The entire letter of 1 Peter is focused on the persecuted church and those believers who are experience such times. Peter’s immediate audience was in the first century, but his words apply across time as well. In this week’s passage, he turns to some practical application of how to live in such times. Take a look for yourself in 1 Peter 4:7-9.

This brief section of Peter’s letter can be divided into four parts, and we will look at each one of them in turn. Peter is giving some practical instructions on how the persecuted believers should live, and how they should stand together as they face such times. Already, he has touched on their need to love one another, in 1:22-2:5, in 2:17, and in 3:8. In this passage, he returns to the idea of loving relationships.

The end of all things

He begins with a statement that closely parallels that of James 5:8. Whether or not he had read James’ letter is unknown, but makes little difference. Peter and James are like minded, along with Paul, and other leaders of the early church, in their belief that the Lord’s return was at hand. Of course, the question that comes to mind is this: Peter wrote this over two thousand years ago, so what does he mean by “near?”

In a general sense, Peter could be referring to the fact that all the prerequisite conditions had been satisfied, and Christ could return at any time. But this doesn’t really answer the question, because it fails to take into account Christ’s own statement in Mark 13:10 and Matthew 24:14 that all people will have had a chance to hear the message of the gospel before his return.

From one of the clearest statements Peter makes, which we looked at last week, we move to one of the most difficult statements to understand in his letter. It’s confusing, but it’s in there for a reason. You can see it for yourself in 1 Peter 4:5-6.

Peter has just given his readers a clear and concise statement about why they should abstain from living as the pagans did. He now gives the reason why. Those people who mistreat and persecute believers, and those who choose to live against God’s way, will one day have to answer for their actions. A day of reckoning is coming, and they will have to give an account to God on that day of judgment. This is a scriptural concept that is not isolated in Peter’s letters; it’s found all throughout the New Testament. Peter simply applies it to this specific group of abusive pagans in this context.

What many do not notice is that Peter’s continual references to the end times, and that coming judgment, are a common theme through his letters. Peter knows that Christ’s return is eminent, and he calls his readers to be ready. But take note of the fact that Peter is not addressing the unbelieving pagans in this statement. He is addressing believers. That is to encourage them to stand strong in the face of such treatment, knowing that God is in control, and to not succumb to such behavior themselves.

He then goes on to make a statement that has several different interpretations, much like his comments about Christ preaching to the spirits in prison back in chapter 3, verse 19. Here, Peter states that the message of the gospel was preached to the dead. There are three main interpretations of this concept among theologians and scholars.

This passage of 1 Peter is one of the clearest statements that Peter makes that he is writing to people who are not Jewish, but Gentile and pagan. You can see his statement in 1 Peter 4:3-4.

Peter uses a very general word here that can be translated either or “pagans” or “Gentiles,” from which we get the word “ethnic.” It is a general word, and most of the time, it is translated as “Gentiles,” but the usage of “pagan” here is appropriate, because it speaks more to the immoral behavior of the culture than an ethnic description. Peter is writing to people who were once a part of that behavior, and have since repented and walked away from it. However, they still live in such a society, and the draw of temptation and the world’s pull is a strong one. So Peter writes to encourage them.

Those who have watched his readers leave that lifestyle simply don’t understand it. It makes no sense to them, and they think it strange that someone would deliberately not join in with them in such reckless living. It disturbs them to the point that they “heap abuse” on believers, which is the Greek word for “blaspheme.” This indicates that not only do they defame and slander believers, but they do the same to the God of those believers as well.

Once again, as 1 Peter 4 begins, Peter encourages his readers to stand strong in the face of persecution, and to continue living for God. In doing so, he makes some extraordinary statements! Take at look at the first part of this chapter in 1 Peter 4:1-2.

Peter realizes that the temptation for believers to fall back into their old lifestyles of sin is strong. As he begins this next section of his letter, he encourages his readers to stay strong, and to avoid that. It was true then, and is still true today, that the pull of our culture is a strong force. We feel the pressure to conform to the “norm,” regardless of what that may be. And when we stand up against it, our culture heaps abuse and torment upon us.

