Fixing Faulty Thinking
(Arm Yourselves)
First Peter 4:1 ¶ Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
Whoever has suffered in the flesh is a phrase that can mean one of two things. The obvious understanding could be referring to any kind of serious suffering. Even though this could mean suffering with a disease, it could also mean suffering persecution. But since this is talking about Jesus who has suffered in the flesh, there is a totally different thought here. In Jesus' case, suffering in the flesh is clearly talking about His having died for us on the cross. In our usual way of thinking, suffering is something that happens to us only while we are alive. In our way of thinking, if we died … we died. We wouldn’t normally refer to a death as suffering. As a matter of fact, we would usually say, ‘Well, finally he or she is no longer suffering’, or in the case of one who died unexpectedly, we might say, ‘At least he did not have to suffer’. But to understand this verse correctly we need to understand Peter’s words in the following way, Jesus suffered, died and went to heaven (verses 21 and 22 of the previous chapter) … and we need to adopt the same way of thinking about ourselves … We have, before salvation, been suffering with the terminal disease of sin, as a matter of fact … dead in sin.
We have been born from above. We have life. Peter is telling us to look down on our old life as if we are seeing ourselves lying in a coffin.
It’s too bad that the old person laying in a coffin still sins. What are we to do about that? Peter is teaching us to get used to seeing our old self as dead. That takes some concentrated effort. The apostle Paul, speaking about this from his own personal perspective, said, “I die daily”. So there is our answer. In the morning when you first look in the mirror … if you should possibly think, ‘I am actually looking at a dead man. That man I am looking at will not sin today’.
Here is the last part of verse one again, whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.
I will personalize this. “I, Richard Andres, have suffered in the flesh (my old nature is dead) and that is not me anymore. The new person does not sin.
And, as I pointed out in a previous chapter, that which is born of God, (our dead spirit comes to life) cannot sin.
Peter says so clearly, that even though we still have our old bodies and sinful natures, we are to (2) live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.
And Peter reasons further 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. (NKJV)
It’s enough, says Peter. You don’t need that kind of life. Let it go.
If you have connection with the world, the lost, the unsaved … they should notice that you are different. If you were known to them before you committed your life to Jesus, they should see a change. Peter says, 4 Indeed your former companions may think it very strange that you no longer join with them in their riotous excesses, and accordingly say all sorts of abusive things about you. (Philips)
People see that change in you and speak about you abusively. Why? Because you are making them feel guilty. You made a life-changing decision. You recognised that the old way was leading to hell. They are right in assuming that you now believe that to hell is where they are going. They don’t like that feeling. So, to defend their own position, they speak badly about you.
How should you feel about that? Peter says, 5 They are the ones who will have to answer for their behaviour before the One who is prepared to judge all men, living or dead.
So, first of all, even though we should care about their souls, we should not take the whole responsibility onto ourselves for where they end up. They have seen your lifestyle, they have seen that God is your focus, they have heard that you believe Jesus died for your sin, they have heard you say that you are now forgiven … so it is on them to make the right choice.
These friends or co-workers or neighbors of yours … are all dead. Your changed life has preached a strong message to them. Peter states this: 6 That is why the dead also had the gospel preached to them. For although they must be condemned for the life they lived in the body of men, they might find life in the spirit by obeying God’s will. “They might find life in the spirit.” They can be born again because of looking at your changed life. And if they don’t … you have done your part.
He goes on to say, 7 The end of all things is at hand;
But that was over two thousand years ago when he said that . The end still has not come. What did he mean?
First of all, I think that Peter really believed that the end was near. He would have thought so because of a conversation that took place between Jesus and John and also Peter. Jesus had said, “Peter, If I want John to still be alive when I return, what is that to you? You just follow me.” And then Jesus went on to say that one day Peter would be an old man and end up being taken to a place to which he would not like to go.
Peter, as he writes this, is getting up in age. John is still alive … so Peter would be right in assuming that Jeuss could be returning soon. So he says The end of all things is at hand.
In Peter’s second letter he actually refers to the fact that Jesus had predicted that Peter would reach old age and then die a martyr's death.
But to us, in our generation, we recognize that these are words that were directly from the Holy Spirit, and although Peter was wrong in believing Jesus would return very shortly, he is right in the sense that, at some point in history, when all the other prophecies come together, these words would be particularly true. I believe we are that generation. I believe the time is short. But Peter will address this again later, so we will move on.
Peter addresses the ‘meanwhile’ as we wait for Jesus to come and deliver us from this evil world.
