Peter while writing to these dear believers who were suffering, slandered due to the cruelty of Nero who several months before Peter wrote this letter to the followers of Christ alledgedly had Rome burnt so he could rebuild to his liking and blamed the followers of Christ for it. People were hostile towards them for they denied Ceasr was Lord anad instead said “Jesus was LORD.” They were accusedof eating children and drinking their blood. They were slandered and suffering greatly, and Peter writes and speask to them of how to deal with “Fiery trails,” they were encountering. The phrase, “fiery trials,” in the Old Testamant spoke of a furnace???/ and was used to??// And these people were in the flames of hostility, rejection, suffering and severe trials and Peter is going to tell them how to respond and the first thing he tells them to think on is that they are …
1.- “BELOVED,” -INFINITE AFFECTION
“The Greek word agapao is used to speak of something that is beloved—treasured—something so precious that the person (in this case, God) would be loath to part with it.”-{sermon writer}
“an affection begotten in the community of the new spiritual life in Christ, e.g. “beloved in the Lord” (Romans 16:8).
Fiery ordeal (4451) (purosis from puroo = to burn or púr = fire) means literally ignition, smelting (conflagration), burning. It pictures the act or condition of being on fire and figuratively as used here by Peter refers to fiery trial, calamity, suffering.
And as they were going through fiery trials suffering there is truths to know to aid you as you go through so you may Glorify Him….Let’s consider…
BELOVED ; “Agapetos,” could be translated “Divinely Loved ones.” God was deeply devoted to them.
“The term rises to still Diviner significance as an epithet of Christ, whom Paul, grateful for His “freely bestowed” grace, terms “the Beloved.” This is the word used repeatedly to express God the Father’s infinite affection for Jesus His “beloved Son” (Matthew 3:17; Matthew 12:18; Matthew 17:5 Mark 1:11; Mark 9:7 Luke 3:22; Luke 20:13).”
Peter uses beloved as a descriptive title, reminding his readers who were going through much suffering because of persecution, that they were not to trust their feelings but to remember that they were loved with all the love in the heart of God. What a sweet pillow upon which to rest our weary, tried, tested, tempted hearts, just to know that our Father loves us (cp He 13:5). It helps one endure the heartaches and pains of life.
Peter begins by addressing his readers rather intimately. “Beloved” (KJV, NRSV) or “dear friends” (NIV) is the Greek adjective agapētos, “pertaining to one who is dearly loved, dear, beloved, prized.”[226]
Beloved is a term of endearment and is someone that you love, and someone you are deeply devoted to. In the context of the New Testament agape love speaks of God’s divine and infinite love, a love that seeks the ultimate spiritual welfare of the one loved. Agapetos could be translated “divinely loved ones.”
Beloved (27) (agapetos from agapao = to love, agape = unconditional love borne by Spirit – Gal 5:22–note) means beloved, dear, very much loved. Agapetos describes the love of another, this love being called out of the “giver’s” heart by preciousness of the recipient of the love (the “beloved’). Agapetos is used only of Christians as united (by covenant, the New Covenant) with God and/or with each other in love.
In the New Testament context agape speaks of God’s Divine and Infinite love, that seeks for the highest spiritual good of the individual He loves. The first 7 uses of the word, “Beloved” in the New Testament are used of God the Father speaking about His Son, the LORD Jesus. The Son of His Love! And when Peter writes to them he addresses them using the same word, “Beloved!” It was not that the LORD was struggling with His vocabulary, and had no alternative word to use. But He chose this one, “Beloved,” so they would know they were the love of His heart, they had His heart, and He loved them. The same love He has for His Son, He has for…them! And amazing but true, the same Love He has for His Son, for these suffering believers He has for… YOU… for me, for All His own! This love of devotion, commitment, unconditional, genuine love of devotional commitment to our highest spiritual good! His is an everlasting love for us. {Jeremiah 31:3}; He set this love upon us before the foundation of the world; It is an unbreakable love-{Rom 8:31-39}; It is a Continuous love-{Rev 1:5}; a Personal love-{Gal 2:20; A Caring love! A love demonstrating love on the cross, that continues -{Rom 5:8}l a Saving love-{Rom 5:10}. The motive originating from Him who so loved the world He sent His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life! they, we are “Beloved of God!” God’s Divinely loved one, the sons and daughters of His Eternal love! We do not earn His love, we are recipients of His love afforded to us by His grace!
