LIVING FOR GODPart1

LIVING FOR GOD

Part 1

“Since Christ Suffered For Us”

1 Pet 4: 1-6 “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.”

In chapter 4, Peter makes three statements or three inspired key thoughts that serve as a spring board for life-changing insights.

The key statements are:

Since Christ suffered for us in the flesh vs. 1

The end of all things is at hand vs. 7

Think it not strange vs. 12

So let’s look at the first statement, “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh…”

Since Jesus did suffer, how then should we respond and apply that fact to our lives?

First,

“…arm yourselves also with the same mind…”

ARM: Make ready, to equip. Only time in whole N.T. this word is used.

In other words, be ready, prepare yourself to suffer in the flesh.

The suffering he’s speaking of has to do with saying no to the demands of your own will, saying no to the desires of your flesh when they run contrary to God’s will.

It is found in Jesus’ words, “Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”—Lk. 9:23

Peter tells us that the way we learn to do this is by having the “same mind” that was in Christ Jesus.

What would that be? It is found in Luke 22:41-43, “He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him.”

It was at the moment of His surrender that angelic help arrived and ministered to Him.

Being “armed” to suffer in the flesh is referring to being prepared for those moments when we must choose God’s will over our wants, our own will, and our own selfish needs.

The choice to “pick up our cross” is presented many times each and every day in a hundred different ways.

Peter continues:

“…for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.”

This doesn’t mean that we become sinless. It means that we are no longer ruled by sin.

The Amplified Bible puts it, “For whoever has suffered in the flesh [having the mind of Christ] is done with [intentional] sin [has stopped pleasing himself and the world, and pleases God]…”

The same thought (that is often misinterpreted) is found in 1 John 3:6:

“No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.”

John and Peter both are addressing the person who continues living out a sinful lifestyle, not the person who occasionally sins and repents.

Once we die to ourselves by choosing God’s will over our own, we cease living in intentional sin to please ourselves and the world. Instead we begin living for God’s will. This is the intention of God for every born again child of His.

Vs. 2 “…that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.”

It is a defining moment in the life of every believer when total surrender takes place and we live the rest of our time for the will of God rather than for the lusts of men.

He next says that we can’t reach the place of total surrender fast enough.

Vs. 3 “For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.”

LEWDNESS: The KJV says “lasciviousness.” It means “to cast off restraint.” It points to those who throw self-control to the wind and live to fully indulge in the lusts of the flesh. It also means “shameless conduct.”

LUSTS: Means “strong desire” of any kind. It almost always has a bad sense in scripture, pointing to the strong desires of the fallen Adamic nature. Often used in the phrase, “lusts of the flesh.”

DRUNKENNESS: Excess of wine.

REVELLINGS: To riot. “a nocturnal and riotous procession of half drunken and frolicsome fellows who after supper parade through the streets with torches and music in honour of Bacchus or some other deity, and sing and play before houses of male and female friends; hence used generally of feasts and drinking parties that are protracted till late at night and indulge in revelry.”

BANQUETINGS: A drinking party, a bout with drinking.

ABOMINABLE IDOLATRIES: unlawful worship of idols

Peter is telling us that it is high time to totally disconnect from these things in order to serve the living God!

And what is often the response of our former “party” buddies?

Vs. 4 “In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.”

They sit back and wonder what in the world has happened to you! They don’t get it. After all, isn’t partying hardy what life is all about? Because of your lifestyle change your former “friends” begin to,

“…speak evil of you.” This phrase is taken from the same word we translate into “blasphemy.” They aren’t just making a few jokes at your expense. They are slandering you, speaking profanely of you. This is the treatment a fallen world divvies out to those that defect to the camp of the godly.

What is God’s response to such treatment?

Vs. 5 “They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.”

ACCOUNT: is the Greek word “logos” which means “word, statement or speech.” Peter is saying that those who slander the godly will have to verbally answer to God for what they have said.

Finally, Peter gives us a very mystifying statement that some have called the most difficult Bible verse in the N.T.

Vs. 6 “For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.”

The context of this verse has to do with God’s judgment of those who abuse His people, having been convicted by their godly lifestyle. The context also includes the fearful persecution of God’s saints that was raging even as Peter wrote this letter.

Commentator J.B. Phillips writes, “The people to whom Peter refers here were dead. But when they were still alive, they had heard the joyful news of the gospel and believed in Christ. Their lives had been changed. Their transformed lives had activated the malicious dislike of “men in the flesh.”

The “judging” referred to here (“…that they might be judged according to men in the flesh…”) refers to the harsh and hateful judgment done by the wicked people who had persecuted and even martyred the Christians. As a result, these people (Christians) were now dead.

But that was by no means the end of it. On the contrary, they now “live according to God in the spirit.” Men in the flesh had done their worst. All they had succeeded in doing, however, was to promote them to glory! The people they had hated and hounded to death were, in fact, very much alive in heaven! They “live according to God in the spirit.”

SUMMARY: Since Christ suffered in the flesh, we should be prepared to deny our selfish wills, desires, and purposes (the will of the Gentiles) in order to live for the will of God.