Unusual Armour – 1 Peter 4:1-6

In “The Encourager,” Charles Mylander writes, “Sunrise was dawning when Los Angeles motorcycle police officer Bob Vernon saw a red [ute] pickup truck speed through a stop sign. This guy must be late to work, he thought to himself. He turned on his emergency lights and radioed that he was in pursuit. The pickup pulled over, and the officer approached. “Meanwhile in the truck, the driver thought, The cops already know! He was scared. He rested his hand on the same gun he had used a few moments before to rob a twenty‑four‑hour market. The sack of stolen money was beside him on the seat.

“The officer said, ‘Good morning, sir, may I see your–’

“He never finished the sentence. The driver shoved his gun toward the policeman’s chest and fired from just inches away. The cop was knocked flat seven feet away.

“A few seconds later, to the shock of the criminal, the officer stood up, pulled his service revolver, and fired twice. The first bullet went through the open window and smashed the windshield. The second tore through the door and ripped into the driver’s left leg.

“‘Don’t shoot!’ the thief screamed, throwing the gun and sack of money out the pickup window.

“What saved the policeman’s life was dozens of layers of Kevlar, the super strong fabric used for bulletproof vests. Only one centimetre thick, Kevlar can stop bullets cold.” – Mike Neifert Lynn, Indiana

Our text tells us that Christ suffered in the flesh. Though He could have defended Himself by calling upon thousands of angels, He was ready to suffer and die at the hands of evil men. Now, we are to arm ourselves with a Christlike mind about suffering. This unusual armour will protect us from wrong responses when others persecute us.

Transition

Peter identifies three reasons that we need this unusual armour.

The first reason we need to be armed with a Christ-like mind is because

The World Persecutes Those Who Obey God (v.1-2)

The world persecutes those who are different.
1. Christ suffered for us to set us free from sin. The phrase “ceased from sin” means to be released from sin’s bondage. This does not mean Christians are sinless, but that they can have victory over sin. Christ has made it possible for us to live in victory. Sin’s bondage has been broken. (Romans 6:6-7) “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.”
2. The world hates those who live right because it makes them look bad. Often the godlier a person lives the more persecution he will get. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12)
We are to separate from sin and do God’s will.
1. A Christian should not live the rest of his life fulfilling lusts of men. He has a new life in Christ.
2. God has a will or a plan for every Christian. It is NOT his plan for you to live to please your sinful flesh. But it IS God’s plan for you to live holy (1Pe 1:14-16). (Review #1)
  The second reason we need to be armed with a Christ-like mind is because

The World Speaks Evil of Godly Christians (v.3-5)

Unbelievers will say bad things about you.
The phrase “may suffice us” means we had enough of it. It did not satisfy the soul. Once we have tasted something far better, why would we want to go back? Doing right with God’s peace is far better than the guilt of living in sin.
1. Christians should not want to go back and walked in sin (v.3) [uncontrolled passions, evil desires, wine drinking, wild revelry, drunken parties, and lawless idolatries].
2. Those evils do not satisfy. Look around! Young people, don’t fall for the lie that says, “Don’t knock it until you try it.” That is foolish. You don’t have to walk out in front of a speeding road train to see if it will hurt. You can use your brain. The same is true with sin.
  ² Warren Wiersbe reminds us that Unbelievers do not think it strange when people wreck their bodies, destroy their homes, and ruin their lives by running from one sin to another! But let a drunkard become sober, or an immoral person pure, and the family thinks he has lost his mind! Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, 2:420
3. We need to be armed with a Christ-like mind because unbelievers will persecute us if we live godly. Ask God to help you live godly whether unbelievers like it or not.
Unbelievers will give account to God.
1. God will settle the score. Judgment day is coming. Those speaking evil of Christians (v.4) will give account to God. God is ready to judge both the quick (i.e., living) and dead. He has perfect knowledge of all the facts. (Hebrews 4:12-13) “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
2. All who fail to believe the Gospel (i.e., that Christ died on the cross and rose again to pay for their sins) will be condemned. Because of their unbelief, they will pay for their own sins in hell for all eternity. (Hebrews 9:27) “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9) “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;”
3. True Christians have obeyed the Gospel. They repented of their sins and placed their faith in Christ whose death and resurrection paid for their sins. Their faith in Christ will save them from hell. (Review #1 & #2)
  The third reason we need to be armed with a Christ-like mind is because

Suffering is Part of a Christian’s Life on Earth (v.6)

This verse follows Christ’s example in 1 Peter 3:18, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” The gospel was preached unto them that are dead (i.e., dead Christians). They heard the Gospel and got saved so that two things might take place.

First, they got saved in order that they might be judged (i.e., suffer persecution) by men in the flesh.
1. Contrary to the teaching that God wants you to be healthy and wealthy, the Bible tells us that suffering is part of living the godly Christian life.
  1. “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint–heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Romans 8:17)
  2. “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;” (Philippians 1:29)
  3. “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:” (2 Timothy 2:12)
  4. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12)
2. The Holy Spirit had both Peter and Paul tell us that persecution is a normal part of living a godly life in this ungodly world. Jesus also confirmed this when in John 15:18 He said, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.”
Second, they got saved in order that they might live according to God in the spirit.
1. Salvation prepares a person to live according to God’s standard in the spirit for all eternity (1Pe 1:14-16).
2. God longs to honour his children. Godly living that brings opposition in this life gives the Christian opportunity to please the Lord. This enables the Lord to honour the faithful Christian (1 Pe 1:7).

Conclusion

Are you wearing the unusual armour of which Peter wrote? Armed with a Christlike mind towards suffering, you can face persecution without fear and without getting upset or bitter. This armour is needful if you are going to live godly for Christ! The world persecutes those who obey God. They speak evil of those who live godly. Suffering for Christ is a normal part of the Christian life on earth. Any persecution we face today is minor, but the day is coming that it will increase. We must be armed with a Christ-like mind about suffering.

If you are not positive you have believed the Gospel, let us show you from the Bible how you can today.

Song: More Like the Master – 325
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Unusual Armour
30 August 2015 AM – 1 Peter 4:1-6 – 1Pe15 – Scott Childs