The Memory That Shuns Sin, Part 2

Every true believer lives in a tremendous battle between the desire of the unredeemed flesh and the compulsions of the new man. The new nature and the question that we ask is how we deal with that work only to face the reality of that conflict and know the path to victory, not to a life of violence.

And yet, where sin is concerned, you need to do everything possible to destroy its power break its grip and just because you're Christian doesn't mean sin isn't a threat.

So what does it take for you to break free from the sins you do battle with will help you find out today as John MacArthur continues a study that explores practical ways the biblical pattern for breaking sins grip.

That's also the title of his current series and now here's John with the lesson John owing the great Puritan whom I have been reading it seems quite frequently in recent weeks. Set this sin in the believer is a burden which afflicts him rather than a pleasure which delights him every true believer lives in a tremendous battle between the desire of the unredeemed flesh and the compulsions of the new man. The new nature like the apostle Paul in Romans seven we love the law of God, like the apostle Paul in Romans seven we battle the law the principle of sin, and though there is something deep within us planted there by God himself in the marvelous miracle of regeneration. There is a new life principle that longs for what is right and what is true and what is good and what is honorable and noble and holy and pure. There is also that unredeemed flesh in which that newness is incarcerated.

Thus, the battle and the question that we ask as we look at this text is how are we to deal with that warfare.

How are we to face the reality of that conflict and know the path of victory suggest to you that one factor that is very important is to have a threefold perspective with regard to sin. First of all we must have a forward look. We must have a sort of future orientation in that we are doing what Jesus said watching and praying, lest we enter into temptation to do what the apostle Paul said, walking circumspectly to be on the alert knowing that ahead of us at any moment one breath away is some formidable temptation.

So there must be a sense in which we live in anticipation we live in watchfulness. We live in alertness, but then there is not only a future dimension to our perspective, but there must be a present dimension as well.

We must not only be anticipating we must be dealing with what is presently here. We must hate what is evil. We must cling to what is good. As Paul said we must put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make in the present tense.

No provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. So, sensing what is imminent on the future living in what is real in the present will help us in dealing with sin. But there's one other look and that is the look which Peter really focuses on in his text and that is a backward look. There has to be a view of the past as well, and I believe anyone who is to deal with sin must have a good memory, Peter is going to help us to understand what we need to remember as we view the text so let's begin at verse one therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh as ceased from sin so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lust of men, but for the will of God for the time already past is sufficient for you to carry out the desire of the Gentiles. Having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness for arousals, drinking parties and abominable idolatries and in all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excessive dissipation, and they malign you.

They shall give account to him was ready to judge the living and the dead.

The gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, though they are judged in the flesh as men they may live in the spirit according to the will of God not remember that Peter is writing to Christians who are experiencing suffering Christians who are experiencing rejection Christians who are undergoing direct persecution. NSE has on the number of occasions spoken about the difficulty of a godly person in an ungodly situation. He has come to emphasize the end of chapter 3 the very strong point that in the greatest suffering. There may be the greatest triumph is clear when you study first Peter that suffering is the backdrop and there's a sense in which the culmination to viewing suffering comes in that third chapter of verses 18 to 22, with the understanding that the greatest suffering may lead to the greatest triumph. The example of that is none other than Jesus Christ.

Jesus, at the hour of his greatest difficulty at the hour of his highest pain, severest persecution, namely the hour of his death was winning the greatest victory.

The world is ever known in Peter's point is, no matter how difficult the hostility no matter how severe the persecution, understand that what may be the most difficult time. Ms. will be the most triumphant time there was Christ being murdered on across and through that very death he was triumphing over sin. It was triumphing over Satan. It was triumphing over demons. He was triumphing over death. It was triumphing over hell he was triumphing as it were, even over the judgment of God and in the end he was highly exalted by God himself.

In verse 22 says he was set at the right hand of God. After everything was made subject to so Christian suffering can be triumphant on the basis of that we come to verse one. Therefore, since there is great triumph and suffering. Since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, Peter says Christ suffered in the flesh triumphantly. You do the same. You can have the victory that parallels in some ways the victory of Christ know what specifically does he have in mind the me remind you when he says Christ is suffered in the flesh, he means Christ died talking about crucifixion is noted back in verse 18 Christ also died some manuscripts there say suffered. We assume that the interchange does intend to point out one the death and one the suffering associated with it, but both go together. Obviously, when in verse one of chapter 4 it says Christ has suffered is implied in that that he died.

It is a synonym here for death. He says that arm yourselves with the same Inouye arm yourselves with the same idea same purpose. The same principle the same thought and what thought is that in what idea, and what purpose that you are willing to die for righteousness sake because you know you may triumph in it now. If you are armed against persecution with a willingness to die. If you are willing to do what Jesus said in Matthew 1038, 39. In Matthew 16, take up your cross and follow him, which implies a willingness to die.

There also if you are willing to die for the cause of Christ, then you have armed yourself with the same idea Christ had when he died he died because of the joy that was set before him. He knew what it would accomplish.

