A lifestyle that resolves to be through with sin is driven by a recognition of the right judge...

This week, we have been looking at a section of a letter that has been preserved and recorded for us in the Bible called the book of 1 Peter, where we have discovered the timeless truth that living as part of God’s kingdom community should lead to a lifestyle that resolves to be through with sin. In 1 Peter 4:1-6, we have seen Peter reveal for us four different things that drive a follower of Jesus who is a part of God’s kingdom community to resolve to be through with sin.

First, we saw Peter reveal for us the reality that a lifestyle that resolves to be through with sin is driven by the example of Jesus. Second, we saw Peter reveal for us the reality that a lifestyle that resolves to be through with sin is driven by the right desires. A lifestyle that is through with sin is a lifestyle that is no longer driven by the selfish desires that go against God’s desires for the world that once dominated their lives before Jesus. Instead, a lifestyle that is through with sin is a lifestyle that is driven by a desire to a part of what God is doing around them in the world.

Wednesday, we saw Peter reveal for us the reality that a lifestyle that resolves to be through with sin is a lifestyle that is long past being driven by the desires that are pursued by those who worship something other than Jesus. Today, we will see Peter conclude this section of his letter by revealing a fourth thing that should drive a follower of Jesus who is a part of God’s kingdom community to resolve to be through with sin. Let’s discover it together in 1 Peter 4:4-6:

 In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you; ⁵ but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. ⁶ For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.

Here we see Peter address how the culture around these early followers of Jesus would respond to them living a lifestyle that resolved to be through with sin and that served as an apologetic for the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel. When Peter uses the word surprised here, this word conveys that sense of something that causes a strong reaction of astonishment and surprise as a result of the introduction of something new.

In addition, the word dissipation is a church mumbo jumbo talk word that simply means to live a life of reckless abandon. Finally, the word maligned means to speak in a disrespectful way that demeans and slanders another. So Peter’s statement in verse 4, if communicated in the language we use in our culture today, would have sounded something like this: The new life that you have as a follower of Jesus leads those who worship something other than Jesus to be shocked and astonished that you will no longer join them in their lifestyle of reckless abandon. And it is their shock and astonishment that leads them to speak about you in a way that demeans and disrespects you.”

However, as Peter reminds followers of Jesus throughout history in verse 5, but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. As we talked about in the power of hope series, at the end of God’s story here on earth, all humanity stand before the Lord to give an account for how they lived their lives. Whether they are alive at the time when Jesus returns, or whether they have died prior to Jesus return, all humanity will stand before the Lord.

And the Lord is an impartial judge; the Lord will judge our behavior without partiality; the standard is the same for all humanity. All humanity will have to answer for how they answered the question “Who is Jesus?” And for those who never heard of Jesus, all humanity will have to answer for how they responded to God’s activity in their lives through the creation and through their conscience. The standard is the same for all followers of Jesus; did you respond to my gracious activity in your life by leading a life that was dedicated to look like Jesus? If not, why not?

And because of that reality, Peter reminds followers of Jesus throughout history that the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel has been proclaimed even to those who heard the message and are now dead. Peter’s point here is that it is the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel that provides all humanity the opportunity to experience forgiveness and the relationship with God that they were created for as a result of believing, thrusting, and following Jesus as Lord and Leader.

And it is the follower of Jesus response of confident trust in the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel that results in a lifestyle that resolves to be through with sin. And while those who worship something other than Jesus may pass judgment on followers of Jesus in a way that results in them experiencing sadness and suffering here on earth, their trust in Jesus in the face of that sadness and suffering will result in them living the transcendent life that they were created for in relationship with Jesus for all eternity.

And it is here that we see Peter reveal for us the reality that a lifestyle that resolves to be through with sin is driven by a recognition of the right judge. As followers of Jesus, we are to recognize that we may be unjustly judged by those who are astonished that they will not join in their lifestyle of excess and reckless abandon. As followers of Jesus, we are to recognize that we may be unjustly demeaned and disrespected by those who are astonished that they will not join in their lifestyle of excess and reckless abandon. And as followers of Jesus, we are to recognize that those who judge and demean us will themselves by judged by the just judge.

All humanity throughout history will stand before God to give an account for their life. And the gospel was proclaimed to provide hope of a just judgment in the future for those who respond to the gospel by placing their confident trust in the gospel; a confident trust that is evidenced by their lifestyle. Because, as we have discovered, living as part of God’s kingdom community should lead to a lifestyle that resolves to be through with sin.

Living as part of God’s kingdom community should lead to a lifestyle that resolves to be through with sin in a way that is driven the example of Jesus. Living as part of God’s kingdom community should lead to a lifestyle that resolves to be through with sin in a way that is driven by the right desires. Living as part of God’s kingdom community should lead to a lifestyle that resolves to be through with sin in a way that is long past being driven by the desires that are pursued by those who worship something other than Jesus. And living as part of God’s kingdom community should lead to a lifestyle that resolves to be through with sin in a way that is driven by a recognition of the right judge.

So here is a question to consider: What does your lifestyle reveal about how you have resolved to live when it comes to sin? What drives the lifestyle that you live? Are you driven by the right examples? Are you driven by the right desires? Are you driven by a recognition of the right judge?

Because, living as part of God’s kingdom community should lead to a lifestyle that resolves to be through with sin...