Preparing for Victory Through Suffering

Text: 1 Peter 4:1-6

Introduction:

What do you think of when you think of victory and triumph? What would you think is necessary. Of course, we’re celebrating Independence Day, a day where the United States declared its independence from Great Britain.

It is very common knowledge that many sacrificed so that we might be free as a nation.

If you think about it, most would agree that victory requires some level of sacrifice. Think of your job, or educational pursuits. But what about if the stakes are much, much higher. What about eternal victory?

What would eternal, cosmic victory require? The fact is, Ultimate Victory required Ultimate Sacrifice!

Jesus

Matthew 16:24

Revelation of Jesus’ Reward

Mark 8:34–37; Luke 9:23–25

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

Background:

Peter explained that the gospel was proclaimed to believers while they were still alive so that they would live in the spirit in God’s presence, even though they experienced the temporal judgment of physical death. In other words, physical death is not the last word for believers. The gospel promises that they will ultimately be raised from the dead.

Proposition: Believers must prepare for victory through suffering.

Interrogative: How should we prepare?

by intending to sacrifice, by purposing to do Christ’s will, and by focusing on the end

I. We must prepare by intending to sacrifice (4:1)

1 Peter 4:1 (NKJV) Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

A. The Basis: Since Christ suffered for us in the flesh - 1

The first clause in the verse explains the reason the Petrine readers should expect to suffer. Christ also “suffered in the flesh” (NRSV). The wording hearkens back to 3:18, where both the verb “suffer[ed]” (paschō) and the noun “flesh” (sarx) occur (in NRSV).348 We have further evidence confirming the interpretation of v. 18, for the “flesh” of Christ refers to his bodily suffering (cf. NIV). We noted in v. 18 that the verb “suffer” was a favorite of Peter’s, and in both texts he links the suffering of Christ to the suffering of his readers, acknowledging, of course, the distinctiveness of Christ’s suffering as well. Christ’s suffering here focuses on his death as in 3:18 and 2:21–24. Further, as in 2:21–23 Christ’s suffering is exemplary for believers, providing the pattern they should imitate.

1 Peter 3:18 (NKJV)

Christ’s Suffering and Ours

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

B. The Command: Arm yourselves also with the same mind - 1

1. Arm Ourselves

Romans 6:13 (NKJV) 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

Romans 13:12 (NKJV) 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

2 Corinthians 6:7 (NKJV) 7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

2 Corinthians 10:4 (NKJV) 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,

Ephesians 6:11–17 (NKJV) 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

1 Thessalonians 5:8 (NKJV) 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

1. The main point of the verse is that believers are to arm themselves (hoplisasthe) with the intention to suffer.

2. The term “arm yourselves” has military connotations, and in other texts the Christian life is compared to the life of a warrior (Rom 6:13; 13:12; 2 Cor 6:7; 10:4; Eph 6:11–17; 1 Thess 5:8).

“The martial language indicates that discipline and grit are needed to live the Christian life”, particularly in view of the suffering believers encounter.

2. With the Same Mind

a. We must adjust our expectations to include the need to sacrifice.

b. We must view ourselves with the need

Illustration: Marriage counseling when a spouse wants to go into the military, the other spouse has to adjust their expectations.

Do we have an active duty military mindset when it comes to being a Christian? The NT knows no other way. When being a Christian is favorable to the culture, you may find less need to arm yourselves, but the culture opposes Christianity being a passive Christian, or being on the fence becomes nearly impossible.

C. The Reason: for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin - 1

‘The third interpretation is most persuasive.358 “He who has suffered” refers to believers and relates back to the imperative to prepare themselves for suffering. Peter explained why they should prepare themselves to suffer, seeing the commitment to suffer as evidence that they have broken with a life of sin.359 The point is not that believers who suffer have attained sinless perfection, as if they do not sin at all after suffering. What Peter emphasized was that those who commit themselves to suffer, those who willingly endure scorn and mockery for their faith, show that they have triumphed over sin. They have broken with sin because they have ceased to participate in the lawless activities of unbelievers and endured the criticisms that have come from such a decision. The commitment to suffer reveals a passion for a new way of life, a life that is not yet perfect but remarkably different from the lives of unbelievers in the Greco-Roman world.360

Romans 6:5–11 (NKJV)

5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Implications:

We are not talking about sinless perfection.

God is not calling us to deliberately inflict suffering on ourselves.

Those who accept suffering in the Christian life will be better equipped to have victory over sin.

Those who suffer for Christ do show true triumph over sin.

Transition: So what does this mindset look like practically?

