Category Archives: Peter and his Epistles

Be not Ashamed to Suffer for Christ

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1 Peter 4:15-16

15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.

Peter mentions previously suffering for sins (2:20 and 3:17); and for that we should feel ashamed. But if we suffer as a Christian (by persecution) we should never feel ashamed; rather, we should rejoice, and praise God because of the privilege of suffering with Christ. Also, as Jesus said (in Matthew 5:11-12), we should be glad for the reward we will receive in heaven.

Keep Rejoicing in Your Sufferings

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1 Peter 4:13-14

13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

When we suffer for Christ (for being a Christian) we share His sufferings. For that we can rejoice; and we will rejoice much more when He comes; for we will be greatly blessed because the Spirit of God and His glory will be upon us.It will be a great party!

We will be Tested

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1 Peter 4:12

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;

The fiery ordeal could be the burning of Rome (which Christians were blamed for), or generally, all the Christian persecution (which was happening at that time). Peter wanted them to know that God allows it, and even designs it, for their testing and to strengthen their character.

Do All things for God

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1 Peter 4:11

11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Peter here continues with the thought in verse 10, of being stewards of the manifold grace of God; here it is in speaking and in serving, all with the purpose of glorifying God through Jesus Christ; for all glory and power belong to God alone, forever and ever—because He is the almighty God.

Waiting for His Coming

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1 Peter 4:7

7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

“The end of all things” is referring to this life as we know it—the end being the Rapture of the church, then the seven-year Tribulation, then His Second Coming and His new kingdom. To be of “sound judgment and sober spirit” means that we are to be calm and level headed and not over emotional and fearful. A calm mind indicates that one is trusting in God and able to pray by faith as he waits for His coming.

Receiving the Gospel

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1 Peter 4:6

6 For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.

Here Peter is speaking to all those who have died (before this letter). He is saying that if they heard the preaching of the gospel and accepted it, they will live for eternity in the Spirit.

Surprised at Your Faith

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1 Peter 4:4-5

4 In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you;  5 but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Any time a believer who is living by faith mixes with non-believers, they will be surprised at his different lifestyle—that he does not indulge himself (in words or actions) as they do. Most of them think it is odd behavior. But a suppose some, secretly, wish they could be as he is. Peter gives this warning: that all will give an account to God for what they do (Rev. 20:11-15).

It is Time to Stop Your Worldliness

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1 Peter 4:3

3 For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.

Peter is saying to his readers that they have had enough evil in their lives (the things listed); that it is time now to live to please God and do His will.

Put on the Armor of Christ

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1 Peter 4:1-2

1 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

Here the suffering of Christ in the flesh (His body) is death on the cross. If we arm ourselves with the same mind (or purpose), we are putting on the armor of that attitude of Christ’s readiness to die. Hence, if we have on that armor we are, in a sense, dead to the world of sin.[1]  

More basically, as a Christian our old self (old man) was crucified with Christ; and so, we are free from the slavery of sin (Rom. 6:6-7); hence we should consider ourselves to be dead to sin (1 Pet. 4:1) and alive to God in Christ (Rom. 6:11), having a new nature.

The problem for Christians is that we can’t keep our armor on! We must in our prayers put off (put to death) sin in our mortal (earthly) body (Rom. 6:12) and put on the new man, which is to live by faith in the Son of God (Gal. 2:20).

[1] Barnes’ Notes, ElectronicDatabase. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft, notes on 1 Peter 4:1

Jesus Christ is Now in Heaven

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1 Peter 3:22

22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

Jesus Christ is now in heaven seated at the right hand of God, and all the angels and authorities are bowing down to Him. He triumphed over death and over all evil; He ascended into heaven, to a place of great honor; and we too who believe will have this great privilege and adventure.