Sermon Tone Analysis

1 Peter 4:1-11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen Caswell © 2001

Clock Of Life

 

The clock of life is wound but once, And no man has the power

To say just when the hands will stop; At late, or early hour.

Now is the only time we own, to do His precious will,

Do not wait until tomorrow; For the clock may then be still.

Introduction

 

Last time we looked at 1 Peter in December we saw how Jesus Christ suffered for us.

In this passage Peter asks believers to evaluate how they are using their time.

Since time can only be spent once, we need to use our time wisely so that it will really count.

Peter mentions time in verses 2, 3 and 7.

In light of all that Jesus Christ has done for us Peter asks believers to do two things with their time.

I.

To Stop Sinning      &     II.

To Start Serving  

 

/Firstly/  To Stop Sinning     

/ /

*1 Peter 4:1* /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,/

/ /

Peter begins by using a military illustration.

He commands believers to arm themselves with the mind of Christ.

A soldier wasn't ready for battle until he had taken up his weapons.

/How did Jesus respond to sin?/

He exposed it and attacked it.

Jesus hated sin and spoke against it.

In fact He came to destroy the power of sin.

Jesus battled against Satan and the powers of hell and won.

Peter commands believers to have the same attitude towards sin that Jesus Christ has.

Soldiers must be determined if they are going to defeat the enemy.

They must not give the enemy a foothold or stronghold from which he can attack them.

* *

*2 Corinthians 10:4-6* brings out the same thought.

/For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,/ /and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

/*If Christians want to defeat sin we must start by having a militant attitude against it.*

We can't play with it.

Jesus commands His disciples to deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Him.

This means we put aside our rights and freedoms to serve the Lord.

/As Christians suffer for righteousness they can also stop sinning./

/ /

Getting Accustomed To The Darkness

/ /

We had dinner with some friends at a restaurant one evening.

It was one of those places where the lights are low, and you need a miner’s helmet to find your table.

We had been seated several minutes before we started looking at the menu, and I remarked that I was amazed how easily I could read it.

Yes, said my friend, it doesn’t take us long to get accustomed to the darkness.

There is a sermon in that sentence: It is easy for Christians to get accustomed to sin.

Instead of having a militant attitude that hates and opposes it, we gradually get used to sin, sometimes without even/ /realizing it.

The one thing that will destroy the rest of our time is sin./

/So, Peter gives 3 good reasons why we should war against sin.

/a.

Christ Suffered For Our Sin/

/ /

*1 Peter 4:1a* /Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, /

/ /

The/ *first* /reason is the serious nature of sin.

God takes sin very seriously.

*Romans 6:23* says that/ the wages of sin is death.

/Sin is so serious that Jesus had to suffer and die.

/If sin is this serious shouldn't we fight against it with all our resolve?

/But so often we think that little sins don't matter.

/After all were only human; God understands, doesn't He? /Yes, God does understand when we fail, but He won't condone deliberate sin.

We need to constantly renew our mind with God's Word lest we slowly lower our standards.

What Is Sin

 

 Man calls it an /accident/; God calls it an abomination.

Man calls it a blunder; God calls it blindness.

Man calls it a defect; God calls it a disease.

Man calls it a chance; God calls it a choice.

Man calls it an error; God calls it an enmity.

Man calls it a fascination; God calls it a fatality.

Man calls it an infirmity; God calls it an iniquity.

Man calls it a luxury; God calls it a leprosy.

Man calls it a liberty; God calls it lawlessness.

Man calls it a trifle; God calls it a tragedy.

Man calls it a mistake; God calls it a madness.

Man calls it a weakness; God calls it willfulness.

/ — Moody Monthly/

/ /

/b.

Christ Saved Us From Sin/

/ /

*1 Peter 4:1b-3* /for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 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.

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./

/ /

When God saved us, He saved us to live for Himself.

Instead of being the servants of sin we are now to become the servants of righteousness.

Before we were saved we lived for lustful pleasures.

Because God saved us from depravation, Christians must live* /the rest of their time/ /for the will of God./* *1 Corinthians 6:19-20* says it well: /Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

/God redeemed us from sin so that we might live godly lives.

We must use our time for the Lord.

*Ephesians 5:16 says:*/ Redeeming the time because the days are evil./

/ /

Quittin’ Meetings

 

Sam Jones used to have /Quittin’ Meetings/ during his revivals.

He gave the people opportunity to confess their sins and to repent.

Many quit swearing, drinking, smoking, gossiping … Sam asked one woman what she planned to quit and she replied, I ain’t been doing nothing and I am goin’ to quit that too./

True repentance means that we turn from sin./

/c.

Christ Will Judge All Sin /

/ /

*1 Peter 4:4-6* /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.

They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

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./

/ /

People in society can't understand why we don't run with them anymore.

They think that there is something wrong with us.

In fact sinners judge Christians as strange and often speak evil of them.

When believers follow the Lord and live righteously they don't like it.

It challenges their way of life and they feel threatened.

So they respond by judging believers and speaking evil of them.

This is to draw attention away from their own sin.

Sinners have always mocked God's people.