Monday: To Suffer in the Flesh
Yes, Jesus died for our sins, and our hope of salvation is found only in Him, in His righteousness, which covers us and causes us to be accounted righteous in the eyes of God. Because of Jesus, you are “accepted before God just as if you had not sinned.” – Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, p. 62.
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But God’s grace doesn’t end just with a pronunciation, a declaration that our sins are forgiven. God also gives the power to overcome our sins, as well.
Read 1 Peter 3:18, 1 Peter 3:21; 1 Peter 4:1-2, as well as Romans 6:1-11. What is the link between suffering and victory over sin?
There is a small Greek word used in 1 Peter 3:18 that emphasizes the comprehensive nature of Jesus’ sacrifice. It is the word hapax, which means “once for all.” Peter uses hapax to emphasize the comprehensive nature of the suffering of Jesus and His death for us.
The phrase “forasmuch then” in 1 Peter 4:1 links 1 Peter 4:1-2 with what has just been said in 1 Peter 3:18-22. In these earlier verses, Peter points out that Christ suffered for our sins in order that He might bring us to God (1 Pet. 3:18), and that “baptism doth also now save us” (1 Pet. 3:21).
Baptism, then, is perhaps the best context against which to understand Peter’s words “… for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin” (1 Pet. 4:1). By baptism, the Christian participates in the suffering and death and resurrection of Jesus; the Christian has made a choice to “live for the rest of [his] earthly life no longer by human desires but by the will of God” (1 Pet. 4:2, NRSV). This can be accomplished only by the daily surrender of self to the Lord and the crucifying of “the flesh with its passions and desires” (Gal. 5:24, NKJV).
In Romans 6:1-11, Paul says that at baptism Christians are united with Jesus in His death and resurrection. At baptism, we have died to sin. We need now to make that death to sin real in our lives. Paul’s words, “reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:11), give the secret of the Christian’s life.
| When was the last time you found yourself “suffering in the flesh” in order to fight against sin? What does your answer say to you about your Christian life? |
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I am so grateful for the study of Peter- it is so assuring to know that the suffering of Christ has covered my sins if I am faithful to the Christian life.
I have a question about 1 Peter 3:19. "So he went and preached to the spirits in prison- those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat--"
Who are these spirits???
As I understand verses 19 of 1 Peter 3: "spirits in prison" were persons held captive by the power of Satan, to whom Noah preached while he was building the ark but they believed not. It further states that despite God's longsuffering, only a few, that is, eight were obedient - verse 19). Isa. 42:7 can help us to see who these spirits in prison were. It prophesied of Jesus coming to open the eyes of the spiritually blind and free persons from the bondage of sin. In Luke 4:17 he read Isaiah's prophecy about what he came to do (Isa. 61:1) That work is ours today - to free the spirits in prison by showing them the way of salvation like Noah did.
I believe that Peter was speaking figuratively regarding Baptism and how Baptism assures us of God's Holy Spirit that also used Noah to preach to those in the "Prison of sin," in his day while and by his building of the ark just before the flood came and destroyed all life except Noah and his family and animals in the ark.
Good question Jame. Hope someone answers us.
you have to read the context: 1.Pe 3:18-21:
Christ preached to the spirits in prison through Noah who was saved by baptism = arc and flood. those who died are kept in prison till the final judgment.
I hope I explained it well. I just read and studied it because my mum had the same question.
God bless!
I have to deal with my sins everyday. "I do what I do not want"... But I also have to thank God, and I prefer to focus on that, because even though I am a sinner, God can still use me. While I think on my nature I realize I am nothing but a "filthy rag"... And even so, God still loves me! He does to me something that none can, He forgives me! And never give up on me! And this is a miracle!
I believe that we have to take Peter's statements and also study them together with other verses in scripture especially the ones of Paul regarding SANCTIFICATION. We also need to consider the Writings of EGW regarding Sanctification too. While Peter's statements are true about salvation through Jesus and overcoming sin also through Jesus, Peter's statements seem to indicate that overcoming sin in our lives can happen overnight just like Baptism happens rather instantaneously. But Paul's statements about overcoming sin and perfection along with EGW's statements are quite clear that God considers us SINLESS at Baptism but then sanctification (becoming sinless and perfect,) is a MOMENT BY MOMENT, HOUR BY HOUR, DAY BY DAY, LIFETIME EXPERIENCE OF FAILURES AND VICTORIES.
Suffering in the flesh refers to the suffering experienced in this physical dimension of life, especially when you try to live a life worthy of your divine calling. It is similar to Christ's suffering, though it may not lead to death It refers to suffering for the sake of the gospel just as Jesus did.
How does one participate in the suffering through baptism?
given that Christ died for our sins, and that we are cleared of all unrighteousness, why do most christians still commit secret sins of the flesh? They are in church and believe in Christ; yet they fornicate; they do the occult; they commit adultery; and so on. Why are do these Christians not have the power to overcome?
We should live as Ezekiel 33:11 says and finally as Galatians 5:24 says.
We all need Christ, and His Grace. Only He is able to guide us and clean us. We could pray for each other, along with others, to break the chains that often enslaves the person. Out watch ourselves, not fall for the sinful desire.
Daniel, these I would call them nominal Christians. They only profess to be Christians, but deny the power that sanctifies. Our profession and our actions should correspond. Typical example:- Abraham- the father of faith. His faith inspired his actions.
We also need a daily surrender to our Lord, praying always to maintain the link between heaven and earth for daily guidance and sustainance
My Christian life is to communicate with the Lord every day. I need to care for my brothers and sisters, also live by the power of the Holy Spirit.
I'm still suffering from the flesh every day in my life to defeat sins. Every time you fight a sin, another one comes. Sometimes the same sin comes tempting you again and over again. So we are all suffering from the flesh to defeat sin every day in our lives.
i want to bath my thoughts by referring to the book of 1 Kings, 9:4-7, my favourite one being verse 4, "If you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did...
Also 1John 1-5... this then is the message...
In concluding: Once we walk in the Marvelous light we should by the grace of God NEVER go back to darkness.
Baptism is both a death and resurrection. Noah's ark was the coffin and Deliverance through a watery death that surrounded him. Our rest in the grave is not death for those who have accepted Jesus it is a waiting place for the resurrection. So how does baptism save us? Not the washing of flesh, but the answer (conviction) of our conscience that we have accepted Jesus' life as our past and future. I go to the watery grave of baptism not to make me a committed Christian that chooses not to sin (think works of my own doing here), but as a redeemed soul that accepts a new history. I am not saved by my act of baptism, but it shows publicly that i have chosen His life as my own. Anyone can choose that. Everyone should do that. That is the right answer to a good conscience.