Peter’s encouragement here is to follow Christ in spite of this. Christ suffered “in his body.” This is a very similar phrase to what Peter wrote in 3:18, where he says Christ “was put to death in the body.” Peter’s connection is clear, and his point is that we need to arm ourselves with the same attitude that Christ had, and be willing to face such suffering when it comes. This sounds very similar to Paul’s admonition to take the same attitude as Christ in Philippians 2.

Peter’s next statement is a mind blowing concept, one which I think many present-day Christians forget all too often. He states that when we suffer for doing God’s will, we demonstrate that we are done living in defiance of God’s will, we are done with sin. We show the world that we are ready to live for God, even if it involves suffering and persecution. In other words, sin holds no power over us, because we belong to God. When we take up the same attitude as Christ, we long for his will, and no longer long for sin. We have decided to stop sinning.

As 1 Peter 3 comes to a close, Peter uses an illustration from the earliest days of history, of the Flood and Noah’s acts of faith during that time. But before he gets there, he makes one of the most misunderstood statements of the entire letter. Take a look for yourself in 1 Peter 3:18-20.

Remember, this entire section of Peter’s letter has been on the subject of unjust suffering. He calls those who face persecution to bear it, and remember for whom they are suffering. He gives us the ultimate example, that of Jesus himself, and his suffering for our own sake. Christ triumphed over death. He was victorious! And his sacrifice was sufficient, once and for all.

That’s how Peter begins this passage, with the reminder that Christ’s death was a one time event that was good enough for all people, everywhere, and at any time. No longer were the repetitive sacrifices of bulls and goats needed. Christ was righteous, and did what only he could do, in order to bring us close to God. One of the interesting textual variants of this passage makes the statement that Christ “suffered” for sins once and for all. This conveys the thrust of this passage very clearly.

But Peter also implies that because Christ suffered, we should expect to suffer as well. And we should be willing to follow the example of Christ as he suffered for doing good, although Christ’s suffering was different in nature, due to the atoning sacrifice he made on our behalf, that we could never accomplish on our own. And that work is finished. The death, burial and resurrection fully accomplished our salvation.

Peter next states that he was killed physically, but made alive by the Spirit. Of course, this is the cross and the resurrection. But what Peter states next has puzzled readers for centuries. It is an obscure passage that even the likes of Martin Luther could not completely fathom. He stated: “This is a strange text and certainly a more obscure passage than any other passage in the New Testament. I still do not know for sure what the apostle means.”

In verse 14, Peter cites a passage from Isaiah 8:12. In this week’s passage, he uses the very next verse in Isaiah, but adapts it to his context, calling his readers to set apart Christ as Lord. You can see this passage in 1 Peter 3:15-17.

We need to remember that this entire section of 1 Peter is on the topic of suffering and persecution, especially suffering that occurs for doing right. Peter’s encouragement to his original readers is something we need to hear today as well. In verse 14, he stated that it is actually a blessing to suffer for the sake of Christ, and that we have nothing to fear.

In verse 15, he gives us the alternative to fear: We are to set apart Christ as Lord. Those who cause the suffering are not to be feared, because ultimately, they are not in control. Christ is, and he alone is worthy to be revered as Lord.

The next statement Peter makes is interesting, and one that is quite often pulled from its context and used as a proof text for apologetics. To be certain, apologetics, the defense of the gospel message, is a worth study. But that is not Peter’s point here. Remember, he is speaking in the overarching context of suffering for doing good. And if you keep Christ as Lord in the midst of such suffering, people will take notice of that. And some of them will want to know why we behave in such a way in such dire circumstances.

Peter warns us that this will happen, and encourages us to be ready with an answer when the question comes. We need to be able to articulate clearly the reason we have for our hope. It’s also interesting to note that he uses the word hope here instead of faith. For Peter, hope carries an eschatological meaning, looking forward to the inheritance that awaits all believers. We definitely need to know what we believe, and why we believe it – faith – but Peter also encourages us to know the reason for our hope – the eternity with Christ that is ours to come.