Jesus was “the Beloved” of the Father;
Paul writing to the Romans calls them “Beloved…”-{Romans 1:7}; writing to the Colossians who were under the attack that Christ’s work was not sufficent not His work assures them they are “complete” in Christ, the word complete speaks of no deficicency. No deficincy in theri salvation because no deficincey in their Savior, He is a perfect Savior, and His Work is perfect, and he reminds them they are “chosen, holy, beloved!”-{Col 3:12} Ans in Ephesians he tellls the eblievers theya re “accepted in the Beloved.” Our acceptance with God is in Christ who id the Father’s what? “Beloved!”
So when Peter writes and in this passage 1 Peter 4:12-19 which ahs to do with their going through “Fiery trials,” intense trials, sufferings, the first thing he does is assure them they are “Beloved!” Beloved of God and indee Peter with a real pasto’rs cring heart assurses them they are “Beloved” by him too! One of the things that a congrgation needs to know id that the pastor loves them, same in a family, children need to know theya re loved too! Love can calm our hearts, asssure us in those diffciult monts, and Peter wisely under the influence of the Holy Spirit conveys just what they mean to God, theya re His “Beloved!”
We need to think right, think what God saus about us and says what God says about us and only what God says! And He say we are “His Bloved!” Circumstances, especially tough severe trials, apinful suffering is not the barometer on whetehr He loves us or not, His Son’s cross is and His Word to us is! And He says you are “Beloved” and He is totally commited and devoted to you1 And sent His Spirit who pours out His love in your heart to assure you!-{Rom 5:5}.
Ad yet when difficult times comes, sucha s “fiery trials. suffeings” the evil one plants a dount in our thinking and too often we embrace it and succumb to the thought if God wloved you He wouldnt let thishappen to you. Rememebr he planted a doubt an accusation in Eve’s ear that God was not good, was holding out … and she took the bait and acted upon the lie!
God does love us. God did love the Peter whom Peter writes to and peter himself was a testimony to this. Afte havin gd denied the LORD when eus arose from the dead and emt the women at the tomb h He told them and He picked out Peter by Name in aprticular to tell the disciples and Peter that He was alive… and when peter went back fishing with the disciples and as they were coming ashore and saw the LORD on the beech fixing breakfast and after He allowed them to catch a great catch of sish, how did the LORD resote Pete, He asked Peter fif he loved him… and eith each answer Peter gave the LORD told him to take care of His sheep… He reotred him and gave him responsivility… and all these yras later the One who was resored by love, commisoned to love othes, who was part of the “Beloved” of God… now writes to let them know they tooa re “Bloev” suffeing is not a sign of His displeasure ….
Peter in their times of sruggles reminds the they are “Beloved” this is what they are in the heart of God.. His Beloved… so don’t go by feelings go by His heaert.
Question arises if God so loves me, us why are we going through this, why is He allowing this
Let me show you some reasons
- For your TESTING -1:6-7; “PROOF, GENUINENESS OF Faith…”- “ at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as…”- 4:12 “…come on you for “you”
- For your TESTIMONY– Testimony to them by being a Godly citizen and shutting their mouths…glorify your life when He visits them for their SALVATION – 2:12 {THE WAY you LIVE..” 3:15 give an account to those who ask.”-{The Way you SHARE.. with gentleness…} Life and Lips!! The TESTIMONY of the way they LIVED…and the TESTIMONY That ATTRACTED -1 Pet 3:15
- For your TRANSFORMATION-Spiritual Growth – 1 Peter 5:10
***If you say, “What is this?” — the Spirit of glory and of God resting on me in suffering — the answer is simply this: you will find out when you need it. The Spirit will reveal enough of glory and enough of God to satisfy your soul, and carry you through.
