Suffering Helps Us Cease From Sin – 1 Peter 4
‘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; 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.’ — 1 Peter 4:1–2
For those enduring suffering, Christ is continually held up as the example to look to in 1 Peter. 1 Peter 2:21 says, ‘Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.’ Now in 1 Peter 4:1, we are told to arm ourselves likewise with the same mind. We are to have the same mindset as Christ which is one of suffering in the flesh.
The interesting thing about having a mindset that is willing to suffer in the flesh is that is how we cease from sin. When Christ suffered and died, He then rose again never to be subject to the temptations of sin and the flesh again. For those of us who are willing to suffer and die through our identity with Christ’s suffering, we can experience the resurrection power of Christ which gives us victory over the lusts of men and helps us to do the will of God.
I don’t know about you, but I would like to cease from sin. But my flesh still desires the lusts of men. So, to cease from sin, I must die. I have died through my identification with Christ, but I must die daily in practice. I must die to what my flesh wants. I must crucify my flesh with the lusts thereof. And I must yield my life and heart over to Christ and let Him live His life through me.
Practically, this is accomplished by arming myself with the same mind as Christ. It is about renewing my mind with truth, understanding who I am in Christ, what Christ has done for me, and accepting the suffering that my flesh must endure if I want to cease from sin and live to the will of God.