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"They will give an account to Him"

Text: 1 Peter 4:5

WHEN PEOPLE SPEAK EVIL OF US

When we behave just like the rest of the world, we would not attract a lot of negative attention. But when we come to faith in the Lord, we find ourselves no longer desiring the things which we know would not be pleasing to the Lord (1 Peter 4:3).

“In regard to these, they think it strange that
you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation,
speaking evil of you. They will give an account to Him
who is ready to judge the living and the dead.”
1 Peter 4:4-5

1. “In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation”

a) “In regard to these”

i) This is a reference to the former lifestyle.

ii) A new one has been adopted, where we live for the Lord in righteousness.

b) “They think it strange”

i) They cannot understand the change of perspective and behaviour.

ii) To them this change of behaviour is “surprising”.

c) “That you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation”

i) The phrase “run with them” describes what the past was like.

ii) There was careless abandon, almost a sense of recklessness (dissipation).

iii) The word “flood” suggests the idea of “excess”.

iv) This was the former lifestyle of some believers in the past.

d) “Speaking evil of you”

i) This is the word normally translated as “blasphemy”.

ii) Old friends speak evil of believers because they now live for God.

iii) Peter was well aware of the challenges that believers had to face.

2. “They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead”

a) Our understanding of life:

i) We are responsible for the way we live.

ii) We are also accountable to God.

b) Giving an account of our life to Him:

i) This is a reality that we must be mindful of.

ii) We are accountable to God (Ecclesiastes 11:9; 12:14)

c) “Who is ready to judge the living and the dead”

i) God is always ready (“prepared”).

ii) He will judge those who are living.

iii) He will also judge those who are dead (Final judgment).