1 Peter Chapter 4 Pt. 1 Doctrinal Truth Impacts Our Behavior So That We May Be Holy People Of God

We are moving into First Peter chapter four in this post. So far, the Spirit guided truth written by the apostle Peter, has been full of blessing, encouragement and some admonition. 

How should a Christian live this life?

1 Peter 4:1-2  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2)  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 

The word "forasmuch" essentially means that since all the things previously taught by Peter are true, we must live this way before God.

Peter, like the apostle Paul often gives us a strong dose of sound doctrine first, before turning to explain what our duties are toward God. 

Christian behavior is to be shaped by what we believe. Our spiritual duties before God are founded upon His doctrine.

Christ has suffered for us in the flesh. Therefore, He is our proper pattern of life, and we must seek to have the same disposition Jesus displayed. 

We must ask the Holy Spirit to instill in us the same forgiving spirit Jesus Christ had, with meekness, gentleness, patience and longsuffering toward others.

The phrase "arm yourselves likewise with the same mind" connects with Paul's writings. Paul urges us to arm ourselves by putting on the whole armor God provides for us to use. 

Put on all the spiritual armor that God provides.

Ephesians 6:11-13  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12)  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13)  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

What the apostles are teaching us is that action is required from us. We cannot sit back and passively hear the word preached or taught, and then do nothing about what we heard.

We have a responsibility to God for the scriptures that we learn. Jesus said "to whom much is given, much is required" (Luke 12:48). 

Jesus holds us accountable for the truth and light that He gives to us. This means that we must seek to obey Christ's commands (See John 15:9-14). 

As an example, I have been a follower of Christ for more than 40 years. I have benefited greatly from receiving sound doctrine and strong preaching for most of that time. 

We are responsible to use what God has taught us to benefit others. We must be pliable clay in the hands of Jesus, our faithful Master and Potter. We must be willing to do what our Master calls us to do.

This is why I spend many hours laboring to share God's Word with all of you, via the blog. So we must arm ourselves. 

Christians must seek to have the mind of Christ. 

1 Peter 4:1-2  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2)  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 

However, Peter said we must also have the same mind. What did he mean? Again, we turn to the apostle Paul and find the connection to Peter's teaching. 

Christ's mind was shaped by His love for fallen humanity. 

Philippians 2:5-8  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: :6)  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7)  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8)  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 

Jesus was made a little lower than the angels, and was born as a tiny baby in Bethlehem. He set aside all His glory and majesty He shared with the Father in heaven.

Jesus was born in an inhospitable manger, as a slave, for that is what the word servant means. 

Jesus was a Son who perfectly obeyed His Father, and then subjected Himself to cruel suffering and a painful cross death. 

This was the mind of Jesus, knowing that we were like sheep gone astray, in need of a Savior. The mind of Jesus is the mind of God. He loved us enough to die in our place on a Roman cross. 

Through the lens of inspired scriptures, we have the mind of Christ, too (1 Corinthians 2:16). This is what Peter constantly brings before us. 

Jesus suffered and it is likely we will also suffer, but suffering can teach us to mortify our members daily, to avoid sin. 

Jesus loved us enough to die for us, and we should love others enough to tell them about Jesus' love for sinners.  

A Christian who suffers, generally reflects on his ways, is humbled. We may fear approaching death, or loathe ourselves because of past iniquities. 

We learn to stop sinning, for in a state of suffering, the mind loses its relish for the sins of the flesh.  Suffering teaches us about the bitter dregs of sin and its  consequences.  

When we allow suffering to do a purging, purifying work like that in our heart, then God will use us and we will be drawn closer to Him, than we were before. 

The picture Peter is giving us, is that as Christ suffered, we too shall suffer for His name's sake. 

Christ suffered for us, so that we no longer have to be enslaved to sin (Romans 6). He calls us to follow Him and to pursue holiness.

Peter already taught us that God is holy and He calls us to pursue a holy life (1 Peter 1:15-16). 

He taught us that our works will be judged by the Father, with whom is no respect of persons. 

This means that we should live out our earthly pilgrimage, with a healthy, reverential fear of God, who is a consuming fire (1 Peter 1:17). 

This means that, if we have been given much, in terms of faith and understanding God's Word, we are expected to be fruit producing Christians (See John 15). 

This world has an end date, and we have work to do for Christ. 

Romans 13:12-14  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13)  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14)  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. 

The apostles were guided by the same Holy Spirit, so it is no surprise when they communicate the same truths to us, in different ways.

This text from Paul's letter to the church at Rome, remind us that time is running out for this present evil world. God has assigned an end date for the kingdom of darkness.

Since this is true, each Christian must "cast off" the works of darkness. We must search out and cast off any corrupt things in our lives. 

This imperative directly connects with the command to lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily overwhelms us (Hebrews 12:1-2). 

Nature abhors a void and God always tells us to fill the vacuum created, when we put off something evil. In this case, we must put on the armor of light. 

Paul follows this by telling us we must put on Jesus Christ, and make no provision for our flesh to fulfill or be stimulated by its inherent lusts.

We must not do anything or go anywhere that is going to open the door to stimulate our fleshly lusts. 

A Christian who used to be an alcoholic, should never go near a bar, nor should he spend time looking at beverages containing alcohol. 

A Christian who was addicted to pornography before salvation, must not set any wicked thing before his eyes. 

We can see how practical God's Word is for us. Choosing to follow the inspired truth, will lead to a life  he's pursuing holiness. 

Live in accord with the will of God, as revealed in His Word.

1 Peter 4:2  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 

Therefore, we return to Peter's admonition about Christian living in a corrupt culture. 

We must not devote any time to satisfying the lust of our flesh, even if others say it is alright to do these things. 

Let us resolve now, as a New Year approaches, to obey God in all our ways.

Let us open our Bibles, read the gospels, and seek to have the mind of Christ in us.

Let us pray to the Father, asking for His Spirit, who lives within our hearts, to strengthen us, and to help us have the mind of Christ.

Let us ask the Father to mold us and conform us to Jesus Christ's image, no matter what He has to purge and prune out of our lives.

We have the entire Bible in our possession, and this is where we put on Christ. This is where we learn what we must put off from our lives. This is where we find God's will revealed. 

Let us live for the glory of God.

Bob