He understood the triumphing. It so must you and what is that triumph look at the end of verse one because you are suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.

That's one aspect of it.

We noted in our last study some of the discussion regarding that phrase and I shared with you the conclusion that I have out of this text that what he's talking about. There is very simple. What he is saying is if they kill you. You will cease from sin.

The phrase suffered in the flesh again at the end of verse one means the same as it meant in the beginning of verse one and it has to do with the death of Christ.

It has to do with death, what he is saying is if you die you cease from sin. The point is that the worst that your persecutors can do to you is kill you, and if they kill you, the battle is over. That's the idea. And if you're armed with that idea you will not recant will have courage and boldness and confidence and strength in the midst of any trial, any difficulty any persecution any threat and then that kind of attitude will produce the attitude of verse two so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men.

That's the key.

If you are willing to die knowing you shall cease from sin, then you have just taken away the greatest weapon that the enemies have against you, and that is the threat of death. And if that's no threat for you. The national weapon for them. And if you understand that the goal of your life is to cease from sin and all.

Death can do is bring that goal to a reality.

If you do understand that that is the goal of your life, then you will live the rest of your life in the flesh no longer for the last of men. In other words, Peter say once you arm yourself with the reality that your goal is to be free from sin, it'll defuse the threat of death. Animal control the way you live your life. You are to live your life shunning sin no longer driven by fleshly desire, never compromising, because death could only be deliverance from sin. And so what threat could make you compromise this then becomes a very important stimulus to generate the shunning of sin. Now Peter then begins to explore this concept of remembering and I want to just take you through this just simply we went through two points of the outline. I'm just briefly condensing this remember this first level. Peter will give us several points remember what sin did to Jesus Christ.

Verse one. It kill him if we are going to deal with sin, and if we are going to have victory over sin going to have to hate sin part of hating sin is to understand what sin does no greater illustration of what sin does. In the look at what it did to Christ. Christ suffered Christ died as verse 18 of chapter 3 sentence. Secondly, in our last study, we noted that you must have a good memory about what sin did to Christ and secondly a good memory about what sin has done to Christian second part of verse one.

It kills them to not only does it kill them from time to time. There are martyrs, those who have died for the cause of Christ.

But it causes the note, this to battle all their life long until they die. Implication of the end of verse one is the only way to cease from sinister.well I hate sin because it kill Christ without a hate sin because it keeps believers from being what God has intended them to be perfect. Holy Christ like free from sin. It restrains us from being what we ought to be.

It makes us do. We don't want to do or not do what we want to do. It creates a terrible warfare. It provides for us a certain kind of bondage from which we can never be fully liberated and that is why we cry out for the redemption of our body and Romans chapter 8. Thirdly, we must remember if were going to shun sin not only what it did to Christ and what it is done to Christians. But what is done to God and this only by implication, but I think it's a point that needs to be made. Verse two says the believers to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men but for the will of God. And here we want to remember what sin does to God what it does to God is violate his what is will that's the implication Peter calls us to realize that we are to do God's will for the rest of our time in the flesh because prior to our salvation. Obviously, we did everything but the will of God. He contrasts living for the lusts of men and living for the will of God one or the other computer is simply saying.

By way of reminder that we have to look back and understand that sin violates the will of God.

When we live in sin when we follow the lusts of men we violate the will of God. The Bible is full of many exhortations to this matter of obedience and I will just draw you to a few that are quite familiar to you. Matthew chapter 7 tells us this in verse 24 that everyone who hears these words of mine and acts upon the may be compared to a wise man who built his house upon the rock and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and burst against that house and get it did not fall for the been founded upon the rock and everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act upon them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew burst against that house, and it fell in grade was its fall that whole thing can be summed up by saying that judgment will come in the end, and it will come on those who did not do the will of God. Back in verse 21 Jesus said not everyone who says to me Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my father who is in heaven. This then is an exhortation to the obedience of the will of God. In Matthew chapter 28 we are all reminded of the fact that in the great commission Jesus said we are to teach them to observe all that I commanded you, that's part and parcel of making disciples is to bring men into obedience to the commandments which express the will of God.

You remember well, perhaps from your childhood. Memorizing Romans 12 to listen to it do not be conformed to this world be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what the will of God is that which is good and acceptable and perfect in Ephesians chapter 5 in verse seven, the Scripture says that we are not to be partakers with those who are deceivers upon whom the wrath of God comes who are called the sons of disobedience. Ephesians 66 it says we are to be slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. Love, Colossians 412 it speaks of the path for us, who was always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. And so it goes and goes and goes through the New Testament.

The call to obedience sin.

On the other hand, starting with Lucifer and his fall is an expression of disobedience, refusal to do the will of God. Sin is rebellion. The Scripture says, sin is hostility against God the beloved. This is a simple point that I make in just the Scriptures to remind you of how important obedience is. But this is a simple point. The point is this how can we sin when we understand that it violates the will of God. God, who is been so gracious to us. God, who is been so loving and merciful and kind. How can we live to put it in Peter's words, the rest of our time in the lusts of men rather than the will of God. We can't we can't.

