Joshua and Judges: The doctrine of leadership part 15 - Insights on leadership from Peter; 1Pe 5:1-7.Title: Joshua and Judges: The doctrine of leadership part 15 - Insights on leadership from Peter; 1Pe 5:1-7.
Announcements / opening prayer:
6. Insights on leadership from Peter, 1Pe 5:1-7.
1Pe 4:17 For it is time for judgment [persecution from the world allowed by God to purify the spiritual life] to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
judgment of the household of God = persecution from the world. What kind of judgment will come upon the world that does so?
1Pe 4:18 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved [delivered and so purified], what will become of the godless man and the sinner?
It is acknowledged here that the process of purification of the believer's heart in growth to maturity is difficult, i.e. by means of persecution. The word also means "scarcely," revealing that there are few who walk through this narrow gate.
The Greek word is molis and its root means “toil.”
The difficulty is the persecution and the pressure and heartache it brings upon the believer. Unfortunately most Christians choose comfort and ease over maturity and purification (experiential purification), like the Exodus generation who would have rather gone back to Egypt than to fight for the Promised Land with God.
Mat 7:13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it.
Mat 7:14 "For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.
Mat 13:18 "Hear then the parable of the sower.
Mat 13:19 "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.
Mat 13:20 "And the one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word, and immediately receives it with joy;
Mat 13:21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.
Mat 13:22 "And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
Mat 13:23 "And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit, and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty."
1Pe 4:18 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved [delivered and so purified], what will become of the godless man and the sinner?
But as the next verse states, we can trust God to take care of us no matter how difficult it gets.
If God allows persecution to purify the life of the saint and thus he is delivered, not only from within the persecution itself, but also from OSN mastery, then what will be the action of God against the man who rejects Christ?
As the household of God is persecuted and purified Christ is manifested to the world through the church and only after that manifestation is the unbeliever judged. Then Peter uses the very fact that God allows persecution to come upon the church, and if He does, what will be the judgment of the unbeliever who has had Christ manifested to him time and time again?
1Pe 4:19 Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust [banking term - give in charge as a deposit] their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.
I find that the context of a passage can get lost when we pause at each verse to study it in more detail. It is of vital importance that we understand scripture in context, therefore, now that we have studied chapter four in a bit of detail, we shall re-read it all together in order to understand it more fully.
1Pe 4:1 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
1Pe 4:2 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
1Pe 4:3 For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousals, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.
1Pe 4:4 And in all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excess of dissipation, and they malign you;
1Pe 4:5 but they shall give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
1Pe 4:6 For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.
1Pe 4:7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.
1Pe 4:8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
1Pe 4:9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint.
1Pe 4:10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
1Pe 4:11 Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as 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.
1Pe 4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;
1Pe 4:13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation.
1Pe 4:14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
1Pe 4:15 By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;
1Pe 4:16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God.
1Pe 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner?
1Pe 4:19 Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.
1Pe 5:1 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed,
"elders" - presbu,teroj [presbuteros] = advanced in age or life, senior. Those with authority in the church with emphasis on their spiritual maturity.
The word we have seen before in 1Ti 3 is episkopos which is properly translated overseer. While episkopos emphasizes the position of authority, presbuteros emphasizes the maturity of those in their positions. There are a plurality of elders in any church, meaning the pastor, the deacons, and the administrators in all areas. In some cases there can be more than one pastor as the pastor is called to train up other men in the ministry, yet there is always one in authority, the pastor.
Notice that Peter does not approach his readers from on high, as a virtuoso apostle. Rather, he takes the position of a fellow elder, coming alongside the others, and bearing similar burdens.
Peter neither claimed nor assumed any higher position than that of an ordinary elder in the Church.
And as a witness of the sufferings of Christ he is not only referring to the fact that he has seen them but that he has been called to bear testimony of them. He failed greatly during the sufferings of Christ by denying Him, but the love of God overcame that as Christ suffered in the flesh on behalf of Peter and all mankind. |