Living Like Christ
Exiles • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Introduction
Good morning please open in your Bibles to 1 Peter 4:1-11 that is 1 Peter 4:1-11. That is on page 1016 if you are using one of the Bibles scattered throughout the chairs. Again, that is page 1016 1 Peter 4:1-11. We are a pragmatic people. That is to say we want to know where the rubber meets the road. We can often breeze through the questions of why we should do something, and sprint toward the how. As we have walked through this letter written by the apostle Peter he started with the why. Why do Christians live like they live. He explained that we are born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God, who died for our sin and rose from the dead are promised an eternal reward in heaven which is guarded for us. Therefore, since God is holy and we are God’s children we are to be holy as well. We are to endure suffering and abstain from our evil passions. We trust God by submitting to the God given authorities in our lives, and we are like Christ in we are willing to suffer for our faith knowing that an eternal reward awaits that serve Christ.
In today’s passage Peter continues to encourage us to live godly lives as we are exiles in this world. What does a godly life look like? How are those who follow Christ supposed to live? When life is hard and the world seems like it coming to an end, what are we to be doing? Peter answer’s those questions in this text. He gives pragmatic answers to a people who needed them. He gives practical instruction to you and I today. Let’s read 1 Peter 4:1-11.
Live for the Will of God v. 1-2
Live for the Will of God v. 1-2
1 Peter 4:1–2 “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.”
Last week we read 1 Peter 3:18 “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,” this verse reminds us that Jesus physically died for our sins. He suffering on our behalf was very real and very painful. And since he suffered in the flesh, and we are his followers Peter tells us to arm ourselves with the same way of thinking. We must be ready to suffer for Christ.
He then explains that those who suffer in the flesh have ceased from sin. Now, I do not believe Peter is teaching perfectionism. That is you just suffer for Jesus, then you will never sin again. Rather, I believe he is referring to the change in lifestyle that happens when a person becomes a Christian. Peter is explaining that the willingness to suffer is a sign a clear evidence of the legitimacy of a person’t salvation. We don’t suffer for the things we are truly believe in. The Christian that is ready to suffer in a Christian that is convinced that Jesus Christ is Lord. Therefore, they have ceased from living a life of sin, and they now live a life for the will of God. And their commitment to this new life is so strong they are willing to keep living according to the will of God even if others ridicule them or threaten them.
Peter explains that these Christians are to be ready to suffer like Jesus did, because they have resolved to live the rest of their lives (rest of their time in the flesh) no longer for human passions but for the will of God. The Christian willing to suffer is a Christian who by God’s grace has determined to live their entire life for Christ.
The apostle Paul states this same concept but from the other angle when he says in 2 Timothy 3:12 “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,” If you live a godly life in this world you will look different from this world and therefore you will be persecuted. Peter explains that in detail in our passage today in verse 4. He stating here in verses 1-2, that we must ready to suffer as we resolve to live not for ourselves, but for the will of God.
Which forces us all to ask the question: What or who am I living for? Peter writes to help Christians endure slander, mocking, being ostracized, and possibly disowned by their families. This suffering acts like a form of heat or pressure in their lives that reveals the true nature of their relationship with Christ. Those who are willing to suffer are those who no longer live for human passions but live for the will of God.
Just a heat burns away the impurities in precious metals so does suffering burn away the human passions that still linger the hearts of Christians. We have to cast off our old ways and seek to please Christ alone if we hope to endure suffering. I heard it like this as a middle schooler in youth group long ago. When squeeze a tube of toothpaste what comes out? Toothpaste. When you squeeze an organ what comes out? Orange juice. When the pressures and pains of life squeeze a Christian what comes out?
Often in times of high stress or difficulty we resort to old habits. Habits like: outburst of anger, sensual pleasure to obtain a false sense of release, escape through entertainment, obsessive worrying through copious amounts of internet research, the list goes on and on. If this is how we respond to just the normal pressures of life how do we think we will respond to persecution?