As we wait for Jesus and do our best to live Godly lives he says, 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
There is an enemy of God who would dearly love to destroy your testimony. If he can just make Christians look bad, he has won a tremendous victory. Christians will sin. They still have the old nature. What are we to do about it when they sin? Love them. Maybe the sin is against us. Love them. Love will cover a whole multitude of sin. Should we just let them go on sinning? Peter is not saying that. All he is saying is that, as Christians, we do not air our dirty laundry. We keep our problems ‘in house’. The outside world should never hear about a believers faults.
Here is how we treat one another … even those fellow believers who have not been nice to us … 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
Peter expands on our christian interactions and behaviour within the family of God … our local church in particular: He says, 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies — in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
The church, the Lord’s body, has been given various spiritual gifts. The bible teaches us that the distribution of gifts is up to God. If we fail to realize this we can be jealous of a gift that someone else has. If we use our gifts in the way that Peter has laid out, the testimony that the world will see will be powerful. Some of the gifts have to do with speaking, some have to do with serving, says Peter. One type is not more important than another. All are needed in the body.
Peter now goes back to his main reason for writing this letter to the scattered believers. What about living during difficult times? Here is the right attitude to adopt. Without this, who knows … we might want to give up the faith entirely.
He says, 12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
Let’s look closely at what Peter is saying here.
He says, trials will come. They will hurt like fire. Expect them as a normal thing. God wants to test you and He wants you to pass the test.
I am sure many of you are thinking, ‘But I DON’T WANT that. I don’t like the idea of suffering.’ So Peter adds, 13 But rejoice … What? When I am hurting from the pain inflicted by unbelievers? But why? because it means that you are sharing in Christ’s sufferings.
How much changing in our innermost being has to take place before we can consider it an honor to share in the sufferings of Christ? Work on it. In the opening verse of this chapter Peter said, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking.
In the very next verse Peter emphasizes this new kind of thinking.
14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
I don’t know about you, but I want the Spirit of glory and of God to rest on me! All that counts is His, “Well done, faithful servant”.
But here Peter reminds us of something. Sometimes we bring suffering on ourselves. It is our own fault. So just make sure that 15 none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.
That last one seems a bit out of place, doesn’t it? Murderer, thief or evildoer … I get that. But then he slips meddler into the mix. I think he did that on purpose. That would be the main one he is hoping to weed out of the church. The church would most likely not have anyone doing the first three. But the last one? And to place it on a level with the other three? We might be in big trouble. If you meddle, and then suffer for it? That is your fault. Don’t take on a martyr’s complex. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
The fiery trials that will come, serve a purpose. We are being tested. But more than that, we are being refined as gold. That is God’s real purpose in this. We sing about ‘The Refiners Fire’ … but is it only a song? Do we believe what we are singing? Peter says, 17 ... it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; Don’t take this the wrong way … fiery trials are not a punishment for sin and failure. The purpose is to purify us.
Speaking of the end times, the prophet Daniel said, “Many shall be purified, made white, and refined,“Da 12:10
Those times are coming. And, although God’s wrath will ultimately come on the earth during that time, a wonderful result is that many will be purified and made white. But before you object, ‘But God does not appoint His children to wrath!’ … the bad times that are coming are about the wrath of Satan. The scripture says, “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” (Rev 12:12) It is the wrath of Satan that will be directed against believers. It is when the Christians stand up under this wrath that it has a purifying effect. He is not talking about salvation. He is talking about Christians who need to be made white. The rest of the verse: it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
18 And "If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"
We serve an awesome God. He cares about you and me. He wants us to be as ‘pure gold’. Jesus, through the words of John said to the church of Laodicea in the book of Revelation, I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Re 3:18
Jesus said these words to the one church out of seven churches, that was living in a self-satisfied way. The church had enough money. They were not suffering in any way. But Jesus was not happy with them. He said, unless you start to live in such a way that you bring some persecution on yourselves … I am going to spit you out.
Living during difficult times involves suffering and taking it well. It can be avoided if we ‘don't rock the boat’. But Jesus says, Rock the boat. Obedience will result in ourselves becoming as pure gold and richly rewarded in Heaven .. and it will result in some of the lost coming to Christ. 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
What Peter has shared with us in this chapter will surely correct faulty thinking regarding suffering for Jesus. As hard as it is to think this way … we can do it.
Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking.
Peter has been addressing the believers who have been scattered over a wide area of Asia minor. They have clustered into small groups. We would call them ‘house churches’. Each church would have a leader. That leader is called an ‘Elder’. Each community would have an Elder/overseer to work with all of the elders in that local community. What is the difference between the term ‘Elder’ and the term ‘pastor’? We will look at some of these questions and more next time.
