1 Peter 4, let's begin reading at verse 7.
Peter writes,
Use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace.
Whoever speaks as one who speaks the oracles of God,
whoever serves as one who serves by the strength that God supplies,
in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ,
to him be glory and dominion forever and ever.
Amen.
When my brother Jonathan and I were of age,
mom and dad used to leave us at home by ourselves.
Do you remember that point in your life
when your parents finally trusted you to be at home alone
so that they could go away for a couple of nights?
I remember clearly the first time that mom and dad did that.
I can't remember exactly where they went.
Maybe it was a marriage retreat or something like that with the church.
But instead of sending us to stay at someone else's house,
they let us stay at home by ourselves.
And as you can imagine,
what would typically happen is those days would be filled with all kinds of indulgences
that maybe were ordinarily limited or otherwise restricted.
But mom and dad always made their expectations clear.
Their expectations as to how we were to handle ourselves while they were away.
And of course, their expectations about what condition the house should be in upon their return.
And it was funny, in the early parts of those time frames,
Jonathan and I didn't think much about that.
We just enjoyed ourselves.
All the things that you're not typically allowed to do.
Stay up as late as you want.
Eat whatever you want.
Don't clean it up.
Whatever you want to do, that's what we decided to do.
But as it got closer and closer to mom and dad coming back,
we grew more keen to prepare for their arrival.
Sometimes we were staying up late at night not because we wanted to anymore,
but because we'd made such a mess that we really had to kick it into high gear
to make sure that when the judgment came, we would be able to stand.
And you might say that our time at that point stopped being lived for what we wanted to do.
And it started being lived according to what mom and dad's expectations were.
The imminency of their return shaped the way that we behaved.
And that's similar to what Peter's on about in this particular part of chapter 4.
It's indicated by the very first phrase.
If you just want to set your eyes on it again.
He leads with, the end of all things is at hand, therefore,
and he continues on in a number of exhortations.
Now, all of the instructions that Peter gives here in this paragraph,
they're all flowing out of that opening phrase.
That because the end of all things is at hand,
because it's near, because it's here,
there is a particular way that he expects Christians will then live.
We are in the last days.
These days are leading to the return of Christ.
And the return of Christ means the final judgment.
And that reality is to shape the way that we are living now.
Before we jump into the specific exhortations, there's four of them.
We're going to go through two today,
and we'll go through the other two in a couple of weeks.
But before we jump right into those exhortations,
I think it would be good for us just to linger for a moment on this opening indicative,
this opening truth.
The end of all things is at hand.
And I want you to think about the way Peter is bookending this paragraph.
In verse 7, it's the end of all things.
But then in verse 11, it sounds very different than that, doesn't it?
In verse 11, we have this idea of glorifying God forever and ever.
Now, here's the question.
How can there be both an end and a forever?
The Bible speaks of human history in two stages.
We call it a two-stage structure of human history.
There is this age, and there is the age to come.
Now, there are many examples of this in the Scripture.
Let me give you two.
The first one is in Matthew 12, 32, if you want to write that reference down.
Matthew 12, 32.
Jesus says,
Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven.
But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
And then he says,
Either in this age or in the age to come.
In other words, there's not only consequences for this sin now,
there are consequences for this sin in eternity, forever.
Let me give you another one.
Ephesians 1, verse 21.
Paul writes that God exalted Jesus far above all rule and authority and power and dominion
and above every name that is named.
And he says,
God has done that not only in this age, but also in the one to come.
There's many other places we could go to to point this out.
We have this two-stage structure.
There's this age and there is the next age.
Now, we've just spent some time praying for John Piper and desiring God.
So I want to use one of his resources for you now.
I'm going to borrow this from him.
It's just a helpful visual that I think will help us wrap our minds around this.
It's a series of them.
If you just put the first one up for us there, Ashlyn.
We need to see we have first this age,
and then just above it we've got the age that is to come.
Now, the question is, where does the transition happen?
At what point do we move from this age to the age to come?
That's where the next part of the chart comes in, Ashlyn, if you'll move to the next thing.
That happens when Jesus returns.
That's the official transition according to the Bible,
that right now we're in this age, the age of this world,
but notice that the transition from one to the next happens at the return of Christ,
and the return of Christ brings about the great resurrection.
That is not just the resurrection of believers,
but also the resurrection of unbelievers,
and we all stand in the final judgment.
