Living For God: Arming Yourself With the Mind of Christ

Scriptural Text:

Illustration

According to a January 15, 1989 article in the Lexington Herald-Leader, the family living in a home in West Palm Beach, Florida, told a film crew it was okay to use the front lawn as a set for an episode of the “B. L. Stryker” television series. They knew cars would be crashing violently in front of the house.

While the front yard was being blown up, the owner of the home was tipped off and called from New York demanding to know what was happening to his house. It seems the people who were living in the house were only tenants and had no right to allow the property to be destroyed as the cameras rolled.

Many times we live our lives under the mistaken impression that they belong to us. Paul tells us we were “bought with a price.” We must live as those who know God will call us to account for the ways we have used this life entrusted to us.

Judgment, Lordship of Christ

Date used __________  Place ____________________

 Craig Brian Larson, 750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers & Writers (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2002), 548–549.

Living for Jesus Christ is not easy. We are rejected by the world when we live a righteous and godly life. We are often ridiculed, mock, abused, and sometime killed by the world. How do we handle such unjust treatments and conquer persecution? You must have the proper attitude, therefore arm yourself as vv. 1-6 points out.

Part I Arm Yourself with the Mind of Christ,

Jesus Christ suffered persecution. He has shown us how to handle and conquer persecution. Peter tells us how to arm ourselves with the mind of Christ:

(1) It is dying to self, denying oneself, ceasing from sin (v.1)

Jesus bore humiliation, ridicule, mockery, beatings, and even death in order to please God and to save men. In the flesh He did not want to suffer. He had a flesh just like ours, the flesh of humanity; therefore, His flesh wanted and desired to escape the abuse of men (cp. . But Jesus denied Himself and went ahead and did the will of God.

Therefore we do the same by putting on His armor, the mind of Christ-keeping our minds upon righteousness and salvation, die to self and suffer for Christ.

(NKJV)

(2) It is doing God’s will for the rest of one’s days (v.2) ;

20I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

(2) It is doing God’s will for the rest of one’s days (v.2) ;

It is a picture of the believer being pulled every which way by different persons or groups. The believer is being pulled to live like the world lives, fulfilling the desires and lusts of the flesh.

(NKJV)

15and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

(NKJV)

10Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.

(3) It is being fed up with sin knowing that one has sinned enough (v.3) ; ; ; ; and

Peter reminds his readers that previously, they had spent enough time (4:3) living in a sinful way. The phrase spent time implies more-than-sufficient time or far too much time. The former lifestyle of Peter’s audience is in the past. This part of their past is a closed chapter. That part of the story is over and done with. Peter describes this past life as doing what pagans choose to do16—living in debauchery.

Particular Vice                                 Definition of the Term

debauchery                         living without any regard for moral restraint; giving oneself over to acts of sexual immorality

lust                                      sinful human desires that can be allowed to exert strong influence on one’s behavior

drunkenness                       characteristic of a life bent on following physical desires

orgies                                  banquets and feasts given to wild immorality

carousing                            drinking parties or drinking bouts

detestable idolatry               lawless acts of idol worship; evil kinds of idol worship, which involved or incited people to kinds of immorality even forbidden by the laws of human governments

(4) It is bearing the strange look by the world (v.4-5)

They think believers are strange

They speak evil of believers

They shall be judged

(NKJV)

10I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.

(5) It is following the example of those gone before (v.6) ;

The gospel was preached to them

They responded and escaped judgment

(NKJV)

11For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

(NKJV)

14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.