In this passage, the apostle provides believer’s with three strong motivations for persevering through unjust suffering.
1. The Painful Memory of Their Sinful Past (1 Peter 4:3)
A. Recalling Sinful Desires (1 Peter 4:3a)
B. Recalling Sinful Conduct (1 Peter 4:3b)
2. Divine Judgment of Their Persecutors (1 Peter 4:4-5)
A. Persecutors’ Surprise (1 Peter 4:4a-b)
B. Persecutors’ Slander (1 Peter 4:4c)
C. Persecutors’ Accountability (1 Peter 4:5)
3. The Gospel’s Guarantee of Eternal Life (1 Peter 4:6)
A. Spiritual Life is the Purpose of Preaching (1 Peter 4:6a)
B. Men’s Meaningless Assessment of Believers (1 Peter 4:6b)
C. God’s Powerful will for Believers (1 Peter 4:6c)