1 Peter 4:8 - And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Number one, he says and above all things. That means top priority. Have fervent charity among yourselves: And the word charity is the word AGAPE love. The word fervent literally means to stretch out the hand, or to extend out the hand.
So, he's presenting a picture of an active love. In James Chapter 2, James says if somebody comes along and they're hungry and they need clothing, and you say "Well, I'll pray for you," what good is that? Faith without works is a dead faith. So, when its hardships and when there's suffering, have an active extended love, and notice this: among yourselves.
I know some of you in this forum have some knowledge of the Greek, so you will know that the term "among yourselves" is in the Attributive Position. But the focus is supposed to be on fellow believers. Just like Jesus said, people will know you're my disciples by your love for one another.
One of the disturbing things I've seen over the years is church ministries bringing in a few million dollars a year for their projects to reach the uncivilized world. And that's great if that's what the Lord is leading them to do, but I notice that right around the church, there are a lot of people needing help.
But they look beyond that. They look at what looks good on the tote board. And even some people within their church were suffering and going without, and the sensitivity wasn't there. Suffering creates sensitivity. Have an extended love among yourselves, for love shall cover the multitude of sins. That is from Proverbs 12:10.
Why cover a multitude of sins? Because that is what brings division and hardship within the body of Christ. We have to have an active extended love for repentance and restoration of sin. We have to deal with the sin issue in the body of Christ.
1 Peter 4:17 - 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?
For the time is come that judgment must begin, and notice this: (from) the house of God: The word (at) is literally the word from. This is the heart of Peter's letter. It's time that judgment begins from the house of God. In other words, God's judgment starts with us. And from us (the church), it goes out to the world.
Right now, God is dealing with His people because of the sin issue so we suffer and cease from sin through the suffering and hardship. But the non-believer seems to think that he/she can do whatever they want to do. They suffer some of the consequences of their sin, but they don't seem to be dealing with the direct discipline of God that God's people do.
It kind of makes you wonder. But what Peter is saying here is that God's judgment has begun at His house, and from there will reach out. Right now, it's for us, but later on the non-believers are going to be judged.
We are constantly under the discipline of God because He's our Father. But the non-believer, they get to run around all over the place. But their time's coming. The judgment won't be discipline for them. It will be judgment!
The proper perspective is to understand that because we're God's children, because this flesh always and constantly opposes the things of God, God says that as your Father, I've got to discipline that flesh of yours. We're not going to give it the freedom that the non-believers have. And we're going to bring hardship and trial to your life, fiery trials.
So don't think it strange. God's combating rebellion. And He's shaping us, disciplining us, and preparing us to come be with Him. The non-believers, what are they getting prepared for? The lake of fire doesn't take much preparation!
1 Peter 4:13 - 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.
But rejoice, and the term rejoice means continually rejoice. It's a Present Imperative. As I mentioned before, the word rejoice in Greek is reference to satisfaction. It's not rejoice like happiness, but rejoice as far as satisfied. Be continually satisfied, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings;
You see, we're following in His steps, so suffering in the flesh is common normal life for the believer. The purpose: That, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1 Peter 4:14 - 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.
Verse 14 is the best example of a word that has a Greek definition and meaning. If you be reproached, that is, be insulted, in the name of Christ, happy are you;
The word happy is MAKARIOS. It means to experience the fullness of something. It was used in the Beatitudes for Jesus when He's making reference to experiencing all the fullness of God comes in the midst of repentance and suffering. But he says for the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you:
The definition of the word is to experience the fullness of something. But then the meaning is right there in the text, for the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you:
You're being insulted for the things of Christ? God's Spirit and His glory is resting upon you. On their part he is evil spoken of, blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified.
And then you use it, and you find out that you really don't know how to use it, so you have to develop it and exercise it so that you can be "powerful" within the body of Christ. But it has nothing to do with this verse. In fact, just a bit of a generality, there's only one Greek word used for the giving of something to a believer, and that's the giving (the gift) of the Holy Spirit. That's it!