Perhaps you are here and you are not yet a Christian or you are just learning more about what it means to follow Christ and here I am talking about all the suffering you might face if you become a Christian. You may think what does this have to do with me? Well listen to what Jesus says,
Luke 14:25–33 “Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”
This is extreme! Jesus is saying following him will cost us everything, relationships with our family and our lives are to be like hate when compared to our love for Christ. If you are considering following Jesus, then you must understand that following Jesus comes before all else. If you parents disagree with Jesus, you are to loving choose to obey Jesus over your parents. And that is probably going to cause some problems.
Why would anyone want to do that? Why would anyone follow Jesus? I believe the answer in found in verse 3-6.
Live in the Spirit v. 3-6
Live in the Spirit v. 3-6
We will endure persecution even from our own family members because we know that Jesus’ way is right and because it leads us to eternal life. If we live in the spirit we abstain from the passions of the flesh, or sinful behavior, but to live by the spirit is also to live knowing that just as Christ was raised by the spirit, so we too will be raised with them on the last day to enjoy eternal life.
Peter explains in verse 3. 1 Peter 4:3 “For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.” The time you already spent living as a non-believer is already enough time wasted on sin. Whether you became a Christian as 6 or 60 your time spent sinning is too much time spent sinning. The list of vices that Peter provides were common practices among the non-christians gentiles who Peter’s audience lived around. These vices were often connected to pagan worship and participation in the festivals for pagan gods in which people participated in these vices was seen as a civic duty. They were “unpatriotic” and yet these early Christians would have to choose to not participate if they were to live for the will of God. They would have to go against the cultural grain simply by choosing to not partake in these activities.
In world in which marijuana is legal, pornography is considered a form of free speech, living with your girlfriend or fiancee before marriage is considered wise and common sense sounds very similar to a world where people are living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. The Bible speaks to the current moment. And what it says it that is you don’t partake in what the world sees as normal but God sees as sinful then “1 Peter 4:4 “With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;”
The world will be surprised when you reserve sex for marriage, don’t get drunk or high, don’t watch the shows they watch, don’t consume the media they consume and so on. Peter isn’t saying his audience was maligned for preaching an open condemnation of sin. But rather the are spoken of poorly because they did participate “in the same flood of debauchery”. The cost to follow Jesus is steep! So why do it?
Peter continues in verse 5, 1 Peter 4:5–6 “but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 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.” Those who are living in sin now and who refuse to repent of sin will give an account to God. Suffer for doing good because in the end, doing evil will be judged. Peter is encouraging Christians to keep on going because their persecutors will not have the last word.
Now, must be clear on something. The last word is God’s but the delivery of that word is not guaranteed in your lifetime. This is why people refers to those to whom the Gospel was preached even though they are dead. The non-believing world in Peter’s day would look at Christians and say “Why are you joining in us? This is a blast. Partying is the best! And look, you can be all good if you want, but what does it really gain you. You’re still going to die. Just look at those other Christians who lived like God told them. They lived a ‘good” life and they still died.” Peter is saying, the final judgement is coming and though Christians do die in the flesh. Even Christians cannot escape the judgement of physical death. When Adam sinned physical death entered the world and all men and women will die physically. But if you long to live in the spirit the way God does then you must follow Jesus.
If you are going to live after death in the new heaven and new earth where there is eternal life, joy, peace, and glory then you must follow Jesus. The persecutions that you endure in this world will never compare to your future reward in heaven. Therefore, even if you are maligned or make fun of, insulted, persecuted for doing what is right you keep doing good in order to be saved.
Galatians 6:7–10 reminds us Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
These future promises are so powerful that we are able to do something that is totally shocking. God’s future promise of judgment for sinners who do not repent and his promise to deliver all of those who follow Jesus enables us to love our enemies. As we hear this message we don’t think, aha! They get what’s coming to them! Instead we are to be like Jesus. When he was squeezed and hung on the cross he cried out “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
The radical nature of the Gospel is that empowers Christians not to just endure persecution white knuckled and quietly bitter. But we endure free from guilt and shame and joyful. Because we endure proclaiming his excellencies of how he called us out of darkness and into marvelous light. We give a defense for the hope that is within us with gentleness and respect.
You are radically different from this world if you are Christ follower. Yet, those radical differences manifest themselves in really ordinary ways as we live for God by living for one another.
