Free Bible Commentary
“First Peter 4:17-19”
Categories: First Peter“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? And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.”
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The church of Jesus Christ, which is “the household of God” (1 Timothy 3:15), has been subjected to testing by persecution since its inception. When Christians suffer for their faith in Christ, in a real sense, it is a form of “judgment” that comes upon them (verse 17). When we endure trials with patience and righteousness God judges us faithful, and when we buckle under the pressure of persecution He judges us unfaithful. But the judgment that He is reserving for the wicked and disobedient that will be dispensed at the revelation of Jesus Christ will make any earthly suffering seem like a slight scrape or bruise.
Peter quotes Proverbs 11:31 in verse 8 when he writes, “it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved.” The King James Version confuses the message with its rendering: “the righteous scarcely be saved.” Peter isn’t saying that God’s faithful servants will just squeak by on the Day of Judgment, but that they must endure difficulties while walking the road that leads to heaven. But if it the road is rough that faithful Christians must walk upon on earth, it will be exponentially worse for “the godless man and the sinner” in the after-a-while.
When we strive to fully and persistently do “the will of God,” we will suffer for it in this wicked world in which we live (verse 19). The suffering that is “according to the will of God” is the kind that we do not deserve but that we endure with purity and virtue. This passage serves as encouragement to the righteous and warning to the wicked. God’s promises never fail and His power never falters. He will safely deliver the righteous and eternally condemn the godless people who mistreat them and refuse to “obey the gospel of God.” As Jesus confidently “committed His Spirit” to His Father in heaven (Luke 23:46), we can decisively “entrust” our “souls” to our “faithful Creator,” but only if we continue in “doing what is right.”
Once again we see from a Scripture dealing with Final Judgment that the Gospel is a thing to be obeyed and not merely believed if we expect to receive a mansion in heaven (verse 17). Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 that “the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” Obey the Gospel. Do the will of God. Endure difficulty. Do what is right. Peter really drives home the importance of obedience to the word and godly living in anticipation of the Lord’s Second Coming.
Please read 1 Peter 5:1-4 for tomorrow.
May God bless and keep you.
-Louie Taylor
