Being a "Good Christian"

Arm Yourself To Suffer

1 Peter 4:1–2 (NASB95)

Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

This type of suffering that Peter is writing about is the putting to death the old person and living your life following Christ. Paul says basically the same thing in Romans 6:1-11

Romans 6:1–11 NASB95

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

When we come to know Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour, one of the hardest things to do is give up the sin that we previously walked in. This was typically a way of life and quite frankly something that we enjoyed. It is hard to change and there is suffering in the change because you are having to deny yourself the things that you once enjoyed.

I want to dispel a myth that some may believe. Some believe that when you come to Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and savior that Jesus immediately takes your desire for sin away. This is not true. You will learn over time that when you suffer through giving up what you want, Jesus replaces it with something better. Over time you recognize this and value what Christ has for you more than your sin. This takes time.

You may even find yourself failing to escape the old temptations. Falling back into old ways. It is the conviction of the Holy Spirit that gets you back on track. When you get back on track through repentance you are stronger in your faith and your love for Christ grows deeper.

Peter tells of some of the things that people must give up in 1 Peter 4:3

1 Peter 4:3 NASB95

For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.

This is the party life. I am very familiar with this life because I used to live it. I loved living for the weekends and the parties that I would attend. The parties I would attend had all the things that Peter mentioned. Though they were fun they certainly not satisfying to the soul.

When Christ came to me in my sin, He showed me a better way. He gave me a righteous life and replaced the party life with a relationship with Him, a godly wife, two amazing children, and an opportunity to pastor a church! I would say this is “much mo betta”!

However this transition was not easy because I faced what the persecution that Peter describes in 1 Peter 4:4-5

1 Peter 4:4–5 (NASB95)

In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you; but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

When God saved me I had to distance myself from a lot of the activities my friends were engaging in. They would persecute me because I didn’t do the things that I used to do with them. They would call me a holier than thou person. They would encourage others to not be as friendly towards me. Eventually they would even dissociate with me and no longer be my friend. This was hard because I wanted to be accepted.

Then I realized that acceptance from the Lord was more important than acceptance from people. This is because I am not accountable to people, but I am accountable to God. He will ultimately judge me.

We must all seek to follow Jesus even if it means we have to distance ourselves from relationships. Now I am not saying if you are married and are having troubles that divorce is your answer, What I am saying is that you must put your obedience and relationship to Christ before your marriage.

If you have a friend that is hampering your relationship with the Lord, share the gospel with them and if they refuse to listen, then you may need to distance yourself from that friend and continue to pray for them.

Live a Righteous Life

Peter mentions 7 ways to live a righteous life in 1 Peter 4:7-11

1 Peter 4:7–11 NASB95

The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Be of sound mind and sober spirit

The way we become of sound mind is described in a couple of passages of scripture. First is Romans 12:1-2

Romans 12:1–2 (NASB95)

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Don’t be conformed to the way of the world. Don’t listen to the ideas of the culture and be swayed by the doctrine of the media! Instead, be transformed by the renewing of your mind. This is done when you study and meditate on the Word of God. When you study the word of God you will develop a biblical mindset rather than a worldly mindset.

The second passage of having a sound mind is Philippians 4:8

Philippians 4:8 NASB95

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

When we dwell on these things we will have minds of wisdom and peace. It is the lies and biased opinions of sinful people that we allow influence us that disrupts our wisdom and peace. For example, if you watch the news, read social media posts, listen to negative people gossip, or allow yourself to be influenced by famous people you will find yourself cynical and frustrated. The Word if God is fits all the criteria above.

When your mind is transformed and the word of God is in you, then you will have strong effectual prayers.

Love One Another

Love is the antidote to lack of patience. 1 Peter 4:8

1 Peter 4:8 NASB95

Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

It is easy to love one another when we are all on the same page and behaving as we should. It becomes a little more difficult when someone hurts or offends us. Love is the attribute that enable us to forgive and heal from the hurt and restore the relationship. This is why Peter says it covers a multitude of sin.

How many of us have a relationship that is perfect? I mean there is no disagreements, no fussing, and you agree on everything without any differences. This is impossible! Even in my relationship with Jesus, I find myself disagreeing with Him. He is perfect and I am not. So I am in the wrong, but none the less there is a disagreement. He loves me, shows me the error of my way and keeps me from getting deeper into sin!

Be hospitable

1 Peter 4:9 NASB95

Be hospitable to one another without complaint.

This simply means be kind and accommodating to others without complaining about it. It is kind of like having to go to a function that you really don’t want to go. The reason you are going is for the sake of the one who invited you, not because you necessarily want to go. You should not complain, but go and enjoy for the sake of the other person.

Employ your gift to serve others

1 Peter 4:10 NASB95

As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

God has gifted all people with a special gift. It is not meant for selfish ambitions, but instead to be given away by employing it to others for the purpose of blessing them.

What is your gift and what are you doing with it? Everyone in here today has a gift that you can employ on the church. You may say that we do not have the opportunity that matches your giftedness. I would say let’s create the opportunity!

Speak as the one speaking the words of God

When we are talking to one another we should consider that God is with us. So before we say something to someone we must ask, “will this be pleasing to the Lord?”

If we did a better job with this then we would live a much more peaceful life. I would not hesitate to say that the one thing that gets most people in trouble are the things they say before they consider what they are saying.

Serve in the strength of God

When we are called to serve the Lord and others, we must do so in His strength and not our own. We have limited capacity in our own strength, but unlimited strength in His.

Live your life to glorify God

The way you can do this is through the greatest commandment and the great commission.

Matthew 22:37 NASB95

And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

God is most interested in our love for Him than He is our behaviour. When we love Him we will obey His commands John 14:15

John 14:15 NASB95

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

If we are loving God and obeying His commandment then we will be fulfilling the great commission. Matthew 28:19-20

Matthew 28:19–20 (NASB95)

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”