The Consummation of our Sanctification, 1 Peter 4:7-11

I don’t know how many of you are familiar with the term “preppers.”  Preppers are people that are waiting, planning, and preparing for the apocalypse or something like the end of civilization as we know it.   These folks are convinced that the world cannot keep going like it is without imploding or exploding, and what life is left after the fallout will be forced to make do without all the luxuries and amusements and technology that we are now using.  And so they are prepping for this coming time by storing up weapons, ammunition, food, water, batteries and things like that.  These people are pretty serious about it.  Some have built underground bunkers out of storage containers in which they have stored a year or two of supplies.  And they have weapons because they want to make sure that their neighbors who didn’t prepare, who perhaps made fun of their preparations, do not end up banging on their door after the proverbial dung hits the fan trying to get their food.

Oddly enough, a fair number of Christians seem to embrace this apocalyptic view and have become preppers  as well. I say it’s odd because I find it ironic that those of us who claim to want to go to heaven, sometimes live like that’s the last place we want to go.  There seems to be a popular view among Christians that we need to do everything we can to hold on to this body, to this life, for as long as possible.  That’s quite a contrast to Christians of the first century.  They were practically volunteering for martyrdom in the belief that it not only hastened their communication to God, but that it ensured them a greater reward in heaven.

I don’t know if you recognize this or not, but Peter might be characterized as a prepper as well.  He talked quite a bit about the last days and what our attitude should be as we approach the end of the age.  In fact, in our text today, Peter says that “the end of all things is near.”  He is saying that they were living in the last days, or the last age.  In chapter 1 vs 20 he said something else about it; “For He [that is Christ] was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you.”  So it’s a parallel statement to our text.  The end of all things, or the end of the times is near.

Now if that was true in Peter’s day, and that sentiment is echoed by other gospel writers such as Paul and the Apostle John, then how much more so is it true for us today?  But how can it be true then and yet still be true today?  

The explanation is that the end of the times, or the last times, is speaking of the end of the age, particularly the age or period of time which commenced at the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ, and will be consummated at the second coming of Christ.  Some have referred to this as the church age, or the age of grace, or the age of the new covenant.  I’m not sure that those are the best titles, nor if there is a single title that best describes this age.  Perhaps it should be referenced in view of the kingdom of God.  It being the age of invitation, of salvation, in the greater realm of the kingdom of God.  It’s the age between His first coming and His second coming. And the first coming resulted in salvation, in a universal invitation to repent, to believe in Jesus Christ, to be transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light.  And Peter is saying that this present age is coming to it’s conclusion, to it’s consummation, when Christ shall come again and claim His bride which is the church.

That consummation of the kingdom results in the fulfillment of vs 11 in our text, which says, “that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”  Everything in history has been heading to this future glory, when Christ shall reappear in the clouds, the second time not with an invitation, but in judgment, to rule and reign not just spiritually but visibly and physically in a glorified kingdom with His church in a new heaven and new earth.

Since then we are living in the last days, perhaps metaphorically in the last hours, how should we live? What should be our focus?  The early church definitely lived as if the Lord could return at any second.  And the fact that it’s been 2000 years since then should not dull our sense of expectation.  Peter says in 2 Peter 3:3 “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with [their] mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For [ever] since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation."  For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God [the] heavens existed long ago and [the] earth was formed out of water and by water,  through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.  But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.  But do not let this one [fact] escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.  The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.  Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.”

Now I am going to save the exegesis of that passage for a few weeks from now when we come to it, but it’s pretty self explanatory, I think, indicating that what seems like a thousand years to us is but a day in God’s reckoning. So it is proper for Peter to say it is the last days, and for us to be still living in the last days. Also, when you consider that the people who lived before the flood lived almost to the age of 1000 years, then it is entirely appropriate to think of the present age in terms of the last days.  

But the conclusion of Peter’s argument is what I want to focus on at the moment.  Since all these things are coming at the end of the age, and we are living in the end of the age, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness? Peter is urging us to make the most of our time because the end of time is near. All that we know of this world is temporary and will be destroyed by fire.  So how should we live then in light of this?

Paul makes a very similar point in Romans 13:12-14 saying, “The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.  Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to [its] lusts.”

