1 Peter: Equipped to Live

The New Testament makes clear that Christians are engaged in a cosmic conflict far greater than wars between nations and ongoing combat against terrorism, crime and violence. Believers are involved in a life-and-death struggle against evil “in high places.” Because of this titanic conflict, we must equip ourselves for battle; we must avail ourselves of the equipment God provides. The conflict is severe, and ill-equipped Christians swiftly become casualties.

This section of Peter’s letter stresses the need for believers to equip themselves with the determination to follow God’s will. It means

Living for God

Answering for the Gospel

Redeeming the Time

I. LIVING FOR GOD

“Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;” (1 Peter 4:1–4, ESV)

1. the term therefore in vs. 1, connects this section of Peter’s letter to 3:18-22 — Christ’s undeserved, vicarious suffering

a. Christ suffered a humiliating and excruciating death by crucifixion

1) he suffered that humiliating and excruciating death on our behalf — literally in our place

2) that’s what vicarious means — it means to experience an event through the life of another person

ILLUS. If your daughter becomes a Prima ballerina or your son becomes a star Major League Baseball pitcher, you might have a vicarious experience of stardom yourself. When the other dance-moms tell you how wonderful a dancer your daughter is, or when the fellow little-league dads praise your son’s wicked slider, the parent may bask in the glory of their child.

3) the word vicarious is a Latin word and means substitute, and works two ways in Christian theology

b. Peter helps us understand this when he writes, “For Christ also suffered once for sin, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God ... “ (1 Peter 3:18)

1) Jesus vicariously experienced our sin on the cross when he became sin for us

a) it’s something he had never known, and it forced the Father to turn His face away from the Son, and Jesus came to understand the sinner’s experience and then died in our place

2) sinners vicariously experience Christ’s righteousness in their lives as our sin becomes Christ’s and his righteousness becomes ours

a) it’s something we’ve never known, and it causes the Father to turn His face toward the sinner, and the sinner comes to understand the Savior’s oneness with the Father

2. Christ resolved to do this for the Father’s glory, and for the sinners salvation

A. BELIEVERS MUST RESOLVE TO LIVE SACRIFICIAL LIVES

1. Peter writes, “ ... arm yourselves with the same way of thinking ... “

a. the word arm yourselves in vs. 1 means to equip yourself for a fight

1) it was used of a soldier taking up arms, and all the military equipment needed for the battle to come

2. believers are in a war against evil, and we must equip ourselves for the battle

a. what are we to are ourselves with?

b. in the context of this passage, we are to arm ourselves with the same resolve that Jesus had

1) resolve here means that we think about suffering and respond to suffering the same way that Jesus thought about it and responded to it

a) 1st, acceptance because unjust suffering is something Jesus experienced, and therefore is something we will experience

“and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.” (Matthew 10:22–25, ESV)

b) 2nd, abundance because, like Jesus, we know that there is joy on the other side of hardship and suffering

“looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2, ESV)

c) 3rd, assurance, believing that if we suffer unto death, we know that death provides the greatest victory for the believer

“When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”” (1 Corinthians 15:54–55, ESV)

3. such suffering purifies us

“ ... for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.” (1 Peter 4:1–2, ESV)

a. there is some debate among biblical scholars as to exactly what Peter means when he writes, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin

1) total sanctification in this life just is an impossibility (Sorry, Mr. Wesley — ya got that wrong)

2) vs. 2 helps explain what he means

b. the meaning is not that a believer who has suffered persecution with the resolve that Jesus exhibited will no longer sin

1) unless, of course, Peter is referring to martyrdom, in which case, yes, they’ll not sin any more

2) but I don’t think that Peter is referring to martyrdom

c. rather, Peter means that sin no longer dominates the believer’s life because suffering has been like a fire purging their life of impurities

1) the will of God becomes more important to them

4. Peter reminds us that there was a time when our passions were more important to us

“For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.” (1 Peter 4:3, ESV)

ILLUS. That is true of us whether we were saved at five of fifty. The five-year-old has passions. Their just not the same as a fifty-year-old’s passions.

a. we should not be surprised when the lost man lives for sensual pleasures with reckless abandon

ILLUS. Four generations of Americans have had a radical sexual agenda foisted upon them. It reaches all the was back into the 1960's with “free love” and “make love, not war.” and has culminated in our era with an even more radical LGBTQ agenda. This over-sexualization of the culture had reaped horrific consequences. One-in-four women will be sexually abused before they turn 18. For boys, it’s one in six. Sexually Transmitted Diseases are at epidemic proportions with one in five Americans living with an STD. The psychological and emotional scars resulting from uncommitted sexual relationships precipitate anxiety, low self-esteem, suicidal tendencies, divorce, and family breakdown.

b. we should be surprised when confessing Christians live for sensual pleasures with reckless abandon

1) Peter tells his readers, “Look. You spent more than enough time in that lifestyle before you were a Christian. Now that you’re a believer ... STOP IT!”

