1 Peter 4:1-7 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revelings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 4 wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 5 who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer …

Being A Sober Minded Christian
In A Sin Soaked World

I want to start out by focusing on verse 7 of our text. The Apostle says, “The end of all things is at hand”.

Romans 6:23 … For the wages of sin is death …

The Roman Empire, much like America today, had given itself fully over to sin. The wages of sin is death. Sin unconfessed, sin renamed, sin justified by humanity, sin is a disease much worse than the Coronavirus ever was. It was sin that brought about a world wide flood in the days of Noah, sin that caused Adam and Eve to leave Paradise.

America shares much with the ancient Romans, as sin is cherished by many in our nation. We are today living in a post-Christian America. As a nation our leaders are making bad decisions, decisions that are not supported by the God of the Scripture. I believe, as Peter believed, that “the end of all things is at hand”. Believing this, Peter exhorted the Church that Jesus loves to

“be ye therefore SOBER and WATCH unto prayer”

Word Study Let’s focus on these key words. Be “SOBER and WATCH”. What do these words mean? The word translated SOBER is the Greek σωφρονέω sōphronéō, (pronounced so-fron-eh’-o), which means “to be in the right mind, to be sane, of sound mind”. The word translated WATCH is the Greek νήφω nḗphō, (pronounced nay’-fo), which means “to not be drunken, be discreet, calm and collected, temperate, careful in disposition, watchful”.

Christians Are Not To Be Part Of The Problem,
But Part Of The Solution

Christians are to be “of sound mind”. The Bible says, “we have the mind of Christ”. To be “of sound mind” or “in your right mind” is to share the same mind that Jesus had.

Christians are also to be “temperate, not drunken, or controlled by outside influences”. Believers are to “walk in the Spirit of God” (Galatians 5:16).

Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit

Christians are not to be controlled by outside influences, but by the Word and the Spirit of God. This command to be sober minded is not just in Peter, is a theme carried by other Biblical writers.

1 Thessalonians 5:5-11 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober {nēphō}. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober {nēphō}, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Though the Greek “nēphō” can be used to address those intoxicated with alcohol, neither Peter nor Paul are using it the word in that sense.

Paul tells us to “be sober”. We are “sober” when we …

Recognize WHOSE We Are

The Christian belongs to God. We are by nature different from the non-Christian. If you are saved by faith in Christ, then,

“Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.”

Though all people are broken, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ brought us out of the darkness of this lost world, and into the Kingdom of God. Last week we heard that:

Colossians 1:13 {God the Father} hath delivered us FROM THE POWER OF DARKNESS, and hath TRANSLATED us into the Kingdom of His dear Son

We belong to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, not the Kingdom of Adam or the Kingdom of Satan. We are translated, what we call positionally sanctified. God has, because of Christ, given us “the adoption of children” (Ephesians 1:5; Romans 8:15). We are called, as God’s Children, to be

“putting on the breastplate of faith and love;
and for an helmet, the hope of salvation”

The “breastplate” of the Roman warrior protected his heart, lungs, and stomach from damage. Our faith in Christ and in God’s sure Word, the Holy Bible, covers our hearts. We love God with all our hearts, and love Jesus more than anyone else. The “helmet” that covers the head – and the brain from damage – is the “hope of salvation”. We who are saved have a KNOW SO salvation. If I KNOW that I am saved, then I am to ACT as if I am saved. The Apostle tells us:

1 Peter 1:13-16 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober (nēphō), and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

The sober believer strives to be like the One Who save him, to be like Jesus. We do this by focusing our minds on what Jesus did for us on the Cross. We meditate on Him Who died for us.

1 Peter 4:1-2 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

When tempted to follow the crowd, fill your mind with the picture of Christ on the Cross. See Him …

Isaiah 53:3-5 … despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

It is the “blood of Jesus Christ that cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). See Him hanging on that Tree called a Cross. See Him, “smitten of God, afflicted, wounded for OUR transgressions, bruised for OUR iniquities”. It was His “stripes” that healed us, His suffering, His torment. Knowing what it cost Jesus to make payment for our sins, to bring us into the Family of God, then we …

“no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God”

We who are saved are “bought with a price”!

1 Corinthians 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

We are to serve God, not the world. We all know that:

1 Peter 1:18-21 … ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

As Pastor John Piper said:

“We were not bought with the wealth of nations,
but with the wounds of love!”

Jesus Christ came in the flesh to “give Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world” (Galatians 1:4). Jesus “loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Recognize WHOSE You Are Not

1 Peter 4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revelings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

There was a time when we all “walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revelings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:”. We walked according to the direction of the darkness. We went along with the ways of the world. However, we have changed because of Jesus Christ.

1 John 5:19 … we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

We no longer walk with the darkness, but wrestle against principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12-13). At one time we followed “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4), but now we follow Jesus. We do not lust, but love. We walk in peace with God. A judgment day is coming. The lost will consider the Christian peculiar …

1 Peter 4:4-5 they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 5 who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead

… but a Judgment Day is coming for all. Are you ready? Peter warns us:

1 Peter 5:5-9 God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober (nēphō), be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

We are not to give in to the devil, but are to “resist him in the faith”. We are not to give in to the things that the world promotes. The world did not die for my sins. Jesus Christ died for my sins. I belong to Him, and to none other.

Let Love Reign In Your Lives

1 Peter 4:7-9 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

Love is more than just a word. Love is a verb. To be sober minded is to love on another in practical ways. Your salvation is a stewardship, not something to be used selfishly. We are saved from the Law of God so that we might serve God. The Apostle said:

Romans 6:12-18 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

As servants and sons of God, we are to serve God by love as Christ served God by love. We are not to live selfishly, but selflessly. Our salvation and our lives are gifts from God. We represent God on this planet earth. Live so as to please the God Who saved you. Jesus told us:

John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

The Christian is supposed to be different than the non-Christian. We are to love one another as Christ loved us. This is a sacrificial sort of love. The Apostle says:

1 Peter 4:10-11 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

How we live our Christian lives are to bring glory to God Himself. “We are His people, the sheep of His pasture” (Psalm 100:3). Pastor John Piper again notes:

“The sober minded recognize and embrace the costs along the path of love. They expect to be disappointed, offended, betrayed – and they keep loving anyway. They keep showing hospitality, even when it is inconvenient …

1 Peter 4:9 Use hospitality to one another without grudging …

… They keep speaking the truth in love, even when it would be easier to say nothing (1 Peter 4:11). They keep serving, even when it costs them far more than they receive”.

We who belong to Christ keep on loving others, even when we are hurt in the process. Jesus Christ kept on loving, even though He was betrayed by all. We are to love others, and leave the judgment and the vengeance to God. It ruins the sober mind to carry a grudge against another. Instead we are to trust in our God, and do good to those who do badly to us. The Apostle said:

Romans 12:17-21 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Do good to those who do bad. Love as Jesus loves. Trust that, in the final analysis, God will make all things right. Stay in your right mind. Be sober minded. Do not take of the accursed thing. Achan dishonored God by taking of the accursed thing (Joshua 7:1), and brought disaster upon Israel. Turn from what God has rejected, and toward what God endorses. Fill your minds with the Word of God, and do the things that Christ has commanded. Remember the Word of the Lord:

Romans 13:12-14 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.

May God touch your hearts with His Word and His Spirit. Amen and Amen!