1 Peter 4:1-11
Notes
Transcript
Background
1 Peter is the first letter that we have from the Apostle Peter in the New Testament. The overall theme of the book is that believers should follow Christ’s example by joyfully enduring persecution.
1 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,
2 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.
3 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.
4 In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you;
Last week we talked about being God’s ambassadors to the world, imploring those who are lost to be reconciled to God.
We saw that our lifestyle represents who has authority over our lives - either God does, or we do in the flesh.
We also saw Christ suffering and dying to put the flesh to death, and he proclaimed the gospel of freedom to those who had died before Him and set free those who believed.
It is in this context that Peter begins chapter 4.
Peter uses last week’s description of Christ’s example for us in suffering to equip us with the same purpose.
He makes the argument that in Christ’s suffering, we cease in our sin.
The idea here is suffering death of the flesh.
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?
2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?
3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?
4 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.
5 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,
6 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;
7 for he who has died is freed from sin.
Peter reminds his readers that they at one time lived lives of sin, partaking in the deeds of the Gentiles. But this time is over.
1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
Since we have ceased this worldly lifestyle, those in the world will observe your actions, and will slander us.
12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Being an ambassador for God means persecution. But Christ will return and bring His reward with Him.
5 but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
6 For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.
7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.
Those who malign us will have to give an account for their actions to the perfect, holy, righteous Judge.
36 “But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.
37 “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
This is precisely why Jesus went to preach the gospel to the dead, as we saw last week - there is no righteousness found in man. All are in need of a Savior.
25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
With Christ, we may receive the Spirit who will give us life.
9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
The end of this world is approaching, and when it comes, every person will be judged.
12 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.
The world will criticize our deeds, but God will judge the world according to His righteousness.
The world will criticize our deeds, but God will judge the world according to His righteousness.
The world acts as if Christ will not return. We need to act as if this message is true.
8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint.
10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
11 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.
This section begins with a reminder that we as believers are to act in a way that represents God well.
The very first action listed is love. This is fitting, since God is love.
16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
We love one another, because it is the sign of the Church.
34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Love, which God is, covers sin. It is His mercy that we emulate.
12 Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions.
20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
We are to practice hospitality as believers towards one another.
10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;
11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,
13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
And we are to do so without complaining.
9 Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.
As we saw before, Christ is coming back and will judge us according to our actions as well.
This does not affect our salvation, but it does affect our reward.
12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.
14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
In each of us being a part of the Body of Christ, we each received a spiritual gift, or gifts, according to our purpose within the Body.
If you are a believer, you received the Holy Spirit.
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.
6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.
7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
The purpose of spiritual gifts is the common good, the building up (edification) of the Body of Christ.
11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
Some speak, some serve, but all do so for the sake of the Body.
15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
Our individual part in the body is to be exercised uniquely based on our gifting.
6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;
7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching;
8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Each of us has a part to play in the Body of Christ.
Each of us has a part to play in the Body of Christ.
As a reminder, we do and act and serve according to the love that God has shown us, not to earn salvation.
Our contribution helps some come to God, and others grow closer to Him.
We are God’s ambassadors to the world, and when we play our part, God is glorified.
APPLICATION
APPLICATION
The world will criticize our deeds, but God will judge the world according to His righteousness.
Each of us has a part to play in the Body of Christ.
Next week, we will continue through 1 Peter.