1. Faith in the Crosshairs 1 Peter (Account, 1 Peter 4:1-6) (Account, 1 Peter 4:1-6)

2. Review Submission to human authority for the Lord's sake Do not repay evil for evil…on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called that you may obtain a blessing

3. Review Hardship as a consequence of my actions: deserved and undeserved Deserved: learn from and grow Undeserved: Sanctification, Glorification, Identification

4. Review For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God

5. 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, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.

6. 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.

7. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;

8. …but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 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 - 1 Peter 4:1-6

9. Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking Arm= hoplizo- to equip for war, to outfit with weapons How? Be seeing suffering (for righteousness) as Christ did- opportunity to glorify the Father

10. Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking Christ suffered in the flesh. His suffering produced: − Restoration- to God − Salvation- of those who believe − Condemnation of sin and the enemy − Triumph over death, hell and the grave

11. When I see Christ's suffering as a pattern and a privilege- an opportunity- I'm armed and equipped for whatever I may face − "Fair" ceases to be a word in my vocabulary − Suffering begins to have purpose

12. …for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God − Positionally: Perfect tense looking to a definite past act − Identification with Christ so that sin no longer has power over us

13. We 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 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. 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.

14. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

15. …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- Romans 6:1- 7, 11-12 Our position in Christ is intended by God to be mirrored in our experience with Christ

16. Positionally, we have ceased from sinPositionally, we have ceased from sin In identification with Christ's sufferings, God expects his children to live differentlyIn identification with Christ's sufferings, God expects his children to live differently − No rationalizations − No easy-believism or cheap grace − Identification means we understand the nature of Christ's sufferings and the cause- our sin

17. Experientially- our suffering has the potential to produce purificationExperientially- our suffering has the potential to produce purification − suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope- Romans 5:3-4 − Count it all joy when you face various trials…that you may be mature and complete- James 2:2-4

18. Arm yourselves… Suffering has purpose for a believer who really trusts God Gives us hope, peace and joy- even in pain and sorrow- because God is using it to grow us

19. …has ceased from sin so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God − Those who are in Christ and daily trust Christ live not for their desires, but God's − The goal is to walk so close that Christ's desire for me becomes my desire

20. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles (ethnos) want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. Translation: You came from that. You've already wasted too much time doing that which mocks God. Don't go back to it

21. …what the Gentiles (ethnos) want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. One of the marks of a believer is that we have different desires Note: Simply excess and perversions of what God created and called good- sex, food and drink, worship

22. The line between good and evil: − Excess- becomes a means of satisfaction rather than a cause of glorification − Perversion- outside of how God intended it to be − Misplaced Faith- worship of and trust in someone or something other than God

23. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; The rational expectation of scripture is that believers would live radically different lives. We have been saved from and to

24. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; "It's good that you're a Christian. Just don't take it too far…"

25. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; The life of an authentic follower of Christ is tacit condemnation of the values of pagan society

26. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; The life of an authentic follower of Christ is tacit condemnation of the values of pagan society How?

27. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; The life of an authentic follower of Christ is tacit condemnation of the values of pagan society The alternative is hypocrisy

28. The response is "they malign you" Malign: blaspheme, speak evil of. By implication- cause to suffer Arm yourselves… Their anger and mocking produces your growth as you trust God through the pain

29. Eternal Perspective: − They malign me and speak evil of me- and it hurts

30. Eternal Perspective: − They malign me and speak evil of me- and it hurts − We'll all stand before God one day − And…

31. …but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead The very ones who'd call you to account for your actions will one day answer for theirs- before God Gives us hope and strength

32. …but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead Whose approval am I seeking? Why?

33. Ransom

34. 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- 1 Peter 4:1-6 Physical death comes from the curse of the Fall. Yet, because of Jesus, we live on in greater life and absolute freedom

35. Emperor Moth

36. Takeaways: Am I armed, equipped, ready for what life will bring?Am I armed, equipped, ready for what life will bring? Since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinkingSince Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking

37. Takeaways: Does my life reflect my identification with Jesus in his death, burial and resurrection?Does my life reflect my identification with Jesus in his death, burial and resurrection? Are my desires becoming his desires for me?Are my desires becoming his desires for me?

38. Takeaways: Whose approval am I living for? Why? What do I need to do?Whose approval am I living for? Why? What do I need to do?