Living for Christ 1 Peter 4v1-11

Here, verse 4, 1-11, that's on page 1220.

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourself also with the same attitude.

Because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.

As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do,

living in debauchery, lust, drunkness, orgy, carousing, and detestable adultery.

They think it's strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation,

and they keep abuse on you.

But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

For this is the reason the gospel was preached, even to those who are now dead,

so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body,

but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

The end of all things is near.

Therefore, be clear-minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

Above all, love each other deeply,

because love can convert all multitude of sin.

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others,

faithfully administering God's grace in its various form.

If anyone speaks, he shall do it as one speaking the every word of God.

If anyone serves, he shall do it with the strength God provides,

so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

To him be the glory and the power forever and ever.

Amen.

Thank you, Arvita.

Please keep your Bibles open to 1 Peter chapter 4.

1 Peter 4 · chapter mention

And we'll pray.

Father, we ask that these words that I speak would be

as the very words of God,

words of truth about you,

about how we should live in this world.

Lord, we pray that these words would change us,

that they would transform us,

and show us how to live as we should.

Father, we pray this so that in all things

God may be praised through Jesus Christ,

for as to him be the glory and the power forever and ever.

Amen.

A very close friend recently told me a true story about himself.

He was about 16 at the time,

and they were away on a school geography trip.

When it came to their bedtime,

he got into his sleeping bag,

and with his torch,

and with his torch,

began to read his Bible.

For fear of being seen by his mates,

he pulled the bag up over the top of him

and snuggled away, way down.

Someone heard some rustling of pages

and shouted over,

what are you doing?

To which there was a muffled replied,

I'm eating sweets.

The conversation continued,

give us one.

I can't, it's my last one.

Sometimes it's easier to tell lies

than to tell the truth.

Now, if you're a Christian,

you will identify with that.

It's easier to conform to the world

than to live for Christ.

You see, if we do speak out for Christian truth,

if we stand up for Christian values,

you will struggle.

You will get hit.

So to avoid any kind of grief or hardship,

well, we behave like everyone else.

So rather than say no to another drink,

we have another one,

and then another one,

and then soon the whole evening

is out of control.

Instead of explaining our views

on marriage or abortion,

we politely excuse ourselves

from the conversation

before we're even asked.

Rather than speak against racist talk,

we keep quiet.

After all,

we don't want people making jokes of me.

Instead of making it clear

that I am a Christian,

we change the subject

and talk about the match last night.

We live like the world.

We conform.

We begin to blend in

so that we escape

any kind of suffering or struggle.

Now, if you've ever experienced that,

it's a normal temptation

for every Christian.

We all feel that pressure

to just blend in and fit in.

So how can we keep living for Christ

rather than conforming to the world?

How can we make sure

we still follow Jesus

rather than drift away?

Well, we must remember two realities.

One past and one future.

We're to live in the light

of Christ's death on the cross,

which is a past event,

and we are to live in the light

of Christ's return at the end,

which is a future event.

So first,

here's the encouragement

to live for Christ

instead of conforming to the world.

First, we live in the light

of Christ's death on the cross.

Looking back to the cross,

shapes and affects

how I live my life today.

First, we are done with sin.

Look at verse 1, chapter 4.

Therefore,

since Christ suffered in his body,

arm yourselves also

with the same attitude,

because he who has suffered

in the body is done with sin.

The suffering of Christ

takes us back to the cross of Christ.

And what happened when Christ died?

Well, have a look back

to chapter 3, verse 18.

We're told very clearly,

chapter 3, verse 18,

that when Christ suffered,

when Christ died,

he died for sins,

once for all,

the righteous for the unrighteous

to bring you to God.

When Christ died,

it was a death for us.

In other words,

he exchanged places with us.

He took on himself

all our unrighteousness.

That's all the things

I've ever said,

thought and done

that are wrong.

Christ took it all on himself

and suffered the punishment

that we deserve.

He suffered hell

for you and for me.

So when Christ suffered

on the cross,

he dealt with our sin.

Look at verse 18.

Once for all.

It's dealt with.

It's finished.

It's done.

Chapter 4, verse 1.

Therefore,

in the light of what Christ has done,

since Christ suffered

in his body,

arm yourselves also

with the same attitude.

In other words,

we now are to think about

our sin

in the same way

that Christ has treated

our sin.

That's important

that we make that connection.

We are to think about

our sin

in the same way

that Christ has treated

our sin.

So if Christ has dealt

with my sin,

I am to consider

that my sin

has been dealt with.

