Belief Impacts Behavior

Over the first 2 weekends of April, our family watched some early stage productions that Andrew Lloyd Webber had a major part in early in his career. You might find it surprising, but they were Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat and Jesus Christ, Superstar. The accuracy to the biblical accounts as well as the theological correctness were not meant to be the focus. However, this was a major part of the Jesus Movement which took place during the 60s and 70s.

There were actually several wonderful things which came out of that movement, namely a fresh desire to look deeper into the Bible. This spawned an incredible number of Bible studies, which caused the church to look more outwardly and deeper into evangelism, as well as discipleship. The beginning of several Bible groups on college campuses began to take shape, as well. The start of contemporary Christian music was birthed during this period, making the Gospel appear to be more relevant to a younger generation who were getting frustrated with what many felt was church that was just going through the motions.

Sadly, it seems that this fervency and earnestness to getting to know God better and making Him known, has cooled down to a focus on organization, non-offensiveness, and personal kingdom building. Instead of considering those who are lost and misled, the consideration seems to be on how to become more acceptable to the point that the Bible is no longer considered essential. The focus has become programs and progressiveness, rather than looking at what the Bible says and what Christ expects, then choosing to follow that.

We’ve spoken often of the fact that Christ was born into this world, becoming fully man while still being fully God. Yet, it seems that many have forgotten the reality that much more is prophesied in the Bible about the fact that Jesus is going to return again one day. That should cause us to have an urgency to live our lives in such a way that others would want to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.

I am convinced that renewal of the church is nearer than we realize and I want to be part of that. I want to live in such a way that others will recognize that I belong to Jesus and will want to join me. Regardless of what is happening in the world all around us, it makes no sense that we concern ourselves with gathering larger crowds or that we fit in with what the world says is acceptable. What would make more sense is that we follow God’s guidelines for Christ-like living and concern ourselves with being a powerful influence for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Expectations of Christ’s return should cause an eagerness for Christ-like relating to other believers.

Jesus is Returning - 4:7a

The end of all things is near . . .

Peter is not suggesting that persecution is about to end. Nor is he implying that his letter is about completed. It would seem that the most logical conclusion is that Christ is coming for the second time. His return is imminent. It is near. Literally, Jesus return is approaching. None of us knows when it will be; it could be at any time.

Why is this important? My friends, just as those going through intense persecution during Peter’s time, we too must be living in view of the fact that Jesus could come at any moment. We see throughout the New Testament how swift and sudden the return of Christ will be: in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye . . . Even in the book of Hebrews, the author encourages the readers to keep meeting together and encouraging each other in the faith, in light of the fact that the return of Christ was drawing near.

Obviously, nobody knows when the exact time will occur, nor are we supposed to conjecture or predict the time. However, as Christians, we ought to live our lives in eager hope of His return, knowing that we will live forever in His presence. If we live with this eagerness for Christ’s return, it should cause us to live Christ-like lives now. We have no need to waste time trying to tie events going on right now by setting a timeline or trying to match them with the Bible. We already know what we are to be doing; living our lives for Jesus and doing all we can to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world. There is no purpose in that ridiculous fascination of trying to correlate world events with the return of Christ. It is enough to know that the Bible says that Jesus is coming. It is enough to know that nobody knows the time or date. It is enough to know that people are going to hell unless they believe on the Name of Jesus. It is enough to know that we are tasked with telling the unsaved about Jesus. It is enough to know that we are to encourage and spur each other on as believers to do what God has called us to do.

How We React - 4:7b

Jesus is coming soon; so what do we do while looking forward to that glorious day?

. . . Therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

Some translations use the phrase be sober. In other words, be clear-headed. Maybe we could use the modern phrase, be chill, or my generation’s phrase, be cool, man. A believer should be in their right mind, not manically chasing after all kinds of other trivia. This relates a bit to my earlier rant on those who spend an unnecessary amount of time playing with end-times prophecy, looking for dates and parallels today, or trying to figure out who the Beast is that is described in Revelation 13.

So for the individual who is of sound judgment, sober-minded, they won’t be chasing all the newest theological bunny rabbits, or looking for a fresh insight that is totally off the rails of solid Biblical interpretation. For you and me, this will be seen in the fact that we use godly wisdom and practice wise judgment in all areas of life. The world has enough people who will jump on the latest craze and try to build a theology on that.

So what do we do with prophecy and the Lord’s imminent return? Let it impact how you live your life for the glory of God. Whatever God has called you to do today, do it all for His glory, knowing that Jesus is coming soon. That should cause us to understand that this is for the purpose of prayer.