It’s interesting to notice that Peter has just given a similar list of behavior that we should put away in these last days.  In vs 3 Peter said, “For the time already past is sufficient [for you] to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.”  This is the lifestyle of those who don’t know the Lord, who have the mantra “eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.” But Peter now gives the characteristics of those who are sanctified, who are holy, who are living in expectation of the immanent return of Christ and looking forward to it eagerly.

Peter gives us four things, four characteristics which should mark our lives as we live in these last days.  He says, be sober, show love, show hospitality, and serve one another.  Let’s look at each of these briefly.  We who are saved, who are living sanctified lives with Christ already reigning in our hearts will exhibit these four characteristics in the last days.

First we are to be sober.  Someone has well said, “The difference between a Christian and a non-Christian is that the Christian controls his temperament, whereas the non-Christian is controlled by it.” The Christian should live in control of his passions, exhibiting self control and sound judgment in his life and dealings with others.  Thus Peter says in vs7, “be of sound judgment and sober spirit.” To be sober is not only to be not drunk or involved in drinking parties and carousing like the unbelievers mentioned in vs 3, but it also refers to being serious minded.  Clear headed. We are to have our wits about us at all times.  We are to be of sound judgment.  

The present culture has a unhealthy interest in entertainment and escapism.  Much of our modern inventions like television or the internet, or sports or even music serve to be a distraction from reality, or even an attempt to provide an alternate reality.  And it’s difficult in light of the popularity of such things to be immune to those temptations.  I’m not suggesting that as Christians we cannot be entertained, or see a movie or listen to music.  But I am suggesting that it’s a dangerous thing to be consumed with, to have your head constantly filled with frivolous things, which can keep you from thinking about more serious and important things.  I know some people who have to have a television on 24 hours a day, sometimes in every room of the house. They can’t drive without the radio on.  They can’t work out, or even take a walk without headphones in their ears.  It’s as if they don’t want to have an opportunity to think about the reality of their life.

So Peter attaches to this exhortation to be sober minded, that it is for the sake of your prayers.  Our sober mindedness is for the sake of our prayers.  Now what kind of prayers specifically is Peter referring to?  Is it prayers for other’s salvation?  I’m sure that is something we are supposed to be praying for, especially in light of the last days.  Is it prayers for health, or blessings or things that might help us or make us more comfortable?  Well, the Bible tells us to pray at all times, so those things are certainly included, though not all things are necessarily promised nor profitable.  However, I suggest that there is a more probable cause for prayer which Peter has in mind here.   And for that we might look back at another event in which Peter was with the Lord, of which it was said that the hour was at hand.

In Matthew 26 we read the account of Peter and the disciples who were supposed to have gone with Christ further into the Garden of Gethsemane in order to pray with Him.  And they ended up falling asleep while Jesus went on further to pray alone. And in vs 40 it says Jesus came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "So, you [men] could not keep watch with Me for one hour? Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

I think that Peter sees the correlation of those last hours with Jesus, when they thought things would just continue along as they had been, when they did not discern the signs of the times, and unbeknownst to them it was the last days of Jesus’ time on earth.  And the hour of tribulation came and they were sleeping, they were taking their rest.  Jesus rebuked them saying, watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation for the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

I think that event in the garden in many respects parallels these last days of which Peter is referring. We do not know the day or the hour when Jesus is returning.  And there is a real danger that we become complacent, that we become tired, weary in well doing, and we let our vigilance wane.  We need some rest, we think. Church is too early.   We are too tired to pray.  We are too concerned with the present reality of our comforts to be much concerned about the things of the kingdom, or the time of the end.  And so we don’t watch for His coming.  We don’t pray that God would deliver us from temptation.  We don’t keep a serious outlook and a prayerful attitude and as such we risk being found unfaithful when He returns.  

Or even worse, we find ourselves having fallen into temptation to sin, thinking that it will be a long time before the Master returns.  There will be plenty of time to get serious about the things of God later, down the road.  I think that’s the kind of attitude that Peter said we are to be careful about as we see the day fast approaching.  Stay sober minded, for the sake of your prayers, that you do not fall into temptation in these last days.  Don’t lose sight of the eternal for the sake of the temporal. It’s hard to fall into temptation if you are in prayer.  So pray without ceasing.

