“The Just Shall Live By Faith”
New King James Version Written by: David Hicks
Romans 1:17 “ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
Galatians 3:11 “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."
Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."
“Articles of Faith”
(A Study in I Peter)
Lesson 11 - Arm Yourselves Likewise:
Through the suffering of Christ; the revelation of the Spirit; the illustration of Noah; and the likeness of baptism, we have been given the power to overcome suffering in our lives. We have been armed with the hope of being His first-fruits and fellow heirs with Him; if we do not misplace hope!
The Savior was glorified through obedient suffering; it is only fitting that those who pertain to Him, learn to overcome in the same fashion. Peter, realizing this, is now going to exhort these Christians that they be prepared for the kinds of temptations that they are likely to face.
They have sojourned to the northern perimeter and central points of Asia Minor . Although the Gospel has come to these regions ( Acts 19:10 ), these are still heathen nations and the practices of these people apart from those who obeyed the Gospel's call, are sordid and immoral. This would be the greatest threat that they would face; the temptation of these lusts of the flesh, and the persecutions by those who see them as a threat from their lack of participation. Armed with this understanding, let's take a look at the text.
Text:
1 Peter 4:1-6
“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. 3 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.”
Arm Yourselves With The Same Mind: Peter brings us back to the opening thought that was presented in Chap. 3:18 ; the suffering of Christ in the flesh on our behalf (for our sins). Naturally, we then should prepare ourselves likewise (with the same mind; to be obedient to God, even to our death). In essence, the true disciple of Christ, who wishes to profit from the example of Christ, will cease their life of sin, even if they must suffer persecution for it.
No Longer Live In The Flesh: Peter has already instructed these Christians that they should abstain from fleshly lusts and have their conduct honorable among the Gentiles ( 2:11 -12 ), however, because they have shown weakness for this temptation in the past, he is revisiting the need to overcome this weakness.
The lusts of the flesh are one of Satan's great powers over men ( I John 2:16 ), and is one temptation that virtually every person must learn to deal with (gluttony; immorality; laziness; drunkenness; self ambition; pride; prejudice; lewdness; etc… are just some of the categories that impede the service of many Christians).
These lusts are overcome by the renewing of our minds (the origin of all our weakness). This renewing is implemented by bringing our minds to a cohesive bond with the will of God ( Romans 12:1-2 ). This is what it means to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. The Spirit guides our minds through the word ( Romans 6:17-18 ); when we adhere to this instruction and bend our will to that of God's, we walk according to the Spirit (there is no condemnation to those who are ‘In' Christ, who do not walk according to the flesh, but walk according to the Spirit – Romans 8:1-11 ; Galatians 5:22-23 ). This is what it means to arm ourselves with the same mind, and just as Christ died for our sins, we die to them as well (not serving them any longer – Romans 6:5-14 , this is very good commentary from Paul on Peter's teaching in verse 1-2 of our text.).
Former Times of Our Lives: Two things I want to discuss at this point.
First, is that these Christians of Jewish decent considered themselves sinners when they practiced the behavior of the Gentile nations.
Romans 2:22-24 “You who say, "Do not commit adultery," do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? 24 For "the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you," as it is written.”
Paul writing to Christians in Rome , dealt with the sins of the Gentiles in chapter one, and is now dealing with the sins of the Jews in chapter two. Paul states that the Jews were as guilty as the Gentiles because of their self-seeking and unrighteousness (their sins being even more inexcusable, having knowledge of God's morality – 2:8, 12 ).
Peter is acknowledging this thought process of the Jews, in stating that they had all been guilty of the sins of the Gentiles, when prior to their obedience to the Gospel, they practiced by choice the behaviors mentioned.
Second, is that it is a popular notion that every person should have the privilege of some worldly enjoyment, after the kind mentioned in the text. Peter does not endorse this concept and relates this practice with what he calls, “ the former time of our lives ” (every Christian is aware of a duality in their lives; dead in their sins – prior or former time, and alive ‘In' Christ – newness of life – see: Romans 6:4 ; Ephesians 2:1 ). Peter, simply says, that it is not good to revisit that which we have been saved from, thus it was sufficient that we have been brought out of that, never to return by choice.
They Think it Strange: This is a direct correlation, in the form of response, to their godly walk among those who do not walk this way. The reference to, ‘they', is a reference to the Gentiles that these Christians now live among. Since these Gentiles find the behavior of these Christians who have come among them, strange! They have formed the foundation for prejudice and the subsequent persecutions that this thought process leads to.
Peter also notes that apart from the devoted disciple of Christ; there lies a flood of dissipation. All of us can relate to this statement in the world in which we live in. There is without a doubt a flood of immorality and unrighteousness that exists in the world today. Many seek to separate Christians out as a minority (finding the morality, and righteousness they practice strange), and persecute us. They are attempting to segregate and alienate the very thought of God and the Gospel of Christ, while embracing the enemies of righteousness.
They Will Give an Account: This is a unified message within the instruction of the New Testament. Vengeance is God's, to those who would do us harm. The Christians in Thessalonica were being tormented by the idolaters of their area; note what Paul would tell them concerning this persecution and the justice God would apply:
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 “and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,”
In, addition to this, I am reminded of the statement of the Apostle Paul, to the Christians in Philippi , note:
Philippians 2:10 “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,”
In the end, there will be no atheists. This is our victory over those who would persecute us for living the Gospel's message, God judges those on the outside ( I Corinthians 5:13 ).
For This Reason: Since God will judge the living from the dead (previous verse), the Gospel was also preached to those who are dead. The word also here is the key. This is not talking about preaching to the literal dead, but, that the Gospel has gone out, in addition to these Christians, to those who were dead in their trespass and sins. This way they will, in addition to these Christians that Peter is writing to, be judged in comparison to those who choose to live in the flesh (remaining dead). That they; like these Christians, may be determined by God as alive, thus having the hope of salvation and life eternal.
The Gentiles that did not obey the Gospel and have singled these Christians out for persecutions will not have this hope. This is the greater justice of God! So, naturally if we are being singled out; segregated; alienated; because we believe and live according to the Gospel, then we are being judged by God, as alive! This grand truth should be comforting to all the true servants of Christ, who are persecuted for righteousness sake!
Next: “ The End is at Hand ”