5. our changed lives ought to shock the lost

“With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;” (1 Peter 4:4, ESV)

a. these believers had left paganism’s wild, unrestrained, and excessively immoral conduct

b. as a result, the pagans among whom the Christians lived were shocked that their neighbors, who used to participate in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry, no longer did so

1) the word surprised in vs. 4 means staggered or struck with a sense of strangeness

c. because believers did not join the pagans around them in ungodly living, those pagans constantly slandered them — they defamed their character

d. how do we respond when we are slandered for righteousness sake?

1) Commit your reputation to the Lord

a) Jesus says, “Have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known” (Matt. 10:26)

2) Gently confront the slanderer (not by email or twitter)

a) it’s awkward and scary to confront someone, but of you don’t, you’re not loving the person who’s slandered you, and you aren’t “overcoming evil with good” (Rom. 12:21)

3) Honestly evaluate your life

a) we may need to consider, “Was I slandered because I’m faithfully living for Christ?” Or, “Was I slandered because I was playing the hypocrite and being a jerk?”

ILLUS. Charles H. Spurgeon once said, “If any man thinks ill of you, do not be angry with him; for you are worse than he thinks you to be.”

4) Share the Gospel, and be ready to forgive

a) there’s always the danger of lapsing into victimhood and self-pity when sinned against, which is the opposite of what the gospel should produce in our hearts

ILLUS. Concerning his reputation, the 18th century evangelist George Whitefield, said the following, “Let the name of Whitefield perish, but Christ be glorified. Let my name die everywhere, let even my friends forget me, if by that means the cause of the blessed Jesus may be promoted. ... I am content to wait till the judgement day for the clearing up of my reputation; and after I am dead I desire no other epitaph than this, “Here lies G. W. What sort of man he was the great day will discover.”

II. ANSWERING FOR THE GOSPEL

“but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.” (1 Peter 4:5–6, ESV)

1. Peter reminds his readers that God will vindicate His people

a. woe to those who harm God’s Elect!

b. a day of reckoning lies ahead for those who slander, mistreat, and persecute Christ’s Church

“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:19–21, ESV)

2. those who malign Christians for failing to think like they think, or live like they live may seem to have the upper hand for the time being, but the last word is with God who judges the living and the dead

a. that’s Peter’s way of saying that no one escapes the judgments of God

b. a time is coming when world history will stop and God will intervene to judge the world

A. ALL MEN WILL GIVE AN ACCOUNTING OF THE GOSPEL

1. some of the believers whom had heard the gospel, due to Peter’s preaching, are now dead

a. their lives had been changed which had incurred the wrath of men in the flesh, and who had judged Christians as the problem in society

1) the answer was that these pagans persecuted and even martyred believers

b. in our own culture there is a growing chorus of anti-Christian, anti-Church voices in our culture

ILLUS. There are lots of folks in our culture who believe, like the pagans of old, that Christians, and Christianity are the problem in America, and not the answer. William B. Turner, who describes himself as an “uppity gay Buddhist” bluntly writes, “The history of Christianity in “the Americas” is one of unremitting violence and oppression.” Joe Omundson, a blogger on an influential website called Medium, writes “As an American, Christianity is the single biggest regressive force in my home country.”

2. Peter’s readers can be confident that these deceased believers will live in the spirit the way God does

a. they are victorious and vindicated

b. neither death nor mocking opponents have the last word in the believer’s life

ILLUS. The 19th century D.L. Moody used to say, “One of these days you will read in the newspaper that D.L. Moody of Northfield is dead. Don’t believe a word of it! I shall be more alive then than I am now.”

III. REDEEM THE TIME

“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:7–11, ESV)

1. the question so many Christians have asked over the millennia is “How will we know when we’re in the “last days”?”

a. Jesus, Luke, Paul, Peter, and James all speak of the last days

b. it’s a phrase that refers to the culminating time of God’s final salvation and wrath being revealed for all to see, and we are in the “last days” right now

1) according to Titus 2:13 these last days that will culminate in Christ’s coming are the believer’s blessed hope

2) it’s a blessed hope for the saint ... not so much for the sinner

2. we’ve been living in the last days since the death/resurrection/ascension

a. Peter begins vs. 7 with the end of all things is at hand ... therefore ...

b. because these are the end times, and because Jesus is soon coming there are certain characteristics believers should practice

