1 Peter 4 - Living in Light of Eternity
1 Peter 4 - Living in Light of Eternity
1 Peter 4 - Living in Light of Eternity
Key verses:
1) 4:7,
“But
the
end
of
all
things
is
at
hand;
therefore
be
serious
and
watchful
in
your
prayers”
2) 4:16,
“Yet
if
anyone
suffers
as
a
Christian,
let
him
not
be
ashamed,
but
let
him
glorify
God
in
this
matter”
Outline:
Detail:
1
|
P a g e
1
Peter
4
–
Living
in
Light
of
Eternity
2
|
P a g e
1
Peter
4
–
Living
in
Light
of
Eternity
(3) Comments:
(a) Wrong
friendships
can
be
hazardous
to
the
Christian.
1
Cor
15:33,
“Do
not
be
deceived:
“Evil
company
corrupts
good
habits.”
(b) But:
1
Corinthians
5:9-‐11,
“I
wrote
unto
you
in
an
epistle
not
to
company
with
fornicators:
10Yet
not
altogether
with
the
fornicators
of
this
world,
or
with
the
covetous,
or
extortioners,
or
with
idolaters;
for
then
must
ye
needs
go
out
of
the
world.
11But
now
I
have
written
unto
you
not
to
keep
company,
if
any
man
that
is
called
a
brother
be
a
fornicator,
or
covetous,
or
an
idolator,
or
a
railer,
or
a
drunkard,
or
an
extortioner;
with
such
an
one
no
not
to
eat.”
(i) Important
to
have
contact
with
the
lost!
(ii) Lost
people
need
Christian
friends!
(4) But
back
to
the
immediate
context:
Changed
associations
will
bring
criticism:
(a) “speaking
evil
of
you”
–
Greek,
“βλασφημέω
”
(slander)
Present
Active
Participle
(ongoing
action)
(b) Shouldn’t
be
surprised
f) Unbeliever
will
give
an
Account
(5)
i) Text:
“They
will
give
an
account
to
Him
who
is
ready
to
judge
the
living
and
the
dead”
(1) They
clearly
points
to
the
lost
former
associates!
Who
spoke
evil
of
the
godly
Christian
(2) All
men
will
ultimately
give
an
account
to
the
Lord.
g) The
Blessing
of
God
(6)
i) Text:
“For
this
reason
the
gospel
was
preached
also
to
those
who
are
dead,
that
they
might
be
judged
according
to
men
in
the
flesh,
but
live
according
to
God
in
the
spirit.”
ii) Speaks
of
believers
now
dead
who
are
alive
in
the
Spirit
iii) They
heard
the
gospel
and
responded
positively
in
saving
faith
iv) Formerly
they
were
“judged
(negatively
I
believe
the
context
to
be!)
by
men”
v) Now
alive
in
eternity
2) The
Believer’s
Conduct
in
Light
of
End
Times
(4:7-‐11)
a) The
nearness
of
end
times
(vs
7)
i) Text:
“But
the
end
of
all
things
is
at
hand;
therefore
be
serious
and
watchful
in
your
prayers”
ii) Sounds
like:
James
5:8,
“You
also
be
patient.
Establish
your
hearts,
for
the
coming
of
the
Lord
is
at
hand.”
(1) Same
Greek.
“ἐγγίζω”
–
approaching,
near!
3
|
P a g e
1
Peter
4
–
Living
in
Light
of
Eternity
4
|
P a g e
1
Peter
4
–
Living
in
Light
of
Eternity
(4) Proverbs
10:12
cited:
“Hatred
stirs
up
strife,
But
love
covers
all
sins”
(a) Also
in
James
5:20,
“cover
a
multitude
of
sins.
“
(b) Cf
Matthew
18:22,
“Jesus
said
to
him,
“I
do
not
say
to
you,
up
to
seven
times,
but
up
to
seventy
times
seven.”
(c) “Love
is
what
will
lubricate
the
joints
of
the
body
of
Christ
as
we
seek
His
face
together.”
iv) Be
hospitable
(9)
(1) Text:
“Be
hospitable
to
one
another
without
grumbling.”
(a) Hospital
(also
1
Tim
3:2,
“A
bishop
then
must
be
blameless,
the
husband
of
one
wife,
temperate,
sober-‐minded,
of
good
behavior,
hospitable,
able
to
teach;”
&
Titus
1:8,
“but
hospitable,
a
lover
of
what
is
good,
sober-‐minded,
just,
holy,
self-‐controlled,”)
(i) Compound
of
φίλος
+
ξένος
(love
+
stranger)
(b) Yet
another
“one
another”!
(c) Without
grumbling.
Greek
even
sounds
like
murmuring:
“γογγυσμός”
(i) Even
a
cursory
reading
of
the
Pentateuch
would
be
instructive
of
how
God
hates
grumbling!
(search
“murmur”
in
KJV
or
“complain”
in
NKJV)
(ii) Cf
Philippians
2:14,
“Do
all
things
without
complaining
(γογγυσμός)
and
disputing,”
v) Exercise
spiritual
gifts
(10-‐11)
(1) Text:
“As
each
one
has
received
a
gift,
minister
it
to
one
another,
as
good
stewards
of
the
manifold
grace
of
God.
11
If
anyone
speaks,
let
him
speak
as
the
oracles
of
God.
If
anyone
ministers,
let
him
do
it
as
with
the
ability
which
God
supplies,
that
in
all
things
God
may
be
glorified
through
Jesus
Christ,
to
whom
belong
the
glory
and
the
dominion
forever
and
ever.
Amen.”
(2) Simple
division
of
gifts
into
speaking
and
ministering
categories
(3) Ultimate
purpose
is
doxological
–
“that
in
all
things
God
may
be
glorified
(δοξάζω)
through
Jesus
Christ”
(4) Because
all
praise
and
glory
is
due
Him
–
“to
whom
belong
the
glory
(δόξα)
and
the
dominion
(κράτος)
forever
and
ever.
Amen”.
Cf
1
Peter
5:11
(identical
construct),
“To
Him
be
the
glory
and
the
dominion
forever
and
ever.
Amen”
5
|
P a g e
1
Peter
4
–
Living
in
Light
of
Eternity
6
|
P a g e
1
Peter
4
–
Living
in
Light
of
Eternity
7
|
P a g e