1 Peter 4:10 says, As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  We are told that since we are given the free gift of salvation that we are to freely share the gospel with others.  Being a follower of Christ was never intended to be something that makes us want to hoard God's gracious gift of salvation.  Verse eleven declares, If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.  We are told once again that everything we say and do should be directed by God if we are His followers.  We are to do so by the ability that God gives us.  Verse twelve states, Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:  As Christians, we should not find it strange if we suffer persecution.  It may be even more strange if we don't, because we may not be living up to our calling if we aren't encountering any opposition from the lost of the world.  Verse thirteen adds, But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.  We, as followers of Christ, too often complain when we don't get something we want instead of rejoicing when we suffer persecution.  Christianity is not a way to personal riches, but is a call to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily.  Verse fourteen says, If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.  If we are reproached for our relationship with Christ,, we are to be happy because the Holy Spirit resides in us.  The world, those without Christ in their lives, will speak evil of us because of our relationship to Him.  When we remain faithful to Christ if we are persecuted, then He is glorified.  Verse fifteen declares, But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.  This simply tells us that we should not do these things, and if we do and suffer for it that it is not the same as suffering for our faith.  If we violate the laws of man, we should not expect our relationship to Christ to prevent us from being held accountable.  Verse sixteen adds, Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.  This is another statement that suffering for our faith in Christ is different than suffering for our own sins in the world.  Though we are forgiven by our faith in Christ, we are not given a license to sin without punishment in the world, but if we are punished for our faith it is different.  We are not to be ashamed of the gospel in such a situation.  Verse seventeen asks, For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?  Peter said that the time had come for judgment to begin at the house of God, or with those who called themselves God's people.  Then comes the question if the judgment begins with those who call themselves God's people, then what hope is there for those who do not accept the gospel.  There is no hope for those who reject the gospel of Christ.  Verse eighteen asks, And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?  This is just another statement that there is no hope of salvation without putting our faith in Christ.  Even as followers of Christ, we are not saved by our own merit.  Verse nineteen declares, Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.  If we, as followers of Christ, suffer for our faith, we are to commit to the fact that God has saved us and will keep us spiritually as His children.

1 Peter 4:1 says, Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;  As followers of Christ, we are to be like Him.  Christ endured physical suffering in order to remain faithful to the heavenly Father, and we should be willing to do the same.   We are not called on to suffer physical abuse just to suffer, but to be willing to suffer for our faith in God.  Verse two states, That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. We are to no longer live by the lust of our flesh when we become Christians.   Not only are we to be willing to suffer physical abuse to serve God, we are not to let the lusts of the flesh to rule us.  Verse three adds, For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:  Peter, speaking to the Jews, those who were to be God's holy people, were no better than the Gentiles because of their own merit.  They had been just as guilty of sin as had the Gentiles.  The only difference was that God chose to work through them to reveal Himself to the world.  We today, as followers of Christ, are no better than anyone else because of our own goodness, but are simply sinners saved by grace, so we have no reason to feel superior to others because of our own righteousness.  Verse four declares, Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:  People of the world who do not know Christ as Savior and Lord find those who do to be strange when we do not live by the excesses of the flesh.  I am sure you have heard someone ask, "What is it going to hurt?"  The answer is that anything done that is not done under the leadership of the Holy Spirit will harm our relationship to God.  Verse five adds, Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.  When we are tempted to give in to sin, we must remember that it is not the world that will judge us, but God.  Everyone in the world could say that there was no harm in what we have done, but that does not justify us.  We can only be justified by following the will of God in our lives.  God is the ultimate judge of all.  Verse six says, For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.  This is not speaking of preaching to those who are physically dead, but to those who are spiritually dead.  Once we die physically, our everlasting fate is already determined.  We are to live spiritually according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Verse seven declares, But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.  Even in the time of the disciples, the thought was that the second coming of Christ was close, and it has been the thought of many Christians ever since.  We are to simply be faithful and pray for God's guidance in life and even more so as the time of the second coming draws nearer.  I personally do not believe that we are to be simply waiting and praying for the return of Christ, but instead are to be busy witnessing for Him.  Verse eight adds, And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.  We are called on to have a fervent charity, or love, for all those around us.  When we love everyone with a love like God's love for us, we cover a multitude of sins, because we will act accordingly to God's guidance.  Verse nine states, Use hospitality one to another without grudging.  We are to help others without doing so grudgingly.  God calls on His people to help anyone that they can willingly, and I believe to do so in His name.  We should always give God the glory and not seek it for ourselves.

