Since believers are to reject and refrain from the human passions of this world, unbelievers will not understand why and will slander and otherwise alienate Christians. Even though this blasphemy are primarily just words, many Christians have and probably will continue to be affected by them. Some worry about losing friends, loss of reputation, or perhaps lose their jobs.
4:5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.
Peter reminds us that they too (the blasphemers) will give an account of their lives to Jesus who is ready to judge both the living and those that have died. God will judge them, and it is not our ‘job’, nor is it our place to render revenge or retaliation (see also Matthew 18:21-35; 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-12). Peter also reminds us as to why the gospel, the good news, is preached. If the gospel was not preached, then people would be eternally condemned. Peter says that the Gospel was preached even to those that are dead. There are a number of ways to interpret what Peter is saying here. Some believe that Peter is talking about those who heard the gospel and are now dead, while others believe that Peter is referring to people who are alive but are spiritually dead (especially since the second half of the verse refers to those living, see Colossians 1:23).
Peter gives the reason why the gospel was preached to dead that though judged while alive on earth being the way people are (sinful human beings), that they might live in the spirit eternally like God does. Let’s stop for a second and examine how God exists in the spirit. We are not talking necessarily about the Holy Spirit, we know that God the Father is spirit (read John 4:24) and Jesus, while His body was ‘physically’ dead, He was alive in the spirit (read Luke 23:46). One of the most comforting statements about our life eternal with God comes from what most believe to be the oldest book in the Bible: “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!” (Job 19:25-27) Paul in his first letter to the church in Thessalonica addresses some of our concerns about the confusion of our existence after death, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
Just as Jesus died physically, remained alive in the spirit, and then rose physically from the dead, we believers that suffer death will live spiritually until we are reunited in our glorified bodies. No enemy, no unjust persecution by an ungodly world can steal God’s victory from us (see Luke 24:39; 2 Corinthians 4:1-18).
4:7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.
Peter next states that the end of all things is at hand. The Greek word translated in this verse as ‘end’ is the word ‘telos’ which could also mean ‘fulfilled’ or the last in a succession (like beginning the last chapter of a book). The phrase ‘at hand’ is referring to a some event approaching. Some commentators point out that this verse points to the end of the world, but since Peter wrote these words over 1,900 years ago this likely not the correct interpretation. So what could Peter mean? We will see before the end of this chapter that Peter is clearly referring to Jesus’ Second Coming. Another way of looking at this is that the old covenant (the covenant that was given to the Israelites through Moses at Mount Sinai, see Exodus 19:1-20:21) has been replaced by the new covenant (see Jeremiah 31:31-34, the word ‘covenant’ is another word for ‘testament’, giving the New Testament its name). Christ will indeed return (see Acts 3:17-21; Colossians 3:1-4; 2 Thessalonians 1:10; 2 Timothy 4:1-8; Hebrews 9:28; Revelation 20:11-15) and just as Jesus stated, we will continually hear speculation as to when He will return (see Matthew 24:36-44; Romans 13:11-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; James 5:7-8; Jude 17-18; Revelation 1:3; 22:20). Using the illustration of the end (‘telos’) would then be like referring to the beginning of the last chapter of a book, mankind has entered that last chapter.
Therefore, since you don’t know when He will be back, we need to be self-controlled (be of sound judgment) and sober-minded (be watchful, as well as be calm and collective) for the sake of our prayers. The NASB says, “for the purpose of prayer.” The NIV says, “that you may pray.” The earlier version of the NIV (1984 version) says, “so that you can pray.” The Holman Christian Standard Bible reads: “discipline for prayer.” For a Christian prayer is not only access to God it is also our line to Him to access spiritual resources. Believers cannot pray properly if our minds are out of sync with God’s will primarily due to our worldly pursuits, ignorance of God’s Word and truth, or indifference to God’s purposes (see 1 John 5:14-15; Romans 8:26-27; Jude 20-21; James 4:3). Don’t let unconfessed sin get in the way of your prayers, remember to earnestly seek Him and repent! Anticipating Jesus’ return should directly influence our daily attitudes, our actions, and our relationships. In his second epistle, Peter will continue this discussion regarding living in the times prior to Jesus’ second coming (see chapters 41-45 of this commentary).