1 Peter 4:1-11

Attn:

Intro:

Overview:

Trans:

MPI: Grasping the Text in Their Town

A: 1 Peter Authorship/background

-Written by Peter (54-58 A.D.)

-Churches experiencing persecution in Northern Asia Minor (Turkey)

-Probably couriered and read by Silvanus ()

-Purpose was to give hope to the churches suffering sporadic persectuion

-Although Roman Empire was ruled by Nero, empire-wide persecution of Christians did not begin yet

MPII: v.1-6 (Preparing to Suffer as Christ Did)

v.1 “same way of thinking”

Peter is referring to

“Arm ourselves” //GREEK: “hiplisathse” (Used only here in the NT: Refers to a soldier taking extra care to put on their armor)

v.2 (“no longer”) you are now a new creation ()

1 Peter 2:15 ESV

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

1

1 Peter 3:17 ESV

For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

1 Peter 4:19 ESV

Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

1 Peter

v.3-4 (lists of common sinful practices)

-v.4 “…they are surprised when you do not join them” “malign” make fun of you.

—I wonder why?

Galatians 5:19–21 ESV

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

c.f.

v.5 “They will give an account”

Q: Have you ever tried to have a cordial discussion with someone about the list of sinful things. Even if it’s out of love, they often attempt to justify living openly in sin and in doing so, they reject accountability to God. Basically, they want the last word.

-v.5 says that those who continue to live in rebellion to God while openly and continually living in unrepentant sin, WILL BE JUDGED BY GOD.

Christians: You should not rejoice in this.

--”YAY! They will finally get what they deserve.”

-NO! we need to arm ourselves with the truth of the Word of God and lovingly continue to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them.

TRANS: (1) Unbeliever: you’re here and breathing. God loves you & has plans for you. But, God is Holy, Righteous, & Perfect. We are not. (courtroom analogy).

Christ is knocking at the door. You just need to repent (turn-away) from your sins and put your faith in Jesus Christ.

God is not concerned about your degree, tabs, or any other worldly achievements. He’s concerned about your unrepentant heart!

I’m going to list some things off from Scripture.

—I’ll only be talking to believers, because that is what these verses are referring to.

-Know this. As Christians, we fail at these things & I’m sorry.

—You need to fight the temptation to compare. It will not be you and your friend or your pastor standing next to you when you come before God. ONLY YOU.

v.7-11

-We as Christians must be reminded of how short time is.

-The world is growing darker. (SHINE BRIGHTER)

v.8 “Loving” (GREEK: 3 types of love (Phileo, Aeros, & Agape)

Loving = Agapen

—We are to sacrificially love one another.

—Someone may sin against us (Christian or not). What do you do?

— EXAMPLE: Jesus with the disciples at the last supper.

LOVE: (Replace with your name)

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 ESV

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

v.9-11

-As Christians, we’ve all been given gifts by God. You just may not realize it. How are you using those gifts now?

-No matter how you use them. We are to glorify God.

v.11

If we aren’t glorifying God through sacrificially serving others with the gifts God’s given us, we aren’t helping proclaim the Kingdom of God, but hindering it.

Q: Kalob, how can we continue to do this all the time. I’m tired, TDYs, PCS’s, etc.

v.11 “ serve by the strength that God supplies

-It’s not you. You don’t get the glory, God does. It’s not about you and I, it’s about God and the glory He receives through His son Jesus Christ.

TRANS:

CONC:

Do you know who Peter was?

-Hot head

-Denied Christ

-Uneducated Fisherman (no fish caught in the NT without the help of Christ)

-Couldn’t stay awake during prayer time!

-Denied Christ 3x. One of them, Scripture says, was to Jesus’ face

-But Peter was repentant. He confessed his sin and asked Jesus for forgiveness.

-You do likewise.

-AGAPE love: Christ, sinless, died for you and you want to deny him? You and I are no different than Peter!