Living for the Will of God - 1 Peter 4:1-6

Scripture

• 1 Peter 4:1–6

About this sermon

Commands lead somewhere. God gives commands in the interest of particular outcomes. In the first verse of this section, believers are commanded to “arm yourselves.” It is an aorist, middle, imperative, 2 nd person plural of ὁπλίζω. The word means to equip, to prepare, to arm. The word ὅπλον means “weapon.” “ARM YOURSELVES” That fulfillment of that command requires a mindset. It is a mindset that was found in Jesus’ suffering and death on our behalf. But that command — a command to arm ourselves in light of Christ’s sufferings talked about in chapter 3, and with the same way of thinking (the words that follow) — is meant to lead to something. We arm ourselves with a particular purpose in mind. “So as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.” THE ARMING OF OURSELVES WITH THIS PARTICULAR WAY OF THINKING (THAT THE PASSAGE IDENTIFIES) IS MEANT TO LEAD US TO DEPART FROM ONE WAY OF LIVING AND TO DEVOTE OURSELVES TO ANOTHER WAY OF LIVING. And that new way of living – a way that is to last for the rest of our lives in the flesh – is living for the will of God. Saved people are to think in a way where we have come to embrace an entire lifetime that exists for no other reason than to do the will of God. That is what I want us to focus on tonight. I want us to think about living for the will of God.

Topics

• Purpose & Calling