The Rest of the Time

1 Peter 4:1-5 ESV

“Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.”

Jesus Christ suffered in many different ways when he lived on this earth, and so will we if we are his followers. But I believe this is speaking specifically of his suffering when he died on that cross for our sins. For on that cross he who knew no sin became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21) and so that our sins might be put to death with him so that we can die to sin and live to his righteousness (1 Peter 2:24).

So, if we arm ourselves with the same thinking that Jesus had when he died on that cross for our sins, then we will die with him to sin, not just once, but daily, and we will deny self, and we will follow him in obedience to his commands (New Covenant). We will no longer see our lives as our own to be lived however we want, but we will regard our Lord as Owner-Master of our lives and us as his servants, here on this earth to do his will.

Therefore, we aren’t going to live the rest of our lives for human passions and for selfish desires and for sinful pleasures. So, we will not be living in sensuality, drunkenness, and lawless idolatry. So lying, cheating, adultery, sexual immorality, stealing, deceiving, and unfaithfulness will not be what we practice. But our practice should now be righteousness, holiness, honor, integrity, truthfulness, moral purity, self-control and faithfulness.

Nonetheless, when we die to our old way of living in sin and for self, and we turn, and now we are following the Lord Jesus in faithful obedience to his will for our lives, in practice, not everyone is going to be happy with us, not even everyone who professes faith in Jesus Christ. And we will be maligned by some professing Christians and by some who make no profession of faith in Christ, for we no longer do the things we did before but that they still do.

And we may find that the friends we thought we had before are no longer our friends, or else they are our friends only on a very surface level, for they really aren’t comfortable being around us anymore. But it is true that we must no longer be united in purpose and joined together in close fellowship with those who are still living in sin lest we be led back into sin by their influence. For they are going to want to do things that we no longer do.

But this doesn’t mean that we cut them out of our lives or that we treat them badly. For the Scriptures teach that we are to love even our enemies, and that we are to pray for them, and do good to them, and do for them what is beneficial for them in a good way, according to their needs. And Jesus has sent us out into the world to share the truth of the gospel with the people and to love them as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.

So, this calls for much wisdom and discernment in how to love those who are not walking in harmony with the Lord and with his word, and in what ways we are to do good to them, and in how to treat them with kindness even when they malign us in return, but while no longer joining in with them in ways that may lead us back into sin. For we are to be separate (unlike, different) from the world, but yet God is sending us out into the world to share his love and his truth with the people who live in the world.

[Matt 5:10-12; Matt 10:16-25; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 6:22-23; Lu 21:12-19; Jn 15:1-21; Jn 16:33; Jn 17:14; Ac 14:22; Rom 5:3-5; Phil 3:7-11; 1 Pet 1:6-7; 1 Pet 4:12-17; 2 Tim 3:12; 1 Thess 3:1-5; Jas 1:2-4; 2 Co 1:3-11; Heb 12:3-12; 1 Jn 3:13; Rev 6:9-11; Rev 7:9-17; Rev 11:1-3; Rev 12:17; Rev 13:1-18; Rev 14:1-13]

No Less  

An Original Work / March 19, 2012

I can do no less than praise You,

Lord, for all You’ve done for me.

You died for my sins to save me,

So I would be set free.

I adore You! Lord, I praise You!

Jesus, Savior, King of kings!

You provided my redemption.

Your grace has pardoned me.

I can do no less than serve You. 

Lord, Your witness I would be,

Telling others of Your love,

And why You died on that tree.

Tell of how You gave of Your life,

So from sin we’d be set free,

So we could worship You forever,

And live eternally.

I can do no less than love You,

Lord, for You have first loved me.

You gave of Your life so willing,

Because You cared for me.

Turn from my sin! Obey freely!

Live for You each passing day.

Read Your word, and follow Your lead,

Lord, as I humbly pray. 

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