Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 4:1-6

THE CHRISTIAN'S NEW LIFE IN CHRIST

1 Peter 3:18-4:6

Intro.
1. Suffering of Christ compels us to suffer for Him - 1 Pet. 3:17-18; 2:21.
2. Christians who are not willing to suffer for their faith are not living by faith, have "little" faith, a weak faith, or no faith! - 1 Pet. 3:13-14
3. 1 Pet. 3:18-4:6 - Reasons why we must remain faithful to Christ in the face of suffering & opposition.

I. YOU HAVE ENTERED A NEW WORLD - 1 Pet. 3:20-21.
A. Like Noah Entered A New World When Saved Through Water, You Entered A New World In Christ When You Were Baptized.
1. New life in Christ (salvation) - Eph. 2:1.
2. New creature in Christ - 2 Cor. 5:17.
3. New relationships in Christ:
a. With God - Matt. 28:19 (Gal.3 :27; Rom. 6:4-5).
b. With sin - Rom. 6:6-7, 17-18, 21-23.
4. You have new life (spiritual) - Rom. 6:4.
B. Therefore, Do Not Live In The Old World Of Sin! - Eph. 4:17

II. YOU HAVE A NEW MIND - 1 Pet. 4:1.
A. Christ Had A Mind To Suffer For The Sake Of Righteousness - 1 Pet. 2:21-24.
B. We Must Arm (Equip) Ourselves With The Same Mind - 1 Pet. 3:14; Matt. 5:10-12.
1. Our previous mind - Eph. 4:17-19.
2. Our present mind - Eph. 4:20-24.
C. The Person With The Mind Of Christ Has Ceased From Sin - 4:1.
1. Sin no longer rules over the Christian - Rom. 6:1-2, 11, 14.
2. The mind is set on righteous things, not sinful things - Matt. 6:33.
3. Here is the problem: We do not develop the mind of Christ within us, so we are not willing to be faithful if it means suffering for Christ!
4. To meet this challenge requires:
a. Humility before God & man - Phil. 2:5-7.
b. Reformation of heart - Rom. 12:2.
c. Faith & faithfulness - Eph. 3:17; Gal. 2:20.
d. Persistence in the face of trials & hazards to faith - Col. 3:1-3.

III. YOU HAVE A NEW WAY OF LIFE - 1 Pet. 4:2-4.
A. No Longer Live For The Lusts Of Men - 4:2-3; 1 Jno. 2:15-17.
1. Lewdness (4:3) - Lasciviousness (wantonness, filthy): "unbridled lust, excess… outrageousness, shamelessness…, wanton (acts or) manners, as filthy words, indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of males & females, etc." (Thayer, 79-80). "NO RESTRAINTS!"
2. Lusts (4:3) - evil cravings.
3. Drunkenness (4:3) ["excess of wine," KJV].
4. Revelries (4:3) ["revellings," KJV] - The riotous conduct associated w/ drinking & the forsaking of social decency.
5. Drinking parties (4:3) ["banquetings," KJV] - lit., "a drinking" without reference to amount as in Matt. 10:42; drinking that gives opportunity to excess.
6. Abominable idolatries (4:3) - Idolatry & the vices which spring from it.
B. You Now Live For The Will Of God - 4:2 (Heb. 13:21).
C. You Will Be Considered Evil & Spoken Evil Of (Suffer For Doing Good, 3:17) - 1 Pet. 4:4.
1. Peer pressure - Eph. 5:6 (empty words).
2. Evil companionships (1 Cor. 15:33-34).
3. Stay away from such influences! - Eph. 5:7

Conclusion
1. We are all accountable to God - 1 Pet. 4:5 (Rom. 14:12).
2. This gospel is preached to save those who are dead in sin! - 1 Pet. 4:6