I Peter
Chapter
4
1~~
Therefore, as Christ has suffered for us
in
the sphere of His human body . . .
train
and equip yourselves likewise with the same mind.
For
He that has suffered in the flesh has paused sin.
{Note: All sin occurs when you are out of fellowship.}
{Orientation
to the will of God verses 2-3}
2~~
That he {any believer} no longer
should
live the rest of his time
in
the flesh {the remainder of a believer's life}
to
the lusts of mankind,
but
to the will of God.
3~~
For emphatically sufficient was the time having elapsed
in
the will of the Gentiles
{traveling in the past with the 'Fast Crowd'},
when
we traveled from one place to another {Jet setters today}
in
lasciviousness {unrestrained sexually activities},
lusts
{the inner call to lasciviousness},
excess
of wine,
revelings
{parties designed to set someone up for sex},
banqueting
{straight to the point - pick up at a bar},
and
abominable idolatries {human sacrifice, etc.}.
4~~
In which thing,
they
{the fast crowd} are astonished
that
you run not with them to the same excess of debauchery.
They
keep on maligning you.
{Note: The fast crowd can not believe that you do not want to be with them!}
5~~
Who {the believer separating from the fast crowd}
shall
give an account to the One
having
and holding readiness
to
evaluate the living {the spiritual living}
and
the dead {unbeliever - the spiritually dead}.
6~~
Because of this fact
was
the gospel proclaimed also to the spiritually dead,
that
they might be evaluated and judged
according
to the norms and standards
of
the men in the flesh {human good standard},
but
he that keeps on living . . .
according
to the standards of The God in the spirit {divine good}.
{Main
reason for the epistle now mentioned}
7~~
But the end of all things is at hand.
Be
you vigilant and self-disciplined with regard to prayer.
{Note: Great tragedy is coming to the area - Nero persecuted the Christians in this area.}
8~~
Before all things,
have
and hold intense agape love among yourselves.
For
agape love keeps on blotting out a multitude of sins.
{Note: Agape is the strongest Greek word for love - intense love induced by the filling of the Spirit.}
9~~
Hospitalities, one to another of the same kind,
without
murmurings {sullen discontent}.
10~~As
everyone has received a gracious endowment,
keep
on serving {or minister} the same one to another,
as
good stewards {administrators}
of
the many-faceted grace of God.
{Illustration
follows}
11~~
If anyone keeps on communicating doctrine,
let
him communicate from the doctrinal viewpoint of God.
If
any man serves or ministers,
let
him do it as of the ability with which The God provides.
That
in all things The God {the Father}
may
be glorified
through
Jesus Christ,
to
Whom {Jesus} keeps on being Glory and Power
forever
and ever. 'I BELIEVE IT!'/Amen.
12~~
Beloved ones {the objects of God's love},
stop
being shocked
by
the maximum pressure you face coming to you for your benefit,
as
though some unusual event has caught you off guard.
13~~
But keep on rejoicing,
because
you have in common the sufferings of Christ,
that
even in the reveling of his Glory
that
you may be glad {share the happiness of God or have +H}.
14~~
If you are reproached or insulted for the person of Christ,
and
you are . . . happinesses.
Because
the Spirit of Glory {Holy Spirit} even of God,
refreshes
from above upon you for your benefit.
{Suffering
for discipline}
15~~
For you all stop suffering (!)
as
a murderer {ignoring the right of others to life},
or
as a thief {ignoring the right of others to private property},
or
as an evildoer {ignoring the other's rights of privacy -
civil disobedience, etc.},
or
as a mettler in the affairs of others.
{In
contrast - suffering for blessing}
16~~
But if, and it is true, any as a Christian {suffers},
stop
being ashamed {don't get emotional about it},
but
keep on using grace . . .
glorifying
God in the sphere of His name.
{A
Rebound Verse}
17~~
For the sphere of time
{the time of grace between salvation and death or the rapture}
to
begin judgment {to confess your sins is a form of self-judgement
- "if we judge ourselves we shall not be judged" }
is
from the ultimate source of the house of God,
and
if it first begins at the ultimate source of us,
what
shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
18~~
And if the righteous {believer}
with
difficulty receives salvation,
where
shall the ungodly {unbeliever}
and
the sinner
make
an appearance? {In the lake of fire!}
19~~Wherefore
let them that suffer
according
to the norms and standards of the design of God
deposit
their souls in the sphere of divine good.
**************************************************
Joshua_Sozo™ and Syndein ™ are the Trademarks of Syndein a California DBA of Kenneth Sidley & Associates, Inc., a California Corporation. All rights reserved.
Copyright© Syndein 1982-2010. All rights reserved.
This page is sponsored by Kenneth Sidley, CPA, an Orange County California CPA (949) 706-3133. Please call Ken for high quality, low cost CPA services in Orange County California. This includes audit, review, compilation, tax returns, Quickbooks, and business consulting services.
This page is sponsored by Moxxor For Pain Free Living. Moxxor is a highly concentrated Omega 3 product that has reduced inflammation in this writer. Please go to this website to read more about Moxxor.
|
|
|
|
