LIFE IN THE CHURCH
What is life in the church supposed to be? Certainly it is about gathering of believers. It is about getting together socially with people. It is also about bringing in non-believers to get to know them. But life in the church is not about the individual. This is different from the culture today, which focuses on the individual. Businesses seek to cater to our individuality and give us what we want. However, the Christian life is about sharing the Good News of Christ with others. This means when a person comes to Christ, that person also comes to Christ’s body: the church. Therefore, life in the church is all about groups of people who make up the body. The church body is to serve Christ and thereby we serve His body. Serving the church and the needs of fellow believers is servicing Christ.
Read 1 Peter 4:7
Peter wrote the letter we call 1 Peter to a group of churches in Asa Minor (modern Turkey). In the verses immediately preceding this verse 7, Peter had encouraged his readers to align themselves with Christ’s mission and purpose (1 Peter 4:1). They should live their lives doing God’s will rather pursuing the evil deeds they used to count important before they became Jesus’ followers (vv. 2-3). They were to identify with their new life in Christ rather than with their lives, former lives, for all would one day give account (vv. 4-5). When we review the context of Scripture, we can better understand the real meaning of any single or groups of verses. In verses 7-11, Peter provided practical application to his words in verses 1-6.
Peter’s declaration “the end of all things is near” may sound strange to modern reader, since Peter wrote this letter almost 2,000 years ago. Two ideas require mention. First, in his next letter, Peter would remind his readers the Lord’s time table differed from theirs. As he said, “With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day” (2 Peter 3:8). When we understand that God reigns from eternity to eternity (Ps. 90:2), we better understand Peter’s mindset.
Second, the New Testament writers saw the resurrection and ascension of Christ as the beginning of the last days- or as in the song the choir did last Sunday “it is the End of the Beginning” of our new life in Christ. On the day of Pentecost, Peter so informed his listeners (Acts 2:17). The coming of the Holy Spirit comprised the last major step in God’s plan before He would send His Son to return and fulfill His kingdom. Other New Testament writers used similar words to express this concept (1 Cor. 10:11); 1 John 2:18). The Lord Jesus was coming soon, and every day was one day closer! In the light of the coming end of age, Peter encouraged his readers to be alert.
Read 1 Peter 4:8-9
We should live expectantly because Christ is coming soon. Getting ready to meet Christ involves continually growing in love for God and for others (Matthew 22:37-40). Should the Rapture come while I am still on this earth, I would choose to be in church with all the believers. It is important to pray regularly and to reach out to needy people. Our possessions, status, and power will mean nothing in God’s Kingdom, but we will spend eternity with other people, so invest our time and talents where they will make an eternal difference.
Peter writes “constant love” which requires the Christian to put another’s spiritual good ahead of his own desires in spite of being treated unkindly, ungraciously, or even with hostility (1 Cor. 13:47; Phil. 2:1-4). Enduring love for others testifies that a person is living in the light of the future. True “love covers a multitude of” other people’s sins (Prov. 10:12). Where loves abound, offenses are frequently overlooked and quickly forgotten. “Hospitality” is much admired in both Greco-Roman and Jewish sources (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:8), was needed in this era when there was no Hospitality Inn and what was used as inns were dangerous and unpleasant.
Read 1 Peter 4:10-11
Paul says “each one has received a gift” – God-given empowerment for ministry. Many different gifts exists (1 Cor. 4-11). All believers are so gifted and should use their gifts to bless others and to give God the glory. Our abilities should be faithfully used in serving others. None are for our won exclusive enjoyment. Some people well aware of their abilities believe that they have the right to use their abilities as they please. Others feel that they have no special talents at all. Peter addresses both groups in these verses. Everyone has some gifts, we are to find ours and use them. Peter mentions speaking and serving. Paul lists these and other abilities in Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:8-11; and Ephesians 4:1. Even as we seek to discover our gifts, if we see a need in the church, seek to meet it. We may find gifts in areas we might not have guessed. If you think about it, you probably can identify one of these times. For me, it was in Klamath Falls Oregon in a small church while I was stationed there in the Air Force. God led me to be a choir director for two years and gave me the abilities to glorify Him.
How is God glorified when we use our abilities? When we use them as He directs, to help others, they will see Jesus in us and glorify Him for the help they have received. Peter may have been thinking of Jesus’ words: “Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:16).
Verse 11 is a brief ascription of praise to God. Peter’s words “to Him be the glory and the power forever and ever” reminds us that everything begins and ends with God. It is His glorious power that brought the world into existence, and it is His glorious power that will bring human history as we know it to an end. God’s word is certain. As we yield our lives to Him, He will take them and bless them for His purpose and glory. In fulfilling His will, believers will find their own highest fulfillment.
So what is life in the church really about?