1 Peter Chapter 4 Pt. 3 Avoid Fleshly Lusts And Live For God's Glory

1 Peter 4:5-7  Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 6)  For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that 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: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 

The Spirit guided apostle now turns to the return of Jesus Christ, to execute final judgment upon all the wicked.

Peter reminds us that God is ready at any moment, to judge the living and the dead. 

Christians will be judged for our service and our love for God and others, at the resurrection of life.

Psalm 90:9-12  For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. 10)  The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 11)  Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. 12)  So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. 

The Psalmist shows us how we ought to live and pray. Our life is brief, like reading a short story, or like a morning fog that dissipates when the sun comes up. 

We may live 70 years, and if we have good genes, we may live for 80 years. 

Yet, our life on earth will soon be over. Therefore, let us pray that God will teach us to number our days, to grasp that our time here is fleeting, so that we may fervently serve Him 

Unbelievers will not be judged until the resurrection of damnation (See John 5:24-29).

Therefore, the age of the church and the preaching of the gospel, continues, until the Father declares that the end has come. 

It is noteworthy to grasp that all the New Testament writers viewed the coming of Christ in final judgment, as an imminent event. 

There are numerous texts that speak to the nearness of the coming of Jesus Christ. The ones cited below will be sufficient examples for us to read.

Jesus second coming is eminent. 

Philippians 4:5  Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Paul urges us to be moderate in all our thoughts, words and actions, so that they show our love for God and others. 

The apostle gives us the right motivation for living a holy life, marked by no excesses. It is because we know "The Lord is at hand." 

This phrase "the Lord is at hand" implies that Jesus could return at any moment. This is the grand motivation for us to seek the fruit of the Spirit and every Christian grace. 

Harshness toward others, being hateful, being angry or spreading  rumors, is the opposite of “moderation.” 

Judging others is like taking into our own hands the prerogatives of judging, which belongs to the Lord alone (See 1 Corinthians 4:5).  

Therefore, we are urged to redeem the time that God gives us wisely. This implies using our time, energy and resources for His kingdom, rather than consuming them for ourselves (See Ephesians 5:15; Colossians 4:5). 

Jesus Christ will judge the Christian's love for God, or lack thereof. 

James 5:8-9  Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 9)  Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.  

The apostle James reminds us to be patient and establish or anchor our hearts to the scriptures, and to our Lord. 

Why? Because the return of Jesus is eminent, and because the Christian will be judged for how we loved and served God (See 1 Corinthian 3:9-17). 

Because the second coming of Jesus Christ is eminent, Peter says to us, "This is how we should live, until the day of Christ's return occurs."  

We should be "sober" which means having our minds renewed with the Word of God. It means allowing what God says to us, to curb our passions and to help us exercise self restraint, regarding fleshly lusts.

Or, as Paul put it, we should have no confidence in the flesh (See Philippians 3:3). We must be careful not to feed any fleshly lust, by exposing ourselves to things which might stimulate the lusts (See Romans 13:4). 

The phrase "end of all things" reminds us that the Father has an end date for this world. 

The Lord will come as a thief. He is “ready”  to judge the world at any moment. God is longsuffering toward the world, and this is why He permits the Gospel to still be preached, as a witness to all nations. 

God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should repent and be saved (See 1 Timothy 2:3-6; 2 Peter 3:9)  

God's love for all mankind, and His posture of reconciliation toward sinners, is why He extends this time of gospel preaching.   

One day, the age of the church will end. Then, after judgment is rendered, Christ Jesus will create a brand new heaven and earth. There will be a new holy city (See Revelation 21-22).

The "end of all things" reminds us that we too, as individual Christians, have a limited span of time to serve and love God. 

Thus, each morning, our first thoughts should be "Lord, I have this day. How can I use it for your glory?"

Luke 21:31-34  So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. 32)  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. 33)  Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. 34)  And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 

Our Lord Jesus Christ spoke about end times and Luke's account has a warning for all Christians. 

We must take heed, be ready to do as our Lord commands. We must be diligent or sober, as Peter said, to guard against giving in to the lust of our flesh. 

Some will be living for themselves, instead of living for Jesus Christ, and will not be prepared when He returns. 

Peter also exhorts us to "watch unto prayer." Those who would pray with purpose must watch unto prayer. 

We must watch over our own spirit, so that our thoughts are brought into the captivity of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). 

Romans 1:9  For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

1 Thessalonians 1:3  Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

1 Thessalonians 2:13  For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

1 Thessalonians 5:17  Pray without ceasing.

2 Timothy 1:3  I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;

We must watch for all opportunities to pray for our needs, and to intercede for others in prayer. 

We must pray without ceasing, which implies that anytime and any place is a suitable time to pray. 

We must lift up the burdens and needs of others before the throne of grace, when we pray. 

We must express thanksgiving and gratitude to our Father in heaven, for all we have in Christ, and for all that He is doing. 

We must watch unto prayer because the fervent, effectual prayer of a righteous man is of great worth to God in heaven (James 5:16).

Thus, in a few verses, Peter has outlined some of our Christian duties and responsibilities before God. He gave us truth and we are to live by the truth of God's inspired word. 

Let us remember that our days are numbered, so that we apply ourselves to living for God's glory.

Let us remember that Jesus is coming to judge and condemn the wicked, so that we are ready to share the gospel of Christ. 

Let us have our lives governed by the scriptures, so that we are not tempted to fulfill the lust of our flesh.

Let us spend much time in prayer, bringing others' needs, and our own before His throne of grace, whereby we have direct access (See Hebrews 4:14-16).

Bob