In 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 when it talks about the gifts of the Spirit, it's talking about the Holy Spirit who has all of these ministries. That word "gifts" has nothing to do with giving us a gift. It is a Greek word that has to do with the expressions of God's grace. They are His expressions. And He expresses God's grace in all of His ministries.
And 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 says believers are given these expressions. The Holy Spirit can minister through you one time this way, and another way a different time. Every time God's Spirit uses us, it's called grace because God's Spirit is doing it. He is the one that has all of these abilities. I have been given Him, but the gifts of the Spirit belong to Him. They are never given to me.
But again, because of our culture, we respond well to someone telling us that we're very special, and that we have a gift and we have to go out and use it. You see, I don't have to deny myself. I can go out and use it on you. But that's not what it means. In these hard times, as everybody has received an expression of God's grace in their life, minister to the other believers as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Other believers need God's grace right now. That's what he's saying.
1 Peter 4:9 - Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
The word hospitality (PHILOXENOI) means the love of strangers. It doesn't mean stranger as in you don't know the person. It's talking about believers who would travel through town either because of the work of the Lord, or they are just traveling, and giving them a place to stay so they wouldn't have to stay at the local inns where all the sin was going on.
And so open up your house to other believers. And do it without grudging. No complaining. Again, suffering creates situations where we have to be open. It causes us to take care of one another. And thirdly, suffering creates service.
1 Peter 4:10 - As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
It says as every man has received the gift, but the word "the" is not in the Greek manuscript. It is not "the gift." Even so minister the same one to another, and again, that's believers, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Now the word grace in grace of God, CHARIS is the Greek word. Well, the word gift is Charisma. It has a "ma" on the end of it in the Greek. And CHARISMA is grace in action. So, as everyone has received an expression of grace, then minister to one another. There's a need. So let God's grace minister through you in its various ways, which is manifold grace of God means.
Interesting that there's a play on words there, grace and gift. The word gift comes from grace. It is not talking about a person receiving "a gift" from God. And this is where we get off track. There are some that teach that you have the gift and that's your function in the body of Christ. They say that this gift that God has given you, you take it, and you develop it.
1 Peter 4:8 - And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Number one, he says and above all things. That means top priority. Have fervent charity among yourselves: And the word charity is the word AGAPE love. The word fervent literally means to stretch out the hand, or to extend out the hand.
So, he's presenting a picture of an active love. In James Chapter 2, James says if somebody comes along and they're hungry and they need clothing, and you say "Well, I'll pray for you," what good is that? Faith without works is a dead faith. So, when its hardships and when there's suffering, have an active extended love, and notice this: among yourselves.
I know some of you in this forum have some knowledge of the Greek, so you will know that the term "among yourselves" is in the Attributive Position. But the focus is supposed to be on fellow believers. Just like Jesus said, people will know you're my disciples by your love for one another.
One of the disturbing things I've seen over the years is church ministries bringing in a few million dollars a year for their projects to reach the uncivilized world. And that's great if that's what the Lord is leading them to do, but I notice that right around the church, there are a lot of people needing help.
But they look beyond that. They look at what looks good on the tote board. And even some people within their church were suffering and going without, and the sensitivity wasn't there. Suffering creates sensitivity. Have an extended love among yourselves, for love shall cover the multitude of sins. That is from Proverbs 12:10.
Why cover a multitude of sins? Because that is what brings division and hardship within the body of Christ. We have to have an active extended love for repentance and restoration of sin. We have to deal with the sin issue in the body of Christ.
1 Peter 4:17 - 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?
For the time is come that judgment must begin, and notice this: (from) the house of God: The word (at) is literally the word from. This is the heart of Peter's letter. It's time that judgment begins from the house of God. In other words, God's judgment starts with us. And from us (the church), it goes out to the world.
Right now, God is dealing with His people because of the sin issue so we suffer and cease from sin through the suffering and hardship. But the non-believer seems to think that he/she can do whatever they want to do. They suffer some of the consequences of their sin, but they don't seem to be dealing with the direct discipline of God that God's people do.
It kind of makes you wonder. But what Peter is saying here is that God's judgment has begun at His house, and from there will reach out. Right now, it's for us, but later on the non-believers are going to be judged.