We stand before the judgment seat of God,
and it's at that time that all of us will answer to God
for the way that we lived our lives.
Those who have trusted Christ, those who have followed him as Lord,
will then enter into his eternal glory.
The age to come for those who are God's people
is the kingdom of Christ, the kingdom of God.
But those who have not trusted Christ,
who have not followed him,
will enter into eternal judgment and hell.
So the age to come for them is not the glory of Christ,
it is separation from Christ, as Andy prayed just a moment ago.
So the return of Christ when Jesus comes back
is the consummation of the age to come,
or the consummation of the kingdom of God.
Now, there's still another piece of this that we need to understand.
Now, as Peter does here,
the Bible often speaks of the end of all things,
or the last days, or the final days,
or the coming judgment of God.
We see it over and over in the New Testament, right?
But what does it mean?
The end of what, right?
The last days of what?
It's the end of this age.
It's the last days of this age.
Put that one up, Ashlyn, if you don't mind.
All right, so here we are.
And this is where we are now.
So you have this present age.
That's Adam and Eve.
That's creation until Christ's return.
But then we've got the last days, the end, the final days.
That's where we are now.
The New Testament teaches that the end of all things
is not a point in the future,
but it's actually a span of human history
in which we now live.
And it's progressing.
There are things that are going to change and grow
and progress in that time,
and there will be an end of the end.
But when the Bible speaks of the end,
it really is speaking of this span of time.
Now here's another question.
When did this time begin?
Well, it began with Christ's first coming.
So we would say when Christ returns,
you can put the last one up, Ashlyn.
When Christ returns, that's kingdom consummated.
That's the age to come brought to completion.
But when Jesus came the first time,
that's the kingdom inaugurated.
It has come in the person of Jesus Christ.
This is what Jesus preached.
Remember Mark 1.
Jesus is baptized by John.
He goes to the wilderness temptations,
and then he comes back into the region of Galilee.
And what's the message that he's preaching?
He's preaching the kingdom of God is at hand.
It is here.
Remember, repent and believe the good news.
The kingdom has come in the king,
the presence of the king,
in his incarnation,
and then of course in his death,
in his resurrection,
in his ascension.
That's the inauguration of the kingdom.
And what is true is that
while his eternal kingdom
will be consummated when he returns,
it has indeed in some sense already come.
It has begun even now.
Now just look at chapter 1 of 1 Peter.
We've seen he's already pointed this out to us,
hasn't he?
Look at chapter 1 in verse 20.
Jesus was foreknown
before the foundations of the world.
He was chosen by the Father
to be our Redeemer
before he even created the world.
But he was made manifest when?
In the last times
for the sake of you.
Now the last times
in chapter 1 in verse 20
is the same span
as chapter 4 in verse 7,
the end of all things.
It's the same epoch
in which we live now.
And if the king has come
and he has inaugurated his kingdom,
the glory of the age to come
is breaking through
even now.
I want you to think about that.
We often think about the age to come
and we think about the glory of the kingdom.
But the Bible teaches us
that since the king has already come,
it is beginning to break through
into this age even now.
But in what way does it do that?
It breaks through
as God's chosen people,
his church,
whom he has called
and whom he has redeemed
with his precious blood of Christ,
it breaks through
as they live in this age
for the glory of God
that is to be on full display
and fully consummated
in the age to come.
Now I say all of that to say this.
That's what 1 Peter is ultimately about.
1 Peter is about this exile.
It's about living in the last days
and all the problems
that come with the last days
but belonging to the age to come.
Knowing that this age
is not what our life is for.
Knowing that this world
and this kingdom
is not really where we belong.
We belong to a different king
and to a different kingdom
and we are to represent
that king now
in this age.
And this is the context
in which Peter
is issuing the exhortations
of this text.
He's essentially saying,
church, remember,
the end of all things is here.
Jesus is about to return.
Therefore, it is essential
if we bring it together
with the previous paragraph.
It is essential
that you cease living
for human passions.
Stop living for what you want.
Stop living for this life
and begin living for God's will
and God's glory even now.
Just like Jonathan and I
preparing for our parents
to get home,
Jesus expects
that his people
will live in light of the end
even as they now wait.
And how is it that we are to do that?
What should mark us
as Christ people
in this age?
And Peter,
at least at this point,
gives us four things.
We're going to cover the first two.
Here's the first one that he gives.
One thing that should mark us
is sober prayer.
Sober prayer.