If Christ is judged

for my sin,

I am to consider

that my sin

is no longer

held against me.

If Christ has forgiven

my sin,

I am to consider

myself

and live

as a forgiven

child of God.

Why?

Look at the rest

of verse 1.

because he

who has suffered

in his body

is done

with sin.

Through faith,

through my trust,

I am united

to Christ.

So the work

that Jesus did

on the cross

is now applied

to me

in my life.

So if Christ

has suffered

and dealt

with my sin,

then I too

am done

with sin.

I am no longer

living the rest

of my life

trying to deal

with it

because it has

been dealt

with in the past

once and for all.

And that means

our life now

has been changed.

It changes

everything,

verse 2.

As a result,

as a result

of Christ's death

on the cross,

we do not live

the rest

of this earthly life

for evil

human desires,

but rather

for the will

of God.

which takes

us to the fact

that not only

is our sin

done with,

but our past

has been put

behind.

We no longer

have to go

back.

We've a new

way to live.

Look at verse 3.

For you have

spent enough

time in the past

doing what

pagans

choose to do,

living the way

people who are

not yet

Christians

do.

Living in

debauchery.

That is,

living without

any moral

boundary in

place.

Doing what

you like,

when you like,

with who you

like.

So just think

about the

culture of

sleeping with

multiple partners.

It's living

without any

moral boundaries.

or, as he

goes on,

lust,

which is being

driven by your

own desires.

So you want

something,

you buy it.

You get fed up

with what you

have,

you change it.

drunkenness.

Drinking

without restraint.

One is

never enough.

Orgies,

which is

wild living,

indulging in a

cocktail of

sex and drugs,

whatever it

takes, and

doing whatever

you like to

experience that

ultimate high.

Carousing,

which is

another word

for drinking

parties.

Drinking

copious amounts

at the

Christmas party

or the

nightclub

or wherever

you might

hang out.

Detestable

idolatry.

Replacing

God with

other things

and with

other people.

So making

sport or

your work

or your

family or

your girlfriend

or boyfriend

more important

to you

than God.

Now I

think that

verse 3

is a fairly

accurate picture

of how

people live.

And without

pointing fingers

I think we

can all see

ourselves in

there.

Because each

one of us

have pushed

the moral

boundaries.

We've all

replaced God

with other

things.

We've all

searched for

fulfilment and

satisfaction,

whether it's

through sex

or shopping.

But,

look at

verse 3,

you have

spent enough

time in

the past

living like

this.

In other

words,

it's now

time to

move on.

We no

longer have

to live

this way.

Because of

Christ's death

on the cross,

we are done

with sin.

A decisive

break has

been made

in our life.

The past

is put

behind us

and now

we are

living for

Christ.

So when

you get

invited out

to your

work Christmas

party or

round to

your neighbours,

when you're

walking down

Patrick Street

and you see

all the

things that

you want

for Christmas,

you don't

have to

indulge.

You don't

have to

conform to

the way of

the world.

Your past

has been

dealt with.

You've

now got

a new

way to

live for

Christ.

And of

course,

when we

put the

past behind

and now

live for

Christ,

it comes

at a

great

cost.

Look at

verse 4.

Verse 4.

They think

it's strange

that you

do not

plunge

with them

into the

same flood

of

dissipation

and they

heap abuse

on you.

Again,

it's a

very

graphic

picture.

Society

has

plunged

into a

flood of

dissipation.

Strange

word,

but it

basically

means that

we have

indulged,

we've

jumped into

a flood

of a

life of

excess.

We just

are never

ever satisfied.

We're always

wanting more.

We crave

more sex,

more drink,

more shopping,

bigger homes,

bigger salaries,

new cars,

new gadgets.

It's the

way in

which the

world thinks.

But as

Christians,

of those

who've

left the

past,

we no

longer need

to indulge

in

excesses.

So if we

find ourselves

in conversation,

talking with

people,

or simply by

the way

that we

live,

when we

say that,

well no,

sex is

confined to

the marriage

of one

man and

one woman,

if we

stop at

one drink

or at

no drink,

if we

make obedience

to Christ

more important

than favour

with friends,

you're going

to get

hurt,

you're going

to get

abuse,

you're going

to be mocked,

you're going

to be laughed

at.

There is

going to be

a cost

if we

leave the

past behind

and live

for Christ.

So because

of Christ's

death on

the cross,

we no

longer have

to conform

to the

world,

the past

is behind,

we now

have a new

way to

live.

So we're

done with

sin,

the past

is put

behind,

and we're

prepared for

the future,

all because

of what

Jesus has

done on

the cross.

