We've been looking in 1 Peter. Last week we began in chapter
4. And we kind of made it down through
here to about verse 5. Well, actually we got down to
about verse 7. I'm going to read verse 5. Well, let's look at verse four.
Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them, speaking
of those that we used to run with, that we run not with them
to the same excess of right, speaking evil of you, who shall
give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. For this cause was the gospel
preached also to them that are dead, that ye might be judged
according to in the flesh, that they might be judged in the flesh,
but live according to God in the spirit. But the end of all
things is at hand. Be ye therefore sober, and watch
unto prayer. But above all things have fervent
charity among yourselves, for charity shall cover the multitude
of sins. Use hospitality one to another
without grudging. As every man hath received of
the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good
stewards of the manifold grace of God. 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 forever and ever. Amen. Beloved, think it not strange
concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some
strange thing happened unto you. 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. If ye be
reproached for the name of Christ, happier 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. 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. But if any man suffer
as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify
God on this behalf. For the time has 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? And if the righteous scarcely
be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore,
let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the
keeping of their souls to him in well-doing as unto a faithful
creator. Now, as we look at this and,
of course, those things that he has told us as he began the
chapter, you know, he said, arm yourselves likewise with the
same mind as that of Christ. And, of course, that's how we
are to always look at the world and the persecutions and troubles
and whatever befalls us. not to look at it as we might
naturally do. You know, we've been, I mean,
take something as simple as this that's going on out here right
now. I mean, that's kind of an aggravation.
But think, you know, with the mind of Christ, it's really,
you know, that's the way of the world. It's the way that things
go. And so we're to go about our
lives without any regard to the world and the way the world goes
about it. Because the world looks at us
as being odd, and well, it should, because if we belong to Christ,
we are odd, we're a peculiar people, we're set apart. And
so the world can't understand why we don't delight in the same
things they do. I had a gentleman who used to
come in the store all the time and he would have some filthy
joke to tell. And he'd always be, he'd be kind
of aggravated when I didn't think it was funny, you know. And so
now he doesn't come, he doesn't tell me any jokes like that much
anymore. Because, you know, but he thinks
that's strange. He thought that was kind of odd,
you know, that I wouldn't have the same thought process he does. But that's just the way it's
going to be. And that's no big thing. I mean, I don't care.
I mean, it doesn't matter to me what he thinks about what
I think. I know what, you know, is the
good thing. And I desire to think on those
good things and not on those things as men do. And so he says
that they shall give an account to him that is ready to judge
the living and the dead. So all men shall stand before
God in judgment. And were we to stand there on
our own, as some people think they will, You know, they think
that even though they belong to Christ, that they're coming
to a time when they're going to stand before God and they're
going to have to answer for all the things they did. Well, if
you have to answer for one thing that you've done, you're to be
cast away. because there's a grave difference
between mercy and justice. Now I was just thinking as Brother
Al brought to us there about David's dealings with Joab. Now David did in a measure show
mercy to Joab because he did not immediately pass judgment
on him, although David did not approve of what Joab did and
basically didn't bring Joab into his inner circle from then on.
but one thing that uh... that we do see that justice was
never far from the mind of David even though he showed mercy uh... in that moment because when Solomon
became king uh... he told Solomon he said don't
you let this man go down to his grave in peace and so justice
and mercy are both the prerogatives of the Lord and he will show
justice he may show mercy but he will be just I mean he is
a just God and justice is that foundation and basis upon which
all things will rest in the kingdom of God because we have been justified
by the blood of Christ He didn't just prop us up there and say,
I'm gonna let bygones be bygones, but he paid a price for our sin
and justice demanded that. So let us never forget that the
judgment of God is as real for the sons of God as it is for
those who are not. but yet we have one that paid
our debt and they do not and that's the only difference between
those who are the children of grace and those who are not is
that he has paid the price for our sin and that's the only reason
we have favor with God is because of that fact and uh... that his
mercy has been visited upon us and then he goes on to say uh... and of course we talked about
this last week about the gospel was preached also to them that
are dead now as i mentioned there are many that go about and they
have some fanciful interpretation of this where as they say well
when christ died on the cross and when in between the time
that he was uh... died on the cross and he rose
again he went down to hell and preached the gospel to all these
people now what would be the point of that you know if that
was even true uh... are there was any foundation
whatsoever in it uh... there would be no no truth to
it i mean those men who are consigned to hell have no gospel there's
no there's no mercy to those who have the judgment of god
has been passed upon and so the gospel is for the living Now,
we know that in the sense that it is for the living, those whom
God gives eye, ears to hear it. He makes them alive to hear it.
