First Peter: Humility | Part 4: Suffering — Right Thinking, Right Living

Right Thinking, Right Living - 1 Peter 4:1-6

1 Peter 3:18-19, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison.”

1 Peter 4:1-2, Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

To make war on sin demands we arm ourselves with the mind of Him! 1 Peter 1:13, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

If you don't make your mind a battleground, Satan will make it his playground.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5, For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Right thinking leads to right living. Philippians 2:5, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”

1 Peter 4:1-2, Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

To think like Christ is to think about a cross. To be delivered from sin’s penalty, Christ died. To be delivered from sin’s power, you die. (See Luke 9:23, Galatians 2:20, 1 Corinthians 15:31, Romans 12:1-2) 

Romans 12:1-2, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

If you follow Jesus, you will suffer. If you follow sin, you will suffer more. Sin’s short-term gratification will one day bring long-term devastation. 

1 Peter 4:3-7, “For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.”

We are living in the end of The End. But the end is only the beginning. Are you ready for eternity?