By Nathan Harris, Ph. D.
Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, University of Mobile
OUR FAITH
1 Peter 4:1–11
Purpose (1–3)
It is hard to read 1 Peter and not recognize that a pervasive theme throughout the letter is suffering. And as we learned in last week’s passage, we are to face suffering knowing that Christ is our perfect example of suffering well.
Now in chapter 4, Peter again is turning to Christ as the example of our suffering and how Christians should be prepared for the persecution to come. And it’s within these first three verses that we find our purpose as believers to live for God’s will.
Just as Christ suffered well, we are not to please and pursue the world but live for God’s will on this earth.
Just as Christ suffered in the flesh, we do so for the desires of the Lord. We face whatever persecution that may come, knowing that it’s in Christ that we find our salvation, hope and eternal life.
Judgment (4–6)
Carrying on from verse 3 and its depiction of the Gentiles, Peter tells believers how they will be viewed by the world and how all will be judged by God. As people pursue the flesh and things of this world, unrestrained behavior has run amok.
Evil desires, drunkenness, promiscuity, carousing and idolatry are the gods of this world to the extent that Peter tells believers that the world is “surprised” that Christians don’t join in their debauchery. He says believers will be slandered for not joining the world in all of its insidious behavior.
But the hope believers can rest in — beyond the hope they have in Christ — is knowing that the world will give an account to the One who “stands ready to judge the living and the dead” (v. 5). The very reason the gospel was proclaimed — even to the dead (3:19) — was so that even though we may be judged by the world, Christians know that we can live in the spirit according to God’s standards.
The world will look down on those who put aside the desires of the flesh in pursuit of holiness, but the outcome of our faith isn’t judgment that leads to eternal separation from God but an “inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading, kept in heaven for us” (1:4).
The gospel was proclaimed to call people out of the darkness and into God’s marvelous light (2:9). Those who once lived as the world lives now live for Christ.
God’s glory (7–11)
In the last few verses of this passage, we find a very important encouragement — to glorify God in everything! This idea may seem easy, but remember that this is coming on the heels of a discussion on suffering well and looking to Christ as our example for suffering.
It’s easy for us to acknowledge and glorify God when things are good in our lives, but it is entirely something else for us to glorify God in the midst of suffering, hardship and affliction. But in that, we still glorify the Lord for He is worthy of all glory, power and praise.
Peter reminds believers that the end is near, so we must be alert, ready and sober-minded as we prayerfully anticipate Christ’s return.
Above all, we are to love one another, showing the utmost hospitality toward one another — without complaining — as stewards of God’s grace. As we await the Second Coming, we glorify the Lord in all that we do — in our speech, actions and service.
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