First Epistle of Peter
SINCE YE CALL ON THE FATHER, LIVE IN AWE
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 1:17 (KJV)
The word "if" has the sense of "since" in this verse. "Since ye call on the Father." Of course, Peter is writing to Christians. Every true Christian does pray to the Father. He would not be a child if he did not. Children call upon parents scores of times, asking for this and that, looking for sympathy. A true child of God will do the same with his Father.
An earthly father may not always know what is best for a child, and may unwittingly do the child harm, but our Father knows just what is best for us.
Then again, an earthly father may not be able to do for a child what he should do, but our Father has all power in heaven and on earth. Our Father is always near – He never slumbers and He never sleeps (Ps. 121). The night is never too dark or the storm too wild for Him to hear. Only willful unconfessed sin can mar that link with glory. That alone will close the ear of the Father.
In our verse, God is not only a Father, but also a judge. It is well to remember this. He has already punished fallen angels. Them, "He hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day" (Jude 6). He has sent many judgments on the earth. He sent the flood, destroying all the wicked of that time, sparing only Noah and his family. He likewise sent fire down upon the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The Scriptures tell of many lesser judgments, all sent because of sin. The guilty world still awaits judgment, when our blessed Lord Jesus Christ comes back as He said He would.
This, the true Christian will not experience or at least he need not be concerned about it, but that does not mean that he can sin, and expect to escape the judging hand of God the Father. Every true father judges the actions of his children, and acts accordingly. He will not hesitate to punish an erring child, nor will our Father. If we want to be spared punishment, we had better be obedient children.
"who without respect of persons judgeth"
God has no favorites either in the world or among His children. The world will receive impartial judgment, and so will the Christian. Esau and Jacob were twins. There was something in that home that later caused no end of trouble. We read in Genesis 25:28, "And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison; but Rebekah loved Jacob." Here we find one parent loving one of the twins, and the other loving the other. We often see similar conditions in the world. But our Father has no favorites. We may be swayed by outward appearance, or wealth, social standing or business position; but none of these things will effect our Father's judgment. "The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart" (1 Sam. 16:7).
"judgeth according to every man's work"
We are not saved by what we do. We are saved entirely by Christ Jesus and His work on the cross, as we trust and obey Him with our souls. However, as children we are treated, by our Father, according to our works, and then our rewards in glory are likewise to be granted, according to our works.
One's eternal destiny, whether saved or lost, is dependent on the cross of Christ. Have we trusted and obeyed Christ as Savior? If we have, then we will be saved. Have we rejected Him? Then as long as we stay in that situation we will be lost. We read that in Hell some will be beaten with many stripes and some shall be beaten with few (see Luke 12:46 to 48). What accounts for the difference? The light that one has and the life that he lives.
The matter of rewards for the saved is dealt with in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15. It would seem to teach there that it is possible to be saved and yet to receive no reward at all when we get to heaven. Sometimes we wonder if any true Christian will be so devoid of good works that there will be nothing for which he/she can be rewarded. But how are our rewards determined? By how we build upon the foundation. You will notice that in this portion, it is a man's works that are being tested, not the man himself. Our place and rewards in glory are to be determined by our works, but we are saved by being on the foundation, Christ, and we become Christ-like when we trust and obey the Word of God and contact the blood of Jesus Christ (see Rom. 6).
Some are confused about good works. They think that they produce salvation. Good works do not produce salvation; but salvation does produce good works (Eph. 2:8-10).
A wise father will be slow to punish a child, even for wrong doing, but will be quick to commend and reward for good. Our Father in heaven will do the same. He rewards for faithful service, but this is mainly reserved for the time when we will be with Him. A Christian may receive punishment in this life, but faithfulness to the Father will bring glory later. An unsaved person may have it much better here, but punishment will came later.
"pass the time of your sojourning in fear."
The word "pass" would perhaps be better translated "conduct." We are to "conduct" ourselves during our sojourn here in fear.
"sojourning"
The word "sojourning" would indicate that we are strangers for a little time in a strange land. According to 2 Corinthians 4:4, Satan is the God of this age. While here, we are in his territory, surrounded by his subjects. He will do his utmost to make it hard for us, especially if we are in the business of taking subjects away from him. Let us remember too, that the unsaved are watching Christians closely. May we, by our life, and by what we say, commend the Lord whom we love and represent.
"in fear."
Are we then to fear our Father? Not in the sense of being afraid of Him. Unless parents are strongly mean at times, their children do not fear them. Sad to say some young children hide when father comes home. This should not be. When daddy has been gone for a few weeks, usually children are happy to have him come home. Usually it's a cheerful time. Yet they may be afraid to displease their father. Especially when they have done something desperately wrong.
We can take great liberty in coming into our Father's presence and have sweet communion with Him; but yet when we think of His holiness, majesty and greatness, it should fill us with awe and reverence. And well we may fear to displease Him, and to be bad, and to disobey Him, because He is not slow to chastise us when we need it. We need only turn to Hebrews 12 to know that this is so. Then it is well to remember that every failure and disobedience will surely bring an eternal loss in that day. We all certainly want to hear, "Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord."
No doubt there could be an improvement in the reverence shown by some, as Christians meet together to worship the Lord or to listen to the Word of God. Let us remember the majesty and holiness of the One in whose presence we are gathered. Let us show Him more respect than we would any earthly dignitary.
