1 Peter 4:4 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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1 Peter 4:4

Comments

This persecution brings into sharp relief the difference between the world and the people of God, the kingdom of God. The word ‘strange’ means strange in the sense of foreigners. They think you are objectionably peculiar. When the worldling is offended at you, you are as a foreigner to him; he has got a foreigner in the house, in the office – he speaks a different language; he has different ways. But it all helps us, it sanctifies us, it enables us to see the difference. Without sometimes facing persecution, rejection, or scorn, what a sad state we’d get into it. We might conclude, ‘The world has some really very pleasant people, Perhaps it would be nice if they had Jesus Christ.’ We don’t see the great difference between unbelief and belief, the sharply distinctive lifestyles. There are some Christians who don’t want to see it. They want salvation in Christ, but they also want to be worldlings, just a little bit cleaned up, at the same time. Persecution throws things into sharp relief. How is the world is so slow to do the things God commands, and so quick to pursue evil things which he says we should have nothing to do with? This is a sign that the heart of man is completely at odds with God’s moral standards and deeply corrupted. But the world is so far gone down the path of rebellion that it has convinced itself that its behaviour is normal and reasonable. It is then very surprises to see any who are not of the same mind, and it regards them as strangers to the human race. The believer then acts as a break on this headlong rush, and initially the response is curiosity, surprise, and even amazement, but this may well turn to resentment, hatred, and persecution once it is no longer something new, for the world knows that there is a moral issue at stake here, and the church in refusing to be partners in sin condemns the world.

Application

The testimony of a distinctive lifestyle is very powerful. The world regards Christians with a variety of emotions. At the very least, there is surprise that, because of religious convictions, the Christian will abstain from the very things that make life most worth living to the unbeliever. ‘What is it that these followers of Christ have found that makes them ready to forfeit so much that we enjoy?’ It is not as if these Christians have not experienced the pleasures of sin in the past and are ignorant of them. Many in the world can testify that they knew how believers lived before their conversion, for they entered into the same debaucheries with as much gusto as anyone else. Are the new treasures which they have found in Christ so real that they can afford to discard things that give such satisfaction? This is the message which a reformed life communicates. Who are these uncompromising ones who do not go along with the wisdom of this world? The unbeliever is uncomfortable in their presence and in order to justify himself, it will speak evil of them, even though he knows that his own behaviour is evil. Thus, hypocrisy becomes a necessity if an unrighteous world is to defend itself.

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1 Peter 4:4 Commentary and Bible Study