Arm Yourself
February 5, 2023
Having laid out the glory of the gospel and the truth that Jesus died for our sins, Peter tells his readers the "So, what?" of the gospel. Believers now belong to God and are part of his family and we should live accordingly - saying no to sin and living for ourselves, and yes to living in line with God's will. We need to arm ourselves with the same way of thinking as Jesus and follow his example. Those around us may be shocked in the changes in our behaviour, might reject and attack us, but we know we are living in response to God's grace and in line with the truth. As we arm ourselves with gospel thinking and live in the light of it, we testify to God's amazing grace and invitation to know real fullness of life.
Jennifer Key
In this series:
1 Peter 4:1–6 (Listen)
Stewards of God’s Grace
4:1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh,1 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.
Footnotes
[1] 4:1
(ESV)
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text provided by the Crossway Bibles Web Service.
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