The second characteristic we should exhibit as we are in the last days Peter says is show love for one another.  Vs 8, “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another.” Fervency in love is a love that is not complacent.  It’s a love that is reaching out, seeking the well being of others.  If you love Christ, then it’s presumed that you will love His body.  You will love the church, love one other.  But what does that mean?  Does that speak of warm, fuzzy feelings?  Of some sort of emotional attachment, of some sort of sentimentality that occurs when we are together?  

Well, the word love there is agape.  And that word should need little explanation.  Suffice it to say that agape love is a sacrificial love for another.  It’s love that is orientated towards others benefit, and not self orientated. Agape love is the antithesis of sinning against your neighbor.  Love is the opposite of selfishness.  Love is the opposite of pride.  Jesus said this attribute was the premier attribute of his disciples: you will be known as My disciples by your love for one another.

Paul speaks of this in Colossians 3, saying in vs 12, “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;  bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things [put on] love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”  In other words, love is what binds together all these attributes Paul lists there.  Sacrificial love is what holds the church together.  

And there is an additional benefit which Peter mentions there in vs 8, we should love one another, “because love covers a multitude of sins.”  Peter isn’t saying that you can do a loving deed and have your sins wiped out.  Only the blood of Jesus Christ can atone for sins.  But what he is referring to is that love forgives injuries against us.  Love forgives sins against us. That’s what Christ’s love is like, forgiving us when we sinned against Him, even if it meant suffering death to accomplish that forgiveness, for our sakes.  Love is other’s orientated.  Love is wanting to see others benefitted, to see others helped, to see others have enough.  Agape love is not a reciprocal arrangement, and by the way, neither is your marriage. Love one another fervently, and forgive one another from the heart.

The third characteristic of sanctified saints living in the last days is they are showing hospitality.  Vs.9, “Be hospitable to one another without complaint.”  Hospitality was a very necessary trait in the early church as there were not many Holiday Inn’s around in those days.  And so travelers were dependent upon the kindness of others in order to find a place to rest or to find safety on the road.

But I think that hospitality has a much broader context in Peter’s mind, and especially in our culture today.  I think hospitality is simply love in action.  I believe hospitality is sharing what you have with those who are in need.  God has given you resources to use not just for selfish reasons, but for building up the body of Christ. 

We share a meal with the church today in order to illustrate this principle in a practical way.  It’s  not to show off our culinary skills, or to try to get people to respond in some way.  We share because we have the opportunity to do something for others that expresses the love of Christ for the church.  You might say that hospitality is the cost of love.  In other words, it’s not just a sentiment, but an action, an action that sometimes costs you something, even to the point of sacrifice, in order to bless someone else.

The final characteristic Peter gives as a principle to live by in the last days, is serving one another.  Vs 10, “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”  It’s interesting that Peter doesn’t give us some long list of spiritual gifts which we can take a test for to see which we might qualify for.  I believe there are a variety of spiritual gifts, taking on a variety of forms.  But as Paul said when speaking of spiritual gifts, he said if they aren’t accompanied by love then they are a clanging gong.  They are just a loud noise to draw attention to yourself.  

Please understand the purpose of spiritual gifts.  Spiritual gifts are not given for your edification but for the edification of the church.  Paul says in 1Cor. 14:12 “So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual [gifts,] seek to abound for the edification of the church.”  Edification by the way, means to build up, not to break down.  You haven’t been given a spiritual gift to bust people’s chops.  You haven’t been given spiritual gifts to show off your superior spirituality.  Whatever gift you have been given is to be used to build up others, not to tear down.

I’ll never forget  one fellow that came to our church a few times, and I suppose he fancied himself someone that the Lord had blessed with the spiritual gift of discernment.  And so one day he invited me to breakfast because he said he had some things he said he wanted to share with me.  I thought that he must have needed some counsel and so I agreed and met him in a nearby diner. In fact, he had something else in mind.  He pulled out a yellow legal pad, and proceeded to read about 10 pages of notes that he had made concerning the style and substance and mannerisms and so forth in my preaching.  At first I tried to humbly accept his criticisms about the way I stood, or how I looked or sounded, but after a while I have to admit I had enough. He managed to completely demoralize me and discourage me in about 30 minutes.  And all the time he kept assuring me that the Lord had shown him all my faults and he was just trying to do the will of the Lord in setting me straight.  Listen, that’s not building up the body, folks.  That’s just a critical spirit. I think sometimes the devil does more disservice to the church using so called Christians than he does with unbelievers and atheists.  Seek to abound for the edification of the church.  That’s what we should be about.  

