The Present Future Perfect

THE PRESENT FUTURE PERFECT (1 PETER 4)

In a YouGov survey of 1,225 US adults conducted in late February, at a time when several dozen cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed in the US, nearly three in 10 (29%) US adults think there will likely be an apocalyptic disaster in their lifetime. Nearly one in five (19%) Americans said they believed a global pandemic was the most likely cause of the apocalypse while an equal number (19%) pointed to climate change, while slightly fewer (17%) said the cause of the apocalypse would be a nuclear war.

If the apocalypse strikes, most Americans are optimistic about their odds of survival - at least for a few days. 42% of US adults think they would survive a week or more, while 15 percent give themselves “almost a week,” and 29% estimate they would last just a few days. Another 13 percent of Americans say that they would only survive one day once the apocalypse strikes.

https://today.yougov.com/topics/lifestyle/articles-reports/2020/03/18/apocalypse-climate-change-pandemic-coronavirus

If you were like me last year it was a menacing, miserable and manic year. I did not get to celebrate my all-important birthday! A fellowship member’s wedding had to be postponed three times and a missionary friend could not return home for months.

How has the virus affected you last year or future days? If the end of the world were near, what things or people concern you the most? What are your plans, if any? Why are we still helpers and not helpless in crisis?

Mend Your Ways

1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

Author and pastor Warren Wiersbe and a friend met at a restaurant to have lunch. It was one of those places where the lights are low, and you need a miner's helmet to find your table. They sat several minutes before they started looking at the menu. Wiersbe remarked, “I am amazed how easily I could read it.” To which his friend replied, "Yes, it doesn't take us long to get accustomed to the darkness."

(Warren Wiersbe, 1 Peter 4, The Bible Exposition Commentary)

Jesus answered the classic blame question on the fate of the Galileans killed by Plate: “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke 13:1-3)

You might be surprised to know that the recurrent theme of “Christ + suffered” (twice in verse 1) makes the most entry in 1 Peter (1 Peter 2:21, 3:18, 4:1, 5:10), more than any chapter or book from Paul. Shockingly, the verb “suffer” occurs the most in one chapter in 1 Peter 2 (vv 19, 20, 21, 23) and 4 (vv 1 twice, 15, 19), occurring 12 times in 1 Peter, doubling the next book of Luke’s six times.

The first imperative and focus of the first section, however, is “arm” (hoplizo), which occurs only once in the Bible, but its noun (hoplon) form is also translated as weapons (John 18:3), instruments (Rom 6:13) and armor (Rom 13:12). It means weapons, warfare and watchfulness, with arms and not appliances, to face it and not fear it, and not to be caught unprepared, caught napping or caught off guard.

Arm oneself means to make preparations, maintain vigilance and mobilize resources. From the verb “arm,” we get the noun “armor,” “army” and “armament.” The important word “attitude” (v 1, ennoia – as in “Christ suffered in the body”) is translated also as intents (Heb 4:12) in KJV, “purpose” in New American, and “way of thinking” in ESV. It is not a literal war because “attitude” is feminine in Greek, but it is in the literal mindset, viewpoint and outlook.

Time element v 2 “(do not)/no longer live”

v 3 in the past

v 5 ready Be Delivered

- Mind over matter

(v 1, attitude/mind vs body/flesh)

- earthly live/rest of his time (v 2) VS time past (v 3) Belief