But it is to be preached to all who are alive, even as it was
in the days of Noah, when he preached the gospel, and the
gospel was preached unto them, and the building of the ark,
that was the gospel. and so it is that the gospel
was preached to those who were dead even as in the days of Noah
that it was but the end of what he says that men might be judged
according to men in the flesh the Lord is going to judge men
in the flesh and what we do in this flesh makes a difference now what I mean by that what
I mean by that is that the Lord has called us to live in this
world by a certain standard, did he not? I mean the law of
God is ever true and that's the standard by which all men will
be judged. And so the flesh of men is judged
by the law. Certainly is. Again though, the
only reason that you and I escape the condemnation of the law is
because of the mercy of God given to us in Jesus Christ. What he did for us. But it is
the law. It is that judgment. And so we
are to live according to God in the spirit, but the end of
all things is at hand. Be ye therefore sober and watch
unto prayer. Now what is the end of all things?
Well, I believe he has some reference to the final judgment in that. That is at hand, but I believe
that more broadly and perhaps in a greater application of it,
the end of all things, that is the purpose of all things is
at hand. Now, we see what it is that the
world is about. Now, in times past, you know,
men kind of saw these things through glass more darkly than
we do, but it's been revealed to us what the purpose of God
is, and that is to send His Son into the world to die for sinners. And that's the end of the world
is at hand. It's right before us. It's here.
And therefore that's how we are to be living our lives with this
in mind, that this is, we know what the purpose of God is. As
he says, therefore be ye sober. Think on these things. Be armed
with the mind of Christ and watch unto prayer. For the end, and
above all things, he says, in this life, as we walk daily. And above all things, have fervent
charity among yourselves. What'd he say? He said, love
one another. My little children, love one another. Now, that's
a very simple command, is it not? But it's the most difficult
thing for men to accomplish. You know, people say, oh, I just
love everybody. And they don't have any understanding
of what they're saying because they don't. Because the man that
loves everybody puts everybody above himself. And that's what
we're commanded to do. And that's what the Lord has
called us to do. He said above all things have fervent charity among yourselves. He said love one another. That's
what he put us together for in the body of Christ in general
and in particular in local assemblies that we might demonstrate love
one to the other. You know not just just be here,
but to love one another, to bear one another's burdens, to pray
for one another, to encourage one another, to strengthen one
another. Those are the reasons that he has called us together.
For he said, for charity shall cover a multitude of sins. Now
we know that he's covered our sins, but you know what he means
by that is you know when you love somebody you can forget
about a lot of stuff that they do. You know, a child, one person
can look at another person's child and say, you know, they
ought to do something to that child. That child needs to be
beat up one side and down the other, you know. And you see
the faults and failures of another man's child completely different
than perhaps he does. Because he knows his child's
weakness, and he knows what his child is doing, but he has what? Love for his child. And it overcomes,
you know, perhaps if you want to use this term, it clouds his
mind. But it's a good clouding of the
mind, is it not? I mean, now, I'm not in any wise
saying that a father doesn't need to discipline his child,
but he does it with love. He does it because he loves him.
And that love covers a multitude of sins. And so it is that we
are to be those that look beyond the present failings and faults
of one another. And if that's not the most difficult
task that you've ever been called upon to operate in, then you
don't understand what it is I'm saying. because it's most difficult
to love another person more than you love yourself. It's impossible,
actually, except the Lord give you grace to do so. Use hospitality
one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the
gifts, even so minister the same one to another as good stewards
of the manifold grace of God. Hospitality to one another without
grudging, that is kindness. You know, opening up of the things
that we possess to others, that's what hospitality is. You know,
it's inviting someone into your home. Now, you may do that literally
or you may do that figuratively, but hospitality is the same in
all cases. And he says to do it without
grudging. You know, it's one thing when somebody says, you've
got to do something, and you say, okay, you know, I'm gonna
do it, because you said to do it. But it's another thing to
joyfully go about doing that. And that's what he's saying,
use hospitality without grudging. You know, don't think of this
as, this is something I must do, or this is a burden that
I must bear. See, that's what happened with
Martha, was it not? when she went about preparing
the meal for the Lord. That was a good thing. But she
did it kind of grudgingly because she looked at her sister sitting
there not doing anything and helping her, and she said, went
to the Lord and said, well, you know, you need to do something
about this. And he said, Martha, you are troubled about many things. But Mary has chosen the better
part. And so it is that that's a picture
of what true hospitality is, is not to be like Martha. Even though Martha was a good,
was showing hospitality, but she didn't do it in the right
manner. She had the wrong concept about what she was doing. And
missed the blessing of it. You know, she missed the blessing
of what she was doing because she was worried about what somebody
else wasn't doing. And you know, we're often like
that. In fact, it was, When the Lord
was speaking to his disciples in the inn, and who was it? Peter asked, well, what shall
this man do? And he said, don't worry about
that. So he said, that's not any business
of yours. And that's how we need to go
about doing what we do in the world. What other people do is
of no consequence to our calling. I mean, we do what the Lord has
given us to do, and that's what he said. As every man hath received
the gift, whatever the Lord has given you to do, do it with all
your might. You know, I don't know what that
might be. But whatever it is, we don't
need to spend our time wishing we had somebody else's gift or
not doing our gift because we think that maybe it's not useful
or whatever. I mean, whatever the Lord's given
us to do, let's do it. Minister the same one to another
as good stewards of the manifold grace of God because God gave
us what we have, whatever it is. And what do we have to do
with it but to be stewards of it? We cannot claim it. We can't say, well, man, I'm
smart and I got this. No, it's not that. If any man
speak, if this is his gift, if any man speak, let him speak
as the oracles of God. Don't just get up and talk about
something you want to, but speak according to the Word of God.
