1 PETER PART THIRTEEN

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 now continues to instruct in how followers of Christ 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.

 

1 Peter 4:1-3

“Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do — living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.”

 

When you see “therefore” in the beginning of a sentence in the Bible, it basically means to say, “Now regarding everything else I have just written to you, I’m going to present to you some practical conclusions and applications.” Peter has spoken of Christ’s suffering and death which was necessary to pay for our sins. He has told us that this sacrifice has given us new life. This is because those who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior have died to their old life of sin and death. They have begun a new life grounded in the Son of God. Peter writes “arm yourselves also with the same attitude.” The Greek word “hoplizo” (“arm yourselves’) is a military term that refers to a soldier taking up weapons in preparation for battle. Paul uses a similar noun, “hoplon,” to refer to the “armor” of light in Romans 13:12, “weapons” of righteousness” in 2 Corinthians 6:7 and “weapons” of spiritual warfare in 2 Corinthians 10:4. The image that Peter as well as Paul is attempting to paint for us is that we are all, as followers of Christ, in a spiritual war. We battle the world, the flesh and the devil on this earth as we live the Christian life. This word was also used in the Roman army to identify the heavily-armed foot soldier who carried a pike (spear for thrusting at enemies) and a large shield. Just like the Roman foot soldier, the follower of Christ needs the heaviest and strongest armor he or she can get, to deal with the attacks of the enemy against their soul. During Jesus ministry He focused on His dedication to His Heavenly Father as well as His ministry and purpose in life. So should all of us who call ourselves a Christian. Paul speaks of this in Ephesians.

 

Ephesians 6:10-18;

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,”

 

In verse 3 Peter refers back to the former life of these followers of Christ and states that they “have spent enough time in the past doing what the pagans choose to do.” Other translations word it in a similar way, “to run in the company with” or “to run in a troop with others like a band of revelers.” Peter is saying that in their past life as non-believers they participated in all sorts of sinful actions with their worldly friends. Like a pack of wild dogs doing mischief they sinned like there was no tomorrow. Peter is saying they should never return to this life and seek to live as Christ would.

 

In verses 1 through 3 of this chapter there are four reminders of our new life in Christ that will help us arm ourselves for battle and this includes fighting the world, the flesh and the devil.

 

First (4:1), we no longer serve sin; we serve a risen Savior because He died for us and we have given our lives to Him to do with as He sees fit.

Secondly (4:2a), we aren’t ruled by our desires, but by our love for Jesus.

Thirdly (4:2b), we have opened the door to the will of God in our lives.

Fourthly (4:3), we have closed the door to the lusts of the world and godless living.

When we live out these four reminders our witness for God is effective and people notice that we are living like Jesus Christ.

 

1 Peter 4:4-6

“They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.”

 

When we as followers of Christ think and act as we are called to do by God, we will be considered strange or peculiar by those who live according to this world. Peter paints a vibrant picture here for us in the words he chooses. He states that when we don’t think, act and behave like those of the world they can’t understand why we don’t “plunge with them” into a worldly lifestyle. In other words Peter is saying that these people can’t understand why we aren’t willing to dive into the same sins and excessive behaviors that they enjoy. He describes such a life as a “flood of dissipation.” Dissipation is a descent into drunkenness, sexual promiscuity, debauchery, decadence, excess, overconsumption, self-indulgence, wildness or squandering of money and resources. This is basically a reckless, wasteful and wildly out-of-control lifestyle where sin reigns free. When we refuse to participate in such a way of life they will take offense and criticize us for our commitment to God and His Word. They will feel convicted of their sin and “heap abuse” or “malign” us because of their own guilty conscience.

 

Peter shares that our hope of salvation also involves a hope for justice in all things. These individuals who talk abusively about followers of Christ for living godly lives will, “have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” The “Him” mentioned here is God who will judge all men and women for their actions and deeds while they lived on the earth. It is interesting that Peter states that God is “ready to judge” which means He is always prepared to make this judgment. He will not be caught off guard when the end comes regarding judgment. It also implies that He is holding his judgment for the appropriate time. This is the hope that exists at the present time for all those who so far have rejected Christ. As long as they are alive, they have a chance to accept Christ as Savior and Lord. This is another key point in how we live for Christ. When we are living as Jesus would, our lives are a witness of what life is meant to be, fulfilled, full of hope, experiencing salvation on a daily moment by moment basis, in praise of God. Our ultimate hope is to see the Lord return to claim His children.

 

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

 

After Jesus returns there will eventually be what will be called the “Great White Throne of Judgment” where everyone will be judged.

Revelation 20:11-15

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

 

Matthew 25:31-46 also describes when Jesus will separate the goats from His sheep and punish the unrighteous and reward His followers.

 

Peter shares with the followers of Christ in Asia that though they are being treated unfairly and being persecuted for their commitment to Christ, there will come a day when they will be vindicated. He states that the reason the gospel was preached was because everyone will one day have to give an account for their actions and thoughts. The gospel presents a way to avoid God’s wrath and enjoy His peace and salvation. Peter shares that this gospel was preached to many, some of whom have passed away, but will one day arise from the grave like Jesus. We all will be judged by God, the important point is will we be judged as part of God’s family or as a rebellious outsider who refused to repent.