Good morning! Where did the weekend go? That was a fast one! I hope you all had a good rest and are prepared for this next week!
Peter turns to a discussion of end times and the attitudes/ behaviors we are to have in preparation for those end times- whenever that will be- so be ready always.
Peter begins by saying that essentially the commitment God calls us to is no less greater than the commitment God called Christ to. In the last days, we will suffer and we will be hurt, but we have hope that God will endure and so will we. Peter realizes that they (we) have already spent so much of our time living in this world rather than in God's world (v 3)- we are now called to live like Christians. Let the wisdom of God consume us and let us live the life that pleases God. People may look at you for "acting strange" or not participating in the worldly life (v 4), but let them talk for you are doing right by God.
Peter, as many early Christians, felt that the end times were close at hand (v 7). We have no idea when this will happen, so we need to be ready at all times, practicing the faith and goodness that we should be! We should be acting like Christians all the time- not just when the end is near! Be good to people, be loving, be kind, serve others. Hmmm...what a world it could be if we all practiced this concept of being Christians all the time! God gave us gifts/talents- so use them- all the time! The underlying emotion is love...love does conquer all things.
We will all face "fiery trials" but rather than looking at them as trials, we should look at them as ways to partake in Christ's sufferings (vv 13-14). If we take part in the suffering, then we can also take part in the joy and glory! We should be willing and ready to share everything with Christ. Suffering for Christ is good (v 14) because it shows that we are living the Christina life and modeling behaviors of a good Christian! Suffering as a Christian is not a bad thing; it is nothing to be ashamed of (v 16). Most of us here in the United States probably have never suffered for being Christian, but many many people across the globe are persecuted because of their faith. Peter makes a sobering point- if this is what God's children are experiencing- what about those that do not follow Christ (v 17)?
Peter gives us some very humbling and sobering thoughts to contemplate on this gray, rainy day! Lots to think about!
Shalom+
Pastor Paul
The interesting thing to me is vs6 - for this is the reason that the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead. My commentary says that in Thessaloniki, Christians worried that loved ones who died before Christ’s return might never see Christ. Peter’s readers needed to be reminded that the dead would be judged. I looked back in Ephesians 1:4 which says “for he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. It seems Peter and Paul had a similar way of looking at what happens to the dead.
ReplyDeletePeter wants us to participate in the suffering of Christ by our own suffer.
These are all ideas that I’m not familiar with.
That is true Cathy. Many people, not just the people from Thessaloniki, believed that those who had died would not be in the presence of Christ. Peter "corrects" them with the statement that if they have heard the Gospel, they would be living with God when Christ comes.
DeleteThere are several similarities between Peter and Paul on many levels!
Some of these are "new" concepts for us! 1 and 2 Peter are not preached in too much. Many of these "lesser" epistles are used in preaching. I am thinking of doing a series in the spring on some of these words from the epistles.
Good points Cathy!
This is an interesting chapter about the life I should be living as a Christian. I look back and see that I have missed the "good life"; i.e., ...debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and testable idolatry" [verse 3]. This is supposed to be a joke, but I have not missed that kind of life, even though I have not experienced it. I used to drink heavily, but I didn't consider myself a drunk. I could be considered lustful from my thoughts, which I keep to myself. So I haven't led a pure Christian life, and I do not know how I will be judged.
ReplyDeleteIs it possible that this pandemic is the beginning of the end times? Pastor, you mention that we will suffer much the same way that Christ did. Being in the ICU, on a ventilator, with an ET tube stuck down your throat is suffering, in my book, especially since, in most cases, the end result is death. This is good after the suffering as now we will enter into Christ's realm for eternity (we hope!!!).
I just read in this morning's newspaper that we will probably have to deal with COVID-19 for the rest of our lives. Based on my family's history (my parents and my older two siblings), I figure that I have at most 10 years left. I hope that it is in good health, but I realize that it could be cut short.
