Faith in the Faith in the CrosshairsCrosshairs

1 Peter1 Peter (Account, 1 Peter 4:1-6)(Account, 1 Peter 4:1-6)

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Submission to human Submission to human authority authority for for the Lord's sakethe Lord's sake

Do not repay evil for evil…on Do not repay evil for evil…on the contrary, bless, for to the contrary, bless, for to this you were called that you this you were called that you may obtain a blessingmay obtain a blessing

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Hardship as a consequence of my Hardship as a consequence of my actions: deserved and actions: deserved and undeservedundeserved

Deserved: learn from and growDeserved: learn from and grow

Undeserved: Sanctification, Undeserved: Sanctification, Glorification, IdentificationGlorification, Identification

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For Christ For Christ alsoalso suffered once suffered once for sins, the righteous for for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he the unrighteous, that he might bring us to Godmight bring us to God

Since therefore Christ suffered Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of with the same way of thinking, for whoever has thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of passions but for the will of God.God.

For the time that is past For the time that is past suffices for doing what the suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.lawless idolatry.

With respect to this they are With respect to this they are surprised when you do not surprised when you do not join them in the same flood join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they of debauchery, and they malign you;malign you;

……but they will give account to but they will give account to him who is ready to judge him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was this is why the gospel was preached even to those who preached even to those who are dead, that though are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live people are, they might live in the spirit the way God in the spirit the way God does - 1 Peter 4:1-6does - 1 Peter 4:1-6

Since therefore Christ suffered Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, in the flesh, arm yourselves arm yourselves with the same way of thinkingwith the same way of thinking

Arm= Arm= hoplizo- to equip for war, hoplizo- to equip for war, to outfit with weaponsto outfit with weapons

How? Be seeing suffering (for How? Be seeing suffering (for righteousness) as Christ did- righteousness) as Christ did- opportunity to glorify the opportunity to glorify the FatherFather

Since therefore Christ suffered in Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, the flesh, arm yourselves with the arm yourselves with the same way of thinkingsame way of thinking

Christ suffered in the flesh. His Christ suffered in the flesh. His suffering produced:suffering produced:

− RRestorationestoration- to God- to God− SSalvationalvation- of those who believe- of those who believe− CCondemnationondemnation of sin and the of sin and the

enemy enemy − TTriumphriumph over death, hell and over death, hell and

the gravethe grave

When I see Christ's suffering as a When I see Christ's suffering as a ppatternattern and a p and a privilegerivilege- an - an opportunity- I'm armed and opportunity- I'm armed and equipped for whatever I may equipped for whatever I may faceface

−"F"Fairair" ceases to be a word in " ceases to be a word in my vocabularymy vocabulary

−Suffering begins to have Suffering begins to have ppurposeurpose

……for whoever has suffered in for whoever has suffered in the flesh the flesh has ceased has ceased from sin, from sin, so as to live for the rest of the so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the human passions but for the will of Godwill of God

−Positionally: Perfect tense Positionally: Perfect tense looking to a definite past actlooking to a definite past act

−Identification with Christ so that Identification with Christ so that sin no longer has power over ussin no longer has power over us

We died to sin; how can we live We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized baptized into his deathinto his death? ? 

We were therefore We were therefore buried with buried with him him through baptism through baptism into into death death in order that, just as in order that, just as Christ was raised from the Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the dead through the glory of the Father, Father, we too may live a new we too may live a new life. life. 

If we have been united If we have been united with with him him like this in his death, we like this in his death, we will certainly also be united will certainly also be united with him with him in his resurrection. in his resurrection. 

For we know that our old self For we know that our old self was crucified was crucified with him with him so that so that the body of sin might be done the body of sin might be done away with, that away with, that we should no we should no longer be slaves to sinlonger be slaves to sin--because anyone who has died because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.has been freed from sin.

……countcount yourselves dead to sin yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Jesus. ThereforeTherefore do not let do not let sin reign in your mortal body sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil so that you obey its evil desires- Romans 6:1-7, 11-12desires- Romans 6:1-7, 11-12

Our position in Christ is Our position in Christ is intended by God to be intended by God to be mirrored in our experience mirrored in our experience with Christwith Christ

• Positionally, we Positionally, we have ceased have ceased from sinfrom sin

• In identification with Christ's In identification with Christ's sufferings, God expects his sufferings, God expects his children to live differentlychildren to live differently

−No rationalizationsNo rationalizations−No easy-believism or cheap graceNo easy-believism or cheap grace−Identification means we Identification means we

understand the nature of Christ's understand the nature of Christ's sufferings and the cause- our sinsufferings and the cause- our sin

• Experientially- our suffering Experientially- our suffering has the potential to produce has the potential to produce purificationpurification

−suffering produces suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope- character; and character, hope- Romans 5:3-4Romans 5:3-4

−Count it all joy when you face Count it all joy when you face various trials…that you may be various trials…that you may be mature and complete- James mature and complete- James 2:2-42:2-4

ArmArm yourselves… yourselves…

Suffering has purpose for a Suffering has purpose for a believer who really trusts Godbeliever who really trusts God

Gives us hope, peace and joy- Gives us hope, peace and joy- even in pain and sorrow- even in pain and sorrow- because God is using it to because God is using it to grow usgrow us

……has ceased from sin so as to has ceased from sin so as to live for the rest of the time in live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of Godpassions but for the will of God

−Those who are in Christ and Those who are in Christ and daily trust Christ live not for daily trust Christ live not for their desires, but God'stheir desires, but God's

−The goal is to walk so close The goal is to walk so close that Christ's desire for me that Christ's desire for me becomes my desirebecomes my desire

For the time that is past suffices For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles for doing what the Gentiles (ethnos)(ethnos) want to do, living in want to do, living in sensuality, passions, sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.parties, and lawless idolatry.

