Today we are going to start with a "problem" verse and then go back and look at the rest of the verses.
1 Peter 4: 5-6 (ESV) "but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does."
The they here is the nonbelievers. All will answer to the Lord on the day of judgment...whether alive (at His return) or died (before His return).
vs. 6 - "preached to those who are dead" what does this mean?. There are 4 basic views.
1. Some believe Jesus descended into "hell" and preached (during the 3 days in the grave). But why would He do this if there are no 2nd chances?
2. Some believe that these were the Old Testament saints and all Pre-Resurrection saints held in "Paradise"; Christ went there, preached, and lead them to heaven.
3. Some believe the "dead" means they were spiritually dead (not physical). I don't personally think this fits the context.
4. Some believe these people were the people who heard and trusted God or Christ while living but now were deceased. (both Old Testament and New Testament saints) "those who are now dead."
All people will be judged according to what they DID in the life given to them. Believers (followers) will "live on" in the spiritual realm (with God).
Verse 6 is very confusing, but how do we deal with confusing texts in the Bible? Peter knew what he meant, but that doesn't mean we do. He was taught by Christ himself for 3 years and then the 40 days post resurrection. He had more knowledge than we do. If 2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV) "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness," is true then there is practical meaning here.
We should....
1 Read, study and ATTEMPT to understand
2. Form and opinion BASED ON SCRIPTURE, not on personal preference.
3. Do not be dogmatic. (if the scripture is obscure then you can't be sure).
4. Move on to things we CAN comprehend and ones that can shape our life for the better. Focus on things that MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
1 Peter 4:1 (ESV) "Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,"
I. Arm Yourself
A. With an attitude...a perspective....a point of view.
What attitude? Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV) "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, through he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." Christ emptied himself and took on the form as a servant...even unto death. We should be determined to serve God (not self/society/sin/Satan).
1 Peter 4:2 (ESV) "so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God."
II. "ceased from sin"
No longer sin...no longer server the flesh...the old man, but now serve the Lord
Romans 6:11-14 & 19 (ESV) "So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let no sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace." vs 19 "I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification."
1 Peter 2:24 (ESV) "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed."
Don't follow the "flesh"...don't follow "heart"....Now follow the Lord!
1 Peter 4:3 (ESV) "For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry."
III. "all that is behind you"
Paul tells us to "put off/put on...but this is your decision/your actions. God helps you but wont do it for you.
1 Peter 4:4 (ESV) "With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;"
1. Nonbelievers are surprised that you don't join them in their debauchery. They cannot comprehend your way of thinking.
2. So they "malign you" to ridicule you. Repentance and following Christ begins first in the mind.
Romans 12:2 (ESV) "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good acceptable and perfect."
3. They attempt to persuade you to their lifestyle. (this is not specifically in the text). These people revel in bringing you down...to leave your Christian life behind.
1 Peter 4:5 (ESV) "but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead."
IV. "they will give an account" (all of us will)
Rev. 20:11-13 (ESV) "Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done."
Salvation is by grace. Works follow salvation that align with God's will. The change of heart and mind will change one's actions.
1 Peter 4:7-9 (ESV) "The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling."
V. "end is near" ?
Every generation has thought that the end is coming....but....
Acts 1:7 (ESV) "He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority."
2 Peter 3:3-5 (ESV) "knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, 'Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.' For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God,"
BE....
1. Self-controlled...not controlled by society
2. Sober minded....clean mind and rational
3. Earnestly loving (of one another) "love covers sin" Proverbs 10:12 (ESV) "Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses." Love bears with offenses and moves on. Hatred puts fuel on the fire.
4. Hospitable...friendly....welcoming...neighborly
1 Peter 4:10 (ESV) "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."
VI. Spiritual Gifts
1. "As you have received"... 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (ESV) "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."
2. So use for service not for show. Your gift is to be used for the benefit of others
3. To serve... You are given the gift for the common good and not for self satisfaction. 1 Corinthians 12:7
4. As a good steward...manager of the gifts
5. Of God's grace
1 Peter 4:11 (ESV) "whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies-in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."
So exercise your spiritual gifts "in order that"
1. People be served (ministered to) 1 Corinthians 12:14 (ESV) "For the body does not consist of one member but of many."
2. God be glorified (revealed as glorious)
3. Christ be lifted up
1 Peter 3:18 (ESV) "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,"
Connecting People to God
Closing Scripture
2 Peter 3:13-18 (ESV) "But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."
No comments:
Post a Comment