Dr. Kenneth Wuest, a renowned Greek scholar, stated in his translation of this verse: Be calm and collected in spirit with a view to giving yourself to prayer. This could cause a Christian to be much more intentional in their prayer life. Warren Wiersbe stated: The test of our commitment to the doctrine of Christ’s return is not our ability to draw charts or discern signs, but our thinking and praying. If our thinking and praying are right, our living should be right.

How We Respond - 4:8-11a

It’s time to look at our living, which Peter writes about in this section.

1 Peter 4:8–11 NASB95

Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Let’s look first of all at the focus on our love for other believers. Peter starts out with the phrase, above all. This is self-explanatory. Jesus speaks of the love we have for each other as the marking or the brand that shows the watching world that we are Christians. If we don’t show that, the world will not care what we have to say.

Keep fervent shows the intensity of the effort that must be exerted in loving each other. This is actually a picture of an athlete straining every muscle to accomplish winning a race. This type of exertion is necessary to show sacrificial love and not just assume it will happen automatically. There are quite likely individuals in all of our lives that we must make an effort to love, with the help of the Lord.

This type of love we are to show to each other will actually cover a multitude of sins. That doesn’t suggest that we condone or overlook or ignore sin in a brother or sister’s life. There are other places in the New Testament that describe how we are to deal with sin in our brother or sister’s life. However, we don’t advertise their sin to the world. We do our best to deal with it quietly. Just think of how the world already attacks Christians for doing that which is biblical. Can you imagine the attacks if we advertise and broadcast the sins of fellow believers?

In verse 9, Peter goes on to exhort believers to Be hospitable to one another without complaint. This literally means to love strangers. My wife and I have been recipients of this on several occasions. Other Christians who did not really know us, graciously and gladly fed us and housed us when we would be in their area to speak or to serve in some manner.

Yet, hospitality is more than just food and drink and housing, as many of you remember who went through that study years ago with us. It conveys an attitude of complete unselfish service; what’s mine is yours. Regardless of what I have or the presentation of my home or table, you are welcome to share it with me. I especially like the last part which describes the inner spirit, without complaint. No need to say anything more about no complaining.

Yet, we might wonder why Peter wrote that. Sometimes, we might have a mindset that certain Christians don’t deserve our being hospitable. It’s almost as if they should have to earn it or fit into a particular category. The reality is that because of a forgiving, nonjudgmental spirit, we can be hospitable to all our brothers and sisters, even if we might not care for them. Interestingly, I am convinced that the unsaved world sees this and makes evaluations about Christ based on our hospitality and open liberality to one another.

Verse 10 seemingly serves as a summary and overview of what Peter has just been discussing. According to 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12, plus Ephesians 4, every believer in Christ is given a gift from the Holy Spirit which serves in building up the body of Christ.

One commentator described this gifting in a very unique manner. He spoke of the uniqueness of each gift for each believer as being akin to a spiritual snowflake. Every single one of us is unique and God chooses to use our uniqueness with His provision of spiritual gifts. This is even seen in the use of the word manifold towards the end of this verse. It means many colored. He also enables us to use these gifts as needed for the good of our brothers and sisters.

Please understand that these gifts are sovereignly given to us just as God so chooses. We cannot choose which ones we receive. We cannot develop them on our own. Just as in salvation, which is a gift from God, so are spiritual gifts. We cannot earn them in any fashion.

Also, we are further encouraged that they are not for our own personal benefit, but rather for serving one another. The Bible is very clear that the purpose is for the benefit of the church. Also, we need to recognize that though some of the gifts are more obvious than others, they are all of vital importance to God’s purposes.

Peter even refers to our use of these spiritual gifts as good stewards. In other words, we cannot use them for selfish purposes or even choose to not use them at all. Plus, the use of the phrase grace of God continues to show that this is something which God does. It is not something in which a local church body can pick and choose who gets what gift.

In fact, in the first part of verse 11, Peter gives a broad description of the categories of gifts as being speaking and serving. These are not based upon personal abilities or skill sets. They are for the glory of God, given by God. In other words, using the gifts dealing with the area of speaking, one cannot simply share their opinion, but only God’s Word. In dealing with the area of serving, one cannot serve using our strength,abilities,or power, but by God’s enablement and empowerment. Everything said or done should match up with the Bible.

How We Reflect - 4:11b

What is the purpose in all of this?

So that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen,

Regardless of whatever may happen to us, our overriding heartbeat should be that of bringing glory to God. Every single thing that I do; every response and reaction I make; every action I take and word that I say; should have the glory of God as my goal. The song writer states, I want to see Jesus. My friends, we should all be able to say, I want others to see Jesus in me.

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:31, whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. My friends, when you consider the reality of the imminent return of Jesus Christ, that ought to motivate us to glorify God.

Expectations of Christ’s return should cause an eagerness for Christ-like relating to other believers.