That’s what Peter is saying, “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”   Another point that should be made, is Peter says that you have received at least one spiritual gift; “As each one has received a special gift.”  Probably many gifts but at least one.  Don’t make the mistake of thinking you don’t have a spiritual gift.  The only way that happens is if you aren’t saved.  But if you’re saved, then God has given you a special gift that you are to use.  Peter says, put it to use in serving one another as a good steward of the grace of God.

Many years ago I used to be a fine dining restaurant manager in a 5 star hotel.  And I had a couple of wine stewards who worked for us.  They were in charge of storing, and caring for and dispensing the wine from the wine cellar.  They did not own the wine, they were just to care for the serving of it in the proper way. And in like manner, we do not own our gifts, they are given to us to use, to dispense, to serve others.

Now Peter breaks down this characteristic into two divisions. First are those who serve the church by speaking or teaching.  Peter says that they are to speak  as one who is speaking the oracles of God.  The description of a steward is very apt when it comes to preachers and teachers in the church.  It’s important that we speak what God has spoken.  It’s important that we carefully and properly dispense the word of God. That is our job.  Not to entertain, not to tell sentimental stories, not to tickle your ears, but to faithfully transmit the word of God and exhort you to listen and obey it.

Paul used this same terminology to describe his own ministry in 1Cor. 4:1-2 saying, “Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.  In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.”  Our trustworthiness comes from accurately and carefully studying the word of God, and then serving it to our congregations without contrivance or addition. 

The second division Peter relates to those who serve.  Vs 11, “whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies.”  This illustrates an important aspect in regards to spiritual gifts.  He’s not talking about talents.  A lot of people confuse natural talents with spiritual gifts.  They are not necessarily the same.  God gives you a spiritual gift to give you the ability or strength to do something that you could not do in the flesh.  People hear someone sing who has a beautiful voice for instance, and they say what a tremendous gift God has given them.  That’s not a spiritual gift, that’s a talent.  It’s possible to give your talent to the Lord to serve Him.  And that’s appropriate.  But it’s difficult when it’s a talent to not have pride get involved.  

The key is, according to Peter, to serve by the strength which God supplies, so that He might get the glory.  Serve “by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.”   The same thought is expressed in Heb. 13:20-21 “Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, [even] Jesus our Lord,  equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom [be] the glory forever and ever. Amen.” 

So our gifts, and our strength and our sufficiency comes from God, that we might do His will, and be pleasing in His sight.  What a contrast to the way of the world Peter has put forth in these few verses.  As we see the end drawing near, let us show self control and soberness, praying at all times lest we fall into temptation.  And let us show sincere love for one another, even as Christ loved the church and laid down His life for her. And let us show hospitality, sharing with one another, acting out love in practical ways for the sake of others even when it costs us.  And let us serve one another, either by sharing God’s word, or by serving one another through the gifts which God has given us for the building up of the body of Christ.  And may we be found holy and blameless when He comes. He is coming soon.  The time is at hand.  

And it’s important that we recognize the signs of the end of the age. Jesus said in Luke 21, ”Behold the fig tree and all the trees;  as soon as they put forth [leaves,] you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near. "So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near.  "Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place. "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.  "Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap;  for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. "But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

From Mortification to Sanctification, 1 Peter 4:1-6

The recurring theme of Peter’s epistle is the essentiality of our sanctification.  Sanctification means to be set apart unto God.  To be holy. To live holy lives.  And the point that has emerged again and again in this letter is that sanctification is a life that is characterized by living in the spirit and not in the flesh.  It is a life of holiness, as opposed to a life of self gratification.

In chapter 1 vs 2, Peter says we have been saved “by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ.” The Spirit sets us apart to be obedient to Christ.  He says in vs2 that we have been born again.  Just as Jesus said to Nicodemus, that the natural man cannot inherit the kingdom of God, so you must be born again by the Spirit, so that you are spiritual.  So that you are reborn holy, righteous. Because the natural man is fleshly, self centered, and sinful.

