1 Peter 4:5-19

1 Peter 4:5-6  "They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.  For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit."  In the context of the chapter, we Christians are supposed to be living lives of holiness and love and not participating in the lusts of the flesh.  This will cause us to be different.  People might make fun or speak evil of us for walking in holiness and being different.  Peter says that they will give account to God.  This also gives us a chance to preach the gospel to them.  If you have been following the prior blogs, we saw in verse 19 of chapter 3 that Jesus preaches or proclaims to the spirits who are in prison, possibly fallen angels.  But there was no mention that these spirits could be redeemed.  1 Peter 4:6 is referring to people who are spiritually dead.  We are to preach the gospel to them so they might live according to God in the spirit, or that they might be born again. 

1 Peter 4:7-11  Read these verses.  These verses tell us to be sober and prayer and to walk in love.  we are to use whatever gifts God has given us to His glory. 

1 Peter 4:12-13  "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy."  Peter uses the same phrase, fiery trial or trial by fire, that he used in chapter 1 of 1 Peter.  When we are a partaker of Christ's sufferings, we are ceasing from sin as described in 1 Peter 4:1-2.  Then, when His glory or His nature of love and holiness is revealed in us, we will be glad with exceeding joy. 

It is not popular to talk about suffering today.  But as a friend pointed out, we all go through suffering in one way or another.  Hebrews 11:25 says that Moses chose to suffer affliction with the people of God rather to enjoy the passing pleasure of sin for a season.  Sin is pleasurable but only for a season.  If we indulge our fleshly lusts, it eventually causes us pain, sometimes pain that lasts a lifetime.  Hebrews 12 says that we should follow Christ's example of suffering and cease from sinning and walk in holiness.  Heb. 12:11 says that God's chastening of us to lead us into holiness doesn't seem to be joyful for the present but painful.  But afterwards it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.  This is not talking about our righteousness before God.  It is talking about the peace and joy that comes from walking in holiness.   So we are going to suffer one way or the other in a sense.  We can indulge the lusts of the flesh and then suffer the consequences later.  Or we can suffer in the flesh and cease from sinning initially, but afterwards we will enjoy the lasting peaceable fruits of holy living.  We may know that the sins of our entire lifetime are forgiven.  But if we commit adultery and lose our family and home, we end up in turmoil and do not experience the peace and love and joy that we are meant for.  So it is a loving and merciful and graceful God Who teaches us to walk in holiness.

1 Peter 4:14-16 "If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.  On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.  But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters.  Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter."   If we cease from sin and walk in love and holiness and Christ is revealed in us, we should rejoice.  If we are persecuted for this reason, we should glorify God.  If we suffer because we are sinning, we are just bringing shame upon the teaching of the grace of God.

1 Peter 4:17-19 "For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?  Now "If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator."  This verse is not talking about judging the people of God to send them to Hell.  This is saying it is time for Christians to stop sinning and walk in holiness.  It is time for us to grow up.  1 Peter 1:17 says "And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;"  We are to reverence and respect our Father by putting off sin and walking in holiness.  We as children should emulate and immitate our Father.  This is the pathway to maturity in the Christian life. 

For those of us who claim to understand and embrace God's grace, let us embrace the full extent of His grace for us.  God doesn't save us from our sins so that we can keep on sinning.  God first forgives all of our sins, and then He leads us to stop sinning.  Think of what an improvement would come to our lives and those around us if we actually stopped sinning.  What a God of love He is!  His love is demonstrated in and through us when we stop sinning and let His divine nature of love be expressed through us.    

Keith Oliver