Look again at verse seven.
The end of all things is at hand.
Therefore,
be self-controlled
and sober-minded
for the sake
of your prayers.
Now we've seen
throughout this letter
that Peter is seriously concerned
concerned about what we might call
spiritual sobriety.
Spiritual sobriety.
A disciplined
and rightly focused mind
we've seen again and again
is essential
to thriving
in exile,
to living faithfully
as God's people
here in this age.
Now I want you to look at
two places
before we jump back to this one.
Flip back to chapter one,
verse 13.
We saw this word there.
Peter says,
therefore,
preparing your minds for action
and being,
here's the repetition,
and being sober-minded,
set your hope fully
on the grace
that will be brought to you
at the revelation
of Jesus Christ.
In other words,
in chapter one,
Peter says,
you need to be sober-minded
so that
your hope
will be fixed
and set
on the grace
of Jesus Christ
that will be brought
to completion
at his return.
Now we want you to look
at chapter five.
Chapter five
and verse eight.
You probably
have this verse memorized.
Notice what Peter says.
Be sober-minded.
There's the repetition.
Be watchful.
Why?
Because your adversary,
the devil,
prowls around
like a roaring lion
seeking someone
to devour.
Resist him,
Peter says,
firm in your faith,
knowing that
the same kinds
of sufferings
are being experienced
by your brothers
throughout the world.
Now what's that about?
Well, in 1.13,
Peter says,
be sober-minded
so that
your hope
is set
on the grace
of God.
And then in chapter five,
he says,
be sober-minded
so that you will
recognize
the work
of the devil
and you will
be able
to resist him
and to
flee
from the temptation.
Now those instructions
make a lot of sense
in this letter,
don't they?
These Christians
were suffering
and the suffering
they faced
was producing
spiritual anxiety
and sinful temptations
to compromise.
And without self-control
and sober-mindedness,
we learn that we are
in immediate danger,
immediate danger
of abandoning the faith
because we don't have
our minds set on hope
or in immediate danger
of falling
into sinful passions
that wage war
against our souls
because we're not
being sober-minded
in relationship
to our enemy.
But then when we get
to this verse,
self-control
and sober-mindedness
are for something different.
They are for the sake
of your prayers,
for the sake
of your prayers.
In each of these instances,
spiritual sobriety
is not the goal.
It is a means
to a greater goal.
Hope,
holiness,
prayer.
But what does that
actually mean?
How does sober-mindedness,
self-control
affect our prayers?
What does it mean
for the sake of our prayers?
Does that mean that
if we're not
self-controlled
and sober-minded
that God will refuse
to hear our prayers?
I don't think
that's exactly
what Peter means
to say here.
So what is this about?
What exactly
is the link
between these characteristics
in prayer?
And why is it necessary
that we give ourselves
to it
in light of
the fact that
we are at the end
of the age?
Well, it's pretty simple,
I think.
The one who lacks
self-control
will not give themselves
to prayer
in any meaningful way.
Okay.
A disciplined prayer life
takes discipline,
right?
And someone
who lacks
that discipline
and self-control
is not going
to give themselves
to prayer.
But the one
who lacks
sobriety,
if they pray at all,
will not pray
the right way.
And in either case,
genuine communion
with God
is absent
from their lives
and they stumble
through life
like a drunk
who cannot
reasonably function.
And in relationship
to the Christian life
and the suffering
that we're dealing
with in this letter,
we become filled
with
unnecessary anxiety.
What is it
that the hymn says?
Oh, what peace
we often forfeit.
Oh, what needless
pain we bear.
all because
we do not
carry
everything
to God
in prayer?
We begin
to be filled
with doubt
in our sufferings.
We become
overcome
by temptations.
And the primary
antidote
to these things,
the anxieties
and the doubts
and the temptations,
is prayer.
And so
when they say,
well,
we believe
that God
is sovereign,
right?
Well,
what really
is the point
of prayer
if God
is sovereign?
Well,
what if the
point of prayer
is not so much
to change
our circumstances?
What if the
point of prayer
is to fill
our greatest need?
Our need
for Him?
Our need
for God?
What is it
that happens?
I think there's
something supernatural
that takes place
in genuine
communion with God
in this way.
And you'll
understand what
I mean,
I think,
when I say that
and what I don't
mean when I say that.
