Living Living in Faithin Faith

Lesson Passage:Lesson Passage:

1 Peter 4:12-191 Peter 4:12-19

Background:Background:

1 Peter 4:12-191 Peter 4:12-19

1.1. We Have the Spirit (1 Pet. We Have the Spirit (1 Pet. 4:12-14)4:12-14)

2.2. God Can Be Glorified (1 Pet. God Can Be Glorified (1 Pet. 4:15-16)4:15-16)

3.3. Our Salvation Is Secure (1 Our Salvation Is Secure (1 Pet. 4:17-18)Pet. 4:17-18)

4.4. God Is Faithful and Powerful God Is Faithful and Powerful (1 Pet. 4:19)(1 Pet. 4:19)

1 Since Christ suffered bodily, arm yourselves also with the same purpose… live your remaining time here no longer for human desires, but for God’s will. 3 …the pagans … will always be surprised that you don’t dive into into the same wild lifestyle they have. They will slander you!5 BUT they will have to answer for this to the One who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was also preached to those who are now dead, so they could be saved spiritually

.. The end of all things is near; therefore, … intensely love … each other – since Love covers over so many sins.

…serve others, like good managers of the varied gifts God has given.. from all the strength God provides, that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything.

“Correct” this world like Jesus is doing (Acts17:31): by your walk in His better Way of Life, by serving God by serving others in the church with His power and enabling, by those amazing gifts He has given you!

Review of 1 Peter 4:1-11: Jesus has spoken!

Is suffering necessary for a Christian?

Why does God allow it?

How should we respond to it?

• Consider Job (James 5:11); believers the world wasn’t worthy of (Heb. 11:38); NT believers and the apostles; and ULTIMATELY JESUS our suffering example (Heb. 12:4)

Victory Day celebration on Red Square“…our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Because of this, take up the full armor of God -- Eph. 6: 12-13

1 Peter 3:18-19 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, in order that he could bring you to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which also he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison,

8 Therefore it says, “Ascending on high he led captivity captive; he gave gifts to men.” 9 Now “he ascended,” what is it, except that he also descended to the lower regions of the earth? 10 The one who descended himself is also the one who ascended above all the heavens, in order that he might fill all things. -- Eph. 4

18 You have ascended on high. You have led away captive a train of vanquished foes; You have received gifts of men, yes, of the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell there with them. (Ps. 68:18)

For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display in last place, like men condemned to death. We have become a spectacle for the world, for angels, ... 1 Cor. 4:9

1 Peter 4: 12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, when it* takes place to test you, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 But to the degree that you share in the sufferings of Christ, rejoice, so that also at the revelation of his glory you may rejoice and be glad. 14 If you are reviled on account of the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 By all means do not let anyone of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 But if someone suffers as a Christian, he must not be ashamed, but must glorify God with this name. 17 For it is the time for the judgment to begin out from the household of God. But if it begins out from us first, what will be the outcome for those who are disobedient to the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous are saved with difficulty, what will become ⌊of the ungodly and the sinner ? ⌋19 So then also those who suffer according to the will of God must entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing good.

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, when it* takes place to test you, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 But to the degree that you share in the sufferings of Christ, rejoice, so that also at the revelation of his glory you may rejoice and be glad. 14 If you are reviled on account of the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. What are ‘fiery ordeals’ in believers’ experiences (OT, NT, or now)?Does Peter suggest that you can escape this? What purpose? Did Jesus suffer such? How about early Christians?

Eph. 6:12 says our battles are against evil spiritual forces – not people!

1 John 2:16 This world wars against us.. Expect it! Only taking up your cross by God’s power will prove the world wrong, by your words & counterexample! (Rev. 12:11, Acts 17:31)

:12 Consider Civil War. Your qualities will CONSTANTLY be warred with, teased, tempted, tested. BUT God rewards & is with you, and will never let you go beyond your “tensile strength” (Matt. 10:18, 1 Cor. 10:13)

1. We Have the Spirit (1 Pet. 4:12-14)

15 By all means do not let anyone of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 But if someone suffers as a Christian, he must not be ashamed, but must glorify God with this name. :15 Why do you think Peter picked these sins? What are its ‘bookends’?

These run from A to Z: criminal to obnoxious, like Alzheimers’ affectees

Dr. Rosemond: The difference in a 2-year old who hits another, and a murderer is.. Very little! (because unrestrained, or encouraged to sin).What do unbelievers (‘the world’) think, if we’re proven guilty? How do we avoid this?

“Crucify your flesh” :16 Suffering FOR God is different than suffering FROM God’s laws.. How so?How do you avoid being ashamed, in suffering for God? (Lk. 9:51, 1 Pet. 4:1, 1:6-9; 2 Cor. 4:17; 1 Tim. 4:8; Matt. 5:10-12)How will suffering for God, glorify Him? Didn’t Jesus do that already?

2. God Can Be Glorified (1 Pet. 4:15-16) [Lexham]

17 For it is the time for the judgment to begin out from the household of God. But if it begins out from us first, what will be the outcome for those who are disobedient to the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous are saved with difficulty, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner ? ⌊ ⌋

Why is the Church (born again Christians) to be judged? How (practically) can the church be judged?Is it good to correct each other? (Matt. 18).

We cannot know God’s will without seriously trying to “just do it”. In so doing, we will err… God is faithful to point out our errors (Php. 3:15)

It is up to us to be proven, tried and proven in the world’s court of testing, to SHOW that we’re different. If we just sit in our comfort zone, they’ll never know that we’re any different than they, and they may think we’re enjoying our nap (and maybe we are!) It is a sin to sit back when God has called you.

Jonah v. Peter (we’re called to suffer)

3. Our Salvation Is Secure (1 Pet. 4:17-18)

19 Therefore, those who are ill-treated and suffer in accordance with God’s will must do right and commit their souls [in charge as a deposit] to the One Who created [them] and will never fail [them].

God is in control, the Great Shepherd of His sheep, and His grace will feed those who are following Him.

Peter’s life – Jesus promised that to “redeem” him, he would suffer as Christ did. This would not, to Peter’s natural life, be a welcome thing (Jn. 21:18) – but here he has grown to commend its place FIRST in his Christian life and testimony!! To God the glory!

4. God Is Faithful and Powerful (1 Pet. 4:19)

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