And now that you are born again into a new life, reborn in holiness, we are to live holy lives. Your behavior is to be holy.  In ch.1 vs15 Peter says “But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” This change of behavior is the process of sanctification. It begins by a sovereign act of God in salvation, and progressively continues as we are obedient to His commandments, resulting in righteous living.

To that end Peter says in ch 1 vs 22 that you are to purify your souls in obedience to the truth.  That’s how we are to live holy, by obedience to the truth, which is God’s word.  So that our soul, which is our mind and intellect and emotions, are purified.  Having a purified mind is a difficult thing to do when you are living in a corrupt world. Peter said about Lot in his second epistle that he was a righteous man whose soul was vexed because of what he saw while living in Sodom and Gomorrah.  We are living in Sodom and Gomorrah today, ladies and gentlemen, no doubt about it.  And as such we are in a battle for the purity of our souls as we observe the world around us.  But we live by obedience to the truth, through the renewing of our mind in the truth.  That we might be holy, sanctified, a chosen people of God, and priests to our God in the midst of a perverse world.

Peter establishes the source of our purification in ch 1 vs 23 saying that we are born again from the seed which is the word of God.  That is the source of purification;  our obedience to the word of God. 

So having established the method of sanctification Peter goes on to present the goal of our sanctification in ch 2, saying that we are the chosen people of God, designed to be holy, royal priests unto God, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.  

But then in ch 2 vs 11 Peter makes it clear that sanctification is not a position which we ascend to and then that’s it, but he says that there is a continual battle that the world forces of darkness are waging against your soul. He says, “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.”  Let me be clear, the purpose of war is to destroy the enemy.  And if you are a child of God then the devil is your enemy and he is determined to destroy you.  Peter says the devil will attempt to destroy you through the lusts of the flesh.  If you’re a Christian then your spirit is preserved, yet in your flesh you can still be destroyed both in your testimony to the world, and in terms of your reward, or your usefulness.  

Peter goes on to warn in ch 5 vs 8, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”   Satan wants to destroy you. And if you give into the sinful desires of the natural man, he will succeed.

Now the key to being victorious in this battle is found in ch 2 vs 24, when he says, “and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.”  When we think of the cross, we often simply think of it as Christ died for our sins so that we might be saved and have eternal life.  But notice what it says - “so that we might die to sin.” That’s the key to victory.  Just as Jesus died for sin, so we also must die to sin. 

And so Peter equates our  sanctification to the principle of submission, to doing what is right, being “harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.”  These behaviors, this attitude is a safeguard against fulfilling the lusts of the flesh.  They are the perspectives of our behavior, of our attitude of obedience, by which we can live sanctified lives unto God.  Lives that are characterized by seeking the good for others, rather than for seeking self gratification.  That’s the nature of the new life we have in the Spirit which is directly contrary to the self centered theology which is so dominant in evangelical circles today. “God is worthy only because He loves me, He accepts me, He blesses me, He does what I want Him to do.” That’s a self centered theology.  But the Biblical view is that I am the problem, I am a sinner, I am fleshly, I am corrupt, and I need to die to myself so that He might live in me. 

So then Peter doubles back to that earlier principle of Christ dying for sin, so that we might also die to sin.  He says in ch 3 vs 18, “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.”  This is the way to victory in this spiritual battle that we are engaged in.  Christ was victorious over sin and death and the devil, and that came about by His death on the cross in His flesh, but He was alive in His Spirit and proclaimed victory even in the halls of death, that is Hades. 

But as Christ suffered death so that He might reign victorious in His Spirit, so we do the same, dying to self, dying to our fleshly nature, in order that we might live in the Spirit.  “Therefore,” Peter says in chapter 4 vs1, since Christ has suffered death in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered death in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.”

Notice the language Peter uses.  This is a war.  He says “arm yourselves.”  Take up arms.  It’s a call to the battle.  The life of a Christian is a life of self sacrifice.  It’s a life of service.  It’s a life of warfare.  The current view of some in the evangelical church that the Christian life should be a life of pleasure, of living your best life now, of having fat wallets and good health, which is a testimony to the schemes of the devil which wage war against the soul.  It’s a strategy to get Christians to focus on living in the flesh instead of in the Spirit.  But Paul tells us that such a self centered life results in putrefaction rather than purity. Gal. 6:8 “For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”

So counter intuitively, the way to life is through death.The way to spiritual life is through dying to the flesh.  Jesus said in Matt. 10:38-39  "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.”

