I Peter 4_5 SHEEP-SACRIFICE-SON
“Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead” (I Peter 4:5).
“Give an account of himself . . .” that is of his character, his conduct, his words, his actions, his plans and purposes. In the fearful arraignment of that day, every work and purpose shall be brought forth and tried by the unerring standard of justice as we shall be called to so fearful an account with God. We should not be engaged in condemning our brethren, but should whether we are prepared to give up our account with joy—and not with grief. –Albert Barnes Notes
I thought about that—just reading a paragraph like that—character, conduct, words, actions, plans and purposes. I mean, think about Bible-believing Baptists. What are we supposed to do? Well, we’re supposed to grow up, I guess, in the ‘condemning the brethren’ department. I mean, you look at this, it’s saying—check yourself out. “So then everyone of us shall give an account of himself to God!”
Now it is important to distinguish between "condemning our brethren" and "judging their doctrine." Paul clearly admonishes us to have nothing to do with those that teach things contrary to Scripture . . .
"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds" (II John 1:9-11).
What is the doctrine of Christ? It is summarized in the most beloved verse in the Bible known by young and old alike, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Yet, there are those that would limit the world that God so loved into a few that are 'picked' and those 'not picked' simply need not to apply.
We must give an account of ourselves to God, regardless of what the lost or other saved people might think of your walk with Christ and desire to separate yourselves from this evil, present world.
“Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead” (I Peter 4:4-5).
What does that mean? What do you think it means?
“Wherein they,” Who is they? Those people you ain’t doing what they are doing with. What are they doing? They are living for the devil, you are living for God! That’s what the difference is. If people are doing something right, it’s right to do right—it’s good to do good! But you don’t hang around with those people that are flippant. They’re good on day and bad the next. They can break out in anything disgusting—drunkenness, lewdness—and you are a part of that if you hang out with them. You gotta watch out. Because pretty soon you’ll give in and give over to that—and you’ll act just like them. And you see, you have to give an account of yourself to God as a Christian—they have to give an account to God for that sinner part, that they will be damned for. Scary stuff for both us—except we remain in heaven, they remain in hell. Big difference. And knowing that big difference, that is what keeps you and I in line. We just don’t do stuff that other people do. Because it just ain’t right.
“Wherein they think it strange . . .” Once again, here the Apostle points out what the saints must expect from the men of the world by living a different life. And Peter chooses to mention it. Why would he do that? Why, to prevent us from becoming discouraged. He says, “Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you . . .” I mean, all of us . . . when you go to a new place and you are trying to maintain your Christian testimony and people don’t like you, they speak evil of you. After a while, you can take that so personally that you get discouraged.
That is why it is important to know the Bible! That’s how you grow! If you have verses that explain your emotions—and the emotions of the world—if God’s already telling you ahead of time what to expect, man, it doesn’t make it less hurtful, but it sure gives you some comfort to know that He knows what He is talking about and you are definitely going through what He said was going to happen. And that’s a blessing, when you look at it that way. If you don’t have that information, you don’t look at life like that—you look at it just like any normal person would, right? Any normal person. “I wonder what I can do to make them happy?” And that can get you into some big trouble.
But if you know you are doing good and doing right—you can expect things to happen to you. Isn’t that good? And what I really like about God’s Word is that He definitely starts off with the sowing and reaping and let’s you know, “Their day is coming!” And think about, “their day is coming.”
Most of us, I hate to say it about myself, but when I look at the political deal and those on the left, phew! It’s very hard for me to pray for them to go to heaven—it’s easier for me to say—man, I wish He would just snuff them out and send them to hell! That’s just the way I feel about what they are doing, how they are damning things, messing kids and women up, and minds up—but I have to think of myself—my heart and understand that it was changed. And the only way it was changed, was God had to change it, and He did.
I’m not talking about protecting myself and my family—I’m talking about looking at people and seeing them as beyond hope—that’s dangerous. Because these verses that say what I will go through for doing good—by evil people—does not say that I’m supposed to do evil back at them. This is just telling me that there is going to be a judgment day, and if you do what you’re supposed to do, you’ll be all right—for the Christian. And don’t worry about them, because, hey, if they don’t get saved their judgment will be eternal damnation, torment, for ever and ever in hell. Scary stuff! See, they think it’s strange—we don’t—the way we walk and talk. They’re supposed to think it’s strange.
“Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead” (I Peter 4:5).
So, you have verse 4 wherein they think it is strange, and now it asked, who shall give an account? You think about the worldlings, that’s who they are if they are lost, worldlings, who now call you to account falsely. Whatever you say, as to the reason you are doing something, it’s falsely accounted for to them. Whatever you say, they will twist it. But they’ll have to give an account themselves for this very evil speaking. And that Judge is going to be God. And they’ll be condemned justly. You see that word, that is ‘ready to judge,” that “ready” means very speedily. God is not going to take time at the Judgment. Now Christ’s coming, is to the believer, always near. When it talks about the ‘quick and the dead,’ I mean, this second coming is going to be quick. That’s talking about the Lord coming back ruling and reigning. But before that, we have a rapture—and that can be any day—and for the Christian we go, and we go to the Judgment Seat of Christ. And that is a serious thing—for us.
Everybody got that? Okay, I don’t want you to be confused now. Sometimes, people with hearing loss—I don’t want you think I’m saying people are going to go to hell for doing something wrong. I’m saying you are going to be judged for what you did wrong—and a lot time He judges us now! And thank God for that, actually, keep us on the right path so that we don’t mess everything up when we get to the Judgment Seat of Christ. It is up to us to get our heart together, to know that we have to give an account. So, if you have to give an account, and you know that, and you know you are saved—therefore, God counted you worthy. I mean, preach on heaven—hallelujah! Preach on the rapture—Glory to God! Preach on Judgment for us—We don’t like that. But it’s true. As a Christian, just think what stand He must hold us compared to other people.
I look at this and I know that there are three things that are mentioned. Sheep, Sacrifice and Sons. Now, the sheep symbolizes meekness, gentleness and submission. I get that. But the sheep never existed in a wild state. Again, a sheep never existed in a wild state. Maybe your definition of a wild state would be a natural state, but sheep are never born wild. I looked at this and said, wow, come on! Nah! Sheep were created expressly for man, and was selected from the first for sacrifice when God created them. Milk, food, clothing. We didn’t get to the rams, we know what that is. But sheep, birth them, throw them out there and see what they do.
“Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead” (I Peter 4:5).
“Give an account of himself . . .” that is of his character, his conduct, his words, his actions, his plans and purposes. In the fearful arraignment of that day, every work and purpose shall be brought forth and tried by the unerring standard of justice as we shall be called to so fearful an account with God. We should not be engaged in condemning our brethren, but should whether we are prepared to give up our account with joy—and not with grief. –Albert Barnes Notes
I thought about that—just reading a paragraph like that—character, conduct, words, actions, plans and purposes. I mean, think about Bible-believing Baptists. What are we supposed to do? Well, we’re supposed to grow up, I guess, in the ‘condemning the brethren’ department. I mean, you look at this, it’s saying—check yourself out. “So then everyone of us shall give an account of himself to God!”
Now it is important to distinguish between "condemning our brethren" and "judging their doctrine." Paul clearly admonishes us to have nothing to do with those that teach things contrary to Scripture . . .
"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds" (II John 1:9-11).
What is the doctrine of Christ? It is summarized in the most beloved verse in the Bible known by young and old alike, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Yet, there are those that would limit the world that God so loved into a few that are 'picked' and those 'not picked' simply need not to apply.
We must give an account of ourselves to God, regardless of what the lost or other saved people might think of your walk with Christ and desire to separate yourselves from this evil, present world.
“Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead” (I Peter 4:4-5).
What does that mean? What do you think it means?
“Wherein they,” Who is they? Those people you ain’t doing what they are doing with. What are they doing? They are living for the devil, you are living for God! That’s what the difference is. If people are doing something right, it’s right to do right—it’s good to do good! But you don’t hang around with those people that are flippant. They’re good on day and bad the next. They can break out in anything disgusting—drunkenness, lewdness—and you are a part of that if you hang out with them. You gotta watch out. Because pretty soon you’ll give in and give over to that—and you’ll act just like them. And you see, you have to give an account of yourself to God as a Christian—they have to give an account to God for that sinner part, that they will be damned for. Scary stuff for both us—except we remain in heaven, they remain in hell. Big difference. And knowing that big difference, that is what keeps you and I in line. We just don’t do stuff that other people do. Because it just ain’t right.
