills, but they look forward to winning the game by doing their best. Christians have something even better: our very sufferings will one day be transformed into glory, and we will be “glad also with exceeding joy” (Romans 8:17; 2 Timothy 3:11). [189]

 

Suffering for Christ’s sake should cause rejoicing because through suffering Christians further identify with Christ. Sharing in the sufferings of Christ results in (a) joy with Christ; (b) fellowship with Him (Philippians 3:10); (c) being glorified with Him (Romans 8:17), and (d) reigning with Him (2 Timothy 2:12). The New Testament is clear that those who take part in the suffering of Christ also will take part in His glory, when it is revealed (1 Peter 1:7; 5:1). Peter presented this truth as a cause for future hope and present rejoicing while enduring persecution. [190]

 

Jesus suffered for doing the will of God. When we suffer for likewise doing the will of God, we share in Jesus’ suffering. In Romans 8:16,17 NLT Paul writes

 

16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.
17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

 

Then in 2 Corinthians 1:5-7, Paul again writes:

 

5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.
6 Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer.
7 We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.  (NLT)

 

And here is Paul again in Philippians 3:10 NLT:

 

10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death,

This could be considered a very high form of flattery. Just imagine that God has a purpose to accomplish His will in our suffering, just as He did in His Son’s suffering, and as a result we will be given eternal life for eternity in Heaven with Christ.

 

1 Peter 4:14 NLT:

14 So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you.

 

Suffering Christians do not have to wait for Heaven in order to experience Jesus’ glory. Through the Holy Spirit, they can have the glory now. This explains how martyrs could sing praises to God while bound in the midst of blazing fires. It also explains how persecuted Christians (and there are many in today’s world) can go to prison and to death without complaining or resisting their captors. [191]

 

If a Christian was insulted (1 Peter 3:9) because of the name of Christ, he/she should be considered blessed (3:14). Anything that we suffer for the sake of Christ is a privilege, not a penalty. The Spirit of glory and of God [192] refers to the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence within all who are identified by “the name of Christ” and thus suffer persecution (1 Peter 4:16). [193] Anything that we suffer for the sake of Christ is a privilege, not a penalty. [194] Jesus expressed this same truth in the Beatitudes.

 

Matthew 5:11–12 NLT:

11“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.

12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

 

In Matthew the source of happiness is the reward such earthly suffering will provide for us in Heaven.  Here the source of happiness for us is to realize that if our suffering is for Christ it confirms that the Holy Spirit of God lives within us providing us all of God’s power in order to withstand that suffering.

 

Polycarp was the Bishop of Smyrna about the middle of the second century. He was arrested for his faith and threatened with death if he did not recant. “Eighty and six years have I served Him,” the saintly Bishop replied, “and He never did me any injury. How can I blaspheme my King and my Saviour?” “I have respect for your age,” said the Roman officer. “Simply say, ‘Away with the atheists!’ and be set free.” By “the atheists” he meant the Christians who would not acknowledge that Caesar was “lord.” The old man pointed to the crowd of Roman pagans surrounding him, and cried, “Away with the atheists!” He was burned at the stake and in his martyrdom brought glory to the name of Jesus Christ. [195]

 

1 Peter 4:15 NLT:

15 If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs.

 

Peter stressed that suffering was not an excuse for breaking the law. Christians were not to retaliate. Back in chapter 3, verses 8 and 9, Peter said:

8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.
9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it.  (NLT)

It did not matter how they suffered, Christians were not to react in any way that would allow for them to be punished as criminals. Peter had already told them back in 1Peter 2:18,19 and 3:15-17 NLT:

 

18 You who are slaves must accept the authority of your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel.
19 For God is pleased with you when you do what you know is right and patiently endure unfair treatment.

 

15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.
16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.
17 Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!

 

We noted before that not all suffering is a “fiery trial” from the Lord. If a professed Christian breaks the law and gets into trouble, or becomes a meddler into other people’s lives, then he ought to suffer. The fact that we are Christians is not a guarantee that we escape the normal consequences of our misdeeds. We may not be guilty of murder (though rage can be the same as murder in the heart, Matthew 5:21–26), but what about stealing, or meddling? When Abraham, David, Peter, and other Bible “greats” disobeyed God, they suffered for it; so, who are we that we should escape? Let us be sure we are suffering because we are Christians and not because we are criminals or because we have disobeyed God. [196]

 

1 Peter 4:16 NLT

16 But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!

 

When others persecute and ridicule us for bearing the name “Christian” we should not put our tail between our legs and look for the nearest hiding place. We should stand tall and show them that we are proud to identify ourselves with Jesus.

 

1 Peter 4:17,18 NLT:

17 For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News?
18 And also, “If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?”