So then the secret to being victorious in this war we are engaged in, is to die to the flesh, what the Reformers referred to as the mortification of the flesh.  As Peter said, since Christ has suffered death in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered death in the flesh has ceased from sin.  Peter isn’t saying that the only escape we have from the flesh is to commit suicide, or to isolate ourselves in a monastery, but to die to the sinful passions of the flesh.  Crucify the flesh.  Paul said in Gal. 2:20  "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the [life] which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”  We mortify the desires of the flesh so that we might live by the Spirit.

Now Peter says we must arm ourselves in three ways for this conflict.  Number one, which I have already alluded to, we arm ourselves in our attitude. We need to have the same mind as Christ, the same way of thinking that He had.  We need to have the attitude which Christ had regarding the flesh, purposefully willing to die to sin.

Paul tells us in Phil. 2:5-8 “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,  who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,  but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, [and] being made in the likeness of men.  Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”  The point is not suffering for sufferings sake, but dying to the flesh.  Christ was willing to die in the flesh.  He did not try to avoid it, but welcomed it.

This attitude is a result of the battle for the mind.  Rom 7:23 “but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.”  Putting to death the lusts of the flesh sets us free to be alive in the Spirit.  So the first way to arm ourselves is in our attitude, considering ourselves dead to the lusts of the flesh.  Quit lustful thinking. Lusts being not just sexual, but anything that promises satisfaction of the flesh, ie, pride, power, coveting, etc. Sin begins in the mind.

The second way we arm ourselves is to live for the will of God. Vs 2, “so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.”  No longer enslaved to the passions of the flesh.  Peter talked about this back in chapter 1 vs 14, saying, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior.”  Don’t give in to the former lusts, don’t be conformed to the lusts of the world.  But instead be obedient to the will of God. 

Now what is the will of God?  He’s not talking necessarily about a career path for your life, or who you should marry or that sort of thing, but he’s talking about holiness in ch 1 vs 14.  He’s talking about sanctification. We should be holy because He is holy according to chapter 1vs18. That’s the will of God. Paul said in 1Thess. 4:3-7 “For this is the will of God, your sanctification;  that you abstain from sexual immorality;  that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,  not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.”  So in this new life, we should live for the will of God which is holiness.  

The third way we arm ourselves is to leave fleshly passions behind. In vs 3, it says “For the time already past is sufficient for you…”  Literally Peter is saying, “Enough!”  The time you formerly spent chasing after the lusts of the flesh is more than enough.  It’s more than sufficient.  Let’s get on to living now for the Lord.”  

Now what are the passions that he’s speaking of? “For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.”  All of these things promise self gratification, but end up in dissolution. Sensuality are things that appeal to the flesh, appeals through the senses; touch, feel, smell, taste and sight. Eve sinned because it looked good to the eyes.  Faith though doesn’t rely on the senses.  2 Cor. 5:7 says “for we walk by faith, not by sight.”

In this list of passions, I believe when Peter speaks of lust in this case he means self gratification through sexual immoralities, fornication, adultery, sexual impurity. Then he speaks of drunkeness, carousing, and drinking parties-  I think they are self explanatory. Though I would say that would include anything that undermines sobriety such as drugs.  And idolatries include anything that you idolize, anything that you love, anything that you serve. We aren’t so superstitious today as to worship an idol on a shelf, but we worship the idols of money, of fame, of possessions.  Peter says the past life was more than enough time to spend on such things.  Leave them behind now in this new life.  Every day put the passions of the past further and further in your rear view mirror.

Paul gives us a parallel to this passage in Romans 13:12-14 “The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.  Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”

Now as you arm yourselves in these three ways, you should know that it will cost you to do so.  And there are two costs involved.  They are found in vs 4, “In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with [them] into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you.”

