1 Peter 4:1–11

Explore the Bible 
Assistant Professor of Christian Ministries, University of Mobile

LIVING IN COMMUNITY

1 Peter 4:1–11

Support One Another (1–6)
Christians ought to live in such a way that we shock the unbelievers around us. We need to prepare ourselves mentally to be willing to suffer for Jesus as we live for His glory in all that we do. We must continually remind ourselves that the One we worship was a poor, homeless prophet who was crucified. The Christian life is the best life, but it’s not the easiest life. Following Jesus as His disciple is not equivalent to taking a stroll in the park. 

Christians ought to shock unbelievers around them because they live differently. No one meets Jesus and stays the same. Because Jesus lives we live for Jesus. We no longer serve sin as our master. We do not spend our days overcome by the desires of the flesh as we once did. Now we live for the will of God. By the power of transforming grace, Christians have closed the book on godless living. The Holy Spirit enables the believer to resist the temptations to fulfill the sinful desires of the flesh. Our lives are not to be characterized by sensuality, immoral pleasure-seeking or unholy lifestyles. Christians are continually being transformed more and more into the image of Christ.  

As Christians experience transformation they encounter a reaction from unbelievers. Unbelievers are puzzled and then outraged when believers do not participate with them in their sinful practices. 

Christian, remain faithful and finish strong. Remember Jesus will judge them for how they have persecuted you. As Peter encouraged believers in verse 6, we should live courageously by the power of the Holy Spirit. By our lives and our lips we testify of Jesus to the unbelievers around us.

Love One Another (7–9)
As we live in light of the end and the final judgment, a sense of urgency should characterize our lives. Christians should use good judgment and stay calm in a spirit of prayer. Do not lose your head and act irrationally. Peter exhorted the believer to think clearly and pray about everything.  

Christians should continue loving one another earnestly. We should stretch our love for one another to the limit. The word “earnestly” pictures an athlete straining to reach the goal. Christlike love is something we have to work at, just the way an athlete works on his skills. Christlike love means we treat others the way God treats us.

When we love someone we will forgive his or her sins. Love does not condone someone’s sin. Rather, love will “cover” sin in that love motivates us to hide the sin from others and not spread it around. No one can hide his sins from God, but Christians ought to try, in love, to cover each other’s sins from people outside the circle of offense.

Our Christlike love should not only be earnest and forgiving, but it also should be practical. We should share our homes with others in generous and uncomplaining hospitality. 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 believers in particular would need places to stay where they could be assisted and encouraged. Hospitality was to be shown to all within the body of Christ. Love opens the door of your heart and home.

Serve One Another (10–11)
Everybody is somebody in Christ’s body. And everybody in His body, the Church, has received a spiritual gift. Every Christian has been graciously gifted by the Holy Spirit to serve others. Spiritual gifts are not toys for personal enjoyment; rather, they are tools for public employment. God has entrusted believers with these gifts to use for the glory of God and the building up of the Church.

Some people are gifted to speak and others to serve. Both types of gifts are important for the Church to accomplish its mission of reaching new people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Spiritual gifts are not fundamentally a privilege but a responsibility, a call to be faithful with what God has bestowed.