But what about my grandchildren (ages 18 months, 4, and 7)? I pray that they don't have to put up with this bull**** for the rest of their days as they have their whole lives ahead of them. The same goes for my children and their spouses, who are quite a bit older. I also pray for my step-grandchildren in Fort Worth, Texas.
When will the end come? When will Christ return? We don't know and we are not supposed to know [my thought]. It appears that we will all suffer in some way, and I pray that it will be brief and that we will come through it stronger than ever.
Hahahaha!!! I hear you Jack! Reminds me of college in the late 80s! (just kidding- somewhat)
DeleteWe have all fallen short, we will all be looked at carefully, but we have the hope of grace and mercy and that is what I am resting in, plus the ability to grow and mature!
There has been lots of discussion these last several years if these are the beginning of the end times. Historic weather events, terror, suffering of the innocents...gives us lots to think about. The texts tell us nobody will know- so always be ready! Are we?
COVID is going to be around for a while. I see it being like the flu- pop up outbreaks all the time. ugh. I do feel for the people that are struggling to deal with the new normal. What will life be like for them. I think of Joseph and what his world will be like.
We will survive!
Good points Jack= thanks
What gray, rainy day? It's sunny here and the temp is in the 80's! (We need the rain here, though. After living in gloomy, rainy, New York, it is a shock to the system to live in a place where it is mostly sunny with very little rain.
ReplyDeleteRain almost all day yesterday (Monday) gray for the most part- but still relatively warm- upper 60s.
DeleteI also was struck by vs. 6. My commentary says that you cannot be redeemed once you are dead - but I think how can anyone who has never heard the gospels, heard of Jesus, heard of God sending Jesus to die for our sins, be judged by something they have not heard. It sends me back to Hebrews 9:27 - but that says once you die, then comes judgement. But it seems to me that Jesus preached to the dead to give them a chance to accept them, since they died before they knew anything about Jesus. ??????? I also remember Paul saying in one of his letters that the dead are judged by their knowledge - so, I guess, if they never heard of the gospels, they will only be judged by their works - not their acceptance of Jesus???? I also question Peter saying that we should expect to suffer after all God suffered for us. Now I get that we should suffer as Christians and BECAUSE we are Christians, but since Jesus said He had plans for us, plans for our lives to be good, how does that equate to wanting us to suffer for God in our "normal" living? And didn't Jesus have to suffer for our sins? I am not trying to make this seem trivial, but......
ReplyDeleteSend some sunshine our way, Jack, and we will send you some rain!! Living in a place where it is mostly sunny - how wonderful!
It is all confusing. We have different people saying similar- yet slightly different things. If you haven't heard the gospel message- then how can you be judged by it? Then I think it is actions that "determine"? There is some theologians that Jesus did descend to the dead after Good Friday for a preaching/teaching spree so that the dead could hear the good news!
DeleteRemember- these words we read are the author's interpretations of what they heard/know. Peter isn't any more correct than Paul was or Jude or anyone else. The suffering thing is hard to take, but I like your point- we suffer because we are Christians...
It is confusing at times isn't it!
Thanks Donna!
Is my understanding correct in that if we suffer as Christ did we will not revert back to our sinful ways? (vs 1-3) I.m not completely understanding this section?? Judgement day! Yikes! none of us want to be there for that I would think, to have to stand before God and be judged for our lived lives will be very scary. The dead before Christ died to be judged / must be they will be judged by what they knew at the time before Jesus died to save us from our sins?. If Jesus did go them in the 3 days after his death on the cross I wonder what was said and what He told them?
ReplyDeleteThat is the hope- that our sufferings will teach us the correct and right path!
ReplyDeleteThis was a tough chapter. Peter is telling the people to expect some suffering because of Christ and that we should accept that suffering as Christ accepted death on the cross for us.
We will be judged- but we also have hope for mercy and grace!
Thansk Clara