The first cost is that your family and friends from the past life are surprised that you are no longer engaged in the same things that they are. They don’t understand you anymore. They can’t relate.  I think it’s a telling testimony of a Christian that he or she no longer has the same friends they had prior to being saved.  Not because we are no longer interested in them, or because we are not friendly, but because they no longer understand you, and they no longer feel like hanging out with you.  You’re no fun anymore. They can’t relate to you anymore.  And to that extent, I would be suspicious of a Christian who seems to have a number of unsaved friends.  As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together.  And if you’re a Christian, and you still have the same old friends you used to have, hanging out in the same old places, then chances are you’ve never crucified the flesh and are still living in sin.

It’s kind of like a man and woman when they are married. A guy that would rather hang out with his old buddies rather than be with his new wife is a man that really doesn’t love his wife the way he should. And so it is with the Lord.  If you are married to Him, as the bride of Christ, then it stands to reason that you will forsake all others and cling only to Him.  You will prefer to be with other Christians, or prefer to be in church, than to hang out with the world.

The other cost is that they malign you.  That initial confusion of your old friends soon turns to ridicule.  That hate your holiness because it makes them uncomfortable, even convicted.  I believe that there are a lot of times when just our testimony of being a Christian makes some people hate you.  They might try to pretend acceptance of who you are on the surface, but then something happens and it’s like a trigger and they go off on you.  And it’s very disconcerting when that happens because you don’t know what you did to deserve their outrage.  A lot of times it’s not what you did, but who you are.  They hate you without cause, except that they hate Christ. 

Jesus said in John 15:18-19  "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.”

In vs six, Peter presents one final accounting.  He gives us a reminder of a final day of judgment.  This war between the flesh and the spirit will one day come to an end by the appearing of Jesus Christ.  And at that time there will be a judgment.  I think Peter is especially thinking of those that maligned us in this life, those that persecuted the church to any degree. He says in vs 5, “but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.”

I like the KJV rendering of that verse, it says “Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.”  I believe the movie star Sam Elliot was in a movie called the Quick and the Dead. It was from a book written by my wife’s favorite author, Louis L’Amour.  She loves those westerns. I worry that  I’ll never measure up to those cowboys she reads about.  But anyway, there is a final day of judgment for those who are considered in this verse as dead.  That speaks of being spiritually dead.  By rejecting Jesus Christ as Lord they have remained spiritually dead, and they will be condemned to eternal death in the Lake of Fire.

So because of this final accounting, our position in this life as Christians is to leave judgment to God.  There is no need to retaliate when they malign you.  In fact, our goal is to win them to the Lord at all costs, even if it means we suffer their hatred. But know that the Lord will settle the books in the end.

The good news about the judgement of the living is  that Christ was judged in our place, and He took the punishment that was due to us, so that we might have spiritual life.  We have been quickened.  We have been given life in the spirit which will continue on after this flesh has fallen away. Peter referencing that says in vs 6, “For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.”

Now I don’t want you to confuse vs 6 with what was spoken of in chapter 3 vs 18 and 19.  There are two different events being talked about.  The first in ch 3 vs18 is when Christ died on the cross and in His Spirit He proclaimed victory to the demons in Hades.  This second passage speaks of those who have heard the gospel preached while here on earth, they were saved as a result, and are now living in the spirit awaiting the resurrection.

The idea that Peter references that they are judged in the flesh as men does not speak to eternal judgment, but it speaks to the principle that it is appointed unto men once to die.  All men are going to die in the flesh as a result of the fall.  But those who believe in the Lord Jesus are made alive in the spirit, and thus they will never die but they live according to the will of God.  There will come a day when Christ shall come again, and we will be raised in our spirit to meet Christ, and then receive a new a glorified body which will be incorruptible, and without sin. And that is the ultimate goal of our sanctification, that is glorification.

The question that I would leave with you today is in which camp are you?  Are you of the living or the dead?  Are you living in the flesh, enslaved to the lusts of the flesh, at enmity with God and thus spiritually dead?  Rom. 8:5-8 says, “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.  For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,  because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able [to do so,  and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Or are you one who has been made alive in the spirit?  That same passage goes on to say in Rom. 8:12-17 “So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh--  for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.  For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.  For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"  The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,  and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”

I trust that you have been justified by faith in what Jesus has accomplished on our behalf through the cross, and that you have surrendered to live for Christ, trusting Him as your Savior and Lord, being sanctified and conformed to the image of Christ, so that you may do the will of God, that at His appearing you might receive the inheritance of glory which has been promised to those who are the children of God.