I don't mean that
prayer is like a
magical incantation
that if you say
the right thing
the right way
the right number
of times
that suddenly
things will just
work out
and God will
finally do
what you're asking
but you just
gotta hit the button
just in the right
sequence to get there.
That's not
how we're to
understand prayer.
No,
I think there is
something supernatural
happening in prayer
in that
when I pray
with whatever
anxieties I have
the anxieties
themselves
and the situations
that are producing
the anxieties
don't change.
What changes?
I change.
The doubts
that I have
and that I'm
wrestling with
as I come to
the Lord
in prayer
the doubts
may not
ultimately go away
but do you know
what changes?
my confidence
in the Lord
my peace
and comfort
in the Lord
changes.
The temptations
that I face
I'm probably
gonna face them
again
but you know
what happens
in prayer?
The Lord
does a work
in me
that gives me
strength
to resist
the devil
and to flee
the temptations.
Prayer
is not so much
about what is
happening around
you
it's about
what God
is doing
in you
and Peter
knows that
and he knows
it's essential
that if we're
gonna thrive
and we're gonna
be faithful
to the Lord
in this time
of exile
and in our
times of suffering
he knows
it's gonna require
that we actually
have a genuine
prayer life
genuine communion
with God
on a regular
basis
because God
is not only
sovereign over
the things
that happen
he's sovereign
over the means
by which
those things
come about
and prayer
indeed is part
of God's
means
he does
hear us
and he does
answer us
according to
his will
and he beckons
us to pray
he commands it
but he also
invites it
and we need
to give ourselves
to that
Peter knows
it
but he knows
we can't do
it
if we're not
self-controlled
and we're
not sober
minded
now I think
the best
example of
this in the
scriptures
is in the
garden of
Gethsemane
just before
Jesus' arrest
what is he
doing
he transforms
the Passover
to the Lord's
Supper
they make their
way to the
Mount of Olives
and they go to
the garden of
Gethsemane
maybe a place
that he
frequented
for prayer
most of the
disciples he
leaves at the
entrance of the
garden he
takes a few
of them with
him a little
further in
and then he
goes a little
further than
that and he
begins to
pray
it's the
greatest moment
of struggle
that Jesus
the man had
in his earthly
ministry and
his earthly
life
it all came
to a head
at this point
and what is it
that he gave
himself to in
those moments
prayer
genuine communion
with the father
but do you know
what he told the
disciples to do
Mark chapter 14
verse 38
he tells the
disciples who went
with them into
the garden
he says watch
and pray
stay awake
be alert
keep an eye
out
and pray
why
Jesus says
so that you
will not enter
into temptation
and then he
adds this
the spirit is
willing
I know you
don't want to
be tempted
I know you
don't want to
give into
temptation
but your
flesh is weak
so stay awake
and pray
and then he
models it
he does
this is so
amazing
I want to go
preach that
passage now
it's so amazing
what Jesus
does
he tells the
disciples watch
and pray
and then what
does he do
he goes and
he watches
and prays
it's almost as
if he's saying
do what I
do
that's exactly
what he's
saying
and why is he
saying it
because it was
so necessary
in that moment
well what did
the disciples
do
they went
to sleep
they didn't
do what he
said
they lacked
self-control
in that they
kept falling
asleep
they showed
a lack
of sobriety
as they
could not
see the
urgency
of the
moment
they
couldn't
even see
in Jesus
the urgency
of that
moment
and hear
the urgency
and what
he's
commanding
and they're
not
they're not
sober-minded
they're not
thinking
clearly
and the
result is
that they
did not
pray
and when
the moment
of danger
and temptation
arrived
what did
they do
every one
of them
did the
same thing
they forsook
the Lord
they fell
in temptation
they left
him in his
most vulnerable
moment
and they
ran
why
because they
did not
watch and
pray
and here's
Peter
who was in
that group
who did
not only
forsake
the Lord
he took
it a step
further
and outright
denied
the Lord
now he's
writing to
a group
of Christians
who are
suffering
and the
temptation
is going
to be
it's
dangerous
there's
doubt
now
as a result
of this
the world
seems to
be against
me
I'm losing
my friends
and I'm losing
my job
and I'm
losing all
of these
things in
my life
because of
my faith
and the
temptation
is going
to be
to doubt
and it's
going to be
to be anxious
and it's
going to be
to give
in to the
temptations
and the
sins
and the
human
passions
and he
says
you need
to watch
and pray
Peter
Peter says
the end
is near
hang in
there
just watch
and pray
but do you
pray
we have to
ask that
question
now don't
we
do you
pray
do you
really
pray
not just
to express
gratitude
for your
meal
though you
need to
do that
Jesus
told us
to do
that
but do
you have
time
where you
pour your
heart
out to
God
when you're
tempted
what's
your reaction
typically
it should
be
prayer
do you
see the
urgency
of the
moment
in your
life
and with
your kids
and with
your
grandkids
or are
you're a
bit
spiritually
drunk
and
and you're
a little
more
focused
on this
life
than maybe
on the
age to
come
it'll
show
in the
way we
pray
so Peter
says look
the end
is coming
pray
second
sacrificial
love
first is
sober
prayer
and then
there's
sacrificial
love
and we
get this
in verse
eight
above all
Peter
says keep
loving one
another
earnestly
!
