1 Peter 4:1-11--Stewards of God's Grace

1 Peter 4:1-11 English Standard Version (ESV)
LISTEN:  https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/esv/1Pet.4.1-1Pet.4.11
Stewards of God's Grace
1 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, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 3 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. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is why 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.
7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

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 Again, remember there there are no chapter or verse divisions in the original letter, so we're picking up right where we left off with talking about Jesus suffering for us and how He is our example of what suffering for righteousness's sake looks like.  Peter then makes the point that if we are truly suffering for righteousness's sake, it is because we are becoming more and more like Christ in the process of sanctification and the world hates us like it hated Him.  This should be evidence to us that we have been born again and are dead to sin and alive to Christ.

What does it mean to be dead to sin?  It means that you no longer identify with or find pleasure in the deeds of the flesh listed here--again, the word "Gentile" here is synonymous with "unsaved" because at this point in Church history the gospel had only been taken to the Jews.  We can no longer be identified by sensuality, lustful passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, lawlessness, and idolatry.  Don't be surprised when you lose friends from your "old life" who want to "join them in the same flood of debauchery" that is their identity.  Don't worry though about them living by the mission statement of "eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die," because when "tomorrow" happens and they die they will stand before God and will give an account.  This is why the gospel is preached...to transform people from being children of their father the devil to being sons and daughters of God and that they might live the way God does as they walk and live in the Holy Spirit who indwells everyone who has been born again.

Speaking of God's judgement, Peter reminds us that we don't have infinite time to share the gospel or infinite time for them to make their choice.  The final judgement is coming.so we need to be Spirit-controlled as this is evidence that we should not stand in the judgement because our sins have already been judged on the cross and we need to be making sure that if we have a sense of urgency in telling the world that we have the answer to the upcoming calamity, we had better practice what we preach--otherwise they won't want any part of what you are "selling."  How does that look?  In contrast to our previous list of the world's debauchery, children of God are to be identified by their love and forgiveness, serving each other with the gifts we've been given instead of using them to exalt ourselves.  We are to be full of hospitality and to do this without grumbling and we are to be good stewards of the gifts (physical and spiritual) that we've been given.  For those unfamiliar with the word, a steward is a slave who has been entrusted with some responsibly and authority as a temporary manager over the master's property.  Think of Joseph in the book of Genesis and how he was made a steward over everything and everyone in Potipher's house except Potipher's wife.  While we are slaves of Christ, that does not mean that we do not have responsibly or authority...it just means that authority is not our own and that it comes to us through our master so that when people treat us poorly, they are really treating Him poorly and He's the one who will set everything right...it's not the job of the servant to get vengeance for ourselves.

Whatever we do, we need to do it as if we are doing it through and for God.  Are our words His words?  Are our thoughts His thoughts?  Are His ways our ways? Are our acts of service the actions that He would take?  Are we serving through His power?  Is God getting the glory in everything?  Is Jesus specifically being made great?  "​To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."