If you desire to shun sin in your life you must have a backward look.

You must understand what sin did to Christ. It killed him. It is a despicable hateful thing you must understand what it has done to Christians. It has retarded them and prevented them from being all that they should and could be apart from it must remember what it does to God violates his holy will. The sense in which it strikes a blow in his blessed face it rebels against C for what it is. Jeremiah chapter 22 verse 21 in Jeremiah 3514 it says I have spoken to you again and again. Yet you have not listened to me that's the essence of sin, rebellion, forceful. I believe Peter suggests to us here that if we are to shun sin we must remember what sin has done to lost humanity not only what it is done to Christ. What is going to Christians and retarding them from being what they could be not only what it is done to God what it is done to lost humanity. This is the heart of verses three through five which I draw your attention what you have in verses 345 is a rather graphic and tragic description of the devastating effects of sin on mankind.

That should provide your memory with plenty of reason to shun sin. He says little of the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men before the will of God because the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the pagans or the Gentiles are the nations in other words, you already had enough time. You already had sufficient opportunity to live in sin why Dragon on any longer and he here refers to your pre-conversion life to the time before you came to know Christ and he says your pre-Christian experience of sin is sufficient sense of the word, by the way, sufficient.

The sense of that word is actually more than sufficient sense of it is more than enough. You've already had more than enough of that kind of life you've carried out the desire of the Gentiles, to an extent that you don't need to do it any longer. By the way, the desire here is Lamar, which seems to have the idea of a desire that is a purpose.

It's a purpose to desire. When you are unsaved and when you are without God and without Christ. Your heart purpose to fulfill your evil desire is what Peter calls in chapter 118 a futile way of life, you've already spent more than enough time on that enough time to of worked it out to have produced to accomplish the pagan lifestyle to its limit.

Now, leave it alone. That concludes today's look at the power sin has in the greater power you as a Christian, have two avoided the title of John MacArthur study here on grace to you breaking sins grip along with teaching every day on the radio.

John also serves as Chancellor of the Masters University in seminary, John. I'm thinking about what we saw today about the effects of sin and the foundational question comes to mind. I know people ask this all the time. Scripture says God is not the author of confusion and therefore he's not the author of sin. So where did sin come from, how do you answer the question, what would you say to the person who's trying to reconcile the fact that God is the creator of everything and yet somehow he's not the creator of sin. Well, I would reconcile it.

First of all by saying God declares himself to be holy angels declared him to be holy, holy, holy God cannot sin God's perfect holiness, perfect righteousness. So by the definition of his character. He cannot be the author of sin in Scripture even says God is not the author of sin. So sin had to come from somewhere else that we know where it first came from wheat. We know where it first appeared. That was in Lucifer, who was one of the angels.

One of the highest ranking angels who decided that he wanted to be equal to God or even superior to God and rebelled against God, and led the third of the angels in that rebellion with him and they were thrown out of heaven and became the demonic force led by Satan that were so familiar with. So sin originated with with Satan, it originated with Lucifer as to how that originated there is no answer in Scripture. Yeah, I think it helps, though, to know that citizens are created thing. It's an act of destruction. Yes, it is an act of destruction and the apparently within the within the creation of God of angels. First of all, and even of human beings, God allowed for the potential for sin to take place.

He wasn't responsible for it, but he allowed for it and the question then comes up. Why would God allow for that in the answer to that is because God could never put on display his redemption. All of his mercy and grace and loving kindness and forgiveness and compassion. If there were not sin the whole expression of eternal worship is going to be glorifying God for saving us so God had every right to put those attributes of his nature on display, and he allowed for sin while not being responsible for.

Thank you John for that clear answer, and friend. If you're looking for one source that can answer just about all the questions you have about God's word. A reminder about the MacArthur study Bible, with about 25,000 detailed notes written by John the MacArthur study Bible is a library in one volume that you will turn to for answers again and again to place your order. Contact us today. Call 855 grace or visit our website@tty.org the MacArthur study Bible is available in the English standard new King James and new American Standard version is also available in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Chinese, Portuguese and Arabic were sure to have an option that's right for you again to order the MacArthur study Bible, call 855 grace or visit TTY.org if you enjoyed today's lesson know that you can help us produce these broadcasts and give solid Bible teaching to spiritually hungry people. Your tax-deductible gifts translate into verse by verse teaching in your community and others like it throughout most of the English and Spanish speaking world, giving to your local church comes first. But we are grateful for anything you can give beyond that to partner with us. Call 855 grace or go to our website TTY.org you can also mail your donation to grace to you.

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I'm Phil Johnson reminding you to watch grace to television this Sunday also join us at the same time tomorrow for another 30 minutes of unleashing God's truth one verse at a time on grace the