Live for One Another v. 7-11
Live for One Another v. 7-11
1 Peter 4:7–11 “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
In this paragraph Peter says something that is startling but then follows it with something that seems pretty ordinary. The end of all things is at hand. That a major announcement. The end of all things is near! Shouldn’t we build a bomb shelter, store freeze dried goods, gather weaponry. Not according to Peter. The end is near and here is what you are supposed to do.
You are to live a self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. This is in direct contrast with the vices listed in verse 3 which are the manifestation of a lack of self control and sobriety. He has said you’ve already spent too much time on that stuff. Instead, you are to spend time praying. You don’t have time to be intoxicated or out of control. You need to pray. You know prayer is important when you can’t afford to take a break on the weekends. Peter is arguing that we are always to be ready to meet Christ.
Above all we display our readiness by loving one another earnestly because love covers a multitude of sins. The covering of sin is not referring to our love of others somehow atoning for our sin. Rather relationally our love for each other can empower us to overlook minor offenses. In a hostile world, Christians must stick together. Petty offenses cannot divide us, love can cover a multitude of sins.
We are to show hospitality to one another without grumbling. Feed each other, care for each other with complaining about it. When is the last time you just showed some love to brother or sister in Christ.
And finally, with the world about to end Peter tells us to serve one as God has gifted us. That’s the plan. God provides gifts to his people of varying kinds. We are all gifted in different was and in varying capacities. But all Christians are give gifts by God for the purpose of serving the body of Christ, that is the church. Every Christian is to serve his or her local church.
He divides these gifts into two broad categories of speaking gifts and serving gifts. Where you gifted in teaching, evangelism, encouragement i.e. speaking gifts or gifted in administration, hospitality, service i.e. serving gifts we are to do things with what God provides. If you speak, you speak with the oracles or the word of God. If you serve, you serve with the strength God provides.
If we speak our own words or serve in our own strength who gets the glory? But if we speak God’s words and serve in God’s strength then he gets the glory. We serve one another in order that God may be glorified in Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
That’s the game plan with the end of the world on the line. We are to pray, love, show hospitality, and serve one another. This is God’s plan to glorify himself in all the world. This is how we are to live as Christians.
Conclusion
Conclusion
I want to conclude with a longer reading from Chapter 5 of the second-century writing, The Epistle to Diognetus, because you to see what Christians were like as early as the 2nd century. This is who we are, and it is who we are to continue to be:
(Page 122). For the Christians are distinguished from other men neither by country, nor language, nor the customs which they observe. For they neither inhabit cities of their own, nor employ a peculiar form of speech, nor lead a life which is marked out by any singularity. The course of conduct which they follow has not been devised by any speculation or deliberation of inquisitive men; nor do they, like some, proclaim themselves the advocates of any merely human doctrines. But, inhabiting Greek as well as barbarian cities, according as the lot of each of them has determined, and following the customs of the natives in respect to clothing, food, and the rest of their ordinary conduct, they display to us their wonderful and confessedly striking method of life. They dwell in their own countries, but simply as sojourners. As citizens, they share in all things with others, and yet endure all things as if foreigners.
Every foreign land is to them as their native country, and every land of their birth as a land of strangers. They marry, as do all [others]; they beget children; but they do not destroy their offspring. They have a common table, but not a common bed. They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh (2 Cor. 10:3) They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20). They obey the prescribed laws, and at the same time surpass the laws by their lives. They love all men, and are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned; they are put to death, and restored to life (2 Cor. 6:9) They are poor, yet make many rich(2 Cor. 6:10); they are in lack of all things, and yet abound in all; they are dishonoured, and yet in their very dishonour are glorified. They are evil spoken of, and yet are justified; they are reviled, and bless (2 Cor. 4:12); they are insulted, and repay the insult with honour; they do good, yet are punished as evil-doers. When punished, they rejoice as if quickened into life; they are assailed by the Jews as foreigners, and are persecuted by the Greeks; yet those who hate them are unable to assign any reason for their hatred.
Do hear the similarities between this writing and 1 Peter? They are foreigners in their own land, they have open tables (show hospitality) but not common bed (only sleep with those they are married to) they love all men and are persecuted by all. They are reviled and yet they bless. This is our history, these are our people. We are to live for the will of God, by the power of the Spirit, and for the sake of one another. Let us pray.