The Memory That Shuns Sin, Part 1

Since sin is the evil of all evils, yes indeed, the only evil and since we hated and long to be free from it.

How can we avoid it.

What is required of us if we are to stay away from sin is the major effort of the life of every believer to avoid sinning battle cries from history like remember the Alamo and remember Pearl Harbor, but where your battles with sin are concerned, there's another motto to keep in mind remember the consequences. John MacArthur explains why that's crucial, as he helps you take hold of the tools Scripture makes available for breaking sins grip. That's the title of the study.

He begins today on Grace to you. John from the title of this series breaking sins grip. You almost seem to be implying that sin is an active force that it has a powerful hold on our lives and we need to fight against it somehow. Is that accurate, absolutely accurate. Now the apostle Paul who would be the model Christian of the New Testament said I don't do what I want to do I do what I don't want to do. Oh wretched man that I am who will deliver me from the body of this death. Use things like having a corpse attached to you.

Sin clings to you and you know John, the writer in his epistle said if we say we have no sin, we make God a liar and we we we are not delivered from our sins in this life we are waiting for the redemption of our bodies and then were free from sin, so we all struggle with sin do to deny that is folly and I don't care whether your a monk in a monastery, thinking that somehow you can isolate yourself from the world and therefore you can defeat sin.

Sin will find you wherever you are, because is not around you. It's in you, you know, Jesus said it so simple.

He said it's never goes into the man that defiles a man is what comes out of the man, for out of the heart come all the evil things so you take your evil heart. Wherever you are. There is no location.

There is no lifestyle that's going to free you from the residual sin in your heart. Even as a believer, and that means if you're honest you're fighting the battle and breaking sins grip should be your number one priority as a believer. This is going to be a great series based on first Peter 41 through six, like basic training for your mind training how your self how to avoid and conquer temptation will look at five reasons to hate your sin.

Three perspectives help you avoid sinning. The study is for believers who want to minimize the effects of sin and enjoy victory in its vital for every believer in that victory comes our joy and even our usefulness to the Lord. So were going to end the week by looking at an area of widespread failure for so many people sins of the mind and that's where sin begins putting off sins of the mind means clearing out your head of those things that defile the broadcast going to help you find victory over sin, experience joy and blessing from the Lord. Stay with us all week yes to do in this study, John will show you how to use the resources God has given you in the battle against sin. You don't want to miss a day with that here again is John MacArthur to launch his series breaking sins grip.

Let's open our Bibles to first Peter chapter 4, but to begin with, let me read you the first six verses of first Peter chapter 4. Therefore, 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 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the loss of man, but for the will of God for the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles. Having pursued a course of sensuality lasts 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, but they shall give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead for the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men they may live in the spirit according to the will of God in his rich book called the plague of plagues written in 1669.

A godly man by the name of Ralph venting wrote this paragraph about sin. Listen to in general. Sin is the worst of evils.

The evil of evil. And indeed, the only evil nothing is so evil as sin. Nothing is evil but sin as the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us, so neither the sufferings of this life, nor of that to come are worthy to be compared as evil, with the evil of sin, no evil is displeasing to God or destructive to man, but the evil of sin. Sin is worse than affliction. Then death, then the devil than hell affliction is not so afflicted of death is not so deadly. The devil is not so devilish hell is not so hellish as sin is. This will help to fill up the charge against its sinfulness, especially as it is contrary to, and against the good of man. Then he says the four evils I have just named are truly terrible and from all of them. Everyone is ready to say good Lord deliver us, yet none of these nor all of them together are as bad as soon. Therefore, our prayers should be more to be delivered from sin and of God here. No prayer else yet as to this, we should say we beseech the to hear us. Good Lord."

In a unique way with a strange but interesting choice of words does Ralph venting help us to understand the evil of sin is worse than affliction is worse than death is worse than the devil.

It is worse than hell now is true that a believer hates sin. It is true that a believer desires to flee from sin is true that a believer longs to be freed from sin.

All of us at some point or another in our lives. In one way or another. In some words or another have cried out old wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death, we will cried against our own wretchedness.

We have all along that some point in time to be delivered from the bondage of sin. Now the question comes.

Since sin is the evil of all evils, yes indeed, the only evil and since we hated and longed to be free from it. How can we avoid it. What is required of us if we are to stay away from sin. While obviously, it is the major effort of our life, would you not agree to that is the major effort of the life of every believer to avoid sinning now in order to avoid sinning.

We must have three perspectives in a sense we have to live in three tenses, future present and past. Some would say to us in order to avoid sin, you have to the future look what we mean by that. You've gotta be watching for that temptation which hasn't arrived yet, but you gotta be ready. So you're not caught unawares. You have to look into the future you need to do what the disciples failed to do. And Jesus said to them, watch and pray last you enter into temptation.