II. We must prepare by purposing to follow God’s will (4:2-4)

1 Peter 4:2–4 (NKJV)

2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.

A. The Purpose: that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh - 2

Peter realized that some Christians would likely die before Christ returned while still anticipating the imminent return of Christ. Whatever the span of life God grants, believers are to live zealously for God as long as life endures.

B. The Contrast: - 3

1. For the lust (will) of men

2. But for the will of God

In saying that the time past is “enough” to have lived as unbelievers, Peter’s point was that it is more than enough, that there is no room now for any dalliance with the lifestyle of unbelievers.

C. The Argument: - 3

1. For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles.

Ephesians 2:1–11 (NKJV)

2 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Brought Near by His Blood

11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—

2. Having Pursued course of sensuality

a. Lusts

The words “debauchery” (aselgeia) and “lust” (epithymia) may refer to sexual sin here (see Rom 13:13; 2 Cor 12:21; Gal 5:19; Eph 4:19 for the former and Rom 1:24; 1 Thess 4:5; 2 Pet 2:18 for the latter), but they could also be general terms for sin.365 The combination of sexual sin, drinking, and parties apparently was common in the Greco-Roman world, as it is today. The next three words all focus on drunkenness and carousing.

b. Drunkenness

“Orgies” (kōmoi) are also condemned in Rom 13:13 and Gal 5:21, and in both, these texts are also linked with drunkenness. Achtemeier says that the reference is to “festal gatherings, whether private and domestic or public and religious.”366 The term for “carousing” (potoi) occurs only here in the New Testament (see also Prov 23:30; Josephus, Ant. 5.289), referring probably to “social drinking parties.”367 It is evident that these people lived a dissolute life before their conversion.

“Orgies” (kōmoi) are also condemned in Rom 13:13 and Gal 5:21, and in both, these texts are also linked with drunkenness. Achtemeier says that the reference is to “festal gatherings, whether private and domestic or public and religious.”366 The term for “carousing” (potoi) occurs only here in the New Testament (see also Prov 23:30; Josephus, Ant. 5.289), referring probably to “social drinking parties.”367 It is evident that these people lived a dissolute life before their conversion. d. Drinking parties

e. Abominable idolatries (unlawful)

The last item mentioned is their “detestable idolatry.” The reference to idolatry indicates that the readers were not Jews but Gentiles, for overt idolatry did not characterize Jewish communities. The word “lawless” does not focus on lack of conformity to the law but to an unholy and profane lifestyle (cf. Acts 10:28; 2 Mac 6:5–6; 7:1; 10:34).368 In addition, the sins listed in v. 3, though not absent from Jewish people, were not typical among religiously devout Jews.

The lifestyle of unbelievers is then sketched in with a vice list. Such vice lists are common in the New Testament (cf. Mark 7:22; Rom 13:13; 1 Cor 5:10–11; 6:9–10; 2 Cor 12:20; Gal 5:19–21; Eph 4:31; 5:3–5; Col 3:5, 8; Titus 3:3).

Implications:

God calls us to fulfill His desires not our own.

The world says fulfill your desires in order to be true to yourself (because your identity is your desires)

God says “do my will and you know your true identity.” Do what I designed you to do, not what you design yourself to do.

When we become the designer instead of the who is doing the will of the designer we are headed for destruction.

D. The Situation: - 4

1. In regard to these

2. They surprised - this kind of lifestyle had become normal in the culture

that you do not run with them into the same excesses (flood) of dissipation (lavish— let it go).

4:4 The initial words of the text, deleted by the NIV (“in all this,” NASB, en hō) should be understood as inferential and translated “therefore.”369 Because the Petrine readers no longer participate in the activities listed in v. 3, their neighbors “are surprised” (NRSV, xenizontai) or “think it strange” that Christians have forsaken their past lifestyle. In this verse we are reminded in what sense Christians are sojourners and exiles. They do not share the values and aspirations of the surrounding society, not fitting into the social fabric. What surprises unbelievers is that Christians do not “plunge” (syntrechontōn) into or participate in their immoral way of living—“the flood of dissipation” (tēs asōtias anachysin) that characterized life in Asia Minor. The result: And they slander you

3. They slander you

The participle blasphēmountes, translated “and they heap abuse on you,” is connected by some commentators with v. 5, so that it provides the reason for the judgment pronounced there.370 More likely the participle should be understood as designating the result or consequence of the first clause in v. 4.371 Pagans are surprised that believers do not participate in what they consider to be normal cultural activities; in response they criticize, defame, and revile believers and thereby also the God they worship.372

The readers were mistreated by being socially ostracized. We should not overlook that criticism and social ostracism often lead to more severe action, that sharp words can easily turn into sharp swords. If Revelation was written around a.d. 95, it is evident that in Asia Minor at least some believers were losing their lives for their devotion to Christ. When 1 Peter was written, however, the penalties were not yet that severe, though Peter wrote to prepare his readers for whatever might come.