1 Peter 3:12 says, For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.  God hears the righteous and watches over them.  On the other hand, God does not hear those who do evil, except for their prayer for forgiveness by faith in Christ.  Verse thirteen asks, And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?  Matthew Henry says this means under normal conditions, we don't have to fear any harm for doing good, but if we live in a time or place where Christians are persecuted, even then they cannot harm us spiritually.  Verse fourteen declares, But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;  This is a further statement that even when persecuted, we are to be happy in our salvation and not afraid of anything this world can do to us.  This is only true if we are suffering for righteousness sake, and not if we are suffering because we have not lived up to our calling as followers of Christ.  Verse fifteen states, But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:  We are to sanctify ourselves, or put God first in our hearts.  We are also to be ready to tell anyone who asks why we have hope in life, and to do so humbly.  Verse sixteen says, Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.  When we are obedient to God and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we can live with a clear conscience.  If we are accused of doing wrong then, it will be those that falsely accuse us who will ultimately be put to shame.  Verse seventeen adds, For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.  If we are going to suffer as followers of Christ, it should always be because of doing God's will if we are to be bring honor and glory to Him.  Verse eighteen declares, For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:  Christ died once for the sins of all mankind.  Jesus Christ was the just dying for the unjust, and He is the only One qualified to do so.  Because of His sacrifice, we must die to the flesh in order to be obedient to God.  Verse nineteen adds, By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;  Christ reached out to those in prison.  I believe that this does not mean physically imprisoned, but imprisoned by sin.  Matthew Henry relates it to those in the days of Noah who would not listen to him.  Verse twenty states, Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.  We can definitely say that this refers to those in the days of Noah, who after all the years of Noah building the Ark and warning of the coming destruction refused to believe in God's warning.  Only eight were saved.  Verse twenty-one proclaims, The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:  It is not baptism itself that saves us, but the death, burial and resurrection of Christ that it represents that does.  We are to be baptized, when possible, to show our obedience to Christ.  Verse twenty-two proclaims, Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.  Jesus Christ now sits on the right hand of the heavenly Father, and everything is under His power.  I cannot fully comprehend nor explain the triune nature of God, but simply accept that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are One.

1 Peter 3:1 says, Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;  This is basically a call for a wife to live in such a way that she will lead her husband to Christ if He is not a believer, assuming that she is.  If both are believers, and are both obedient to Christ, then they will have no problem in their relationship to each other.  It is not about a power struggle, but about living to bring honor to God.   Verse two states, While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.  This does not mean that the wife is to speak nicely out of fear of her husband, but that she is to speak guided by her respect for God.  Verse three declares, Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;  This tells us that a woman should not be concerned only with outward beauty or looks.  I don't believe it means that a woman should not do these things, but means that they should not be a priority.  Verse four adds, But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.  Like any believer in Christ, the wife is to be ruled by her inner being, that personal relationship with Him.  No wife or husband should be controlled by outward appearances, but by the inner relationship with Christ.  Verse five says, For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:  The women of the Old Testament adorned themselves in obedience to God if they believed in Him.  If God is truly in charge of a marriage, then there will be no arguments about who is in charge, because God will direct both husband and wife.  Verse six says, Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.  Peter says that as Sara obeyed Abraham, Godly women today should follow her example.  Verse seven declares, Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.  The husband is to honor his wife, and not to just act as a dictator over her.  As long as a husband is led by the Holy Spirit, he will always do what is best for his wife.  We too often make marriage to be between a man and a woman and leave God out of it.  In a true marriage, God will always be the One in charge.  Verse eight says, Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:  As followers of Christ, we are to all have our minds centered on doing God's will.  When we do, we will naturally have compassion for one another, love one another, and be courteous to each other.  Verse nine states, Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.  We are not to meet evil with evil if we are to follow Christ's example, but we are to bless, or pray for, those who treat us badly.  We are not to speak badly about others, even if they speak badly about us.  Verse ten declares, For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:  If we love the life that God gives us through our faith in Christ, we will control our tongue, or what we say about others, no matter what format we use to say it.  Verse eleven proclaims, Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.  I believe this tells us that morality does indeed count.  God expects His people to live bringing honor to Him in all that they do.

