Chapter 4
| 1 Peter: Chapters -1- -2- -3- -4- -5- |
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4: • 1 Since Christ suffered in flesh, so you also equip and make ready the same mind, because the one who suffers ill treatment in flesh no longer disconnects from God, 2 but rather lives the remaining time in flesh not out from human passions, but out from God’s desire [h]. 3 For the past time is sufficient to have carried out the intentions of the ethnic peoples [that is, the unbelievers], when you once walked in lawless insolence, passionate desires, drunkenness, wild sexual parties, drinking contests, and unlawful idolatries. 4 They are now startled that you do not run with them into the same poured out wastefulness and speaking of evil. 5 They will give their account to Him who readily judges the living and the dead. 6 For this purpose the gospel was publicly declared to the dead, so that they might be judged truly according to men in the flesh; but that they might live according to God in Spirit. 7 The completion of all has now drawn near. Be clear-minded, therefore, and sober into prayers. • 8 Above all, have fervent love among yourselves, for love covers many mistakes. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint, • 10 as each has received a gift for the purpose of serving one another, as good stewards of the many and diverse graces and kindnesses of God. • 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the speaking of God; if anyone serves, let him serve out from the strength which God provides, so that God might be glorified in all through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the might into the seasons of the ages. Let it be so; it is so. • 12 Beloved do not be startled among yourselves at the fire as a temptation or test taking place, as if a strange thing were happening to you. 13 But rejoice as you have shared the sufferings of Christ, that you may also rejoice exultantly inside the unveiling of His glory. • 14 If you are reviled in the name of Christ, you are blessed and happy, because the glory and Spirit of God rests upon you. Indeed, by them He is slandered, but by you He is glorified. 15 Let not any of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer, or as a troublesome meddler. 16 However, if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God inside this name. • 17 For it is the opportune time and the right season for the judgment to have begun from the house of God, and if now first from us, what will be the outcome of those refusing to be persuaded by the gospel of God? 18 And, if the justly innocent one is scarcely saved, in what place will the disrespectful and sinner be made visible? • 19 Therefore also, those who suffer in the midst of God’s desire are committed to setting forth their souls alongside their faithful Creator inside of His well-doing. |
| Gospel Word | Notes |
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| • Definition: The knowledge of good and evil pits “doing the will of God” against “doing what the flesh wants.” This thinking is death. Life, on the other hand, is first concerned with Source. • Kingdom: When we know God as Source, that we are coming out from His thoughts, we give all our human passions to God, that He alone might keep us. And we live our lives, every next step, out from God’s desire to share life with us, that He might be Himself inside our world. • The Form for God through Jesus: God’s gift to each one of us is that we might serve one another inside of a shared life together. Indeed, God has made us to be stewards of His many different graces and kindnesses coming through us into our world and towards one another. As we give ourselves in joy to one another’s service, so God is glorified through His Church as the form of Jesus in all glory. • Speak Christ: We speak the same word that is Christ as the very speaking out from God. We speak no other word. We serve one another out from the Treasure of God filling our human vessels, for the power is of God (see 2 Corinthians 4:7). • Covenant & Kingdom: Covenant always brings forth Kingdom; Kingdom is always coming out from Covenant. As we share with Jesus in the fellowship of His sufferings, so we are His glory unveiled (the Apocalypse). • The Form for God through Jesus: Peter is going back and forth between Christian Community and the Unveiling of Jesus Christ. This is not something we do as solitary individuals, for we are partakers of Christ as one House together (see Hebrews 3:6 & 14). Community is the Unveiling. • Kingdom: Judgment is always to Life. It is a difficult thing for Jesus to draw us out from clinging to our psychotic lostness. Yet He accomplishes all Salvation well. In fact the sinner “being made visible” is the hope of Life, for only those who see can turn from self to Jesus. • Kingdom: God’s end result is to have many sons just like Jesus, setting forth their souls alongside of His for the sake of others, that God might “do well,” that is, give life through them. |