Pastor Chris’ Corona Quarantine Epistles to the Flock of AIC Ngong Road, in Dispersion and Isolation. 139th. Edition.
Dear New Israel of God,
In today’s passage (1 Peter 4:5-6) we continue with the last thought of the previous passage, the malicious, scornful talk of unbelievers against the saints. When people talk, they need to remember that there is one to whom they are
Accountable (v. 5). God is the just judge who will deal fairly with the “living and the dead.” This is not to suggest that God will have two judgments, one for the living and the other for the dead. It is rather to say that everyone, those who are now living and those who are already dead, will be judged. By all scriptural indications, the dead will be raised to face judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). So in sense, Peter is saying to us, Don’t worry about justice, it will come in due course. Better to be ready, yourself. The reason God’s judgment is fair is that he has made the gospel
Accessible (v. 6). The gospel, Peter says, has been preached to the dead. As in the earlier passage (3:18-20), this does not mean that someone preached to the dead, while dead. They are now dead, but the gospel was preached to them when they were living. This is lent credence by the statement that follows – they were judged as men in the body but are alive in the Spirit.
This actually seems to indicate that the dead Peter is talking about are believers who have died. In this statement, then, he is also saying to us that those who die live on with God in the spirit. This is a message of hope to people to whom the threat of martyrdom is real. They may die, but to God, they still live, and that is what matters.
So do not be afraid. The worst they can do is kill you. And in so doing, they only usher you into the presence of your Saviour.
Your Loving Pastor Chris.