November 3rd 2024 1 Peter 4 v 1-10
Here Peter deals with the Spiritual Significance of Suffering.
He starts with Physical Suffering as Type of Death to the Flesh.
V 1 As Christ hath suffered . . . and yourselves ... with the same mind.
Philippians 2 v 5 uses the verbal form of "mind" and urges, "Be minded the same."
Christ is seen as the believer’s example and permission for us in suffering.
V 1, 2. He that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin.
Peter is now looking at death as encountered by man ( Romans 7 v 1-4), freeing him from all desire and commitment of sin.
He immediately drives the spiritual parallel.
He who has shared Christ's cross no longer is alive to the pull of sin through the ordinary human desires,
but is alive only to the pull of God's will (Galatians 6 v 14).
V 3,4, The time past of our life may suffice. The life that is past had time sufficient to have shaped the will of the Gentiles.
Then follows a catalogue of the ugly sins visible outside of God's grace.
This reminds us of Paul's details of the works of the flesh in Galatians5:19-21.
V 4 They think it strange ... speaking evil. The changed lives of the believers mark them as strange, almost as "foreigners," bringing to the heathen condemnation and the mocking insult of the Christians.
V 5. Who shall give account. But it is to God and not to men that such are answerable we come before God as our judge.
And God's judgment will apply both to those now living and to thosewho are now dead.
Dependent upon one's treatment of verse 6, this judgment may be considered both a justification of believers and a condemnation of unrepentant sinners.
In the OT, particularly in the Psalms, judgment is often seen as justification for the righteous.
V 6. The gospel preached also to them that are dead. Some Commentators connect this with ch 3 v 19,20.
Lange sees both passages as referring to a post crucifixion evangelization of the unbelieving antediluvians by Christ, a further offer of salvation doubtless accepted by many of them. There are various other shades of interpretation.
To us there seems to be solid merit in the suggestion of
Scott, as modified by John Owen whose sense is:
"With this end in view (i.e., the final judgment just mentioned) was the gospel preached also to those (martyrs)
now dead, that they might be (as they were) judged in the flesh (and condemned to martyrdom) after the fashion of men, but might live in the Spirit according to God."
Here, then, is the teaching that, in view of final judgment, the martyred dead are better off than the unbelieving Gentiles of verse 3.
V 7. The end ... is at hand. With the focus still on the Judgment, the apostle instructs an attitude of self-control (be ye therefore sober), and calmness and attention to prayer.
V 8. Have fervent charity.
Here again is divine love (agape) as in I Corinthians 13, love which overlooks the sins and wrongs of others,
V 9. Here is a love which uses hospitality . . . without grudging. The loving of guests without murmuring, it dose not matter about your past life, all believers are equal
There is here a giving of self and substance gladly.
V 10. As every man hath received ... so minister. The "gift" received is a personality, a grace, which makes its possessors stewards of the manifold grace of God.
This grace is to be ministered to others, the best method also for its continued enjoyment by the original possessor.
Here again is loving sharing a spiritual blessing.
News from the Church New dates
6th November …..Friendship Group, (this covers all ages and the lonely people.)
20th November….. Knit and natter is a time to finish old projects or learn new skills
ANSWERS TO 27th October QUESTIONS
1) Naomi 2) Obed 3) King David 4) Matthew 5) Ruth 6) Ruths sister 7) Call me Mara,
8 ) Boaz said it to Ruth 9) He ran to Eli 10). Four 11) God calling to Samuel 12) Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth 13) God would judge his house 14) Go back to sleep 15) Let Him do what seemeth good to Him 16) He was 98 and fell off his chair and broke his neck
Bible Quiz this week’s Quiz is about Saul and Jonathan, David and Absalom
1 In what battle were Saul and Jonathan killed.?
2 Who was “lovely and pleasant in their lives”?
3 Who was Sauls Father ?
4 Who said “I have played the fool”?
5 Who did Jonathan make a covenant with?
6 Who said “ I was not disobedient”?
7 Jonathan gave David a pre-arranged sign, what was it ?
8 Which New Testament Apostle had the same name as the King of Israel?
9 What instruction did David give his army commander?
10 Where did Absalom and Davids armies fight?
11 In what strange way was Absalom prevented from escaping?
12 How did Joab learn of Absalom’s whereabouts?
13 What was the end of Absalom?
14 Two men ran a race who won and why did they run?
15 What was the Kings first question to the messengers?
16 What was Davids cry in answer?
A word from Ivan Biancardi
LET JESUS TAKE CARE OF YOUR SINS
A few years ago Leila and I had enjoyed a nice dinner at a local restaurant.
When we received the bill, a friend saw us and came over to us.
After we talked for a few moments, he took care of us. “I'll handle it,” he said.
Know what? I let him do what he wanted. I let him take care of the account. One day we will stand before God. We will all be there. We will all have to take care of our lives… every thought, every act, every action. If not for the grace of Christ, that would be a terrifying thought to me.
However, according to Scripture, Jesus came “to take away the sins of the world” (John 1:29).
On that day, I'll point to Christ. When my list of sins is produced, I'll point him out and say "He took care."
Let him take care of his.
God Bless