We have to be on the alert. We have to be watchful careful always looking ahead, anticipating what might come walking circumspectly walking wisely in light of the danger ahead. We also have to have a present look. Not only are we looking ahead, anticipating what might come, but we are looking at the present tense at what is surrounding us so that we are not duped unwittingly in the sin.

Paul reminds us in Romans 12 nine. He says hate what is evil.

Cling to what is good that's present tense whatever you see there is evil hated whatever you see is good clean to also do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Paul said in Romans 1314 put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its less so. We are constantly looking to the future, anticipating what might come of sin. We are also very carefully assessing the present, so that we may shun sin, but there is the need as well to look to the past. One of the most important faculties for dealing with the evil of all evils. Indeed, the only evil is a good memory a good memory and that is really what's in Peter's words here he is calling on us to remember some things that will enable us to shun sin. The key to the passages in verse two where Peter says that we are to live the rest of the time that we are in this flash no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. We are to live the rest of our lives shunning sin and living out the will of God. Now, in order to do that. Yes, we must look ahead and anticipate watchfully that which might come.

And yes, we must apprise ourselves of the present tense, but Peter's main point is we must look back, we must have a good memory now remember where we are before we dig into this particular text.

This whole epistle was written to people who were suffering and it has reached a certain climax. Actually, at the end of chapter 3 in the climax there was that Peter was saying in all of your suffering. Remember this suffering can be triumphant you can be a victor even in suffering and the model for that is who Christ and he shows us in chapter 3 verses 18 through 22 how Christ in the midst of unjust suffering triumphant. In fact, he gained his greatest victory at the time of his greatest suffering when Jesus was being unjustly killed on the cross, when he was being unfairly treated. When he was being punished. The result of hatred. The result of rejection. At the very time when he was suffering unjust treatment dying but just for the unjust. He was triumphing over sin. He was triumphing over the demon forces of hell, he was triumphing over the judgment of God, and he was gaining for himself the ultimate supremacy as it says in verse 22 of being seated at the right hand of God. So in the moment of his death he triumphed over sin be triumphed not only over sin, but he triumphed over the demon forces of hell, he triumphed over the judgment of God which he endured and came out the glorious and he triumphed over all created beings. And it was all in his greatest suffering that he gained his greatest trial. Peter's point is that when you view your suffering. Remember, it may be the moment of your greatest triumph. So it was with the suffering of Christ. And so it may be with you as well. Now, with that in mind, let's look at verse one. Therefore, which obviously ties us into what is just said in chapter 3. Since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose. That's really the summation of what he is just said.

That's why there, therefore, is there you have seen Christ suffered in the flesh, and his suffering was triumphant. So arm yourselves with that same purpose. What purpose to be willing to suffer in the flesh, knowing it produces potentially the greatest triumph.

That is a marvelous statement and that is the application of all that has gone before is better to suffer for Christ than to suffer with the world is better because in our suffering for righteousness sake.

When we suffer for doing what is right. When we suffer unjustly when we are persecuted and treated unfairly and unkindly is that very suffering which can produce our greatest spiritual pride. So we are to arm ourselves with that same purpose.

Now we look more specifically at the statement so they'll understand.

Because the verse itself can appear at the outset to be somewhat difficult. Please note that first statement.

Since Christ has suffered in the flesh simply means Christ has died.

That's what it's talking about.

It's talking about his death. Back in verse 18 it says Christ died at the beginning of the verse at the end of the verse it says that he was put to death in the flesh being put to death in the flesh in verse 18 suffering in the flesh here in verse one.

Both refer to the same thing.

They refer to his death. That's what Peter's been talking about since Christ died implied and had such great triumph in his death, then arm yourselves also with the same purpose. Know what we mean here by this arm yourselves well. It is a military term properly translated it refers to a soldier putting on weapons to fight.

And in Ephesians 611, a form of this word is translated armor or the whole armor of God, put on your armor, arm yourselves, take up your weapons.

Why for a battle.

Your life is going to be a battle and you need to be armed with this ultimate weapon. What is it arm yourselves also with the same annoying in the Greek was at me same mind.

Same idea. Same principle same thought what you mean listen very carefully. Arm yourself with the same realization the same idea and the same principle that was manifest in the suffering of Christ. What is that the principle that even in death. I can what triumph that's the idea. Arm yourself with that great thought. In other words, be willing listen carefully.

Be willing to die. Arm yourself with that great thought. That's exactly what I believe Peter is saying it's a very simple statement, Christ died and you need to arm yourself with that same idea that you two are willing to die because you understand that in dying.

There is triumph.

You have an alternative if you persecuted and they threaten your life, you can just recant you just deny Christ, just bailout, but that's not an option as it so what you saying here is that like just what Jesus said in John 16 is going to come to pass in many of your lives. Some of you are going to be persecuted.

Some of you are going to be killed.

Some of your gonna be martyrs. Arm yourself with that idea that as Christ was willing to die because he knew it. There was triumph you have the same thought.

