Arm Yourselves for Suffering

Baseball bat in hand: A good coach doesn’t just tell you that you need to hit the ball on the ground, he teaches you how to do it. First the coach says, “Listen, you’ve got wheels, so I need you to get on base, but in order to do that, you’re gonna have to quit hitting pop flies.” Then he shows you and trains you exactly how to bunt down the line get that speedy tail to first base. AND then he invests time in teaching and training you how to hit in such a way that gives you the best chance to punch that ball through the infield without popping out and without going for the fence. [all of this is purely hypothetical, of course ;-)] Again, it’s not just “Get on base; we’ll bring you home.” But instead he teaches you both why his way is better and how to hit, and the same is true for every part of the game.

I want to show you how Peter makes a turn in this section of the letter to begin helping his listeners know HOW they can patiently endure unjust suffering while doing good.

How can we patiently endure unjust suffering while doing good?

Following an emphasis on living as sojourners in this world (even in the face of trials), living as the called out and separated people of God, Peter began transitioning even during that discussion toward a greater focus on the suffering that he anticipates his readers will increasingly face because of belonging to Christ. So he told them that they should submit and bear witness to Christ even when treated unfairly because Christ suffered the greatest injustice in order to the accomplish the greatest end: the salvation of their souls to the glory of God! But again, Peter seems to keep telling them to expect more suffering, and to be ready for it. - So I taking my cue from this focus in the letter in order to summarize for you the remainder of this series in 1 Peter. He has told them to be ready and expect it, that suffering for good is something God blesses (It pleases Him.), that it bears witness to Christ, and that such suffering will be vindicated. Here’s a VERY brief summary of “why”:

WHY suffer willingly and patiently while doing good?

Because we have been called out to belong to Christ and to be like Him. - “Sojourners”

Because suffering (for good) is something God blesses, it bears witness to Christ, and it will be vindicated.

And now, before they can even ask, Peter tells them HOW. He has told them why, and now he will tell them how.

HOW? (Overview of the next two chapters):

To keep enduring patiently to the finish line, arm yourselves with Christ’s mindset. (4:1-6) - Who knew fully that the path of unjust suffering was according to the Father’s will, for the good of His own, and that suffering was not the end… it leads to glory!

To keep patiently enduring to the end, depend on God and work together. (4:7-11) - In light of the nearness of the end, be alert and clear-headed, and dependent on God in prayer. Function together in love and use what God has given you to serve, to strengthen the Church. - Be dependent on God in prayer and work together.

To keep enduring, entrust your souls to God. (4:12-19) - Don’t be surprised by suffering; instead, rejoice that you get to be like Jesus. Allow suffering to purify you, knowing that those who reject Christ and mistreat you will be judged. The bottom line is: v. 19. - Rejoice in the privilege to be like Christ and trust God!

Elders, you need to lead by example, following the chief Shepherd. (5:1-4) - To keep enduring, follow the leader.

All of you, be humble, be alert, be ready. Resist the devil while suffering; trust God that by His power and for His own glory he will fully restore you in the end. (5:5-11) - Be humble and alert. Be ready to resist the devil. Trust God to exalt you in the end.

(So now we tackle the first.) Arm yourselves with Christ’s mindset: Plan to suffer according to God’s will without sinning, remembering that God will judge the unrighteous and vindicate the righteous.

1 Peter 4:1–6 ESV

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, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 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. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 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.

First of all, the main verb here is clearly Peter’s instruction to “arm yourselves.”

Arm yourselves with Christ’s intention concerning suffering. (vv. 1-2)

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament 4:1–11—Persevere in the New Life

“Arm yourselves” borrows the imagery of soldiers arming, training or otherwise preparing themselves for battle and possible death.

“Arm yourselves” is about making ready… to not only put on armor (equip) but also to train. —> Arm yourselves with the same mindset concerning suffering.

