Suffering Christian Faces Temptations(2)

Da-abo. Krisdonyan gu Timacrave “or2ov;ivnnyr

1 Peter 4:1-6

2. “Arm yourselves also with the same attitude because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.” (vs 1)

We are done with sin. Not by our might or our wisdom, but by resurrected Christ who conquered sin. When we accept Christ in our lives, the previous life, the life before, dies. It died when Christ died on the cross.

Paul describes this phenomenon:

“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 the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:11-14)

The Devil knows this, and acts accordingly. Although we are free from sinning, “we are done with sin”, yet, the Temper can lead us into temptation (notice temptation is not sinning). God will remind me not to fall, not to sin. We as Christians are given the power not to sin, yet we fall sometimes, and many times.

What does it mean “We are done with sin”? Now for believers in Christ, when we sin, we sin not because we have to, we sin as a choice, disobeying our God. Yet sin is not our master, God is. (What is next?)

3. So, “As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires.” (2)

Peter is reminding his audience that we have limited time on this earth (the rest of your life). Our lifestyle, our earthly life should glorify God not evil human desires.

Peter knew that these Christians were previously Gentiles. The Roman culture was full of pagan practices. Those days if someone said to a Christian, “l have a ticket to go to the arena”, it was not for a football game, but to enjoy to watching how lions were tearing apart the Christians. If someone said, “Let us go to the temple to worship”, that meant there were sexual orgies entertaining the worshipers.

Bacchus was the god of wine. You can read in history how the Romans were in ecstasy getting drunk and leading an immoral lifestyle. Does this sound familiar?

What is our “Bacchus” Today?

Peter says, “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.”(3)

The lifestyle that Peter describes is very familiar to our culture as well. We face the same temptations.

-I heard this that day: “We buy things we do not need with the money we do not have to impress the people we don’t know.”

-(The example of John Edward’s marriage)

-The details of sexual intimacy are presented so lightly and provide enough subjects for jokes for our comedians.

Every immoral act is accepted as a norm of life.

-On Wednesday all the media was concentrating on Apple Incorporation. “Apple is going to release something new.” iPad? Do we need something new?

4. Peter gives an important goal: “live the rest of his earthly life for the will of God.” (2)

Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me.” (John 4:34)

He also said, “not my will but your will be done.” (John 15)

Doing the will of God is a priority for Christ and for any Christian.

What is the will of God?

It is a big question many of you ask me over and over.

How can we know the will of God?

I heard from a preacher these statements:

BC, before Christ; AD Anno Domini (the year of the Lord); or in Armenian Krisdose Yedk AC, After Christ;

We Christians are in IC, IN CHRIST.

God’s will is revealed in His Word.

We study His Word.

We learn His Word.

We meditate on His Word.

Also God has a plan for each of us. We say, “I want to find God’s will for me.” In other words “I would like to learn what is going on in God’s mind.”

As if we are seeking a hidden agenda and knowledge that God is hiding from you and me.

I am reading lately a very interesting book that I recommend to all who are searching God’s will. It is a book called “Finding the will of God - a pagan notion?” (Bruce Waltke.)

Waltke says, there is not explicit command in the New Testament to “find God’s will.” There is no magic formula to find God’s will.

Some say we need a special sign to know God’s will. Although in the Old Testament there are events like those (Gideon asking for dew as a sign in Judges 6), but I think asking for a sign in general is lack of trust.

To know God daily, to understand his Word, to be in an intimate relationship with Him is more accurate, rather than asking for signs, especial revelations, (although God can talk to us through sign and especial revelation) (e.g. Paul had this on the road of Damascus).

Let me finish with a quote: “The Spirit of God in your life, together with the influence of the Word, illuminates the thoughts of the Lord. As you put God’s Word in practice, he establishes your thoughts as that you can practice in His eternal plan.” (Waltke, p 18)

This morning I will not elaborate the passage the “gospel was preached even to those who are now dead,” (please go back to my last sermon “Christ has the Final Word).

In conclusion:

“They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.”(1 Peter 4:4-5)

The Gentile world will not understand you. They will wonder why we do not plunge with them. We will communicate with them but not follow their lifestyle. Jesus himself encountered all kinds of people. We should not hate them but should be ready to express our Christian testimony to all. (refer to last Sunday sermon)

Peter also reminding the suffering church that there is a judgment day. God will judge even if we cannot see His judgment now. Yes there an end for everything. God has the final word.

Let us go this week, knowing that Christ defeated the sin. We are done with sin.

The Temper is going to lead us to temptation. Let us ARM ourselves the Word of God. Let us face those temptations with victory through our lord Jesus Christ.

Amen