Look at

verse 5.

They

will have

to give

an account

to him,

so all

those who

live a

life of

excess

and indulging

a life

without Christ

will have

to give

an account

to him

who is

ready to

judge the

living

and the

dead.

God.

Now I

don't think

it's saying

that we're

to exclude

ourselves.

You see,

judgment is

coming and

every one

of us

will have

to give

an account

before God

and everything

is going to

be laid out

before God.

No one is

going to

escape,

nothing is

going to

be excused,

our whole

life before

God will

be exposed,

shown up

for who

we are

and what

we've

done.

So when

I am

tempted

to conform

to the

world,

when I

start

considering

and thinking

of living

like everyone

else so

that I

fit in

and escape

being laughed

at,

remember

judgment

is coming.

I am

going to

have to

give an

account

before God.

But

if we

trust in

Christ,

if our

hope is

in him,

we are

not just

looking

forward to

judgment,

we are

looking

forward to

glory,

to something

better and

something

greater.

Yes,

we may

face

insults,

yes,

people may

laugh at

us because

we have

left the

past behind

and we are

now living

for Christ,

but the

best is

yet to

come.

Look at

verse 6.

verse 6.

For this

is the

reason the

gospel was

preached even

to those who

are now

dead.

So he's

saying,

look,

there are

people who

have died,

but before

they died,

they heard

the gospel,

they heard the

good news about

Jesus Christ and

his death on

the cross.

Verse 6.

So for this

reason the

gospel was

preached even

to those who

are now

dead,

so that

they might

be judged

according to

men in

regard to

the body.

In other

words,

they will

die because

of their

sin,

they will

physically

die,

all sin

leads to

death,

but,

look at the

end of

verse 6,

but they

will live

according to

God in

regard to

the spirit.

In other

words,

the gospel

is telling

me that

just as

Christ died

for my

sin,

but was

raised to

life in

the spirit,

so I

will die

because of

my sin,

but I

am going

to be

raised to

life.

All of

us will

die because

of sin

in our

life,

but because

Christ took

the judgment

on the

cross,

I will be

raised to

share his

glory.

Rather than

suffering hell

for eternity,

I will

enjoy heaven

for eternity.

So when

I am

tempted to

conform to

the world,

when I'm

tempted to

think that

all there

is is

this life

and just

fit in

for an

easier life

so I

don't get

laughed at,

so I

don't get

mocked,

when I

fit in

with this

kind of

life,

I need

to think

back to

the cross

and remember

that Christ

suffered for

my judgment.

He has

given me a

new inheritance

that I

might share

in his

glory.

I have

everything

to look

forward to

so I

don't have

to indulge

today

because I

have everything

to come.

So,

as we

seek to

live life

in this

world,

first,

we must

live in

the light

of Christ's

death on

the cross.

Remember

that our

sin is

done with

we have

put the

past

behind

and we

are looking

forward

to a

new

future.

But there's

a second

way in

which we

are to

live,

and that

is to

live in

the light

of Christ's

return at

the end,

which is a

future event.

Look at

verse 7.

The end

of all

things is

near.

It's a

short,

simple

statement

to remind

us that

Christ is

coming

again.

And when

Christ returns,

we will

experience our

glorious and

eternal

inheritance in

all its

fullness.

Let's remind

ourselves of

what that

inheritance is.

Go back to

chapter 1,

verse 4.

Because Christ

is going to

come again,

this is what we

have to look

forward to.

We have an

inheritance,

verse 4,

that can never

perish,

spoil,

or fade,

which is kept

in heaven

for you.

Down at

verse 9.

Because of

this, we are

receiving the

goal of our

faith, the

salvation

salvation of

our souls.

So we can

look forward

to Christ

coming, and

when he

comes, we

will receive

the goal of

our faith, the

salvation of

our souls.

We will

enter a world

untouched by

the pain and

heartache of

death.

We will

experience a

world unspoiled

by the selfish,

evil actions of

people.

We will enjoy a

world that is

unfading through

the course of

time and

seasons.

So as we

look forward to

Christ coming

again, it

will shape how

I live today.

In particular,

it shapes how

I serve and

support my

church family

as we seek to

live for Christ.

For Christ has

put us into a

church family as

people who are

going to help

us through this

life.

So, three

things that the

way Christ's

return will

shape us.

First, we

pray for the

church family.

Look at verse

seven.

The end of all

things is near.

Christ is coming

again.

Therefore, be

clear-minded and

self-controlled so

that you can pray.