Whoever has suffered in the flesh is a phrase that can mean one of two things. The obvious understanding could be referring to any kind of serious suffering. Even though this could mean suffering with a disease, it could also mean suffering persecution. But since this is talking about Jesus who has suffered in the flesh, there is a totally different thought here. In Jesus' case, suffering in the flesh is clearly talking about His having died for us on the cross. In our usual way of thinking, suffering is something that happens to us only while we are alive. In our way of thinking, if we died … we died. We wouldn’t normally refer to a death as suffering. As a matter of fact, we would usually say, ‘Well, finally he or she is no longer suffering’, or in the case of one who died unexpectedly, we might say, ‘At least he did not have to suffer’. But to understand this verse correctly we need to understand Peter’s words in the following way, Jesus suffered, died and went to heaven (verses 21 and 22 of the previous chapter) … and we need to adopt the same way of thinking about ourselves … We have, before salvation, been suffering with the terminal disease of sin, as a matter of fact … dead in sin.
We have been born from above. We have life. Peter is telling us to look down on our old life as if we are seeing ourselves lying in a coffin.
It’s too bad that the old person laying in a coffin still sins. What are we to do about that? Peter is teaching us to get used to seeing our old self as dead. That takes some concentrated effort. The apostle Paul, speaking about this from his own personal perspective, said, “I die daily”. So there is our answer. In the morning when you first look in the mirror … if you should possibly think, ‘I am actually looking at a dead man. That man I am looking at will not sin today’.
Here is the last part of verse one again, whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.
I will personalize this. “I, Richard Andres, have suffered in the flesh (my old nature is dead) and that is not me anymore. The new person does not sin.
And, as I pointed out in a previous chapter, that which is born of God, (our dead spirit comes to life) cannot sin.
Peter says so clearly, that even though we still have our old bodies and sinful natures, we are to (2) live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.
And Peter reasons further 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. (NKJV)
It’s enough, says Peter. You don’t need that kind of life. Let it go.
If you have connection with the world, the lost, the unsaved … they should notice that you are different. If you were known to them before you committed your life to Jesus, they should see a change. Peter says, 4 Indeed your former companions may think it very strange that you no longer join with them in their riotous excesses, and accordingly say all sorts of abusive things about you. (Philips)
People see that change in you and speak about you abusively. Why? Because you are making them feel guilty. You made a life-changing decision. You recognised that the old way was leading to hell. They are right in assuming that you now believe that to hell is where they are going. They don’t like that feeling. So, to defend their own position, they speak badly about you.
How should you feel about that? Peter says, 5 They are the ones who will have to answer for their behaviour before the One who is prepared to judge all men, living or dead.
So, first of all, even though we should care about their souls, we should not take the whole responsibility onto ourselves for where they end up. They have seen your lifestyle, they have seen that God is your focus, they have heard that you believe Jesus died for your sin, they have heard you say that you are now forgiven … so it is on them to make the right choice.
These friends or co-workers or neighbors of yours … are all dead. Your changed life has preached a strong message to them. Peter states this: 6 That is why the dead also had the gospel preached to them. For although they must be condemned for the life they lived in the body of men, they might find life in the spirit by obeying God’s will. “They might find life in the spirit.” They can be born again because of looking at your changed life. And if they don’t … you have done your part.
He goes on to say, 7 The end of all things is at hand;
But that was over two thousand years ago when he said that . The end still has not come. What did he mean?
First of all, I think that Peter really believed that the end was near. He would have thought so because of a conversation that took place between Jesus and John and also Peter. Jesus had said, “Peter, If I want John to still be alive when I return, what is that to you? You just follow me.” And then Jesus went on to say that one day Peter would be an old man and end up being taken to a place to which he would not like to go.
Peter, as he writes this, is getting up in age. John is still alive … so Peter would be right in assuming that Jeuss could be returning soon. So he says The end of all things is at hand.
In Peter’s second letter he actually refers to the fact that Jesus had predicted that Peter would reach old age and then die a martyr's death.
But to us, in our generation, we recognize that these are words that were directly from the Holy Spirit, and although Peter was wrong in believing Jesus would return very shortly, he is right in the sense that, at some point in history, when all the other prophecies come together, these words would be particularly true. I believe we are that generation. I believe the time is short. But Peter will address this again later, so we will move on.
Peter addresses the ‘meanwhile’ as we wait for Jesus to come and deliver us from this evil world.
