Christ-Like to the End

Introduction

I don’t imagine that there has been anyone who has not viewed the horrible images of our Capitol being stormed by angry citizens. The question is how should followers of Jesus respond to the violence, mayhem, and pandemonium?

You know it amazes me when God’s Word and the passage we are studying lines up with current events. We are continuing our study in the book of 1 Peter. We have called this series, “A Handbook for Living in a Foreign World.” If you have your Bibles I want to encourage you to turn with me to 1 Peter chapter 4 and we will begin reading with verse 1.

1 Peter 4:1–2 NIV84

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

Follow Jesus’ Example

As we begin our passage today, Peter talks about the sufferings of Jesus. This should immediately cause us to look back at 1 Peter 3:18.

1 Peter 3:18 NIV84

For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,

Jesus Died for Us

Jesus—the righteous—died for us—the unrighteous. Now Peter tells us we need to do the same!

1 Peter 4:1–2 NIV84

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

Arm Yourselves

Peter tells his readers arm yourselves with the same attitude. The idea of “arm yourselves” means to prepare yourselves.

Are you prepared to suffer for Jesus?

Not only are we to be prepared to suffer, but we are to have the same attitude that Jesus had. Paul talked about this in Philippians 2.

Philippians 2:5–11 NIV84

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Done with Sin!

Peter tells us that suffering should cause us to be done with sin! Yet, for many the problem is suffering makes us done with Christ instead of done with sin.

When we are done with sin we can live the rest of our earthly life pursuing the will of God rather than pursuing evil human desires.

When we come to verse 3, Peter describes the evil earthly desires.

Wasted Too Much Time

1 Peter 4:3–4 NIV84

For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you.

Peter tells us that we have wasted way too much time on the evil earthly desires. He even gives us a list of the types of evil he’s talking about.

Debauchery

Wanton violence, insolence, extreme immorality.

Lust

Craving, desire—especially sexual desire.

Drunkenness

Orgies

Wild parties involving an excess of food, alcohol, and sex.

Carousing

This could be translated drinking party or a drunk-fest.

Detestable Idolatry

Forbidden, disgusting, unlawful worship of anything other than God.

Strange!

Those in the world believe Followers of Jesus are strange—because they won’t join in to the same flood of dissipation (senseless acts).

So they heap abuse on those who won’t join in with them.

1 Peter 4:5 NIV84

But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Judgement is Coming

They don’t realize they will have to give an account of their actions to Jesus—the one—who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Peter anticipates someone’s objection of the dead being judged

1 Peter 4:6 NIV84

For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

— but Peter tells us even those who are now dead, received the gospel.

Romans 1:20 NIV84

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

The End is Near

Look now at verse 7.

1 Peter 4:7 NIV84

The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

Peter tells us that the end of time is near—today it is far nearer than it has ever been. This should be the driving force in our lives and should change how we live.

Clear Minded

Sound mind, sensible, reasonable, someone with sound judgement.

Self-Controlled

Well composed in mind, restrained.

Prayerful

When believers become unreasonable, or lose the ability to be sensible; when we lack restrain—it makes it difficult to pray. Yet, prayer should be the center of our lives!

1 Peter 4:8–9 NIV84

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Above All LOVE

This is the Greek word agapē—which means unconditional love—and we are to love each other deeply which means constant, fervent, earnest, continuously.

Love Covers a Multitude of Sins

Offer Hospitality

We are to care for the needs of strangers, loving strangers.

Without Grumbling

Use Your Gift

1 Peter 4:10–11 NIV84

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

We are told to use whatever gift God has given us to serve others. The word “serve” means “to minister to the needs of. . .” so that we are extending God’s grace—favor that we do not deserve—in all of its different forms.

Extending God’s Grace

In his book The Grace Awakening Chuck Swindoll says that we are either an extender of God’s grace to people, or we rob people of God’s grace.

Speaking the Words of God

When we speak we ought to speak as though we are speaking the very words of God—we are speaking for Him.

What an awesome responsibility we have to speak the very words of God, for God!

Serve with Strength

When we serve others we serve with God’s strength. Now this too is again another awesome responsibility. God gives us strength to do what He wants us to do!

So God will be Praised!

The goal of everything we say, and everything we do is so that God will be praised!

Does your life cause people to praise God?