So, instead of

thinking that

suffering as a

Christian in this

world is never

ever going to

end and that

there's no hope

beyond this

life, he

says we are

to wait

patiently to

look for

Christ's return

and as we

wait for his

return, we're

to pray.

We're to pray

for each other

so that we

will keep on

living for

Christ and

not conform to

this world.

Through our

prayers for each

other, our

prayers for the

church family, we

keep each other

strong until

Christ returns.

So, how am I

going to make

sure that I

reach eternity

and that I

reach that

goal?

It's going to

be through the

prayers of each

other.

So, I'm going to

ask you, will

you pray for

me?

Will you pray

for me that I

will remember the

promise that

Christ is coming

again?

That my

struggles are not

going to last

forever?

That I have an

inheritance that

can never perish,

spoil or fade?

Will you pray

for me that I

will keep living

for Christ and

not conform to

the world?

You see, I do

need you to pray

for me.

And we all

need to pray for

each other that

we will keep

faithful and keep

going to the

end.

That's why God

has placed you

into this

church family

so that you

can have the

support and

the prayers of

others as we

wait for Christ.

So, pray for

each other.

Second, love

each other.

Verse 8.

Above all,

love each other

deeply because

love covers

over a

multitude of

sins.

love each other

and grief.

Listen, we

all get enough

hassle and

grief from

being a

Christian in

the world.

We know it's

tough out

there.

So, let's

not be down

on each other

in the church

family.

We get enough

headaches from

people, so

why should we

come to the

gathering of

God's people

and get more

upset?

that.

Verse 8 tells

us we're to

love one

another, not

remind each

other of past

failures.

It's not saying

that we should

ignore sin, but

where sin has

been confronted

and confessed, we

move on.

Because, verse 8,

love covers over a

multitude of

sins.

So, you imagine

what this would

be like.

you've had a

really hard

week.

Your friends

have given you

a rough time

because you're a

Christian.

You feel pushed

out and a bit

isolated.

And then you

arrive into your

church gathering,

you're meeting

with your church

family, and

somebody reminds

you of something

you did and

criticizes you

over some

small thing.

And you go,

I thought I was

here for support.

Well, we are

here for support,

not to remind

each other of

past failure.

And one of the

ways to love

and support

each other is,

look at verse

9, offer

hospitality to

one another

without grumbling.

That was a

real and

practical help

when Peter

wrote this

letter, because

as he wrote,

there were many

Christians who

were literally

being shut out

of their homes.

Because they

had taken a

stand for

Christ in

society, they

no longer had

a home.

They didn't

have belongings.

Chapter 1,

verse 1 tells

us they had

been scattered.

They had been

sent away.

So other

Christians had

to give them

a bed and

welcome them

in and give

them some

food and

somewhere to

stay.

And that's

the kind of

support and

encouragement

we're to give

to each other.

I remember

my parents

offering that

kind of

hospitality to

young Christians

who were not

welcome in

their own

homes.

For some,

our home

became like

a refuge.

It was a

place you could

just turn up,

be encouraged,

be prayed for.

Yes, it was

costly, it

took time,

money, and

energy.

And as a

little kid

wandering around

the house I

used to give

off, why do

we have to

have all these

people coming

all the time?

Well, simply

because Christ

is coming,

because he

has an

eternal

inheritance

ready for

us, that

means we

can give

everything in

this life

now towards

other people.

We can

open up our

homes and

make it a

refuge.

we can

welcome

people in

because we

have an

eternal home

and Christ

is coming

again.

So as we

seek to

live life

in this

world, which

is tough

and hard,

let's not be

down on each

other, but

love each

other deeply,

support each

other, invite

each other

into your

homes to

encourage one

another.

other.

So we

are to

pray for

each other,

love each

other, and

we are to

give grace

to each

other.

The church

family is

an incredible

place of

encouragement

and support

when we

live in a

world that

is hostile

towards us.

Look at

verse 10.

each one

should use

whatever gift

they have

received to

serve others.

So that's an

encouragement,

isn't it?

We all have

a gift, or

gifts from

God, talents

and abilities

given to us

by God, and

how do we

use those

gifts?

Look at the

rest of

verse 10.

We faithfully

administer God's

grace in

its various

forms.

You see, it's

God's grace

that's going to

sustain us

and keep

us until

Christ returns.

Have a look

over at

chapter 5

verse 10.

Chapter 5

verse 10.

And the

God of

all grace

who called

you to

his eternal

glory in

Christ,

so God

in his

grace has

given us

a future

to look

forward to.