Speak as those things that God has taught us. And if any man minister, that
is, if any man does deeds of kindness, let him do so. He says, as of the ability which
God giveth, that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus
Christ. See, we're given to be ministers
one to another. That's what the whole purpose
of the church is, is to fit us for the ministry. To make us
strong that we might minister one to another of the things
God has given us. at whatever that might be. You
know, if we have a word of encouragement, that's what the Lord gave us
those things for, for the benefit of the brethren. May it be so. To whom be praise and dominion
forever. Amen. I mean, brought back to
the same thing. Everything that we do is unto
the glory of God. It's not so that men might see
us. But it's just, if nobody ever sees us but Him, we're satisfied. That's why we do what we do,
that He might be glorified in all things. Beloved, think it
not strange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you as
though some strange thing happened unto you. Now evidently, they
were going through some particular trial of persecution or whatever,
but every trial, if it's a real trial, is a fiery trial, is it
not, to us. I mean, you know, something that
somebody else is going through, that's not a fiery trial. but
to the person that's bearing it, it is a fiery trial. And
so he said, don't be thinking of this as though you're the
only person on earth that's ever had such a trial. Because the
Lord in his mercy brings trials on all of God's people that we
might learn not to trust in ourselves. Now see, we think a lot of times
that we don't trust in ourselves until such time as the Lord brings
a fiery trial on us. And then we began to cry out
to Him in a way that we never did before because we weren't
trusting in Him. But in Him alone is to be our
place of trial. Don't think of this as a strange
thing that has happened unto you, but what does He say? Inasmuch
as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory
shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. See that, if we're looking for
the coming of Christ, then when He is revealed, we shall be It
would be a glorious thing. If we're seeking satisfaction
in this world, I mean, the world looks at, when we talk about
the coming of Christ, they say, well, wait a minute, that don't
sound real good to me. But God's people long to be with
Him. And it is a thing that is glorious
to them. If ye be reproached for the name
of Christ, happy are ye for the spirit of glory and of god rested
upon you on their part is evil spoken of but on your part he
is glorified now we're not going out trying to get people to be
mad with us you know you can go get people to be mad with
you and you might be even telling them the right thing but you
can do it in such a way that it is not you've brought this
on yourself rather than than, you know, the Lord bringing it
there. Let none of you suffer as a murderer
or as a thief or as an evildoer. Now here's something that struck
me. Now you could, you kind of, we in our mind, we would put
together murderers, thieves, or some other kind of evildoer.
But then he put something in there that doesn't seem like
that big of a deal. I mean, murder's pretty bad,
isn't it? I mean, we think of it, we say, man, that's terrible.
How could somebody murder, I mean, when somebody murders somebody,
you know, especially if the circumstances are, you know, odd or whatever,
like this man that went in, drove the car into all those people
down in New Orleans. And we say, how could anybody
do that? I mean, that's a terrible thing,
is it not? But then he says, don't be any of those things,
nor a busybody in other men's affairs. Don't be worried about what other
people are doing. Don't be prying into their business. Don't be, you know, trying to
find out what they did wrong. You got enough to worry with
with yourself without worrying about what somebody else is doing.
You know, how can you be concerned with the wickedness of another
man when every day you look at your own self in the mirror?
