Sermon26-33 1Pt4 "Grace-driven Life" Guide

1 Peter 4:1-11 theme verse 1 Peter 4:11

The praise and honor and glory be to our heavenly Father who seeks true worshipers who worship Him with the Spirit and truth.

On this twenty eighth Sunday of the year 2026, I pray that the grace of the Holy Spirit, who applies to us all the benefits Jesus accomplished for our salvation, and His power to proclaim the good news of the gospel to the whole world, may be full in you. Over the past several weeks, we have been looking at how we, who have been saved by God's grace, ought to live according to God's will so that His will may be done on this earth, yet this week, through 1 Peter 4, we would like to look at by what strength we can live in God's will together.

1)    The First Epistle of Peter, from which we read today's text, was written by Peter around AD 64-68 to the churches scattered across the various regions of northwestern and central Asia Minor—namely Cappadocia, Galatia, Asia, Pontus, and Bithynia.

Although a few Jews who had been scattered when the southern kingdom of Judah was destroyed by the Neo-Babylonian Empire still lived in this region, it is presumed that most of the converts were Gentiles. Yet, after being converted to Christianity, these Gentile converts thoroughly followed the teachings of the Lord to reject the worship of the Roman emperor and idol worship they had previously followed so that they suffered severe oppression and persecution not only from the Roman authorities, but also rejection and exclusion and even social banishment from the communities to whom they had belonged.

To these people, Peter exhorted them to endure their suffering in joy, while living holy lives as sojourners in obedience to the word of the Lord, saying that although they were suffering intensely now, they will obtain heavenly glory through this suffering, as Jesus Christ also suffered for us, yet at last received glory (1:11; 5:1).

2)    Especially in chapter 4, where we read today's text, Peter

first, in 4:1-6, as those who have suffered in the flesh have ceased from sin, urged them to abandon the old life to follow human passions, instead to walk in the way of God, according to His will.

And then, in the second section, 4:7-11, Peter called upon them to be sober-minded and awake in prayer, to love one another fervently, to show hospitality to one another without complaint, and to serve one another with whatever gift they have received, as good stewards of God's various grace.

And finally, in the last section, 4:12-19, he encouraged the suffering saints to even rejoice instead, as sharing the sufferings of Christ, because when Christ returns in glory, they will also receive glory in joy. And also he advised them to give glory to God by doing good even in their suffering, and to entrust their souls to the faithful God.

3)    Therefore, among these, we would like to look together at a few points from today's text, 4:1-11, to learn few lessons together.

First, we would like to understand a somewhat difficult verse in today’s text. Verse 6 says, “[PASTE ESV 1 Peter 4:6 HERE]” Here the question is how we should interpret the phrase "the gospel was preached to the dead."

Regarding this, there are several interpretations within Reformed interpreters. I mean, the first view, linking this with 1 Peter 3:19, holds that it means Christ went in spirit and proclaimed the gospel to the spirits in prison where the unbelievers stay.

But this view is a misinterpretation of 1 Peter 3:19 and 4:6. I mean, 1 Peter 3:18-20 means that the Spirit of Christ, through Noah, called the people of that age to repentance, but because they did not obey, they perished; and then 4:6 means that the Lord who died on the cross yet was resurrected, proclaimed His victory to all in heaven and on earth and under the earth. As such, verse 6 emphasizes that people of every age have been given the opportunity for repentance and salvation.

So, the second view holds that, as verse 5 declares that Christ will become the judge of all the living and the dead, including believers and unbelievers alike, in the final judgment, because all the dead, too, were given the opportunity for repentance and salvation.

In other words, this verse emphasizes God's sovereign judgment as God has appointed Christ as judge of all the living and the dead, declaring the universal principle of judgment.

4)    Now, second, we would like to look at the meaning of the suffering of Christians, through the text, 4:1-19. First, we can see that there are two sufferings that Christians endure—one due to sin, and the other for the name of Christ.

So, we Christians should not suffer the first, while we have to suffer for the name of Christ, which has the following meanings. I mean,

a) First, it is said that suffering in the flesh causes us to cease from sin and to live the rest of our time in the flesh according to God's will; in this way, the suffering becomes a tool that sanctifies us.

b) And in verse 12, this suffering is called a ‘fiery trial,’ as the name suggests, it shows us that such suffering is intended to refine the saints. Just as iron is refined in a furnace and silver in a crucible, suffering produces our patience and refines our character as Romans 5 says.

c) And third, as verse 16 says, when we suffer as Christians, we could glorify God in Jesus’ name. I mean, doing good in the midst of suffering can bring glory to God.

d) And finally, through this suffering, His disciples participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that because of this, when Christ returns to this earth again, they will enjoy glory and everlasting blessedness together with Him.

