The Christian Journey: A Life of Faithful Service
The Christian Journey • Sermon • Submitted
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· 24 viewsThe Christian journey is lived prepared to suffer as Christ suffered as we resolve to live a life of loving, faithful service.
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The Christian journey is lived prepared to suffer as Christ suffered as we resolve to live a life of loving, faithful service.
1 Peter 4:7-11
7 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.
The Christian journey is lived focusing on the Father’s will prepared to suffer
The Christian journey is lived focusing on the Father’s will prepared to suffer
1 Peter 4:1-6
1 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; 5 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.
Settled resolve - v.1-3
Settled resolve - v.1-3
Ex: Jonathan Edwards resolves. (Quote a few)
Resolved, Christ suffered for us in his body
Thus here we read, arm yourselves with the same attitude or with this very thought.
If Christ suffered in his body why do we think its God’s will for us not to suffer?
Consider and apply Christ’s suffering in your body, so that you suffer with him in the body and so cease from sin.
Sin must die in order that the soul may live.
Resolved, that Suffering sanctifies
Prepare ourselves to suffer
The main point of the verse is that believers are to arm themselves (hoplisasthe) with the intention to suffer.
The word translated “attitude” (ennoia) can be translated “intention” (NRSV )
Like soldiers preparing for battle, believers should prepare themselves for suffering
It does no good to put on armor of a warrior without the attitude of a warrior.
Ex: Hunting - it takes more than camo to be a hunter.
Resolved, to live as Christ lives - Rom. 6:11
We are not saying we seek suffering but as we follow Christ suffering will seek us.
The more we walk according to what we know of God’s will, the more we will discover about it.
When we do not follow the truth we know, we reduce our knowledge of God and we diminish our fellowship with him.
Obedience flows from affection, and affection is not paasive , for it brings obedience.
v.3 - 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 playing around with the lifestyle of unbelievers.
Nor is knowledge dead, for it produces affection“Now,” says the Christian, “corrupt lusts and deluding world, I have served you for too long.
Whatever the span of life God grants, believers are to live zealously for God as long as life endures.
The rest of my life must be given over to the Lord, to live for him through whom I live. What strength I have, and what time I have, through his grace will be wholly his.”
Expected scorn -v.4
Expected scorn -v.4
Because the Petrine believers had broken with their pagan past (v. 4) and no longer pursued a dissolute life, their former friends were surprised and reviled both believers and their God.
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.
To “think it strange” also suggests that they become offended. That offense is not silent. They heap abuse on the believer.
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.
Those who failed to participate would be social outcasts, just as today American citizens would look with suspicion on those who refused to take the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
We can imagine that those who did not fit in with the mores of society would be discriminated against in daily life and that they would be the object of abuse.
Sober judgment - v.5-6
Sober judgment - v.5-6
We should note that Peter did not mention the final judgment of unbelievers to encourage vindictiveness (cf. 1 Pet 2:21–23).
Nor did he address these words to unbelievers.
He reminded believers of the final judgment of all, assuring them that their perseverance in the faith matters and that those who practice evil will be assessed and condemned on the final day.
Therefore the gospel matters!
Do you listen to a sermon as if its a matter of life and death?
Do you declare the gospel as if its a matter of life and death?
Now, when you go to church, it is not simply to listen to a sermon and enjoy or dislike what you hear.
It is a matter of life and death—eternal life and eternal death. Spiritual life is born and nourished by the Word, and this is the beginning of eternal life.
Peter considered the case of believers who had died physically.
These people heard and believed the gospel when they were alive but had subsequently died. Unbelievers viewed the death of believers as proof that there is no advantage in becoming a believer, for all without exception die.
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.
Think wisely and soberly about these two things—the real goal of the Gospel and the approaching end of your days.
The gospel brings us from death to life in order that we might live and live to God.
The Christian journey is lived in loving, faithful service until we arrive safely home
The Christian journey is lived in loving, faithful service until we arrive safely home
1 Peter 4:7-11
7 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.
Christian motivation - life is short
Two realities
The immanent return of Christ
The immanent departure to Christ
Therefore - Because of this - This motivation leads to action - not fear but faithfulness
Phil - to live is _____________ but to die is _________________
Christian lifestyle
Sober - minded (Self -close to each other)
This is to be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.
Self controlled = sensible or reasonable = able to make good judgments
Sober-minded -two ways: free from external influences that dull the mind (alcohol or drugs) & free from internal influences; that is being led by ones emotions or desires.
To dull the mind is an unbiblical destructive way to deal with past trauma and anxiety.
Prayerful
Prayer is not just smooth expression or a well-contrived form of words.
Prayer is not the product of a ready memory.
The movement of the heart toward God makes prayer real, living, and acceptable to the living God, to whom it is presented.
Pouring out your heart to him who made it and therefore hears it and understands what it says and how it is moved and affected—that is real prayer.
And so, resting on his love, power, and gracious promises, the soul quiets itself in God.
It is assured that it is not in vain to seek God, for he does not despise “the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy” (Psalm 12:5).
Loving (forgiveness) - hospitable (philo - xe - nos) - loving stranger - generous -
Its eminency among the graces: above all. - Col. 3:14
Brotherly love to stranger - Rom 12:13
Here it is used with the “one-anothers” of the Bible
There is a common benevolence and goodwill due to all.
But there is a more particular uniting affection among Christians that makes them one.
And where the love of God is rekindled and enters the heart, it destroys and burns up self-love, and so carries the affection up to God himself, and in him carries it out to our brothers.
The bitter root of all human enmity against God and against one another is self—our heart turned from God toward ourselves.
Prayer disposes people toward this love. “Whoever does not love does not know God,” says the apostle John, “because God is love” (1 John 4:8).
The person who is the most conversant with love cannot but have the fullest measure of it.
It flows from God into the hearts of Christians, and from there to their brothers.
It transforms the soul into Christ’s likeness, making it merciful and loving and ready to forgive, as Christ is.
When our minds are sober and our hearts are prayer love flows and when it does it forgives
Love covers over a multitude of sins. This is taken from Solomon: “Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs” (Proverbs 10:12)
“A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense” (Proverbs 19:11).
Active, faithful Ministry -
Two categories - speaking and serving - all have a gift because all have received grace
Stewardship - All gifts small or large are grace
“For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” (1 Corinthians 4:7).
1 Cor 12:7
So That
So That
v.11b -