The New American Commentary: 1, 2 Peter, Jude (3) Preparing to Suffer as Christ Did (4:1–6)

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

… which means we need to keep focusing on the why and how of our suffering, repeating the gospel truth again and again. Repeating what? Rehearse the truth found in 1 Peter 2:21

1 Peter 2:21 ESV

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

Notice the two sides of this:

- Christ suffered for you…

(1:18-19) “knowing that you were ransomed… with the precious blood of Christ”

(1:20-21) “made manifest… for the sake of you who through him are believers in God”

1 Peter 2:24–25 ESV

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

(3:18) “Christ… suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God”

- Leaving you an example

1 Peter 2:19 ESV

For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.

(2:22-23) “He committed no sin” and He did not retaliate, “but continued entrusting himself to the one who judges justly”

1 Peter 3:14 ESV

But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,

[And now in our verses for today] “Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same intention” (4:1)

Besides what Peter has already covered, then… from what we see in the verses today,

What was Christ’s mindset (that we are arming ourselves with)?

- The idea here is suffering with intention, with purpose. Intending to do what? We are arming ourselves with the intention to…

To do the Father’s will even if the path leads through suffering (2b)

To suffer without sinning (some of the verses we just reviewed, and 2a)

While…

Entrusting yourselves to the one who judges justly (again, above 2:23 and here 5-6)

Knowing that it will lead to a triumphal end (3:22 and v. 6)

[Repeat the four things] Plan to…

Another thing that is really clear in these verses is that we aim to be like Christ, who was sinless. Now, while the Bible indicates that we cannot reach sinless perfection in this life, but only in the next, it also indicates here and elsewhere that we can in fact make significant progress in holy living (as we yield to the control of the Holy Spirit). Here Peter gives us a helpful emphasis that I believe is readily applicable: The one who has chosen to suffer for doing good has made a commitment to do God’s will and has made a definite break from patterns of sin.

Make a definite break from patterns of sin. (vv. 2-3)

(the flow from v. 1 into v. 2 is like this…) Having died with Christ through faith, we aim to be dead to self and sin because we are committed to doing the will of God in this life, to the point of suffering death.

Peter emphasizes that “ceasing from sin” needs to manifest itself in our daily living… v. 2a “so as to live for the rest of the time [in these bodies] no longer for human passions” … and my paraphrase of how v. 3 begins: “the past time already wasted on sin is enough” (more than enough, he means).

- In other words, don’t waste another SECOND on sin and lesser pursuits than the glory of God manifest through Jesus Christ—knowing God and making Him known.

Waste no more time on sin.

Is that how you think of sin?... as a waste of time, a waste of energy, effort and intellect, wasted youth? —> This applies to all of us (everybody listen in carefully) but I want to press Peter’s application here and in v. 4&5 to those young adults who are in their prime of life or youth/kids who are entering the prime of life. Don’t waste your youth on sin!

These sins in v. 3 were not only common in greco-roman culture in general but even flaunted by the social elite. “Gentiles” in v. 3 is a reference to non-christians but also to the overall Gentile culture of the day - (Does that sound familiar to our culture?) Sin being not only trivialized but normalized, even elevating sin as a prize… as a token of how affluent and sophisticated we are! - Now there were those, not even necessarily Christians, who highlighted that these behaviors were not virtues, but their moral code took a backseat to this wanton frolicking in the freedom of “doing whatever we want.”

- “Licentiousness (aselgeia) is living without any regard for moral restraint, especially in giving oneself over to acts of sexual immorality or acts of physical violence” - Wayne A. Grudem, 1 Peter: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 17, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988), 176.

- “Passions (epithymia) are sinful human desires which can be allowed to exert strong influence on one’s behaviour”

- Drunkenness is well, drunkenness - intoxicated by too much of a substance that causes you to lack self-control and good judgment

- “revels (kōmos; banquets and feasts given to wild immorality) and carousing (potos; drinking parties or drinking bouts)”

The New American Commentary: 1, 2 Peter, Jude (3) Preparing to Suffer as Christ Did (4:1–6)

The combination of sexual sin, drinking, and parties apparently was common in the Greco-Roman world, as it is today.

- ‘Lawless acts of idol worship’ emphasizes that this selfish indulgence is not only self idolatry but that it is also connected to both religious idolatry and worldly idolatry

Here’s the point: When you come to realize that you don’t want to waste another second on sin, then you’re ready to commit to what Peter says in…

1 Peter 2:11–12 ESV

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Back in chapter 4, Peter says, when you do make a clean break from sin patterns in your life,

Anticipate antagonism to holy living. (v. 4)

At first they are surprised, then they become hostile.