since love
covers
a multitude
of sins
now you'll
notice in
the next
three
exhortations
each one
of them
is a
one another
command
we're told
to love
one another
earnestly
we're told
to show
hospitality
to one
another
and then
we're told
to use
our gifts
from the
Lord
to serve
one another
meaning
they
specifically
concern
how we
are to
live with
and treat
other
Christians
now it's
not that
we shouldn't
do all
of those
things for
non-Christians
we certainly
should
but Peter
is especially
concerned with
how we
live with
one another
and how we
treat one
another
remember in
the context
of this
letter
we represent
God and
his kingdom
not primarily
as individuals
but primarily
as the
church
as his
people
plural
in the
world
and how
we exist
together
is of
immense
importance
in the
New Testament
and Peter
of course
reminds us
that the
most necessary
mark of
our relationships
with other
believers
is earnest
love
he's already
explained it
in chapter
one
and he's
bringing it
up again
here
he said it
in chapter
two as
well
he's bringing
it up
again
here
earnest
love
and Peter's
taking his
cues directly
from Jesus
who said
that the
world will
know that
we are
following
him
specifically
by the
way we
love other
Christians
now it's
amazing that
Jesus said
that and it
must be
true because
Jesus said
it
why then
does it
seem like
the church
of all
places
is so
divided
we're so
against each
other
Jesus says
this earnest
love
that's going
to be the
supreme
mark
that you're
my people
in chapter
one
Peter wrote
that sincere
and earnest
love for other
believers is
the natural
fruit of the
Holy Spirit's
regenerating work
in our lives
which means
that if you
do not have a
trace of love
it's not that
you're perfect in
this but if you
don't have a
trace of love
for other
believers
specifically because
they're other
believers
then you're just
not a Christian
because this is
something that God
does in us
as his people
he begins it
and he
progressively
strengthens it
and perfects it
throughout our
lives we want to
see a trajectory
of this growing
but here Peter
grounds this
pursuit of love
in a very
specific thing
and it's
amazing
he says that
we are to
pursue this
love keep
pursuing it
because it
covers a
multitude of
sins
covers a
multitude of
sins what
does that
mean
well at least
four things
first earnest
love prevents
us from
sinning against
other people
earnest love
prevents us
from sinning
against others
that's why
Jesus said
that the
second most
important
commandment
is to love
your neighbor
as yourself
he said
all of the
law hangs
on those two
commandments
loving God
and loving
other people
because when
you really
love someone
you don't
want to steal
from them
when you
love someone
you don't
want to
abuse them
or cheat
them
or slander
them
or hurt
them
or see
them hurt
because what
you're pursuing
with them
is an
earnest
love
and this is
the kind
of love
that we
are to
pursue
in the
church
a love
that desires
to bless
and not
to harm
so Peter
says love
one another
because it
covers a
multitude
of sins
it's going
to prevent
you from
sinning
against one
another
if you
just love
each other
second
earnest
love
is willing
to let
petty
offenses
go
earnest
love
is willing
to let
petty
offenses
go
now we
have to be
honest here
there are
problems
that arise
in our
relationships
with other
Christians
sometimes
and they
stem
from serious
sins
that have
to be
confronted
if that
wasn't
true
Jesus
and the
apostles
would not
have taught
