1 PETER PART FOURTEEN

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

 

In this series so far we have learned that Peter wrote this letter to followers of Christ who were scattered in the area of Asia Minor, what is now modern-day Turkey. His main emphasis in this letter was to remind Christians of the hope they have in God because of the gracious salvation provided for them in Jesus Christ as well as how the gift of the Holy Spirit within them works to lead them in sanctification. Christians were facing trials and they needed their hope in God encouraged. We continue now to learn even more about this wonderful salvation that God blesses His children with and how we are to live as Christ and love one another. Part of living as Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior is to seeking to think good and do good. We have learned about the holy spiritual attributes that a follower of Christ will exhibit as they obey the Word, keep in step with the Spirit and model their lives after Jesus Christ.

 

Peter repeatedly instructs in this letter how followers of Christ are to live. He calls the Christians in the Roman provinces of what is now Asia to walk as Jesus walked. This has a three-fold purpose. We have a witness before men that needs to be godly and righteous. We are called by our Heavenly Father to live honorably in the midst of suffering because our Lord and Master Jesus Christ did so. We need to remember that one of the main purposes of suffering is to develop our righteousness and spiritual maturity.

 

Now Peter gives marching orders to Soldiers of the Cross who live in a pagan culture that seeks to persecute them. These orders cover how to treat other believers as well as minister to them in local church fellowships. These orders call for a demonstration of love towards all people and to endure hardship and persecution as Christ did. Followers of Christ battle the flesh, endure trials with patience and longsuffering and seek to live a life of faith and trust in their Heavenly Father. Peter had previously been sharing how followers of Christ are to no longer live as they used to as pagans. They had a new calling on their lives. Peter begins this portion of scripture with a reminder of the Lord’s return and he gives four important and urgent commands and a simple Christ-like goal to remember.

 

1 Peter 4:7-11

“The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

 

Peter states, “The end of all things is near.” What is he referring to? Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, is attempting to communicate the necessity and urgency of how we are always to be ready for the Lord’s return. This is applicable for the first century Christians and us as well. Peter is basically saying in this verse, “The goal of all things has come near.” Peter is painting a picture of Christ in Heaven at the right hand of God the Father awaiting a single word from the throne, “GO!” Peter is saying that Christ’s return will come quickly, possibly at any moment. There will be an unexpectedness of the return of Christ and we need to be ready.

 

Because of this “any moment” view of Christ’s return which will bring judgments as well as blessings, we find the first command given by Peter. It is prefaced by the word, “Therefore” which tells us, since the end of all things is near, you need to do the following, “be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.” Peter is giving instruction for balanced, mature and wise behavior in the last days. Down through history we see people quitting their jobs, selling their homes and going up onto a mountain to wait for Jesus to return because of their belief that this would take place on a certain date. We won’t know the time of Jesus’ return, so such actions are not grounded in clear thinking and self-control. Such rash actions do not reflect a realistic spiritual thought life or accurate understanding of scripture. When we are filled with the Spirit we have His fruit manifested in our life; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. We have a clear mind. We are self-controlled. We therefore are able to pray in a proper and effective manner. Charles Swindoll states that, “When you’re panicking, you’re not praying. When you’re reacting, you’re not trusting in your sovereign God.”

 

Now we come to Peter’s second command for living in the last days in verse 8. He states, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” The Greek word for “love each other deeply” is “ektenes,” which means “strained.” It describes a love that is intense and determined. It is a love that has a powerful commitment behind it, to love no matter what. This is the way Jesus loves us. Jesus had warned the disciples that in the last days, “Most people’s love will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). Paul wrote to Timothy that in the last days people will be “lovers of self” (2 Timothy 3:2). Peter places a high value on the love followers of Christ should demonstrate to others by preceding his command with the words “Above all.” In other words, he is saying, “If you do only one thing, make sure you love each other intensely, deeply and fully, as Christ loved you.” Peter’s words, “because love covers over a multitude of sins” is actually a rendition of Proverbs 10:12; “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all transgressions.” When non-believers see quarrels between Christians and how churches criticize one another over minor doctrinal issues it turns them off to the gospel. If they don’t see Christians loving one another why would they ever be attracted to Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord?

 

Peter’s third command is in regards to how we show kindness and generosity to one another as followers of Christ. He states; “Offer hospitality to one another” but adds the qualifying statement, “without grumbling.”  We often are hospitable to people when it is convenient or when they possess something we want. It is when it is a hardship or when they are difficult to live with that we begin to rethink our commitment to being hospitable. When we have the mind of Christ, are filled with the Spirit and seeking to love others as Christ loved us, we can begin to be truly hospitable to others in a proper fashion. But we should also be wise. We must recognize that there will be times our hospitality could be taken advantage of in an inappropriate manner. We must have discernment while also having an attitude of generosity. Some people live off of the hospitality of others, especially if they believe Jesus’ return is immanent, why work, I’ll just live off my neighbor. Paul addressed this situation in 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 where he states;

 

“If anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.”

 

Peter’s final and fourth command is that followers of Christ should “use whatever gift he has received to serve others.” They are to do this “faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” Each Christian is given at least one if not more spiritual gifts. These gifts are spoken of in Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Ephesians 4:11 and here in 1 Peter 4:10-11. Spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit to followers of Christ as the Spirit determines (1 Corinthians 12:11), NOT to serve themselves, but to serve others in the church.  Numerous scriptures attest to this clear doctrine.

 

1 Corinthians 12:7

“But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

 

Romans 15:2-3

“Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.”

 

1 Corinthians 14:12

“So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.”

 

John Piper states regarding spiritual gifts, “God gives us spiritual gifts so that we can help others keep the faith in the midst of life’s storms…Every Christian has received a gift from God which he is responsible to use for the good of the church and for the glory of God.” God invests in each of us by giving us spiritual gifts so that they can be used and developed to serve the needs of others and minister to fellow believers and grow Christ’s church. These gifts are described by Peter as being made available in “various forms” or as other translations state it “manifold” or “diverse.” The Greek word used here is “poikilos” and can be described as “many-colored.” God is anything but boring or drab. He gives His children numerous kinds of spiritual gifts to facilitate spiritual growth, serve needs, encourage those who are discouraged, and uplift those who are down-trodden. Peter uses two examples here to describe how spiritual gifts are to be used in the life of a follower of Christ. First he mentions speaking gifts. Speaking gifts should be based on the Word of God which is the Bread of Life. Men’s words can be helpful, but God’s words can minister in greater ways through wisdom, compassion and truth. Peter then mentions serving gifts. He states that serving gifts are to be empowered by God in us, the Holy Spirit. While we can often serve others to some extent in our flesh, it is the power of God through the Holy Spirit that can enable us to go the extra mile and in a more godly fashion as we serve others in the name of Christ. Peter mentions another purpose that spiritual gifts have. They also provide a way that “in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.” When we express our spiritual gifts in service to others we bring praise, honor and glory to God who gives us the gifts.

 

So to summarize Peter’s commands; we are to use good judgment and stay calm with a spirit of prayer. We should stay fervent in our love for one another. We must remember to be hospitable toward one another. And we should never neglect to serve one another through the spiritual gifts we have been given by the Spirit. We must also not forget the main purpose Peter shares he gives these commands. It is “so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Let us moment by moment live out these commands of Peter and remember the main focus of our lives to bring glory to God.

 

1 Corinthians 10:31

“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”