You know, that's what he's saying here. Don't be a busybody, because
that's really, don't suffer like that. You know, somebody that's
a gossip, that's being a busybody in other men's affairs, going
around telling other people, or telling things on other people.
Why are you doing that? You know, that's the same as
murder, is it not? I mean, when you speak evil of
somebody, isn't that the same as murdering them? I mean, you
don't have to take out a knife and kill somebody. You can ruin
somebody's reputation with your tongue. You killed them, basically. So that's what he's saying to
us. If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let
him glorify God. on this path. Now if any man
suffer as a Christian, he's not speaking about just suffering,
being a Christian and suffering, but what he's saying is if you
suffer as a Christian, that is if somebody is speaking evil
of you because of your stand for the gospel of Christ. He
said don't Don't worry about that. He said that's a glorious
thing. If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let
him glorify God. But the converse of that is true.
If we're suffering for some reason other than being a Christian,
if we're suffering because we run our mouth about somebody,
or because we do something that is not helpful to somebody, then
we do need to be ashamed of that. We do need to run from it. For
the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God. And if it first begin at us,
what shall the end of them be that obey not the gospel of God?
See, the judgment of God is ever true. And the Lord has sent his
spirit into the world. to be a judge of us. He said
he would convince us of sin, ours, righteousness, his, and
judgment, which is to all men. And that's the work of the Spirit
of God. So it is indeed true that judgment
begins at the house of God. And the man that does not know
himself to be a sinner can't possibly be following the Lord. He can't possibly have confidence
in Christ if he doesn't first have no confidence in himself.
See, you don't get confidence in Christ without having come
to the end of confidence in your own self. I mean, that's the
way that works. That's the way the Spirit of
God works. And so, judgment does begin at the house of God. Now,
if that be true, If God is judging among His people, whose sins
He has set aside in the blood of Christ, where shall the ungodly
appear? I mean, how can it be with them?
Because they have nothing. They have nothing to stand between
them and the wrath of Almighty God. What a terrible place to
be. And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly
in the center appear? Are we scarcely saved? That's
what the scripture says. It says we're snatched as a bran
from the burning. I mean, just by the skin of our
teeth, and not even given the skin that was ours by the teeth,
but the Lord in mercy has snatched us out. We're scarcely saved.
We didn't, there's nothing that just, we've got this, you know,
cushion of what we've done that somehow softens the blow or something. No, we're sinners condemned to
die. And God in mercy, not with anything
that we did or anything we could think or do or whatever, but
just in mercy just snatched us up. And we're scarcely saved. Now, if that be true of us, And
we have that, if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall
the ungodly in the center appear? Because there is no mercy to
them. Wherefore, let them that suffer
according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls
to Him in well-doing as unto a faithful Creator. Let us commit
ourselves to Him as a faithful creator. And he says to do so in well-doing. Now we know what well-doing is. Well-doing is as we walk in this
life, to treat others as we would like to be treated. It doesn't
make any difference what the situation is. I mean, when you mess up and
do the wrong thing, how do you want somebody to treat you? So
when somebody messes up and they do the wrong thing to you, how
to think of them, to treat them just like you would want to be
treated. May the Lord give us grace to do so, because the most
difficult thing that we'll ever face in the world are those two
things that he taught us that we must do. He said, thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul,
with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself. Oh, that the Lord
might give us grace to do so. Because that's what he's called
us to. See, the scripture says he has
ordained us unto love and good works. That is good works. People talk about, well, what's
good works is going out here and doing this and doing that.
No. Well, I mean, all that stuff might flow out of that, but good
works is primarily to love one another as Christ loved us. If you ever accomplish that,
you're not looking at it right, because that's an impossibility. But by His grace, He works in
us both willing to do of His good pleasure. And what a glorious
blessing we have to be the sons of God. Not anything we've done
or continue to do that keeps us there, but just his mercy
and kindness. And if the righteous scarcely
be saved, where shall the ungodly appear? And that ought to be
ever in our mind, as we know what we have in our hands, the
gospel of the glory of the grace of God. And knowing this, that
Christ came into the world to save sinners, And would we desire
to keep back that message which is so precious to us from those
who are perishing? And the Lord has sent his people
into the world as heralds of that which he has done. Let every
man be ready to give, but sanctify the Lord God in your heart and
be ready to give to every man that asketh you a reason of the
hope that's within you. And the only way that somebody's
going to ever ask you for the reason of the hope that's within
you is if they see that hope manifested in you. May the Lord
help us to be such a people.