Application:

1. There was a day in this US where few folks participated in that kind of behavior.

2. Then more people did, but they respected those who don’t.

3. Now even more people do, and they are actually slandered. - We can expect this to increase.

Transition: So how does a Christian endure through these realities?

III. We must prepare by focusing on the big picture (4:5-6)

1 Peter 4:5–6 (NKJV)

5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

A. The end: Christ’s judgment of all - 5

Matthew 12:36 (NKJV) 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

Luke 16:2 (NKJV) 2 So he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’

Acts 19:40 (NKJV) 40 For we are in danger of being called in question for today’s uproar, there being no reason which we may give to account for this disorderly gathering.”

Hebrews 13:17 (NKJV) 17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

1. The Living

1 Thessalonians 4:16–18 (NKJV) 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Corinthians 15:52 (NKJV) 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

2. The Dead

a. Concern for Martyrs

b. Criticism from Pagans - the death of saints demonstrates defeat, not victory.

That the final judgment is in view is evident from the words “the living and the dead” (cf. 1 Thess 4:16–17; 1 Cor 15:52). It is hardly credible to define the “dead” here as the spiritually dead, for when combined with the word “living” it refers to all people who have ever lived.

The judge in view could quite possibly be Christ (cf. Matt 25:31–46; Mark 8:38; Acts 10:42; 17:31; Rom 14:9; 2 Tim 4:1).376 It also is possible that the judge is God himself (cf. Rom 2:6; 3:6; 14:10), for in 1 Pet 1:17 and 2:23 God functions as the judge.

B. The Reason for Preaching the Gospel - 6

1. Not the possibility of repentance

These people specifically. We are left, then, with the notion that the gospel was preached to all of the dead after their demise. But this view can be confidently rejected. The New Testament nowhere else envisions the possibility of repentance and salvation after death, quite the contrary (cf. Luke 16:26; Heb 9:27).

Luke 16:26 (NKJV)

26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’

Hebrews 9:27 (NKJV)

27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,

2. Interpretation: To those who already died

The interpretation that makes the best sense is reflected in the NIV.389 Peter considered the case of believers who had died physically.390 These people heard and believed the gospel when they were alive but had subsequently died.391 Unbelievers viewed the death of believers as proof that there is no advantage in becoming a believer, for all without exception die. Peter indicated, however, that unbelievers do not understand the whole picture. Even though from a human perspective believers seem to gain no benefits from their faith since they die, from God’s perspective (which is normative), they live according to the Spirit.392 Elliott understands the phrase a little more precisely, so that the Gentiles did not merely observe the judgment on believers but, according to the context, with their slander “actively faulted the Christians according to their own God-opposed norms.”393 In any case, death is not the last word for believers. They will be raised from the dead.394 The contrast between the “flesh” and “spirit” here is parallel to 1 Pet 3:18, for Christ also died in terms of his flesh, but he was raised to life by the Holy Spirit. A similar destiny awaits believers. They die physically but will be raised to life by the Holy Spirit. I am suggesting, therefore, that Peter did not consider the intermediate state here but the resurrection of the dead. He used the present tense because the future will certainly come to pass. This interpretation makes the best sense contextually, for it gives the readers encouragement to continue to endure the social ostracism they are facing from their contemporaries. Peter reminded his readers that even if they die physically, death is not the last word. The resurrection awaits them.

3. The Contrast

a. Death = to Physical Judgment

b. Resurrection = raised to life by the Spirit

Implications:

(1) the wicked think the death of the righteous is disaster and punishment;

(2) the difficulties of the present are temporary;

(3) believers have a future hope of life. The hope of the resurrection is explicit in Peter, while the author of Wisdom focuses more on immortality, which fits with his Greek point of view.

Illustrations:

Most of the time in life, immediate gratification ends in longer term consequences (like overeating).

Most of the time immediate sacrifices end in long term reward.

It only stands to reason, that the greatest reward - eternal life, requires death. The death on the cross.

Concluding Applications:

What are your expectations as a Christian? Are you ready to sacrifice for Christ’s sake?

Will you purpose to follow the will of Christ rather than the desire of the flesh?

When we are discouraged by the suffering of believers and the fortune of unbelievers, we must keep the end in sight!