I Peter
4:7-11
(A Bible Study Led by Dr. Larry
Reynolds)
October 24, 2013
1.
I
want to begin this study by asking you a question. It is one of the most important questions you
will ever answer. The question is, “What
is your basic philosophy of life?”...
--by what premise do you
operate?...
--how do you make decisions?...
--what criteria do you use in
determining how to spend your life?...
2.
When
you reduce it to the lowest possible common denominator, there are, in reality,
only two primary life philosophies...two opposing ways to view life...
--one view says, "This life is all there is. What you see is what you get and there is no
higher power beyond ourselves...no ultimate purpose for our existence. We might as well eat, drink, and be merry for
tomorrow we die and there is nothing beyond that."
--other view is much more
optimistic…it says, "We are God's creation...have been placed here by
Him...live in His world and everything in world, including us, ultimately
belongs to Him...we are responsible to God for how we manage our lives..."
4. Can't live by both those views at same time...we must live by one
or the other, but really can't subscribe to both simultaneously...must believe
either--
--that we are here as result of
chance or we are here as result of choice of some higher being...
--that this life is all there is
or there is an existence for us beyond our time in this world...
--responsible for how live in
this world or we are not responsible...
And how we manage our lives
depends on which of these two philosophies of life to which we subscribe...
5. Of course, the Bible argues for the second philosophy...the one that
asserts we are God's creation, we are destined for eternity, and we are
responsible to God...in our study of I Peter, have come to a beautiful
Scripture passage which says since we are God's creation and since we are
destined for eternity, we should live a certain way in this world...look at I
Peter 4:7‑11...
If
you are even remotely familiar with professional football, you know what a two
minute warning is...when only two minutes are left in the half, the official
stops the game and warns both teams that only two minutes remain to be
played...every team has in its play book what is called a “two minute drill”
which allows it to get the very most from those last two minutes...in this
passage Peter gives us sort of a two minute warning...
Notice v.7 begins with phrase "the
end of all things is at hand..."...point of that statement is that
time is running out...we must make the most of every moment we
have...Christians should live in the awareness that this world is not all there
is...there is an eternity awaiting us after our stay in this world, and that
eternity could begin at any time...in light of that, Peter tells us we should
do three specific things:
Be good stewards/managers of our
lives
1. Life is gift...not something deserved...earned...necessarily have
right to...something God, in His grace, has chosen give to us...
2. Life precious and life, in this world, certainly limited...all know intellectually time in
this world limited, but have difficulty accepting that fact emotionally...know
only have short time in this world, but tend live as if have forever...
3. Sobering thought that at end each day have one less day live that
had 24 hours before...true for people of all ages...no guarantees about length
life in this world...because of that should approach each day as if last and
live best we can according to God's plan for us...
1. Basically what Peter says last part v.7...there told to "be
of sound judgment and sober spirit for purpose of prayer"...like
way NEB translates...says, "so you must lead an ordered and sober
life, given to prayer.."
·
The
word translated "sound judgement" (NASB) and "ordered"
(NEB) is sophronein, which means live
life in proper perspective...to have right priorities...
·
The
word translated “sober spirit” (NASB) and “sober life” (NEB) is nespsate, which means self-controlled…
2.
Other
words, saying to manage your life well means determining those things really
important and focusing on them...
Be characterized by genuine love
for others
1. While life is the greatest gift we've received, love is the greatest
gift we have to give...in this passage Peter places special emphasis on our
being characterized by love...notice how v.8 begins..."above all"...look vv.8‑9 ‑ "Above
all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude
of sins. Be hospitable to one another
without complaint."...
2. If look carefully will notice these verses tell us several things
about the way we are to love...
--We are to love fervently
- Word translated "fervent" means sincere, earnest, and
consistent...doesn't waver...never fails...always willing sacrifice for sake of
one being loved...kind love that never dies...loving with every fiber of our
beings...word was used to describe an athlete in a race stretching toward the
finish line...there should be an energy, an enthusiasm about our love which is
apparent to those who come into contact with us....
--We are to love graciously
- Notice v.8 says "...love covers a multitude of sins"...that
is, love is ready forgive time and time again...if really love someone, easy
have forgiving spirit toward that person...not that love is blind to faults and
shortcomings...but genuine love accepts people as they are, faults and
all...how God loves us and how we're to love each other... There
are several theories concerning this phrase: (1) it is an OT quote from Prov.
10:12 (from the MT not the LXX) where love does not remember wrongs done to it;
(2) it is related to James 5:20 where love helps another believer reverse the
spiritual consequences of back sliding; (3) it is related to Matt. 6:14–15 and
Mark 11:25 where our forgiveness of others is an evidence of our being forgiven
(i.e. Origen and Tertullian); or (4) it relates to the ability of love not to
see the obvious weaknesses of fellow Christians under persecution (cf. I Cor.
13:7).[1]
--We are to love generously
- Command to "be hospitable without complaint" in v.9
is command to share basic necessities life with those who need them...in 1st
century church were two specific occasions when this was especially important--
--Christian missionaries who
traveled across first century world to make gospel known needed shelter and
support...
--Sometimes new Christians
completely cut‑off from family/jobs and had no means support...these people
needed help from other Christians...
Peter says love means sharing
with such people without grumbling or complaint... Believers’
attitudes are crucial. Believers realize they are owners of nothing and
stewards of everything.[2]
3.
