OUR FAITH
1 Peter 4:1–11
New Testament Epistles follow a common outline. The first chapters focus upon doctrine, and the latter chapters deal with issues of living out the gospel in a society puzzled by Christian lifestyle and ethics. We need to share our faith, but we also need to live our faith in the context of a secular culture whether or not the culture is similar to the debauchery of the first century Roman Empire.
Purpose (1–3)
Faith is not a mere intellectual aspect of the Christian life. Peter wrote to Christians whose experience of persecution would stretch them to the breaking point.
The persecution was not like the physical persecution experienced by many Christians in the latter part of the first century and those throughout the world in our century. At the time that Peter wrote this Epistle, Christian suffering was more likely mental persecution rather than martyrdom or imprisonment.
Peter challenged his readers
to “arm yourselves.” This terminology is not a call to pick up weapons but a challenge to follow the example of Jesus. Christ serves as our example of One who suffered in His body, or flesh. Suffering is one of the ways that Christians may mature in their Christian experience.
Warren Wiersbe has a book that tells us, “Bumps are what you climb on.” Reports from persecuted Christians suggest that because of their experiences, they have a deeper commitment to Christ than the average American Christian. We are not to share the same lifestyle as unbelievers who Peter describes as “carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and lawless idolatry.” We are to let our light shine in the darkness of sin.
Judgment (4–6)
The unbelieving population living in the same provinces as the Christians to whom Peter wrote his first letter probably had no exposure to Christian behavior and ethics. Peter describes the debauchery of the society in which the believers lived.
Unbelievers were surprised that Christians did not join them in their unrestrained behavior and slandered Christians for not participating in their activities.
In the judgment, unbelievers will give an account to the Judge of the living and the dead for their harassment of Christians and their depraved lifestyle.
According to Paul in Romans 1, God has implanted within everyone an understanding of right and wrong. Therefore, God delivers people to their desires (vv. 18–28). How should knowing that we will give an account to Jesus affect Christians’ lives?
God’s glory (7–11)
Many of the Christians to whom Peter wrote had suffered for their faith. Peter encourages believers of all eras that the end of all things is near, which is likely a reference to the Second Coming of Christ.
Rather than attempting to predict when Jesus will come again, believers should focus upon living as godly disciples. Believers are to maintain constant love for each other because “love covers a multitude of sins.”
We should focus on glorifying Christ by our lifestyle of love, hospitality, lack of complaining and serving others.
By Mark Rathel
Pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in DeFuniak Springs, Florida
