1 Peter 4

1 Peter 4:1

And these all . . . received not the promise. By the power of faith they lived holy and heroic lives, but all died without having seen the fulfillment of the promise of a Deliverer.

1 Peter 4:2

God having provided some better thing for us. The new and better covenant, the gospel, the realization of the promises made to Abraham. That they without us should not be made perfect. That they and we together might be made complete in the city whose builder and maker is God. The full fruition, the being made complete (perfect) belongs to the heavenly state. All these ancient heroes, who died not having received the promise, need the realization of the promise in Christ to make them perfect; by that promise we also are saved.

1 Peter 4:4

Perseverance and the Christian Race SUMMARY OF HEBREWS 12: How to Run the Christian Race. Enduring Affliction. The Lord’s Chastisement of Children. The Lesson from the Case of Esau. The Terrors of Sinai Contrasted with the Gospel. Paying Heed to the Gospel. So great a cloud of witnesses. The vast cloud of witnesses named in chapter 11, who testify by their lives to the power of faith. Let us lay aside every weight. Every hindrance. The figure used is that of the Greek foot races in the games then practiced in every province of the Roman Empire, including Palestine. Before running the runner laid off every weight. And the sin which doth so easily beset [us]. Our besetting sin, whatever it may be. In the case of these Hebrew Christians the context shows that the besetting sin was unbelief. And let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Run the Christian race with steadfast perseverance.

1 Peter 4:5

Looking unto Jesus. In running, Jesus should be constantly regarded as the example. The author and finisher of [our] faith. Not “our faith”, but “the faith” in the Greek. The Gospel, which rests upon faith, is meant rather than the individual faith of the saint. Jesus is its author and perfected it. He is the exemplar of all who live by faith. Hence we should look to him. For the joy that was set before him. The joy of saving men and of sitting at God’s right hand. Endured the cross, despising the shame. Not only its pain, but its shame. It was in that age the most ignominious of deaths. And is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. In the place of heavenly honor.

1 Peter 4:6

Consider him . . . lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. When you become faint and discouraged by persecution, consider what Christ suffered from sinners.

1 Peter 4:7

Ye have not yet resisted unto blood. Have not been persecuted unto death.

1 Peter 4:8

Ye have forgotten the exhortation. Surely they must have forgotten, or they would bear their tribulations more cheerfully. My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord. This is quoted from Job 5:17-18. See also 2 Samuel 6:7-10. The thought is, Do not murmur at God’s reproofs and chastenings.

1 Peter 4:9

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth. The chastening hand does not show the anger of God, but his love. Every child is chastened and reproved for its good.

1 Peter 4:10

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons. If you are called on to suffer, it shows that God is treating you as his children.

1 Peter 4:11

If ye be without chastisement . . . then are ye bastards, and not sons. Instead of that being a fact for congratulation, it only shows that God does not regard you as children. You may call yourselves God’s children, but you are not true sons.

1 Peter 4:12

Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected [us]. Every judicious father corrects his children in some way. Shall we not then submit cheerfully to the heavenly Father’s correction? Shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits. Our earthly parents are the parents of our bodies; God is the creator of all spirits, and the author of our spiritual life. When we are born of the Spirit our new life is due to God, and we are begotten as his children.

1 Peter 4:13

They verily for a few days chastened [us] after their own pleasure. For a little while earthly parents corrected as it pleased them, but he for [our] profit, that [we] might be partakers of his holiness. But God ever watches us that we may be made holy.

1 Peter 4:14

No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous. It is never pleasant to endure the chastening, but afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness. But it afterwards benefits by the holier life it insures. In sorrow we naturally cling closer to God.

1 Peter 4:15

Lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees. See Job 4:3 Isaiah 35:3 Ezekiel 7:17. The thought is, shake off all weariness, all lameness, and push right on.

1 Peter 4:17

Follow peace with all [men]. Live peaceful lives. And holiness. Pure and sinless lives. Without which. Without a holy life no one shall be in fellowship with God. No man shall see the Lord. Realize his presence with us. See Matthew 5:8

1 Peter 4:18

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God. Being careful that no one lags behind and falls by the way so as not to reach the final reward. Lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you]. Any bitter opposition, or element of disturbance causing members to sin.

1 Peter 4:19

Lest there [be] any fornicator. Of course such a sinner would not live the life of holiness enjoined. Or profane person. A worldly person who profanes holy privileges by placing on them a worldly estimate. As Esau. See Genesis 25:27-30. He illustrates what is meant by a profane person. Who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For a savory meal he bartered away a birthright bestowed by God. So any professing Christian who would sell his heavenly birthright for worldly advantages would be a profane person.