1Peter 2:13 says, Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;  We are to obey the law, so that God will be glorified.  I believe that there is the exclusion that if the law requires us to dishonor God that we are not to obey it, but any law that simply has to do with worldly matters should be obeyed.  Verse fourteen continues,  Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.  Most laws are made to punish evildoers and to help those who follow those laws.  Verse fifteen adds, For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:  God expects us to obey the law, so that we can silence the ignorance of foolish people.  If we, as followers of Christ, begin to claim that we are above the law, then the lost of the world can speak out against God and us.  Verse sixteen states, As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.  Though we are set free from the power of the world through our faith in Christ, we are not to use this freedom maliciously.  We must always remember that we are servants of God, and are to live to bring honor to Him.  Verse seventeen says, Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.  We are to live in such a way that we honor others and show God's love to them.  Verse eighteen declares,  Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.  We may not be servants with masters, but we are often employees with employers, and this tells us that we are to follow their orders, even when they may not treat us right.  Verse nineteen states, For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.  If we follow God and suffer for it, this is worthy of thanks.  Verse twenty adds, For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.  Peter says that if we suffer for our own faults, then there is no glory in this.  We simply get what we deserve.  On the other hand, if we suffer for our faith, then God is glorified.  Verse twenty-one continues, For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:  We are simply following the example set by Christ when we suffer for our faith.  Verse twenty-two adds, Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:  Of course, unlike us, Christ suffered for our sins and not His own.  Therefore, as followers of Christ, we should be willing to suffer for our faith in Him.  Verse twenty-three continues, Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:  Though He suffered unjustly, Christ did not treat those who abused Him the same way.  At any point, He could have destroyed all those who were around Him mistreating Him, but He acted out of love for them.  We must do the same.  Verse twenty-four concludes, Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.  Christ died for the sins of everyone for all time so that everyone could be restored to God.  Yet, many, many people refuse to accept this forgiveness.  Those who do refuse to accept Christ go to hell even though He had brought them redemption on the cross.  God does not send anyone to hell, but He allows them to go if they so choose.  Verse twenty-five declares, For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.  Every person is guilty of straying away from God, but through Christ and His sacrifice on the cross, we are returned to God if we accept the call of Christ.  We do not really find Christ, but we respond to His call for us to come unto Him.  Christ is the Good Shepherd Who seeks His lost sheep and returns them to His fold.

1 Peter 2:1 says, Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,  This is what God expects from His followers.  We are to lay aside many of the attitudes that exist in too many people.  We are not to look at others thinking of how we can use them to benefit ourselves or envying what they have.  Also, we are not to speak badly about them.  If we profess to follow God and do these things, we are but a hypocrite.  Verse two adds, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:  When we become a follower of Christ, or are born again, we are like a newborn baby that needs milk to grow, and our milk is the word of God.  We need to feed on it daily as we grow in our relationship with God.  Verse three continues, If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.  I believe that this means that we will do these things if we have accepted the grace of God shown to us through our accepting His gift of salvation.  Until we do this, none of this will be possible.  Verse four declares, To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,  This refers to the coming of Christ as the Savior of the world.  He was rejected by mankind, but He is chosen by God as the precious cornerstone of salvation.  Verse five adds, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.  We are to be as spiritual stones ourselves, a holy house and a holy priesthood, or one set aside for God.  This is the only way that we can offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God.  We must do so through accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse six continues, Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.  The coming of Christ was not a sudden new idea for salvation, but was predicted throughout the scriptures.  God knew what was going to be necessary for the redemption of mankind even before Creation.  This does not mean that God created us to fail, but that when He gave us free will, He knew we could fail and would need a Redeemer to restore us to Him.  Verse seven says, Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,  it is the choice of each individual how Christ is viewed.  To those who believe in Him, He is the precious cornerstone of our faith.  