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1 Peter 4:6
“This is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.”
Suffering Christians who are being persecuted for trusting in Christ and not following the ungodly ways of the world need encouragement to maintain this truth. When we are under pressure from unbelievers, we are tempted to deny Christ and may even give in, at least for a time. The Apostle Peter knew this well, for he denied knowing our Savior when he was pressed to confess Jesus during our Lord’s trial (Mark 14:66–72). Thankfully, Peter found true repentance and was finally reconciled to Jesus and restored to ministry (John 21). Given all that Peter went through, it does not seem to be too much of a stretch to think that at least one reason that Peter writes so extensively about enduring suffering in his first epistle is that he loved his audience so much that he did not want them to go through the pain that he had experienced by denying Jesus.
In any case, Peter counsels those who are being maligned for their faith in Christ to take the long view. Yes, suffering for Jesus is painful in the short term, but the day of final judgment is coming, when all will give an account of their lives and whether they have trusted in the Savior (1 Peter 4:1–5). Suffering today to maintain our trust in Jesus until the very end is worth it because all those who persevere in faith will be resurrected unto everlasting glory. This is Peter’s point in today’s verse.
Referring back to verse 5, the Apostle writes that “this”—the final judgment—is the reason that the gospel has been preached to the dead; although they have been judged in the flesh as people are, they may live in the spirit as God does (v. 6). Peter is referring to believers who have already died, and their judgment in the flesh is physical death, which comes to all people, believer and unbeliever alike. Apparently some non-Christians were arguing that believing in Christ offers no advantage over denying Him because believers do not escape physical death. The Apostle answers that this overlooks one key truth—namely, that believers who die live in the spirit. Peter refers here to our physical resurrection unto glory on the final day, paralleling his teaching that Jesus was made alive in the spirit in His resurrection (3:18). Christians must continue believing because even though they die, they will be given glorified bodies in the new heavens and earth. This final resurrection will occur by the power of the Holy Spirit, which is the consummation of the new life that the Spirit gives us in regeneration.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
Living in the spirit the way that God does begins in regeneration, continues as we grow in holiness in our sanctification, takes a great leap forward when we go to be with God in heaven after we die, and reaches its culmination in the final resurrection from the dead. We confess Christ and seek to obey Him now in preparation for our perfected state in the new heavens and earth. Let us serve Him this day and always.
For further study
- Job 33:4
- Romans 8:11
The bible in a year
- 1 Chronicles 27–29
- John 12:1–19
- 2 Chronicles 1–6
- John 12:20–13:20