“Wherein they think it strange . . .” Once again, here the Apostle points out what the saints must expect from the men of the world by living a different life. And Peter chooses to mention it. Why would he do that? Why, to prevent us from becoming discouraged. He says, “Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you . . .” I mean, all of us . . . when you go to a new place and you are trying to maintain your Christian testimony and people don’t like you, they speak evil of you. After a while, you can take that so personally that you get discouraged.
That is why it is important to know the Bible! That’s how you grow! If you have verses that explain your emotions—and the emotions of the world—if God’s already telling you ahead of time what to expect, man, it doesn’t make it less hurtful, but it sure gives you some comfort to know that He knows what He is talking about and you are definitely going through what He said was going to happen. And that’s a blessing, when you look at it that way. If you don’t have that information, you don’t look at life like that—you look at it just like any normal person would, right? Any normal person. “I wonder what I can do to make them happy?” And that can get you into some big trouble.
But if you know you are doing good and doing right—you can expect things to happen to you. Isn’t that good? And what I really like about God’s Word is that He definitely starts off with the sowing and reaping and let’s you know, “Their day is coming!” And think about, “their day is coming.”
Most of us, I hate to say it about myself, but when I look at the political deal and those on the left, phew! It’s very hard for me to pray for them to go to heaven—it’s easier for me to say—man, I wish He would just snuff them out and send them to hell! That’s just the way I feel about what they are doing, how they are damning things, messing kids and women up, and minds up—but I have to think of myself—my heart and understand that it was changed. And the only way it was changed, was God had to change it, and He did.
I’m not talking about protecting myself and my family—I’m talking about looking at people and seeing them as beyond hope—that’s dangerous. Because these verses that say what I will go through for doing good—by evil people—does not say that I’m supposed to do evil back at them. This is just telling me that there is going to be a judgment day, and if you do what you’re supposed to do, you’ll be all right—for the Christian. And don’t worry about them, because, hey, if they don’t get saved their judgment will be eternal damnation, torment, for ever and ever in hell. Scary stuff! See, they think it’s strange—we don’t—the way we walk and talk. They’re supposed to think it’s strange.
“Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead” (I Peter 4:5).
So, you have verse 4 wherein they think it is strange, and now it asked, who shall give an account? You think about the worldlings, that’s who they are if they are lost, worldlings, who now call you to account falsely. Whatever you say, as to the reason you are doing something, it’s falsely accounted for to them. Whatever you say, they will twist it. But they’ll have to give an account themselves for this very evil speaking. And that Judge is going to be God. And they’ll be condemned justly. You see that word, that is ‘ready to judge,” that “ready” means very speedily. God is not going to take time at the Judgment. Now Christ’s coming, is to the believer, always near. When it talks about the ‘quick and the dead,’ I mean, this second coming is going to be quick. That’s talking about the Lord coming back ruling and reigning. But before that, we have a rapture—and that can be any day—and for the Christian we go, and we go to the Judgment Seat of Christ. And that is a serious thing—for us.
Happy is he who hath one desire,
if that desire be set on Christ.
We are accountable to God
and He Himself accounted us.
if that desire be set on Christ.
We are accountable to God
and He Himself accounted us.
Everybody got that? Okay, I don’t want you to be confused now. Sometimes, people with hearing loss—I don’t want you think I’m saying people are going to go to hell for doing something wrong. I’m saying you are going to be judged for what you did wrong—and a lot time He judges us now! And thank God for that, actually, keep us on the right path so that we don’t mess everything up when we get to the Judgment Seat of Christ. It is up to us to get our heart together, to know that we have to give an account. So, if you have to give an account, and you know that, and you know you are saved—therefore, God counted you worthy. I mean, preach on heaven—hallelujah! Preach on the rapture—Glory to God! Preach on Judgment for us—We don’t like that. But it’s true. As a Christian, just think what stand He must hold us compared to other people.
I look at this and I know that there are three things that are mentioned. Sheep, Sacrifice and Sons. Now, the sheep symbolizes meekness, gentleness and submission. I get that. But the sheep never existed in a wild state. Again, a sheep never existed in a wild state. Maybe your definition of a wild state would be a natural state, but sheep are never born wild. I looked at this and said, wow, come on! Nah! Sheep were created expressly for man, and was selected from the first for sacrifice when God created them. Milk, food, clothing. We didn’t get to the rams, we know what that is. But sheep, birth them, throw them out there and see what they do.