Sundays at Home
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The Godward Life
Sunday, October 4, 2020
Pastor Jojo Ma
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1 Peter 4:1-6
1 Peter 4:1-6
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, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.
What are you living for? What drives you? What gets your motor going, your heart pumping? What is it that you love and pursue passionately?
Is your priority, among all the competing desires of your heart, is your priority in life to live for the will of God…even if it means suffering for His name?
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, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 5 but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.
I. Embrace the Godward life [vv1-2]
II. Reject the indulgent life [vv3-4]
III. Await the judgment of all life [vv5-6]
I. Embrace the Godward life [vv1-2]
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, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.
Websites to learn about Christian persecution: www.persecution.org, www.persecution.com, www.opendoorsusa.org.
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.
Our willingness to suffer faithfully for Jesus proves our faith is real. Our identifying with Jesus in his sufferings shows our commitment to holy, godly living. Our saying “yes” to enduring persecution demonstrates a break from the heart of sin, namely selfishness, and puts our Lord first in our lives.
2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.
So is this true of your life? Are you willing to suffer for Jesus? Are you living for the will of God? What areas of your life are you still living for the will of man? Are you truly embracing the Godward life?
II. Reject the indulgent life [vv3-4]
3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you.
4 With respect to this [now living for the Lord] they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you.
The reason the world, this culture, hates us is because we are living for the will of God. And so they malign us, revile us, and threaten us.
III. Await the judgment of all life [vv5-6]
5 but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.
6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.
If you hear the gospel and believe, that day of judgment is also a day of salvation. If you hear the gospel and reject it, that day of judgment is also a day of condemnation.
CrossLife’s new Statement of Faith, Section 25, “Last Things”: When Christ returns, all the dead, both the righteous and the unrighteous will be raised, as God has appointed a day, in which He will judge the world by Jesus Christ, when everyone will receive according to his deeds; the wicked will go into everlasting conscious punishment in hell; the righteous will go into everlasting life with Christ. The literal physical Second Coming of Christ, the physical resurrection of the righteous unto eternal life, and of the unrighteous unto eternal punishment in hell are essential truths of our faith. In the fullness of time, all things in heaven and on earth will be united in Christ. Then comes the end, when Christ will deliver the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.
I. Embrace the Godward life [vv1-2]
II. Reject the indulgent life [vv3-4]
III. Await the judgment of all life [vv5-6]