1 Peter 4 - because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin
Living for God
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.
2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.
4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.
5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Suffering for Being a Christian
12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.
16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household;and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
18 And,
19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
Footnotes:
- 1 Peter 4:18 Prov. 11:31 (see Septuagint)
Observation Questions
Living for God
Who is done with sin? (verse 1)
How are those who are done with sin live the rest of their earthly lives? (verse 2)
What do the pagans choose to do? (verse 3)
Who is surprise that we do not join them in their reckless, wild living? (verse 4)
Who are accounts given to? (verse 5)
Why was the gospel preached even to those who are now dead? (verse 6)
What is near? (verse 7)
Why are we to be alert and of a sober mind? (verse 7)
Why are we above all to love each other deeply? (verse 8)
How are we to offer hospitality to one another? (verse 9)
How are we to use whatever gift we have received? (verse 10)
What does a faithful steward do with their gift? (verse 10)
If anyone speaks, how should they speak? (verse 11)
If anyone serves, how should they serve? (verse 11)
Suffering for Being a Christian
Should we be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come to us to test us? (verse 12)
Why are we to rejoice inasmuch as we participate in the sufferings of Christ? (verse 13)
If we are insulted because of the name of Christ, what are we assured of? (verse 14)
What should we not suffer as? (verse 15)
If we suffer as a Christian, who are we to praise? (verse 16)
What is it time for? (verse 17)
Why should those who suffer according to God's will commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good? (verse 17-19)
Interpretation
What does verse 1 mean?
What does this chapter show about God?
What does it show about us?
What does it look like to speak as one who speaks the very words of God?
What does it look like to serve with the strength God provides?
How is God praised though Jesus Christ in all things?
Application
How is this going to change the way I live my life?
What will I need to do or not do?
&
...Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray - verse 7
Thoughts
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. - verse 1
For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. - verse 3
Romans 6
Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?
By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin—
because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.
The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.
Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness,but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.
For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
Slaves to Righteousness
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!
Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance.
You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.
When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.
What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[b] Christ Jesus our Lord.
Footnotes:
- Romans 6:6 Or be rendered powerless
- Romans 6:23 Or through
They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. - verse 4
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. - verse 8
Heap love, not abuse
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. - verse 9
Offer hospitality, not excuses
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. - verse 10
What does a faithful steward do with their gift?
Rushing Wind - Keith Green
References
Proverbs 11
The Lord detests dishonest scales,
but accurate weights find favor with him.
but accurate weights find favor with him.
When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.
but with humility comes wisdom.
The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
but righteousness delivers from death.
The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,
but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.
but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.
The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.
but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.
The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
and it falls on the wicked instead.
and it falls on the wicked instead.
With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
but through knowledge the righteous escape.
but through knowledge the righteous escape.
When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;
when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.
but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.
Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,
but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.
but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.
A gossip betrays a confidence,
but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.
but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.
For lack of guidance a nation falls,
but victory is won through many advisers.
but victory is won through many advisers.
Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer,
but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.
but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.
A kindhearted woman gains honor,
but ruthless men gain only wealth.
but ruthless men gain only wealth.
Those who are kind benefit themselves,
but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.
but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.
A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
Truly the righteous attain life,
but whoever pursues evil finds death.
but whoever pursues evil finds death.
The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,
but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.
but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.
Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
but those who are righteous will go free.
but those who are righteous will go free.
Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.
is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.
The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.
but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.
One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
A generous person will prosper;
whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
People curse the one who hoards grain,
but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.
but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.
Whoever seeks good finds favor,
but evil comes to one who searches for it.
but evil comes to one who searches for it.
Those who trust in their riches will fall,
but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise.
and the fool will be servant to the wise.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and the one who is wise saves lives.
and the one who is wise saves lives.
If the righteous receive their due on earth,
how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
Footnotes:
- Proverbs 11:7 Two Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate, Syriac and Targum When the wicked die, their hope perishes; / all they expected from
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