Stewards of God’s grace the new life in Christ.
Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh [and died for us], arm yourselves [like warriors] with the same purpose [being willing to suffer for doing what is right and pleasing God], because whoever has suffered in the flesh [being like-minded with Christ] is done with [intentional] sin [having stopped pleasing the world],
so that he can no longer spend the rest of his natural life living for human appetites and desires, but [lives] for the will and purpose of God. 1 Peter 4:1-11
INTRODUCTION
This Epistle was addressed primarily to Christian Hebrews, though it does not exclude Gentiles who, by adoption and faith, become members of the true Israel of God. The countries named are from northeast to southwest in Asia Minor. As might have been expected, the paragraphs glow with Peter’s fervent zeal and ardent love. There is also a deep vein of patience and of desire to encourage those who were suffering. The fiery trial was the Neronian persecution, which the emperor instigated to divert from himself the stigma of having set Rome on fire. The date, therefore, is about 65 A.D.
OUTLINE OF THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER
The Fellowship of Christ’s Suffering and Glory
CHRIST’S UNPARALLELED EXAMPLE
The Obligations of the Christian Life
(Living to God, Watching, Praying, Hospitality, Suffering as a Christian)
8. What is the evidence of being armed with the mind of Christ?
STEWARDS OF GOD’S GRACE
Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh [and died for us], arm yourselves [like warriors] with the same purpose [being willing to suffer for doing what is right and pleasing God], because whoever has suffered in the flesh [being like-minded with Christ] is done with [intentional] sin [having stopped pleasing the world],
so that he can no longer spend the rest of his natural life living for human appetites and desires, but [lives] for the will and purpose of God.
For the time already past is [more than] enough for doing what the [unsaved] Gentiles like to do–living [unrestrained as you have done] in a course of [shameless] sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and wanton idolatries.
In [connection with] all this, they [the unbelievers] are resentful and surprised that you do not [think like them, value their values and] run [hand in hand] with them into the same excesses of dissipation and immoral freedom, and they criticize and abuse and ridicule you and make fun of your values.
ready to judge and pass sentence on the living and the dead.
For this is why the good news [of salvation] was preached [in their lifetimes] even to those who are dead, that though they were judged in the flesh as men are, they may live in the spirit according to [the will and purpose of] God.
The end and culmination of all things is near. Therefore, be sound-minded and self-controlled for the purpose of prayer [staying balanced and focused on the things of God so that your communication will be clear, reasonable, specific and pleasing to Him.]
Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others]. [Pro_10:12]
Be hospitable to one another without complaint.
Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor].
Whoever speaks [to the congregation], is to do so as one who speaks the oracles (utterances, the very words) of God. Whoever serves [the congregation] is to do so as one who serves by the strength which God [abundantly] supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified [honored and magnified] through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Comments by
F.B.Meyer
on
1 Peter 4:1-11
THE NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
The Apostle urges the disciples to make a clean break with sin. As our Lord’s grave lay between Him and His earlier life, so there should be a clean break between our life as believers and the earth-bound life, which was dominated by lawless passions. Sometimes God employs the acid of persecution or suffering to eat away the bonds that bind us to our past. Let us accept these with a willing mind. The one condition of reigning with the enthroned Christ is to submit to His cross. Of course, we must die to animal instinct, to the blandishments of the world, and to the temptations of the evil one; but it is quite as important to die to our self-life, whether it be clothed in white or black!
We are summoned to a life of prayer. But in order to promote fervency in prayer we must be sober-minded and self-controlled, 1Pe_4:7; loving, 1Pe_4:8; and faithful to our stewardship of all God’s entrusted gifts, 1Pe_4:10. Let us cultivate the invariable habit of looking up from our service, of whatever kind, to claim the ability to do it for the glory of God, 1Pe_4:11.
Choose a Sermon on
1 Peter
by
Pastor Jeff Arthur.
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