1 Peter 4:1-19

(1 Peter 4:1-19) orasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging.  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.  If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.  But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.  Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. 』

 

『Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 』 Sin is sin that has left God. The first man, Adam, brought all spirits into the world by the body of the flesh to become sinners, and the last Adam, by taking the spirits of the chosen ones into the body of the spirit, made them righteous. There is a death between the first man Adam (sinner) and the last man Adam (righteous). Human death is a physical death that cannot be avoided by anyone. But the death of Adam, the last man, is both physical and sinful. So those who are united to the death of the last Adam, in Christ they also die of sin.

 

In order for sinners to be righteous, there must be the death of sin. In the kingdom of God, "the first man Adam" brought the spirits that had sinned to the world (since death), and the last Adam took all the spirits. Therefore, the way to return to the kingdom of God is that sin must die. Jesus Christ died the ransom to save all sinners. Those who are united with Jesus Christ are also dead to sin. Therefore, those who are united with Christ become dead with Jesus. It is to participate in the suffering of Jesus. If you do not die, sin remains the same. Romans 6:7 makes it clear: "For the dead are freed from sin and are justified."

 

So, suffering is dying with Christ. Everything that perverts, lusts, drunkenness, debauchery, pleasure, and lawless idolatry must die. 『Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 』

 

However, at that time there was one concern for Christians who suffered and lived for Christ. It was a question of what happens when the saint dies before the Lord returns. This is because the early church members thought that the Lord would return while they were alive. However, as the Lord's second coming was delayed, there were natural deaths and even martyrs. Christians at that time were anxious, wondering if it was meaningless to become a Christian if the body died before the Lord came again. So the apostle Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18『For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 』

 

 The same expression is expressed in 1 Peter 4:5-6.『Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 』 "The gospel has been preached to the dead" refers to those who have died and are no longer alive. However, there are those who say that the gospel is preached in hell based on this verse that the gospel was preached to the dead. The word that the dead also preached the gospel means that they were preached when they were already alive.

 

Unbelievers persecuted Christians. They will be told directly about what they have done, that is, persecution of Christians, in front of the later judge, Christ. Christians who have received the Gospel among those who died at that time are saying that even though the body is dead, they are saved by the spirit. "The body is judged" means that the body of the body must die and be saved by the body of the spirit.

 

『But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.』

 

『The end of all things is at hand』 means the time of Jesus' Second Coming. Through these words, the apostle Peter's emphasis is on the fact that the Final Judgment is not an imaginary thing that will happen or has no promise to happen in the distant future, but is imminent and certain. Peter mentions the attitude of the Saints' lives waiting for the end times. Remembering that the end of all things, the time of the Second Coming of the Lord, is at hand, let us be alert, profound, pray, love, treat one another without resentment, and serve one another as a good steward. However, it reveals the most basic attitude in all of these attitudes.

 

『 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 』 Do all things in Christ, in Christ's power, for Christ. This is because Christians are not living with their own power and wisdom.