That's why Peter tells Christians to rejoice, rather than despair, even in the midst of sufferings.

5)    And then as Christ suffered in the flesh, and was put to death in the flesh for sin, and died on the cross for us, but through His resurrection led us to God, we too, are called to live the rest of our earthly lives not by following the passions of the flesh, but according to God's will even amidst the suffering in the flesh. And then verses 7 to 10 describe what that life looks like. I mean, it is:

a) a life of being sober-minded and awake in prayer,

b) a life of loving one another fervently,

c) a life of showing hospitality to one another,

d) and a life of serving one another.

To elaborate it further, Peter, even in the midst of suffering, in verse 7 exhorts us that in these last times we should live discerning God's will by being sober-minded and awake in prayer, loving one another fervently, showing hospitality to one another, and serving one another through the gifts God has given.

Here, “showing hospitality to one another without grudging” implies that, rather than complaining against one another, we should welcome one another—that is, accepting and receiving one another.

6)    But there is something we need to consider at this point. I mean, the text tells us that the purpose of such good deeds is to glorify God through Christ.

In other words, we need to think about how we can glorify God. If we think and act that such good deeds by Christians came from their own inherent goodness, then these good deeds would bring glory to Christians themselves rather than to God.

Therefore, as Galatians 2:20 says, “[PASTE ESV Galatians 2:20 HERE]”

since it is not by my own will or my own strength, or my own ability, but only by God's grace, we can glorify God as we show that everything comes from Christ who lives within us.

7)    That's why today's text, verse 10, says that each of us has received a gift and has been entrusted with God's various grace, and also verse 11 says that when we speak, we should speak as one who speaks the very words of God, and when we serve, we should serve with the strength God provides.

I mean, as Jesus said in John 14:10, “[PASTE ESV John 14:10 HERE]” we are not to speak our own thoughts, but to speak according to what God speaks within us, so that in our actions we must give ourselves so that God may work through us, and serve with the strength God provides.

And also as 2 Corinthians 9:8 says, “[PASTE ESV 2 Corinthians 9:8 HERE]” it is by God's grace that we are able to do good works,

and even as Ephesians 3:7 says, “[PASTE ESV Ephesians 3:7 HERE]” the glorious office was given by God and the ability to carry out that mission was also given by God's grace.

8)    As such, as Titus 3:7 says, “[PASTE ESV Titus 3:7 HERE]” our salvation with eternal life comes from God's grace,

and as Titus 2:11-12 says, “[PASTE ESV Titus 2:11-12 HERE]” it is God's grace that raises us to live self-controlled, righteously, and godly in this world,

and as Hebrews 4:16 says, “[PASTE ESV Hebrews 4:16 HERE]” even when we are struggling, God's grace helps us to overcome,

and also, as 2 Timothy 1:9 says, “[PASTE ESV 2 Timothy 1:9 HERE]” the calling and the enabling of that calling is likewise God's grace.

That's why Paul confesses in 1 Corinthians 15:10, “[PASTE ESV 1 Corinthians 15:10 HERE]” confessing that everything is the grace of God.

Therefore, I pray that this year, all of us would do good, realizing and relying on the abundant grace of God at work in our salvation, sanctification, endurance, and calling, and give glory to God.

Key Questions as Small Group Activity

Q1 Through today's text, we came to know that even amid the sufferings of these last days, God's abundant grace is at work in our salvation, sanctification, endurance, and calling. So, after reflecting on our life and checking whether we are living in His will, after recognizing His wisdom, I hope we could share our thoughts and experiences with our team members to learn from one another.

Q2 And also we became to know that our God not only gives us the wisdom but also leads us through the Holy Spirit He Sent. So after reflecting on our life and checking whether we are living in obedience to the will of God, I hope we could share our thoughts, experiences, and grace with team members to learn from one another.

Love you. Thank you. God bless you.

Prayer Note

Dear ( God’s attribute which you found Today ) God!

Thanks for ( something you received through the sermon or  even during the week )

Praise, gratitude and glory be to You, Lord!

Today, I realized my sin (pains) that ( the sin God reminded through the sermon ),

please forgive (or heal) me and help me not to repeat ( the sins you recognized   ).

I learned that ( something you learned through the sermon                                    )

Please help me to live in that (  learned way of life                                                )

I pray in ( Jesus’ attribute you find ) Jesus’ name. Amen.