CHAPTER 4

(A.D. 60)

VICTORY OVER SIN

¹Forasmuch then as Christ has suffered for us in the flesh (refers to the Cross, with flesh referring to the fact that He died physically, and not spiritually as some claim), arm yourselves likewise with the same mind (doesnt mean we are to attempt to imitate Christ in suffering, but rather to make the fact He suffered our source of victory; He suffered in the flesh that we might have victory over the flesh): for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin (refers to the struggle between the flesh and the Spirit; suffering in the flesh by the Believer refers to stopping any dependence on self-effort, and depending totally on the Holy Spirit, Who demands that our Faith be in the Sacrifice of Christ [Rom. 8:1-2]);

²That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men (since being Saved, the sin nature is no longer to rule over us), but to the Will of God. (This refers to the Divine Nature ruling over us, which comes about as a result of our total dependence on Christ and the Cross. In fact, Christ and the Cross are never to be separated, which refers to the benefits of the Cross coming down to us even unto this hour [I Cor. 1:17].)

³For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles (refers to our life before coming to Christ), when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries (works of the flesh [Gal. 5:19-21]):

⁴Wherein they think it strange that you run not with them to the same excess of riot (the unsaved do not understand the reasons why the Believer left the old life), speaking evil of you(one of the great ways one knows that one is now living for God, as hurtful as it might be):

JUDGMENT

⁵Who shall give account (the coming Great White Throne Judgment, where all unbelievers will appear) to Him (refers to Christ) Who is ready to judge the quick (living) and the dead. (Now, He is the Saviour. Then, He will be the Judge.)

⁶For for this cause was the Gospel Preached also to them who are dead (the dead spoken of here have to do with Believers who heard the Gospel while they were alive, and accepted it), that they might be judged according to men in the flesh (doesnt matter how men may judge us, which is in contrast to the Judgment of God), but live according to God in the Spirit. (This refers to every Saint of God who has lived and died, and who is now with the Lord.)

⁷But the end of all things is at hand (paints everything in the light of Eternity; whatever our length of days on this Earth, it is nothing more or less by comparison to Eternity; we must always keep this end in view): be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. (Without prayer, there cannot be a proper relationship with the Lord.)

⁸And above all things have fervent charity (love) among yourselves: for charity (love) shall cover the multitude of sins. (When one Christian truly loves his fellow Christian, he will not publish abroad his failings, but will cover them up from the sight of others.)

⁹Use hospitality one to another without grudging. (Dont do such because it is commanded, but do it from love for God and man.)

SPIRITUAL GIFTS

¹⁰As every man has received the Gift (everything good we have is a Gift from God), even so Minister the same one to another (refers to being of service in anyway we can), as good stewards of the manifold Grace of God (speaks of the great Gift all of us have been given; we should walk wisely in this Gift of Grace).

¹¹If any man speak, let him speak as the Oracles of God (let him speak according to the Word of God); if any man Minister, let him do it as of the ability which God gives (refers to the giving of ourselves to the Work of God in any manner, but more specifically it refers to us giving of our financial resources for the Cause of Christ): that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ (refers to what Christ did at the Cross and through nothing else), to Whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (He is due all praise because of His great Sacrifice, which took back dominion.)

THE FIERY TRIAL

¹²Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you (trials do not merely happen; they are designed by wisdom and operated by love; Job proved this), as though some strange thing happened unto you (your trial, whatever it is, is not unique; many others are experiencing the same thing!):

¹³But rejoice (despite the trial), inasmuch as you are partakers of Christs sufferings (refers to suffering for Righteousness sake); that, when His Glory shall be revealed (refers to His Second Coming), you may be glad also with exceeding joy. (There will be great joy in the heart of every Saint when we come back with the Lord at the Second Coming.)

¹⁴If you be reproached for the Name of Christ, happy are you(should have been translated, since you are reproached); for the Spirit of Glory and of God rests upon you (refers to the Holy Spirit): on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified. (This refers to the fact that the world, and even the apostate Church, reproaches this sacred influence of the Holy Spirit by their treatment of true Christians. But if we conduct ourselves correctly, the Lord is Glorified in our lives.)

¹⁵But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other mens matters. (This Scripture plainly tells us that if the Christian doesnt place His Faith entirely in the Cross, which guarantees the help of the Holy Spirit, these things Peter mentioned can definitely happen. Thats why it is imperative every Believer knows and understands the Message of the Cross.)

¹⁶Yet if any man suffer as a Christian (which sometimes happens for Righteousness sake), let him not be ashamed (such a one is not suffering because of lack of Faith, but rather because of his Faith); but let him glorify God on this behalf. (If we truly suffer for Righteousness sake, such suffering will always glorify the Lord. We should rejoice accordingly [Vs. 13].)

JUDGMENT

¹⁷For the time is come that judgment must begin at the House of God (Judgment always begins with Believers, and pertains to their Faith, whether in the Cross or otherwise; the Cross alone is spared Judgment, for there Jesus was judged in our place): and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them who obey not the Gospel of God? (If God will Judge His Own, how much more will He Judge the unredeemed? The Cross alone stays the Judgment of God. Let that ever be understood.)

¹⁸And if the Righteous scarcely be saved (can be saved only by trusting Christ and the Cross, and nothing else), where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? (If the great Sacrifice of Christ is rejected and spurned, where does that leave those who do such a thing? There is no hope for their Salvation.)

¹⁹Wherefore let them who suffer according to the Will of God (it really doesnt matter what we have to go through in order to live for God, the end result will be worth it a million times over) commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing (victory is assured if we continue to look to the Cross), as unto a Faithful Creator. (This means God hasnt created an insufficient Salvation. He has created a Way through the Death of Christ that guarantees victory, if we will only follow that Way.)