 

These verses do not suggest condemnation of the Church but the purging and purifying of the Church by a God who loves them. Just like a loving earthly father needs to discipline his children for their own good, so God must discipline the Church out of love. If God deals with His Church, those who believe and trust Him, through such suffering, what could possibly await those who do not believe and trust Him? In Proverbs 11:31 NLT, Solomon writes: “If the righteous are rewarded here on earth, what will happen to wicked sinners?”

 

In 1 Peter 1:6-7 Peter had referred to persecution and suffering as trials that refine and prove one’s faith if we react to them in a manner that is in accordance with the will of God (3:17). Now he added that God allows persecution and suffering as disciplinary judgment to purify the lives of those in the family of God. If believers need disciplinary earthly judgments, how much more will those who do not obey the gospel (2:7), the ungodly and the sinner, deserve everlasting judgment? Peter quoted the Septuagint rendering of Proverbs 11:31, “If the righteous are barely saved,” to emphasize God’s disciplinary demands on His children. The variety of occurrences in life is a part of God’s constant care, yet from a human perspective discipline is always hard. Peter is not teaching that salvation is earned through personal trials or works, but simply that those who are saved are not exempt from disciplinary judgments, which are the natural consequences of sin, while the person is still here on earth. The writer of Hebrews also supports Peter: “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons” (Hebrews 12:7). [197]

 

When a believer suffers, he/she experiences glory and knows that there will be greater glory in the future. But a sinner who causes that suffering is only filling up the measure of God’s wrath more and more (Matthew 23:29–33). Instead of being concerned only about ourselves, we need to be concerned about the lost sinners around us. Our present “fiery trial” is nothing compared with the “flaming fire” that will punish the lost when Jesus returns in judgment (2 Thessalonians 1:7–10). The idea is expressed in Proverbs 11:31: “If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!” [198]

 

Times of persecution are times of opportunity for a loving witness to those who persecute us (Mathew 5:10–12, 43–48). It was not the earthquake that brought that Philippian jailer to Christ, because that frightened him into almost committing suicide. No, it was Paul’s loving concern for him that brought the jailer to faith in Christ. As Christians, we do not seek for vengeance on those who have hurt us. Rather, we pray for them and seek to lead them to Jesus Christ. [199]

 

1 Peter 4:19 NAS:

19 Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

 

Believers could be sure that they were being called on to suffer according to God’s will (2:15; 3:17; 4:2) if, having committed no crimes, they were suffering solely because they bore Christ’s name. Peter encouraged suffering saints to endure through the exercise of Christ-like faith. Just as Christ trusted Himself to His Father who judges justly (2:23), so should believers commit themselves to Jesus and continue to do good (2:15, 20). [200] Trusting ourselves to Him completely, we are free to “keep on doing what is right.” [201]

 

While this section of the chapter is focused primarily on the suffering that comes from persecution associated with taking a stand for Christ, we can also recognize that our personal sufferings as well are because God’s will has allowed them into our lives. As the old saying goes, “The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you.” Whenever God allows something into our lives it is our place to trust Him completely. We can trust our lives, our hearts, and our souls to the one who will do only what is best for us.

 

When we are suffering in the will of God, we can commit ourselves into the care of God. Everything else that we do as Christians depends on this. The word is a banking term; it means, “to deposit for safekeeping” (2 Timothy 1:12). Of course, when you deposit your life in God’s bank, you always receive eternal dividends on your investment. This picture reminds us that we are valuable to God. He made us, redeemed us, lives in us, guards, and protects us. There was a savings and loan association advertisement in the newspaper, reaffirming the financial stability of the firm and the backing of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. In days of financial unsteadiness, such assurances are necessary to depositors. But when you deposit your life with God, you have nothing to fear; for He is able to keep you safe. [202]

 

This commitment is not a single action but an ongoing attitude. As we return good for evil and do good even though we suffer for it, we are committing ourselves to God so that He can care for us. This commitment involves every area of our lives and every minute of our lives. If we really have hope, and believe that Jesus is coming again, then we will obey His Word and start laying up treasures and glory in Heaven. Unsaved people have a present that is controlled by their past, but Christians have a present that is controlled by the future (Philippians 3:12–21). In our very serving, we are committing ourselves to God and making investments for the future.

 

Our Heavenly Father is “the Lord of heaven and earth” (Matthew 11:25). With that kind of a Father, we have no need to worry. His faithfulness will not fail.

 

Before God pours out His wrath on this evil world, a “fiery trial” will come to God’s Church, to unite and purify it, that it might be a strong witness to the lost. There is nothing for us to fear if we are suffering according to the will of God. Our faithful Father-Creator will victoriously see us through. [203] We can take heart from that no matter what may come.

 

Isaiah

John

Romans

1 Peter


© Ron Teed - Used by permission. All rights Reserved.