Even though Jesus was rejected by almost everyone when He came to earth and by most since, He is still the only cornerstone on which faith can be based.  Verse eight adds, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.  Many people stumble over the fact that Christ is the only way to salvation.  Many people today proclaim that Jesus is but one way to salvation, if He is a way at all.  Others claim that being born again is not a requirement for salvation, but we must declare that being born again through faith in Christ is the only way to salvation.  Otherwise, Christ becomes a stumbling block.  Verse nine continues, But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:  We do not need a priest because as followers of Christ we are priests.  Because as Christians we are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a peculiar people, we are to praise God for His marvelous Light, which is Jesus Christ.  Verse ten states, Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.  Though this does apply to the Jews, I believe that it applies to the Gentiles as well, who until the coming of Christ were not considered a part of God's people.  Of course, it really applies to anyone who accepts God's mercy that Christ brings to anyone who accepts Him.  Verse eleven adds, Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;  Peter begs that those who are strangers to the God to accept Christ and become pilgrims in life and abstain from the lusts of the flesh.  This is still very good advice to anyone today who is seeking to please God and follow His path.  Verse twelve continues, Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.  Though this was spoken to the Jews, I believe that we can say that it applies to Christians today.  We are to speak to and about the lost in a way that brings honor to God.  I don't believe that speaking to or about the lost with anger or disgust will ever bring honor to God.  We are to reach out with God's love and mercy, because we are but sinners saved by grace.

1 Peter 1:13 says,  Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  We are to wrap our minds in the hope of the grace of Jesus Christ, Who will be with us forever.  Our thoughts are to always be directed by the Holy Spirit.  Verse fourteen states, As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:  Our thoughts, directed by the Holy Spirit, are to lead us to be obedient children of God.  We are to no longer be led by the lusts of our ignorance as we were before we became followers of Christ.  Verse fifteen adds, But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;  Holy does not mean self righteous or sanctimonious, but set apart from the world under the guidance of God.  We are to honor God in all that we say and do.  Verse sixteen concludes, Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.  We can never be holy by our own strength and understanding, but can only be so by the grace and power of God.  We never have a reason to boast of our own goodness, but only of the goodness of God.  Verse seventeen proclaims, And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons  according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:  When we call on the heavenly Father, if we have accepted Christ as Savior and Lord, He will hear us no matter who we are in the eyes of the world.  Of course, God will hear anyone who calls to Him by faith for salvation through Christ.  God does not forgive some and not others.  This should give us an awesome respect for God.  Verse eighteen states, Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;  Salvation is not made available by the things we consider valuable in the world, such as silver and gold.  We cannot buy salvation with corruptable things, but can only claim it as a free gift from God.  Verse nineteen adds, But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:  The only way to salvation is through the blood of Christ, the sacrifice without blemish.  This does not say that faith in Christ is a way to salvation, but that it is the only way to salvation.  Verse twenty continues, Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,  Christ was the only way to salvation even before Creation.  He was not an afterthought.  Because God gives people free will He always knew that they could rebel against Him.  Still, God loves us enough to make a way of salvation available, even at a great cost to Himself.  Verse twenty-one concludes, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.  We must put our faith in Christ, believing that He died for our sins.  We must give Christ the glory, so that our faith and hope will be in God.  Verse twenty-two states, Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:  When we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord, our souls are purified.  Then, we are to have a love for our fellow believers that is real and not faked.  We are too truly have their best interests at heart.  Verse twenty-three declares, Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.  This is not an option.  If we are to be saved, we must be born again by faith in Christ.  To say we are Christians but not born again makes a liar either of God or of us.  Verse twenty-four proclaims, For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:  Our physical bodies are as temporary as the grass or the flowers.  Verse twenty-five concludes, But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.  Only the word of God lasts forever, and it is by the word of God that the gospel is preached to us.  We can add nothing to the gospel, nor can we take anything away from it.  We can simply accept it by faith, or reject it altogether.