They are surprised (stunned or shocked, taken aback) because they can’t understand why you wouldn’t indulge in joining them (literally run together with) in the same flood of excessive sinful license. - They’re surprised bc they don’t understand why anyone wouldn’t WANT to be in on this attractive sin… and even more Peter is indicating their surprise when you have ceased, you no longer participate in things you might have done in the past.

- Again, please let me say this: Peter is not advocating that there is a time for sowing your wild oats and you can repent later and all will be well. NO, he’s telling you that ANY amount of sinning should be past and we shouldn’t waste ANY more time loving and living for sin. Whom do we love and live for now? And in Him there is greater joy and pleasure not only now, but his truth about godly living will one day be vindicated (that is, proven true).

When you still won’t join in, surprise becomes hostility. Why? Because not participating implies condemnation, and rather than them allowing that pain of conscience to make them change their ways, they instead attack and slander believers.

A couple of things to note about this hostility toward holiness:

1. They may be surprised by your incredible resolve to live for the will of God and not for the desires of the flesh, but you should not be surprised by their antagonism:

1 Peter 4:12 ESV

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

2. To the Christian, it is a compliment to be maligned for holiness!

1 Peter 4:14 ESV

If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

What they do to you here is not the last word. (vv. 5-6)

For Them:

First, Peter makes it abundantly clear that they falsely charge you with malicious intent in this life, but will give an account (that is, they will have to give an answer for their sinful living) to the righteous judge (probably intended by Peter to be understood as Christ… either way, this is God who judges them). That he judges the living and the dead means not only those who are now alive but also all those who have already preceded in death. If they died in sin, separated from God in their disobedient lack of faith, they will be judged according to it.

For You:

Secondly (v. 6), Peter speaks of a contrasting triumphant end for those who have no need to fear death or the judgment because they have been made right with God through faith. What Peter is saying goes like this, “Speaking of Christ judging the dead… This is why the gospel was preached to those who are now dead (who have died before you), that even though they are judged in the flesh (because of Adam’s sin at the fall, all men suffer physical death) the way people are, they (those who belong to God by faith) might still live in the spirit the way God does.” - Suffering is not the final word. Death is not the final word. When you die, you are present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8).

[Conclusion]

Put away the playtime mentality and put on the wartime mindset.

Arm yourselves with an unswerving resolve to do God’s will and a confident trust in the one who judges justly and vindicates the righteous. - Why are so intent on acting like this world is a playground instead of a battleground? Satan’s kingdom is literally AT WAR with the Kingdom of God, and God has chosen to allow Satan during this age to reign in the earth… which means that the passions and desires of this world are following whom? RIGHT! So we need to stop behaving like the world, like the goal of our lives is to get to the weekend and party hard… to have fun, to seek our delight in this life. Yes, we need moments to rest and rejuvenate, but we must be primarily behaving like extra minutes are opportunities to train for battle… to arm ourselves with Christ’s mindset so that we’re ready for the intense moments of suffering, of tough choices of whether we will choose right or wrong.

An important part of this then is hating sin and the destruction it causes and the opportunity it wastes. Sin is literally the path to destruction and judgment. It is literally the reason for the holy wrath of God. It is literally the reason that Jesus had to suffer the pain of taking our sin upon himself (the just for the unjust) to die a horrible death. Do you pray for God to help you hate sin and love righteousness?

One last reminder, one last comfort from Peter today as we arm ourselves for suffering with the intent to not sin but be like our Savior: Suffering in this life does not have the last word, nor do those who flaunt their sin (as if it is victory) get the final word. Instead, the final word has already been spoken. Christ rose from the dead and is ascended on high in the place of authority at the right hand of the Father. We await his return by faith knowing that our own suffering, perhaps even to the point of death, is not the last word for us either. We will be raised victorious with him to celebrate his victory with him forever. Whatever the cost in this life, we will one day reach the end of our sojourn and receive the reward of our faith, a final culmination of our desire: perfect relationship with God forever, fully knowing his presence and pleasure. Let’s live like we know whose side we’re on and who will win this war!

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