Nothing
says more about our relationship with Lord than how treat people...if abusive,
manipulative, unforgiving, calloused toward people, indication not really
disciple of the One who said, "A new commandment I give unto you,
that you love one another as I have
loved you...by this all men will know
that you are my disciples, if you have
love for one another..." [John 13:34-35]
4.
And
it’s not enough merely to profess love for others...we must demonstrate our
love by what we do...as the Apostle John wrote, “...let us not love with
word or tongue, but in deed and truth...” [I John 3:18]
Use gifts God has given us for
the benefit of others
1.
Verse
10 makes point every Christian has received some gift from God...gift received
to be used in ministry for good of others..."As each one has
received a special gift, employ it in serving one another..." The term gift (charisma) is from the root
for “grace” (charis). These gifts are undeserved, unmerited love gifts for
ministry. Every believer has a spiritual gift, given by God at salvation, for
the purpose of ministry to and for the Church (cf. Rom. 12:6–8; I Cor. 12:7,
11, 18; Eph. 4:7). [3]
“in serving one another”
This is a PRESENT ACTIVE PARTICIPLE used as an IMPERATIVE. It is from the Greek
term for servant (diakonos). This later becomes the title for deacons (cf.
Phil. 1:1). In Christianity leaders are servants, not bosses. Spiritual gifts
are for others, not ourselves (cf. I Cor. 12:7). Spiritual gifts are not “merit
badges” but “service towels.”
“as good stewards”
This is literally “household managers.” The church is the household of God (cf.
v. 17). Believers will give an account to God in Christ for their stewardship
of spiritual gifts (cf. I Cor. 3:10–17; II Cor. 5:10).
“the manifold grace of God”
This passage balances I Pet. 1:6. For every trial (cf. James 1:2) there is a
commensurate grace of God and God has chosen to make it available through other
believers. No believer is an island.
4:11 “whoever … whoever” These
are two FIRST CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCES. God’s gifted servants are expected
to speak and serve through His power. If we speak it is His utterances. If we
serve it is by His strength.
“which God supplies” This
is a PRESENT ACTIVE INDICATIVE of a word used of one who financially supported
a “chorus” (chorēgēo, which is a compound of choros and hēgeomai). God
continues to richly supply His gifted ones (cf. II Cor. 9:10, the same word
with epi prefixed, occurs in II Pet. 1:5, 11).
It is interesting that Paul seems to attribute
spiritual gifts to the Spirit (cf. Rom. 12) or to Christ (cf. Eph. 4:11), but
Peter attributes them to God the Father. This is another example of all the
persons of the Godhead being involved in kingdom activities (cf. I Cor.
12:4–6).
“so that in all things God may be
glorified through Jesus Christ” This is a purpose
(hina) clause. Spiritual gifts should glorify God, not the human agent. Our
giftedness points to Him (cf. Matt. 5:16; I Cor. 10:31; I Pet. 2:12).
“to whom belongs the glory and
dominion forever and ever” This refers to Jesus in this
context (cf. II Tim. 4:18; II Pet. 3:18; Rev. 1:6). In Rev. 5:13 it is used of
both the Father and the Son. Usually this phrase refers to the Father (cf. I
Pet. 5:11; Rom. 11:36; 16:27; Eph. 3:21; Phil 4:20; I Tim. 1:17; I Pet. 5:11;
Jude 25; Rev. 7:12). For note on “glory” see 1:21.
Doxologies
are common in the NT. The NT authors often break out in praise to God (cf. Rom.
11:33–36; Eph. 3:20–21; I Pet. 5:11).[4]
2. What gift may have not really important...in this passage Peter
mentions two broad categories of gifts...
--gifts of speaking which could
include such things as preaching and teaching and encouraging...
--gifts of service which could
include such things as practical kindness and helping someone in need and
practicing hospitality...
And there are numerous other
spiritual gifts mentioned in various parts of the Scripture...what is important
is not what particular gift you may have...what is important is how you use
your gift for benefit of others and glory of God...
CONCLUSION
1. In Lawrencburg, TN there is a cemetery...in that cemetery are two
tombstones, not very far apart, with contrasting inscriptions written on
them...one of the tombstones says, "He made his life the best he
could. No fear of gods ... no thought of
future punishment or reward controlled his life. His mind was free from religious or other
superstitions."...the other tombstone was inscribed with this
simple Bible verse, "Well done, thou good and faithful
servant."
2. Which of those two inscriptions most accurately reflects your
philosophy of life?...want to remind you today that we all live in the shadow
of eternity...because of that we should--
--manage our lives well...
--be characterized by fervent,
gracious, generous love...
--use the gifts God has given us
for the benefit of others...
[1]
Utley, R. J. D. (2000). Vol. Volume 2:
The Gospel according to Peter: Mark and I
& II Peter. Study Guide Commentary Series (256). Marshall, Texas: Bible
Lessons International.
[2]
Utley, R. J. D. (2000). Vol. Volume 2:
The Gospel according to Peter: Mark and I
& II Peter. Study Guide Commentary Series (256). Marshall, Texas: Bible
Lessons International.
[3]
Utley, R. J. D. (2000). Vol. Volume 2:
The Gospel according to Peter: Mark and I
& II Peter. Study Guide Commentary Series (256). Marshall, Texas: Bible
Lessons International.
[4]
Utley, R. J. D. (2000). Vol. Volume 2:
The Gospel according to Peter: Mark and I
& II Peter. Study Guide Commentary Series (256–257). Marshall, Texas:
Bible Lessons International.