As we wait for Jesus and do our best to live Godly lives he says, 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
There is an enemy of God who would dearly love to destroy your testimony. If he can just make Christians look bad, he has won a tremendous victory. Christians will sin. They still have the old nature. What are we to do about it when they sin? Love them. Maybe the sin is against us. Love them. Love will cover a whole multitude of sin. Should we just let them go on sinning? Peter is not saying that. All he is saying is that, as Christians, we do not air our dirty laundry. We keep our problems ‘in house’. The outside world should never hear about a believers faults.
Here is how we treat one another … even those fellow believers who have not been nice to us … 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
Peter expands on our christian interactions and behaviour within the family of God … our local church in particular: He says, 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies — in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
The church, the Lord’s body, has been given various spiritual gifts. The bible teaches us that the distribution of gifts is up to God. If we fail to realize this we can be jealous of a gift that someone else has. If we use our gifts in the way that Peter has laid out, the testimony that the world will see will be powerful. Some of the gifts have to do with speaking, some have to do with serving, says Peter. One type is not more important than another. All are needed in the body.
Peter now goes back to his main reason for writing this letter to the scattered believers. What about living during difficult times? Here is the right attitude to adopt. Without this, who knows … we might want to give up the faith entirely.
He says, 12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
Let’s look closely at what Peter is saying here.
He says, trials will come. They will hurt like fire. Expect them as a normal thing. God wants to test you and He wants you to pass the test.
I am sure many of you are thinking, ‘But I DON’T WANT that. I don’t like the idea of suffering.’ So Peter adds, 13 But rejoice … What? When I am hurting from the pain inflicted by unbelievers? But why? because it means that you are sharing in Christ’s sufferings.
How much changing in our innermost being has to take place before we can consider it an honor to share in the sufferings of Christ? Work on it. In the opening verse of this chapter Peter said, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking.
In the very next verse Peter emphasizes this new kind of thinking.
14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
I don’t know about you, but I want the Spirit of glory and of God to rest on me! All that counts is His, “Well done, faithful servant”.
But here Peter reminds us of something. Sometimes we bring suffering on ourselves. It is our own fault. So just make sure that 15 none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.
That last one seems a bit out of place, doesn’t it? Murderer, thief or evildoer … I get that. But then he slips meddler into the mix. I think he did that on purpose. That would be the main one he is hoping to weed out of the church. The church would most likely not have anyone doing the first three. But the last one? And to place it on a level with the other three? We might be in big trouble. If you meddle, and then suffer for it? That is your fault. Don’t take on a martyr’s complex. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
The fiery trials that will come, serve a purpose. We are being tested. But more than that, we are being refined as gold. That is God’s real purpose in this. We sing about ‘The Refiners Fire’ … but is it only a song? Do we believe what we are singing? Peter says, 17 ... it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; Don’t take this the wrong way … fiery trials are not a punishment for sin and failure. The purpose is to purify us.
Speaking of the end times, the prophet Daniel said, “Many shall be purified, made white, and refined,“Da 12:10
Those times are coming. And, although God’s wrath will ultimately come on the earth during that time, a wonderful result is that many will be purified and made white. But before you object, ‘But God does not appoint His children to wrath!’ … the bad times that are coming are about the wrath of Satan. The scripture says, “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” (Rev 12:12) It is the wrath of Satan that will be directed against believers. It is when the Christians stand up under this wrath that it has a purifying effect. He is not talking about salvation. He is talking about Christians who need to be made white. The rest of the verse: it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
18 And "If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"
We serve an awesome God. He cares about you and me. He wants us to be as ‘pure gold’. Jesus, through the words of John said to the church of Laodicea in the book of Revelation, I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Re 3:18
Jesus said these words to the one church out of seven churches, that was living in a self-satisfied way. The church had enough money. They were not suffering in any way. But Jesus was not happy with them. He said, unless you start to live in such a way that you bring some persecution on yourselves … I am going to spit you out.
Living during difficult times involves suffering and taking it well. It can be avoided if we ‘don't rock the boat’. But Jesus says, Rock the boat. Obedience will result in ourselves becoming as pure gold and richly rewarded in Heaven .. and it will result in some of the lost coming to Christ. 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
What Peter has shared with us in this chapter will surely correct faulty thinking regarding suffering for Jesus. As hard as it is to think this way … we can do it.
Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking.
Peter has been addressing the believers who have been scattered over a wide area of Asia minor. They have clustered into small groups. We would call them ‘house churches’. Each church would have a leader. That leader is called an ‘Elder’. Each community would have an Elder/overseer to work with all of the elders in that local community. What is the difference between the term ‘Elder’ and the term ‘pastor’? We will look at some of these questions and more next time.