“Lord Thank You for the Testing I am in. Thank You for the Testimony it affords me. Thank You for the Transformation is is bringing about in me, Thank You, Lord!”
Note what God says about
He uses the same word to them as He used to speak of His Son, not because He was short on words but to reveal His heart for them. He loves them with the same love He has for His Son… and that same love He has for His Son, and those whom Peter writes to is the exact same love He has for… you… for me… for all His own! Amazing Love! God loves you as He loves His Son. Can that be? Is that true? “For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son…” “The Son of God loved me and gave Himself for me…” To Him who continuously loves us…. Nothing can sperate us from the love of God”
The love of God poured out in our heart- the assurance of Love! -Rom 5:5. The Spirit of God producing love in our lives- Gal 5:
His is a Personal Love
An Unbreakable love
An Everlasting Love
A Continuous Love
A Caring love
A committed love
“loved with everlasting love, led by grace that love to know”
in them
“BELOVED “
Beloved is a term of endearment and is someone that you love, and someone you are deeply devoted to. In the context of the New Testament agape love speaks of God’s divine and infinite love, a love that seeks the ultimate spiritual welfare of the one loved. Agapetos could be translated “divinely loved ones.”
God the Father uses agapetos of Jesus at the transfiguration…
While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him (A command we do well to heed!)!” (Mt 17:5)
In fact the first 7 uses in the NT are of God the Father speaking of Christ, His beloved Son (Mt. 3:17; 12:18; 17:5; Mk. 1:11; 9:7; 12:6; Lk. 3:22) and as Friberg says these uses describe “One not only greatly loved but also unique, the only one of a class.”
This usage by God to describe His only Son, the Son of His love, gives you some idea of the preciousness of the word beloved! This truth makes it even more incredible that believers are referred to here by Peter as “beloved!”
God refers to His Son with this word and amazing of all,,, He refers to these believers with the same word He uses for His Son… and ofr all believers and that includes… YOU, ME, All of us… no second class Christians all “BELOVED of God
Rom 1:7
Col 3:12
Phil 4;1
.“Beloved,” The SON OF MY LOVE- The One That I Love
The first seven mentions of this word in the New Testament are God speaking about His Son, His “Beloved”
Peter in pastoral, caring mode calls them “beloved..” as Paul did in Phil 4… not only loved unconditionally. But eternally Re v 1:5 and this is an unbreakable love-“nothing van separate us from the love of God in Christ”-{Rom 8:31-39… and not only are you loved unconditionally, etetenally and an unbreakafable love you are loved affectionately. Paul spoke of the “affection o f Christ Jesu” in Phil 1… and you are not only loved by God you are…Liked by God.” The word He uses is phileo which speaks of the love of friendship… to like someone… God likes you!! God loves you, God liks you, God affectionately does so! And nothing not even fiery triasl nor suffering an change that. Though douts may arise to ultimately attack the character of God in your mind, they are lies believe the Scriptures , remember the cross.. Romans 5: while we were yet sinners Christ died for us…
Peter in their times of sruggles reminds the they are “Beloved” this is what they are in the heart of God.. His Beloved… so don’t go by feelings go by His heaert.
Question arises if God so loves me, us why are we going through this, why is He allowing this
Let me show you some reasons
- For your TESTING -1:6-7; “PROOF, GENUINENESS OF Faith…”- “ at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as…”- 4:12 “…come on you for “you”
- For your TESTIMONY– Testimony to them by being a Godly citizen and shutting their mouths…glorify your life when He visits them for their SALVATION – 2:11-15??? {THE WAY you LIVE..” 3:15 give an account to those who ask.”-{The Way yo SHARE.. with gentlenss…} Life and Lips!! The TESTIMONY of the way they LIVED…and the TESTIMONY That ATTRACED -1 Pet 3:15
- For your TRANSFORMATION-Spiritual Growth – 1 Peter 5:10