us about
church
discipline
would they
there are
some things
that can't
just be
let go
they have
to be
dealt
with
and as
we'll see
in just a
moment
that's part
of this
love
but at
this point
I think
it's worth
considering
that most
of the
time
that's
not where
our
offenses
come
from
most
of the
time
our
offenses
stem
from just
being
overly
sensitive
to being
offended
a short
fuse
thin
skin
it's
pride
that keeps
us from
letting
things
go
but
earnest
love
will
cause
us
to
assume
the
best
in
others
to
give
others
the
benefit
of
the
doubt
and
it
will
refuse
to
hold
petty
grudges
against
people
that's
what
love
does
now
if you
want
to
check
me
on
that
go
to
1st
Corinthians
13
Paul
gives
us
a
whole
chapter
on
it
that's
what
he
spells
out
love
knows
how
and when
to let
things
go
for the
sake
of
peace
and
unity
the
truth
is
God
is
too
good
and
life
is
too
short
to
be
offended
by
everyone
and
to
be
offended
by
everything
sometimes
we just
need to
learn
to let
things
go
it's
okay
not
everything
has
to
be
addressed
not
every
offense
even
has
to
be
spoken
of
most
of
the
time
you
need
to
let
it
roll
which
brings
us
to
the
third
thing
love
covers
a multitude
of
sins
in that
it
stands
ready
and
willing
to
forgive
others
when
they
do
sin
against
us
ready
and
willing
to
forgive
having
a disposition
of
forgiveness
that
just
quickly
acknowledges
and
lets
it
go
and
you
don't
even
have
to
confront
it
right
that's
part
of
being
a
forgiving
person
a
merciful
person
but
there's
more
to
this
isn't
there
because
sometimes
people
really
do
sin
significantly
against
us
in
a
way
that
it
wouldn't
be
healthy
for
you
or
for
them
to
just
let
it
go
it
!
has
to
be
dealt
with
and
unfortunately
that
happens
all
the
time
in
our
relationships
with
other
believers
what
love
does
is
it
pursues
mercy
and
it
pursues
forgiveness
now
understand
that
in
one
sense
forgiveness
is
transactional
isn't
it
that
though
we
stand
ready
to
forgive
forgiveness
the
transaction
of
forgiveness
isn't
brought
to
completion
until
the
one
who
sins
seeks
!
it
right
just
think
about
the
gospel
Jesus
stands
ready
to
forgive
but
you
only
receive
that
forgiveness
when
you
come
to
him
for
it
and
our
personal
relationships
are the
same
way
aren't
they
it
can't
really
be
brought
to
a
final
conclusion
and put
to
death
until
that
transaction
takes
place
however
there
is
a
part
that
we
have
that
we
must
stand
ready
to
forgive
!
and
Paul
helps
us
with
this
a
lot
of
places
help
it
with
this
Jesus
models
it
supremely
but
Paul
told
the
Ephesians
that
love
produces
the
kind
of
forgiveness
that's
modeled
after
the
forgiveness
that
we
have
received
from
God
which
is
to
say
there's
nothing
as
a
Christian
that
you
can't
forgive
!
Nothing!
Because
there's
nothing
that
Jesus
is
unwilling
to
forgive
and
Paul
says
we
are
to
be
tender
hearted
toward
one
another
forgiving
one
another
even
as
God
for
Christ's
sake
has
forgiven
us
that's
what
it
means
to
love
that's
what
it
means
for
love
to
cover
a
multitude
of
sins
but
there's
a
fourth
one
fourth
love
covers
a
multitude
of
sins
and
that
it
pursues
the
wayward
sinner
to
bring
them
back
to
Christ
James
helps
us
!
in
fact
if
you
just
flip
maybe
one
or
two
pages
over
in
your
Bible
to
the
left
James
chapter
five
verses
19
and
20
James
says
my
brothers
if
anyone
among
you
wonders
from
the
truth
and
someone
brings
him
back
to
the
truth
let
him
know
that
is
the
one
who
brings
him
back
let
him
know
that
whoever
brings
back
a
sinner
from
his
wondering
!
