Life In The Last Days
LIFE IN THE LAST DAYS
1 PETER 4:1-11
God gives the strength to use the gifts he has given.
Not the fear of death, but of dying, dogs the feet of many Christians. Christ’s sufferings (4:1) are his death; so the Christian’s death will mean triumph, ie “ceasing from sin.” But in the measure in which Christians share Christ’s sufferings, they will cease sinning, for they place themselves by so doing under “the will of God” (4:2).
Jews were notorious among the Gentiles for their refusal to share their meals and celebrations, so 4:3-4 are strong evidence that most of Peter’s readers were Gentiles. It is likely that the NIV “detestable idolatry” (4:3) is preferable to “lawless idolatry” (ESV). We are not called on to sit in judgment on the immorality around us; we have simply to proclaim that there will be a divine judgment. We do not escape this judgment by death. Though the Christian dead (4:6) received the common judgment of the flesh, ie death, they will live. So for the others there will be the second death (Revelation 20:14).
The response? “Keep your heads” (4:7, Selwyn). The final failure of human devices, of which there is so much in Revelation, should find believers untroubled and prayerful. It is particularly in a time of chaos that the basic virtues find their place. Love can be difficult when all around us others are panicking. “Love covers a multitude of sins” (4:8): this may well be a saying of Christ’s. Its meaning is not clear, for it means more than that love veils the sin of others; see also 1 Corinthians 13:7. Certainly where a person is outstandingly known for love, most people are likely to overlook shortcomings that might otherwise be glaring. Even more, true love can turn others to the source of love, so that they may see him “covering” their sins by his blood.
“Hospitality” (4:9); where church meetings were in private houses, and where there was a tendency to move round so as not to draw undue attention to any one meeting place, hospitality in the widest sense could be a heavy burden. “A gift” (4:10) can have a wide range of meaning. The onesidedness of modern church thought is shown by the exaltation of speaking (4:11), whereas every form of “service,” because given by Christ, ranks equal with it in the right place.