Be willing to die for righteousness sake because you know it can be triumphant. Melanie said simply, voluntarily accept the potential of death as a part of the Christian life is any thought to be Matthew chapter 10 verse 30 and 39 Jesus said this, take up your what cross and follow me and he said if any man is not willing to take up his cross, having denied himself is not worthy to be my disciple.

What he mean by that was you mean take up your cross, what is that mean that means be willing to die is nothing mystical about it is in some spiritual dedication is talking about now, what, when he said to them, be willing to deny yourself and take up your cross.

They knew exactly what he meant, because the cross is where people get executed it would same be willing to die for me, willing to give your life and for many many Christians that has been a reality. Paul said frankly first rent is 5031 I die every day to be, but I'm living on the edge. Second Corinthians chapter 4. As he talked about the character of his own ministry said were persecuted were struck down. We are always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, we are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus sake. Death works in us other words, he was always on the edge of death and one day he died for Christ and what he was ready for that number when he wrote his last letter he said I'm ready to be offered. She had armed himself with the same idea he had looked at the death of Christ and seen Christ triumph in it and so we armed himself with the same idea that I am willing to die for Christ, Peter here like Paul is the same thing in mind you will find dear friends that that is the ultimate weapon that is the ultimate weapon say what we mean that seal the web look if if the worst they can do to you is kill you and from your viewpoint. The best that can happen to you is to die. Then you have ultimately thwarted them.

That is the greatest weapon you possess is he that is why so many martyrs throughout the history of the church have been willing to die because they armed themselves with that same idea that there is great triumph in death.

Jesus died and triumphed over soon and if I die look at verse one, because he who has suffered in the flesh was that phrase mean to die has ceased from sin, you get that is death so bad you know what happens when you die what happens you don't sin anymore.

That's good because you hate sin and you would like to be delivered from sin and you would like to be godly and virtuous and pure and holy and spotless and you see if I am armed with the goal of being delivered from sin and that goal is only achieved through my death and the ultimate that anything anyone can do to me is kill me. They can only bring about that which is most precious to me so I thwart them so he's telling these persecuted Christians to look for the triumph in death. The worst that the hospital persecuting world can do is kill the believer and if the believer is willing to die then that's no threat you read through Fox's book of martyrs or you read the story of John and Betty stammer you read the story of the missionaries in Ecuador or even more contemporary missionaries who were really chilled for the cause of Christ are people in communist lands or pagan lands, whose lives were taken because of their faith in Christ and you ask yourself, how is it that they could endure that and the answer is because they view death as triumph. They have armed themselves with that idea because they know that in death. They cease from sin, then death has about it a certain sweetness, does it not the one who dies ceased from sin. The perfect tense verb and it emphasizes a state or condition you enter into a condition, a permanent eternal state.

Free from sin, that bad. Not if that's the goal of my life where my trying to do through my whole Christian life where my trying to eliminate in my life.

Sin in one fell swoop.

It's gone. So I have that idea in my mind they kill me and I'm domino beware I'm trying to get free from sin, then all the fear is gone.

All the threatening is gone out of persecution. When a believer dies enters a permanent condition, free from sin. Christ is the model of the this was true Christ. By the way, you know what immunity was in the center. That's right, he never sinned, he was without sin. But he came listen carefully into a world and it says in Romans 83 in the likeness of sinful flesh and he came not only in the likeness of sinful flesh, but for sin and that he subjected himself to evil men doing wicked things to him, so he felt the brunt of sin didn't Lord, when we see what sin did to him.

When we see what it does to Christians to us and we hated.

We hated enough to arm ourselves with the same idea that were willing to die because the die is to be delivered from sin forever all unimaginable bliss. Enjoy. Father, we thank you for the grace that would even grant such a gift to us as to be forever free from sin, to think of the alternative is to think of an eternal hell which is the eternal presence of sin and only sin. Oh what a non-thinkable horrible thought.

Thank you for the grace that has granted us the promise of an eternity where sin is forever cease what grace, thank you in the name of our Lord. Amen.

Though it's painful to think that we caused our Lord's agony, remembering what Christ went through is a primary way you can overcome sin as John MacArthur explained in his message today on grace to you.

The title of his study, breaking sins grip.

Now John has more practical strategies for defeating sin in his series breaking sins grip so let me encourage you to pick up the two CD album or download the whole series at our website. It's free to download and it comes with a lot of material. We won't have time to err, so get in touch today.

You can call us toll-free at 855 grace or visit our website TTY.org. The CD album for breaking sins grip is affordably priced and shipping is free and again. You can also download both messages along with more than 3500 of John's sermons for free at TTY.and friend. Thanks for remembering that the support of listeners like you helps keep John's verse by verse teaching available free of charge to people around the world that includes this broadcaster on more than a thousand stations every day as well as online resources and the many books and CDs we give away through our mailing list.

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It's another half hour of unleashing God's truth one verse at a time on grace to you