Stewards of Grace

May 19, 2013

Lesson: 1 Peter 4:1–11

Key Verse: 1 Peter 4:10

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Introduction

What good is a gift if you hide it under a bushel? Or, if you have a gift, but you think you would do better with a gift of your own choosing? We could put it this way: What good is your gift if you misuse it, or if it is of no benefit to you or others? Our Lord said, “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (4:10). Gifts should reveal the wonderful grace of God in Christ Jesus as they are used to benefit to one another. The use of our gifts is nothing less than the manifold grace of God in action, in and through his people, his congregations redeemed by the precious blood of Christ.

GRACE is one of the words of God’s Scripture that reveal the character of our salvation in Christ. This is a word that cannot be found—though it may be used as they define it—in other religions, such as those who claim the name ‘Christian,’ including the Mormons and those who follow Allah. Grace is peculiar to the Biblical Christian faith, both in the Old and New Testaments. Grace is defined as that which is given without expectation of a return, an unmerited or unearned gift. It is by grace we are saved, through faith, not by any works on our part. The Old Testament speaks of God’s kindness toward his people; a people who find favor in the eyes of the Lord, not in and of themselves, but in the mercy of God alone. Zechariah speaks of this kindness of God toward his people, a people who need his grace, as well as his protection from the enemy without: “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and of supplication: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced” (Zech. 12:10). It was Christ who was pierced for their iniquity. It was the Spirit of God who was poured out upon the saints of the Old and New Testament. It is the Spirit of God who is poured out upon his people today, that they may know the saving grace of their Father in heaven in Christ the Son.

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Ceased from Sin—1 Peter 4:1–6

Peter wrote, by the Spirit, about the cross of Christ, that his suffering would “bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit” (3:18). We know and understand that Christ sits “at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him” (3:22). Peter now turns our eyes to the truth that “since Christ suffered for us in the flesh,” we are to arm ourselves “with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.” Christ, having so loved us while we were still sinners died for our sins, enabling us, by the regenerating work of the Spirit, to live a life as dead to that sin. Christ, having suffered for our sins, redeeming our souls from the guilt and punishment of transgression against God, causes sin to no longer have dominion over us. We, having been identified with Christ and his suffering, are to have that same mind: that we are dead to sin, therefore we are to live to Christ and not to the flesh. We are no longer to live the rest of our time “in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.”

Peter gives us a picture of our past life. This is the life that the world has chosen to live. We, as children of God, redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, hate that sin in which we once walked: “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, banqueting (drinking parties), and abominable idolatries.” Many of us may not know what it means to be drunk, but we know what it means to lust after the flesh, to allow the selfish sinful spirit to covet after the things that please us. When we feast upon the gods of this world (Gentiles) we are in the state of revelry. In other words, we belong to the world and not to God. It is true today, as in Biblical times, that those around us “Wherein they think it strange that you run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you.” The world excels in the doing of evil, desiring that we participate with them in these things. It is an extravagant squandering of their resources. It is wearing oneself out in the flattery of the world, giving in to the lusts of self-satisfaction. It is the prodigal son who wallowed in the pen of the pigs. The world around us does not want us to live like Christ, but like them.

We are like those who are tired and warn out after a bad day’s work. We have been redeemed to a new life in Christ. The way of the world, of sin itself, no longer rules us. Christ is our Lord and Master, our King. As his subjects, we have learned that his yoke is easy, and his arms are refreshment to our souls. We have died to sin, to the lusts of the flesh.  “…when we become dead to the flesh, we have no more to do with sin, that it should reign in us, and exercise its power in our life” (Calvin). Scripture testifies, “For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him” (Rom. 6:7–8).

“Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead,” writes Peter. Christ, the King of kings, will judge the wicked and the righteous: those who are dead in sins to everlasting punishment; and those who bear his righteousness to life eternal. The world sees only death. Therefore, let us drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die. However, we read that 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.” God sees the spirit or soul of man and redeems him to eternal life in Christ. Calvin wrote, “The sum of what he says is, that though the condition of the dead in the flesh is worse, according to man, yet it is enough that the Spirit of Christ revives them, and will eventually lead them to the perfection of life.” We are continually dying to sin and living to Christ. While the wicked move from death to death, the child of God moves from life to life. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. …And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness” (Rom. 8:1, 10).

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Discussion: What does it mean that sin has no more power over us?

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Good Stewards of God’s Grace—1 Peter 4:7–11

Peter’s words in verse seven remind us of what our state of mind should be in relation to both our salvation and the world around us. When our focus is on the evil of this world, we become discouraged. However, our eyes of faith, when focused upon the presence of Christ, understand that he has the end firmly in his hands, our strength and hope soaring upwards. He writes, “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” Is it really at hand? The end of things are with us today. As to Christ, we could say that he is coming, and he continues to come, being with us in this generation and generations to come. We are assured that the end of all things will be in perfect accord with his will and purpose, to his glory, and to our good. Nothing is lacking in his promise of our salvation, today and forever. “We must remember this principle, that from the time when Christ once appeared, there is nothing left for the faithful, but with suspended minds ever to look forward to his second coming” (Calvin).

We are to be very serious in our relationship with our Father in heaven through Christ. We are to continue our fellowship with him in prayer, watchful as we receive his grace and strength and wisdom through his word. Our actions, on this earth toward one another, are to be exercised in hospitality and charity: “And above all things have fervent charity (unconditional love) among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” This word ‘fervent’ means to stretch out. It is a continual love which is not splintered or shut down for any reason whatsoever. As an anchor is cast out to give security and steadfastness to a ship, so our love is cast out to one another. It is the spirit of Christ’s words to the leper, “I am willing, be cleansed” (Matt. 8:3).

We read that “charity (love) will cover the multitude of sins;” not meaning that we overlook the sins of others, but that they may know the forgiveness of sins in Christ. It does mean that we offer forgiveness continually to those who sin against us. It does mean that we will not hold sin against one another, bringing it up to bring another down. These words are that of Solomon in Proverbs 10:12, “Hatred stirreth up strife; but love covereth all sins.” It is that self-centered heart that seeks the destruction of another. We are to be hospitable “one to another without grudging.” We are to, “as every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

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Discussion: What does it mean to be stewards of God’s grace?

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Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2013 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.