1 Peter 4:18 KJV [18] “And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”      In this verse, Peter makes distinctions between the righteous and the sinner. We are all sinners outside of the grace of God and the blood of Jesus. However, if you are saved, the righteousness of Christ has been applied to your life. He is not talking about self-righteousness but His righteousness. As the songwriter wrote, “In my hand no price I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling.” It is a great truth that the Son has made us …

1 Peter 4:17 KJV [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?”      There is a lot to consider in this verse about the judgment of God. The shocking reality is that judgment does not start with sinners but begins with the saints. This is true both in this life and in eternity. God will deal with His children first because we belong to Him. He loves us too much to let …

1 Peter 4:16 KJV [16] “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.”      Suffering is something we do not like to think about much. It is natural for us to want to live life in comfort and ease. We would like for life to sail smoothly without any interruptions or complications. However, we all know that life is seldom a smooth path. Many storms will come our way, and there will be many valleys to cross between here and the other side of life. Suffering is …

1 Peter 4:15 KJV [15] “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.”      There is a warning in this verse about suffering. The warning is that we need to know why we are going through it. Be sure that the suffering that comes into your life is not self-inflicted. We must be sure that we are suffering as a Christian and not as a criminal. I don’t want to live in a way that the Father has to punish me. Lot did …

1 Peter 4:14 KJV [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.”      The word “Christian” is found only three times in the Bible and was given to early believers by the enemies of the church. It was not a title esteemed to be great but given to bring mockery and shame. As the world mocked early believers for being Christians, it would later become an honor to be …

1 Peter 4:13 KJV [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.”      We should count it all joy that we can suffer for the cause of Christ. This is the truth that Peter is teaching these saints as they go through the fiery trials of life. Suffering reveals the glory of God to this world. These two truths are woven throughout Peter’s letter because the world believes that the absence of suffering is glory. Peter does not want God’s people to …

1 Peter 4:12 KJV [12] “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:”      Peter is encouraging these saints not to be alarmed by the persecution that comes into their lives. They are to think it not strange when they face trials for their faith. He reminds them as Christians, they are going to face persecution in this world. Some of that persecution may be physical, and some may be verbal. However, all persecution is mental and emotional, no matter what kind of trials we are …

1 Peter 4:11 KJV [11] “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”      Peter encourages believers in this verse to do all for the glory of God. After all, God is the only One who should receive the glory, and He is the only One worthy of the glory. There are a lot of people today that are glory hogs. …

1 Peter 4:10 KJV [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.”      Peter talks about stewardship in this verse, not emphasizing it in the financial realm, but spiritually.  We all believe that we should not waste the money we have received from the Lord, but what about the spiritual gifts He has given us? God has uniquely equipped His children and given us different spiritual gifts. He wants us to grow in His grace, mature in His Word, and use our spiritual gifts …

1 Peter 4:9 KJV [9] “Use hospitality one to another without grudging.”      It is shocking to see someone who claims to be a child of God hold a grudge against another brother, but I understand that none of us are above it. I realize that my flesh is capable of harboring ill feelings toward another brother just as quickly as others. I also take into consideration those who may have been victims of abuse and that it may take years for them to overcome the trauma of their past. We all know God’s grace is sufficient, and it is …