will
save
his
soul
from
a
multitude
of
sins
same
phrase
now
what's
that
all
about
James
is
just
speaking
of
another
facet
of
Christian
love
Christian
love
like
the
shepherd
with
the
hundred
sheep
sees
the
one
who
wonders
and
is
not
content
for
them
to
wonder
out
of
love
they
pursue
the
wondering
sheep
they
call
them
to
respond
in
repentance
and
in
faith
to
return
to
the
Lord
and
to
repent
of
the
sin
that
they're
living
in
earnest
love
is
willing
to
humbly
confront
the
sin
of
others
in
order
to
encourage
their
repentance
and
faith
okay
well
why
did
we
call
it
sacrificial
then
why
didn't
we
just
call
it
sincere
love
or
whatever
well
the
reason
is
because
loving
someone
in
each
of
these
ways
comes
with
an
enormous
cost
love
is
costly
refusing
to sin
against
others
often
requires
a
denial
of
self
doesn't
it
because
typically
in our
flesh
what we
want
is
what
we
want
and a
sinner
will stop
at nothing
to get
what he
wants
which is
to love
the self
well it
takes a
great cost
to actually
love people
and not
sin
against
them
it
will cost
you
your
pride
to let
something
go
forgiveness
by definition
is a
willingness
to live
with the
consequences
of someone
else's
sin
without
holding
anything
against
them
Jesus
called
it a
debt
that to
forgive
is to
say the
debt
is
satisfied
and to
live
with the
loss
that's
forgiveness
that's
costly
to
pursue
the
sinner
will
probably
cost
you
more
than
you
ever
imagined
where
do we
see this
kind of
love
supremely
modeled
where do
we get
this
idea
we look
to the
cross
don't
we
it's
in the
gospel
that we
see this
modeled
for us
Jesus
the
righteous
one
lays
down
his
life
for the
unrighteous
so that
God
shows
his
love
toward
us
in
that
while
we
were
sinners
that
is
while
we
were
actually
his
enemy
actively
against
him
we
did
not
want
him
we
were
not
interested
in
him
he
still
loved
us
enough
to
send
his
son
to
pay
our
debt
and
to
forgive
our
sins
and
all
of
that
is
flowing
out
of
what
earnest
love
for
God
so
loved
the
world
that
he
gave
his
only
son
so
that
whoever
will
believe
in
him
will
not
perish
but
will
have
everlasting
life
the
model
for
this
love
is
hanging
on
Calvary's
tree
love
and
it
is
when
we
look
at
the
gospel
that
we
actually
learn
what
it
means
for
love
to
cover
a
multitude
of
sins
my
love
for
you
can
provide
no
atonement
for
you
his
love
for
you
provides
complete
atonement
surely
as
his
people
we
can
have
a
lesser
!
love
than
that
the
end
of
all
things
is
at
hands
Peter
says
we're
living
in
the
last
days
we're
just
waiting
for
Jesus
to
come
back
now
that
reality
might
tempt
some
of
us
to
have
a
bucket
list
kind
of
way
of
living
that
we've
got
all
of
these
things
that
we
want
to
do
in
this
life
and
experience
in
this
life
before
Jesus
comes
back
and
robs
us
of
the
opportunity
remember
thinking
as a
teenager
you know
and you
really
start to
think
girls
are
pretty
now
and now
you
think
oh man
maybe
marriage
would be
kind
of
fun
you
think
you
know
Lord
if
you
just
wait
and
come
back
until
I
can
at
least
get
married
first
and
experience
that
and
have
some
fun
with
that
we
think
about
Christ's
return
that way
sometimes
don't
we
it's
a
completely
carnal
way
of
thinking
it
says
age
to
come
that
could
possibly
compare
to
what
I
could
experience
now
and
we
live
for
this
life
and
we
do
the
opposite
of
everything
Peter
is
saying
to
do
in
this
letter
but
what
God
calls
us
to
is
a
life
that's
focused
entirely
on
the
age
to
come
rather
than
living
for
what
we
can
get
out
of
this
life
we
are
to
live
for
the
glory
of
God
and
the
display
of
his
kingdom
on
earth
and
that
begins
with
sober
prayer
genuine
communion
with
God
that's
focused
on
his
will
and
his
word
as
we
endure
this
exile
but
it's
marked
supremely
above
all
Peter
says
by
a
love
that
covers
a
multitude
of
sins
because
it's
in
that
kind
of
love
that
we
most
display
what
Jesus
has
done
for
us
in
the
gospel
especially
in our
relationship
with other
Christians
it ought
to be
our
instinct
in our
relationships
with one
another
to love
in that
way
and the
model
for all
of it
is the
Lord
Jesus
who
persisted
in prayer
in the
garden
who
laid
down
his
life
for
our
sins
on
the
cross
out
of
his
eternal
infinite
love
so
thriving
in
exile
then
means
in
some
sense
living
in
light
of
the
end
and
seeking
to be
found
faithful
when
the
Lord
does
return
!
to be
the