I Peter 4:1-2

Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.  I Peter 4:1-2

“Therefore” ties us to something before.  Go back through 3:18-22 which speaks of Jesus’ death and victory, and then to 3:8 and find the word, “finally.”  “Finally” implies some kind of a list.  Go to 3:7, “likewise” and then to 3:1 and again, “likewise.”  So, we need to go farther back – to 2:18, “Servants, be submissive” and then back to 2:13, “Therefore submit” where that “therefore” pushes us back to 2:11-12.  There we are reminded that we are foreigners, strangers, aliens, upper story dwellers who are to live differently and will be abused for doing so.  So, we are to live “otherly”.  We are to submit to the authority area ordained by God – different than others and contrary to our nature wills – we are to submit.

Thus, the “therefore” of 4:1 is about living contrary to our natural bent which is to complain and fight.  The Christian is to joyfully serve in a way pleasing to God – with a good spirit even in the face of injustice and evil.  This charge of submission is one of the critical pieces of true Christianity.

We are to be a submissive people as was Jesus who gave us an example in that He drank God’s cup of wrath to the last dreg.  Jesus was submissive in that He fully obeyed.  John 17:4, I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.  [Submission joins two other very critical Christian concepts: 1. “grace” – God’s mercy that we are not consumed and His giving us salvation and 2. “propitiation” – that God’s wrath was appeased by the wrath Jesus took while on the cross.]

God expects His people to submit to the four basic authority structures in the world – government (2:13), employers (2:18), family (3:1 and 3:7), and “finally” church (3:8-9, 5:5).  Submit even if they are not delightful, just, or good.

The one exception is that we are never to submit to these entities when doing so means disobeying God’s Word.  In Daniel 6, the government told Daniel not to pray.  This was contrary to what God said, so Daniel prayed, and it got him the lions and brought about the end of his enemies.

This brings us to a second challenge from I Peter.  I Peter 4:1, the same mind:  Since Christ suffered for us in the flesh…  The second submission (after submitting to authorities) is to submit to the life and will of Jesus – to follow Jesus into suffering for others.  Matthew 16:24, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”  That is submission to His way which brings suffering – I Peter 2:21, For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example.  Philippians 1:29, For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.  Matthew 10:16-18, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.”  We will suffer walking with Jesus (II Timothy 3:12, I Peter 4:14, James 1:2-4, and Romans 5:3-4) and such is used by God to grow His people (Psalm 119:67) and to touch others (I Peter 3:15, II Corinthians 12:10).  Submit to the Jesus life.

Lastly, after submitting to authorities and submitting to walking with Jesus, we must submit to God’s will – not the will of the old man or that of the world, I Peter 4:2.  The old is laden with me-ism, greed and coveting, excesses, worldly passions/causes, pursuits of happiness and false gods (4:3).  Rather, God calls us to live in His will.  What is that?  Two points already made – submit to authorities and submit to following Jesus.  We need to be Beatitude people, Fruit of the Spirit-filled people, Ten Commandment people, and Lord’s Prayer kinda people.  Consider: 1. Exalting of Him, 2. Excited for Jesus’ return, 3. Seeking to please God every day, 4. Living thankfully, 5. Being humble by admitting and fixing sin and forgiving others, 6. Fearful as temptations abound, and 7. Needy – deliver me!  We need to study the Word with the mind to submit to the Word and to God’s will.