The Great Battle

The Great Battle 1 Peter 4:1-6 Introduction • The first readers of Peter’s letter suffered under Jewish persecution, Roman politics, and Gentile lawlessness. • Peter gives the reason and the solution for their suffering – Christ suffered once for sins (1 Peter 3:18). When you accept the message of Christcrucified, you will cease from sin and become a target for sinners. • Peter, a man accustomed to suffering for Christ, says the solution lies in the cause, the suffering of Christ. • In 1 Peter 4:1-6, Peter wants to steel you for the battle over sin and its resultant suffering. Peter’s Emphasis on Sin • • • • 1 Peter 4:1-6 is not so much about suffering, but about sin. Notice the wide variety of words for sin: sin, passions 2x, sensuality, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, lawless idolatry, and debauchery. Notice the extreme words associated with sin: Christ suffered, Christians suffer, Gentiles malign, God judges. Notice the logic to fight sin: Because Christ suffered for sin, arm yourselves – to live without sinning – because you’ve had enough time to sin – despite Gentile anger that you do not sin – remember that Gentiles will be judged for their sins – and gospel preaching can prevent judgment for sins. The Marriage of Sin and Suffering • • • • • Peter teases out the profound bond of sin and suffering – a problem that will not be resolved until the end of time. Sin demanded the suffering of the Lord Jesus (4:1). Once a Christian says no to sin and chooses to suffer instead, he/she demonstrates a decisive break from sin (4:2). Sinners cause the suffering of Christians who refuse to sin (4:4). When sinners accept the preaching of the good news, they are immediately judged by other sinners (4:6). Peter’s Resolutions to Cease from Sinning • Arm yourselves with a specific way of thinking (v. 1). 1. Ephesians 6:10-18 – The Armor of God 2. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 – The Weapons of our Warfare 3. Isaiah 59:15-20 – The Divine Warrior • Reckon your time to live for God’s glory to be short (v. 2). • Consider your past sins sufficient offense to God (v. 3). • Remember the fate of the wicked (v. 4-5). • Preach the gospel without hypocrisy in the hope of life with God (v. 6). Pastoral Conclusions • • • • • In my experience, Christians tend to protect a specific sin that they’ve hidden, excused, and denied for many years. These protected sins usually have a twin – the bitter refusal to admit to others that they have sinned. Breaking from forward-facing sins will usually cause suffering and consequences, none as severe as what Christ suffered. Satan wants you to focus on the guilt of past sins already confessed; God wants you to focus on the present. Victory over sin leads to victory in evangelism; God alone sees the internal battle against sin and God alone enables success in gospel proclamation.