We are constantly under the discipline of God because He's our Father. But the non-believer, they get to run around all over the place. But their time's coming. The judgment won't be discipline for them. It will be judgment!
The proper perspective is to understand that because we're God's children, because this flesh always and constantly opposes the things of God, God says that as your Father, I've got to discipline that flesh of yours. We're not going to give it the freedom that the non-believers have. And we're going to bring hardship and trial to your life, fiery trials.
So don't think it strange. God's combating rebellion. And He's shaping us, disciplining us, and preparing us to come be with Him. The non-believers, what are they getting prepared for? The lake of fire doesn't take much preparation!
Thanks again and God bless!
1 Peter 4:13 - 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.
But rejoice, and the term rejoice means continually rejoice. It's a Present Imperative. As I mentioned before, the word rejoice in Greek is reference to satisfaction. It's not rejoice like happiness, but rejoice as far as satisfied. Be continually satisfied, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings;
You see, we're following in His steps, so suffering in the flesh is common normal life for the believer. The purpose: That, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1 Peter 4:14 - 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.
Verse 14 is the best example of a word that has a Greek definition and meaning. If you be reproached, that is, be insulted, in the name of Christ, happy are you;
The word happy is MAKARIOS. It means to experience the fullness of something. It was used in the Beatitudes for Jesus when He's making reference to experiencing all the fullness of God comes in the midst of repentance and suffering. But he says for the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you:
The definition of the word is to experience the fullness of something. But then the meaning is right there in the text, for the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you:
You're being insulted for the things of Christ? God's Spirit and His glory is resting upon you. On their part he is evil spoken of, blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified.
1 Peter 4:10 Continued
And then you use it, and you find out that you really don't know how to use it, so you have to develop it and exercise it so that you can be "powerful" within the body of Christ. But it has nothing to do with this verse. In fact, just a bit of a generality, there's only one Greek word used for the giving of something to a believer, and that's the giving (the gift) of the Holy Spirit. That's it!
In 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 when it talks about the gifts of the Spirit, it's talking about the Holy Spirit who has all of these ministries. That word "gifts" has nothing to do with giving us a gift. It is a Greek word that has to do with the expressions of God's grace. They are His expressions. And He expresses God's grace in all of His ministries.
And 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 says believers are given these expressions. The Holy Spirit can minister through you one time this way, and another way a different time. Every time God's Spirit uses us, it's called grace because God's Spirit is doing it. He is the one that has all of these abilities. I have been given Him, but the gifts of the Spirit belong to Him. They are never given to me.
But again, because of our culture, we respond well to someone telling us that we're very special, and that we have a gift and we have to go out and use it. You see, I don't have to deny myself. I can go out and use it on you. But that's not what it means. In these hard times, as everybody has received an expression of God's grace in their life, minister to the other believers as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Other believers need God's grace right now. That's what he's saying.
1 Peter 4:9 - Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
The word hospitality (PHILOXENOI) means the love of strangers. It doesn't mean stranger as in you don't know the person. It's talking about believers who would travel through town either because of the work of the Lord, or they are just traveling, and giving them a place to stay so they wouldn't have to stay at the local inns where all the sin was going on.
And so open up your house to other believers. And do it without grudging. No complaining. Again, suffering creates situations where we have to be open. It causes us to take care of one another. And thirdly, suffering creates service.
1 Peter 4:10 - As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
It says as every man has received the gift, but the word "the" is not in the Greek manuscript. It is not "the gift." Even so minister the same one to another, and again, that's believers, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Now the word grace in grace of God, CHARIS is the Greek word. Well, the word gift is Charisma. It has a "ma" on the end of it in the Greek. And CHARISMA is grace in action. So, as everyone has received an expression of grace, then minister to one another. There's a need. So let God's grace minister through you in its various ways, which is manifold grace of God means.
Interesting that there's a play on words there, grace and gift. The word gift comes from grace. It is not talking about a person receiving "a gift" from God. And this is where we get off track. There are some that teach that you have the gift and that's your function in the body of Christ. They say that this gift that God has given you, you take it, and you develop it.
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