LIVING FOR GOD

Passage: 1 Peter 4:1-6

Key verse: 2

NIV

Living for God

4 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body,(A) arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.(B) 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires,(C) but rather for the will of God. 3 For you have spent enough time in the past(D) doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.(E) 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.(F) 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.(G) 6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead,(H) so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Stewards of God's Grace

4 Since therefore (A)Christ suffered in the flesh,[a] (B)arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for (C)whoever has suffered in the flesh (D)has ceased from sin, 2 (E)so as to live for (F)the rest of the time in the flesh (G)no longer for human passions but (H)for the will of God. 3 For the time that is past (I)suffices (J)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 (K)debauchery, and (L)they malign you; 5 but they will give account to him who is ready (M)to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is why (N)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.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Peter 4:1 Some manuscripts add for us; some for you
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. It's time to stop sinning (1-3)

Jesus suffered and died for us. So when we suffer physically or emotionally, we can endure and grow if we think of him and come to him. We are called to have the same attitude that Christ had toward suffering. He did not live to satisfy his physical desires; he lived to do the will of God. Before we knew Jesus' grace, we spent time doing what people without God choose to do. We have sinned enough in the past to last us for the rest of our lives.

2. Overcome family and peer pressure

Those closest to us often can't understand our changed lives. They feel threatened. So they try to get us to do the same kinds of things as we did before. They try to draw us away from Jesus--back into the pattern of our old lives. Those who criticize us must themselves stand before Christ the Judge someday.

Prayer: Lord, help me not to be afraid of suffering, but rather, to seek to do your will.

One Word: Live for God