After you

have suffered

a little

while,

so as we

seek to

live for

Christ in

this world,

we will

suffer.

He will

himself

restore you

and make

you strong,

firm,

and steadfast.

God's

grace is

what's going

to keep

us until

the end.

God's

grace is

going to

keep us

going until

Christ returns.

But here's

the point.

How do we

get to

experience

God's

grace?

That grace

comes to

us from

God,

not just

straight to

us,

but God's

grace comes

through one

another.

The grace

of God

flows down

to God's

people,

and as it

flows into

God's

people,

so it

flows out

to each

one of

us through

the gifts

that he

has given

us.

So if we're

to experience

God's

grace,

it comes

through

people

to us.

And there's

two ways,

two main

ways we can

bring grace

to each

other as

we wait

for Christ's

return.

Look at

verse 11.

Here's the

first one.

If anyone

speaks,

he should

do it as

one speaking

the very

words of

God.

And here's

the second

one.

End of

verse 11.

If anyone

serves,

he should

do it with

the strength

that God

provides.

So two

major

gifts that

we all have

in some

way or

another.

We can

speak to

people,

and we

can serve

people,

and by

speaking and

by serving,

we bring

God's

grace into

each other's

life.

So let me

show you

what this

looks like.

Imagine

you're

struggling,

maybe you

are struggling,

to keep

going.

Your family

don't understand

you,

your friends

don't always

include you,

you've taken

a stand to

follow Christ,

to love him,

to walk with

him,

but you're

suffering for

it.

It's really,

really tough

to be a

Christian where

you are.

And you're

beginning to

think it's

not worth it,

I can't

keep going,

it's just

going to be

easier to

live like

everyone else,

just to

blend in,

keep quiet,

say nothing,

and escape

all the

hassle and

all the

grief.

love.

And then

God's grace

is poured

out into

your life.

God's grace

overflows into

your struggling

life.

How?

Someone comes

along to you

and speaks

to you a

word of

encouragement.

They get

alongside you

and they pray

for you.

they open

up the

Bible with

you and

they begin

to read a

little bit

from it,

reminding you,

Johnny,

Christ is

coming again,

your struggles

will end,

we're here

for you,

we're going

to support

you.

Another

person comes

along and

they serve

you,

they welcome

you into

your home

for dinner,

they give

you a secure

and safe

place where

you can

unload and

listen,

somebody can

listen to

all the

struggles that

you're going

through and

they go with

you and they

meet with

your friends

so that you're

not the only

Christian in

the group.

Through the

church family

we experience

God's

overflowing

grace into

our life,

sustaining us

and keeping

us as God's

people.

One of the

great ways to

do that is

just simply as

we're gathered

here.

when we

have tea

and coffee

how many

times do

we say

encourage

one another

and it's

for this

very reason

as you

speak to

one another

you are

speaking God's

grace to

each other's

lives.

That's why we

say come to

home groups.

It's not just

a meeting to

fill up your

week with,

it's not to

get God's

attention and

see how great

you are,

it's a place

to receive

God's grace

and it's a

place to

give God's

grace so

that we can

be built

up so

that we can

keep going

in the

faith.

The message

of 1 Peter

is so

clear.

The Christian

life is

tough,

it's hard

and it's

only going

to get

harder as

we go on.

God's

So how

are we

going to

face this

hostile

world in

which we

live?

Well

together we

look back to

Christ's death

on the cross.

We remember

that we are

done with

sin, the

past is

put behind,

we are to

consider our

sin treated,

dealt with,

done away

with and

looking forward

to what Christ

has prepared

for us.

So we look

back to his

death, we

look forward

to his return

at the end,

praying for

each other,

loving each

other and

pouring God's

grace as we

speak and

as we serve.

And as we

do this,

we will

continue to

live for

Christ and

we won't

conform to

the world.

God has

placed you

here with

your gift

so that we

can support

one another.

may God

give us

the help

that we

can do

it.

Let's

pray.

Amen.

In the

quietness,

let's just

think for a

moment.

of somebody

who we

can draw

alongside,

use the

gifts that

God has

given us

to bring

grace into

their life,

to help

them as

they seek

to live

for Christ.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Noahe Mike

Father, thank you that Christ died for our sin,

has dealt with our past,

and given us a new way to live.

Thank you that you have given to us wonderful gifts,

and we pray that through us,

we would use those gifts to build one another up,

serve each other,

and speak your truth.

Father, help us to do that well,

so that we keep living for Christ,

and that we do not conform to the world.

We pray this in Jesus' name.

Amen.