TranslationTranslation: You came from that. : You came from that. You've already wasted too You've already wasted too much time doing that which much time doing that which mocks God. Don't go back to itmocks God. Don't go back to it

……what the Gentiles what the Gentiles (ethnos)(ethnos) want want to doto do, living in sensuality, , living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.idolatry.

One of the marks of a believer is One of the marks of a believer is that we have different desiresthat we have different desires

NoteNote: Simply excess and perversions : Simply excess and perversions of what God created and of what God created and called called goodgood- sex, food and drink, worship- sex, food and drink, worship

The line between good and evil:The line between good and evil:

−EExcessxcess- becomes a means of - becomes a means of satisfaction rather than a cause satisfaction rather than a cause of glorificationof glorification

−PPerversionerversion- outside of how God - outside of how God intended it to beintended it to be

−MMisplacedisplaced Faith Faith- worship of and - worship of and trust in someone or something trust in someone or something other than Godother than God

With respect to this With respect to this they are they are surprisedsurprised when you do not when you do not join them in the same flood join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they of debauchery, and they malign you;malign you;

The rational expectation of The rational expectation of scripture is that believers scripture is that believers would live radically different would live radically different lives. We have been saved lives. We have been saved from from andand to to

With respect to this With respect to this they are they are surprisedsurprised when you do not when you do not join them in the same flood join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they of debauchery, and they malign you;malign you;

"It's good that you're a "It's good that you're a Christian. Just don't take it Christian. Just don't take it too far…"too far…"

With respect to this they are With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of them in the same flood of debauchery, debauchery, and they malign and they malign youyou;;

The life of an authentic follower The life of an authentic follower of Christ is tacit of Christ is tacit condemnation of the values of condemnation of the values of pagan societypagan society

With respect to this With respect to this they are they are surprisedsurprised when you do not join when you do not join them in the same flood of them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign debauchery, and they malign you;you;

The life of an authentic follower The life of an authentic follower of Christ is tacit condemnation of Christ is tacit condemnation of the values of pagan societyof the values of pagan society

How?How?

With respect to this With respect to this they are they are surprisedsurprised when you do not when you do not join them in the same flood of join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign debauchery, and they malign you;you;

The life of an authentic follower The life of an authentic follower of Christ is tacit condemnation of Christ is tacit condemnation of the values of pagan societyof the values of pagan society

The alternative is hypocrisyThe alternative is hypocrisy

The response is The response is "they malign "they malign you"you"

Malign: blaspheme, speak evil of. Malign: blaspheme, speak evil of. By implication- cause to suffer By implication- cause to suffer

Arm yourselves…Arm yourselves…

Their anger and mocking Their anger and mocking produces your growth as you produces your growth as you trust God through the paintrust God through the pain

Eternal PerspectiveEternal Perspective::

−They malign me and speak They malign me and speak evil of me- and it hurtsevil of me- and it hurts

Eternal PerspectiveEternal Perspective::

−They malign me and speak They malign me and speak evil of me- and it hurtsevil of me- and it hurts

−We'll all stand before God We'll all stand before God one dayone day

−And…And…

……but they will give account but they will give account to him who is ready to judge to him who is ready to judge the living and the deadthe living and the dead

The very ones who'd call you The very ones who'd call you to account for your actions to account for your actions will one day awill one day answernswer for for theirs- before Godtheirs- before God

Gives us hope and strengthGives us hope and strength

……but they will give account but they will give account to him who is ready to judge to him who is ready to judge the living and the deadthe living and the dead

Whose approval am I Whose approval am I seeking? Why?seeking? Why?

RansomRansom

For this is why the gospel was For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the dead, that though judged in the flesh flesh the way people arethe way people are, they , they might live in the spirit the way might live in the spirit the way God does- 1 Peter 4:1-6God does- 1 Peter 4:1-6

Physical death comes from the Physical death comes from the curse of the Fall. Yet, because curse of the Fall. Yet, because of Jesus, we live on in greater of Jesus, we live on in greater llifeife and absolute freedom and absolute freedom

Emperor MothEmperor Moth

TakeawaysTakeaways::

• Am I armed, equipped, ready Am I armed, equipped, ready for what life will bring?for what life will bring?

• Since Christ suffered in the Since Christ suffered in the flesh, flesh, arm yourselves with the arm yourselves with the same way of thinkingsame way of thinking

TakeawaysTakeaways::

• Does my life reflect my Does my life reflect my identification with Jesus in his identification with Jesus in his death, burial and death, burial and resurrection? resurrection?

• Are my desires becoming his Are my desires becoming his desires for me?desires for me?

TakeawaysTakeaways::

• Whose approval am I living Whose approval am I living for? Why? What do I need to for? Why? What do I need to do?do?