A. END-TIME CHARACTERISTICS FOR BELIEVERS

1. this section on end-time characteristics give us three behaviors that build godly lives

a. Peter writes of personal holiness ... mutual love ... and spiritual service

2. 1st, characteristics of personal holiness

a. we are to be self-controlled or of sound-judgment ... the word literally means “be in one’s right mind”

1) the instruction is that believers are not to be ruled by their emotions, but are to be clear-thinking

2) Paul tells the Corinthian believer in 1 Corinthians 2:16 that believers have been given the mind of Christ which comes with that filling of the Holy Spirit, and that enables us to discern the will of Christ for our lives

a) the mind of Christ stands in sharp contrast to the wisdom of man

3) because we have the mind of Christ we can discern spiritual truth that the natural man cannot

b. we are to be sober-minded (for the sake of your prayers)

1) the call to be sober-minded is the call to be being spiritually observant

a) Peter is telling his readers that we will not pray properly if our mind is full of worldly pursuits

b) Jesus expressed a similar sentiment when He warned the apostles to “be on the alert” (Matt. 24:42) and to “keep watching” (Matt. 26:41)

2) this characteristic is important because it helps us be discerning for what and who to pray for

ILLUS. We need to be praying for Aunt Susie’s bad gall bladder that she’s been suffering with. But the sober-minded believer knows that can’t be all we are praying for concerning Aust Susie. We forget that with physical suffering can come emotional fatigue and mental anxiety that can be detrimental to one’s spiritual life, hindering our prayers and our worship. I’m not saying don’t pray for the physical condition, but also pray to the spiritual battles that the physical ailment can cause.

2. 2nd, characteristics of mutual love

a. above all refers to the supreme importance of that virtue in the Christian life

1) the ESV, and most modern translations, say love earnestly, the KJV says love fervently

2) weather earnestly or fervently this is one of the most interesting verbs in the New Testament

ILLUS. The Greek word fervently has no real adequate English word to translate it. The original word literally means to stretch. Accordingly, Dr. Jack MacGorman, one of the great Baptist theologians of our day, coined the word stretchingly to try and translate the word. His translation of 1 Peter 1:22 reads. " ... See that ye love one another with a pure heart stretchingly."

The word stretchingly pictures exactly the kind of love God wants us to have for one another. Jesus is the ultimate example. MacGorman writes: “Christian love must absorb any and every blow. The impact may be in the form of a sharply barbed word. It may be an unkind remark. It may be an untrue accusation. It could be some unethical action, some immoral conduct, or just plain old antagonism and dislike. Or it can even be the unintentional and totally innocent remark that gets taken out of context.”

“To love one another stretchingly means that after the impact of each blow to our body, or mind, or spirit or emotions, we are to return to our original position and shape.” Many years ago, my pastor, Martin Brocket, told me that one of the most difficult things a Christian must learn to do is to toughen the skin without hardening the heart. Love absorbs the blow, preventing permanent damage to either our spirit or the other person and then, with a divine resiliency, returns to a Christlike posture.

Only the love of Christ shed abroad in our hearts can accomplish that feat.

b. but our love must go beyond our circle of friends to those we may not know or know well ... we are to be hospitable — literally to love strangers

ILLUS. That sometimes means the strangers in our midst. Allow me a moment to chide. In the last month, twice I’ve had long-time members of our church come to me and ask, Who’s that new older couple coming to church? They were referencing Rick and Debbie Poire. I’ve been kind, and both times have simply said, “Oh that’s ... “ and I’ve told them who they are. But on the inside I’m screaming, “Well, why don’t you go over and introduce yourself! That’s one of the reasons we have a fellowship time. If we’re not making the stranger feel welcome we might as well shut the fellowship time down and take more time to sing ... or maybe preach!”

3. 3rd, the characteristic of gifted spiritual service

a. I could camp out here for a long time, but let me simply say, Discover what your spiritual gifts are and then use them in ministry to other — both in the Body of Christ and in the broader community

1) don’t tell me that you ain’t got a spiritual gift cause Peter hear says that you do, and I’d be careful calling Peter a liar!

B. IN EVERYTHING MAY GOD BE GLORIFIED

“ ... —in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."

1. Peter ends this section with a doxology, and that’s where I’ll end it

IV. LESSONS

1. when believers face opposition, ridicule, and slander because of their faith, they are to depend on Christ and affirm his great purpose

2. everyone will give an account to God

a. those who slandered believers, who mistreated believers, who persecuted and martyred believers are in for a “rude awakening” on judgment day

b. God’s people will be vindicated

3. while we wait for Jesus to return we are to practice personal holiness ... mutual love ... and spiritual service

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