Borrowed Light

What Does It Mean That “Those Who Have Suffered in the Flesh Have Ceased From Sin?”

February 1, 2019Mike Leake

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, –1 Peter 4:1

I’ve suffered in the flesh. My tonsillectomy was painful. So was the recovery. But I still sin. What in the world is Peter talking about here when he says that those who’ve suffered have ceased from sin?

A wrong understanding of this passage could lead to some jacked up asceticism where we beat ourselves and put ourselves in the path of suffering in order to rid ourselves of sinfulness. I’m convinced that’s not what Peter has in mind. But what does he mean? What does he mean by suffering in the flesh? What does he mean by “ceased from sin”?

First, notice the “therefore”. In 3:18-22 Peter outlined the suffering of Christ and how it ultimately led to his victory. So now in response to this we believers should “arm ourselves with the same way of thinking”. In other words, we need to develop a robust theology of suffering and then not be surprised when we have to actually use it.

Suffering is the path to glory. It cleanses the dross. Notice the “for”. This means, “here is why you do this thing”. You do this thing (arm yourselves with a good theology of suffering) because whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.

So what does he mean by ceased from sin? There are a few options.

1. The one who suffered is Jesus. (But that’s not likely because Jesus never sinned. And clearly believers are the subject here—it is believers who are said to be suffering and ‘done away with sin.’)

2. It is referring to Christians but saying that believers have died to sin and the power of sin no longer has dominion over us. If this were Romans 6 perhaps we could make that argument, but this does not seem to fit as neatly with the flow of thought in Peter. It seems that something a bit different is going on in this text.

3. The “ceases to sin” isn’t talking about sinless perfection but evidence of a changed life. When we are settled in our minds to suffer for the cause of Christ it marks us as different from our former way of living. Arming ourselves with a cruciform theology of suffering shows that in a very real sense we have triumphed over the power of sin. As Tom Schriener says, “The commitment to suffer reveals a passion for a new way of life, a life that is not yet perfect but remarkably different from the lives of unbelievers.”

To me, the third option is the best. A good theology of suffering isn’t necessarily responsive. It’s often built up before even entering into the furnace. Daniel and his three friends had decided long before standing before Nebuchadnezzar that they would rather suffer than bring reproach upon the Lord. When we have this mindset—when the Spirit has transformed our hearts in such a way we no longer live for the passions of this world. And verse 3 spells this out. Our persecution and suffering and affliction happens because we have already decided that aren’t going to live and think as we once did.

But note that everyone will give an account before the living God. This means you and I. Society will dwindle away and stand before God some day. Peter wants us to look at the end of the story—us standing before the Lord. What do you want momentary accolades? To be friends with the world? A beloved member of society? A star? Or do you want approval before the living God. Eternal approval. Lasting approval. Do you want to hear “well done good and faithful servant” from the Lord of glory or from your buddy?

When we’ve decided that we’d rather have the Lord’s approval, when we’ve armed ourselves with this theology of suffering, then sin is going to lose its luster. And that’s the point of 1 Peter 4:1. We’ve ceased from that whole way of thinking. A theology of suffering which says, “I’d rather die than be unfaithful to Christ” will not so easily be swayed by the pull of sin.

Do you want sin to not look so sweet to you? Don’t run from suffering but dig into and develop a healthy theology of suffering. There is an inseparable link between our response to suffering and our bent towards sin. Both reveal which kingdom our heart belongs to.

—

Photo source: here

Read This! 01.31.19

January 31, 2019Mike Leake

The Audacious Invincibility of Meekness

Jared Wilson with a wonderful reflection on real masculinity.

Brothers, We Are Not Talking Heads

Amen!

Why You Can’t Get to Heaven through the Mormon Faith

This really shouldn’t need to be written.

What Are People Saying About Christian Blogging?

I’m so grateful that Challies got this conversation going.

10 Signs the Christian Authors You’re Following Are (Subtly) Teaching Unbiblical Ideas

These are pretty subtle, but I think this is spot on. Be sure you read the whole article and not just the bullet points.

Don’t Preach Microwaved Leftover Sermons

I really appreciate Jared’s third point.

8 Great Podcasts for Writers and Book Authors

I was looking for a list like this a few days ago.

Self-Control, the Leader’s Make-or-Break Virtue

I agree.

This is powerful stuff:

Why “Who Am I” Matters More Than “What Am I Doing”?

January 30, 2019Mike Leake

If I were a liberal one of the first places of Scripture I’d target as inauthentic is 1 Corinthians 1:1-9. There is such a disjunction between these verses and the next sixteen chapters. If you read those first nine verses and didn’t know the rest of the story you’d expect the next chapters to be a glowing review of how tremendous God’s beauty has been on display in Corinth.

But it isn’t. After that first nine verses the next 16 chapters we read of a church who arrogantly celebrates their ability to accept unrepentant sinners without disciplining them. We also read of a church who believes they have “arrived” even though they are suing one another and fighting endless battles over perceived rights. There are members of this local congregation who are asking all the wrong questions and starting from the wrong foundation. Instead of asking how they best can serve one another they are using the gospel and theology and the freedoms of Jesus as a means to harm and wound their brothers and sisters in Christ. It gets so bad that at one point Paul basically says, “it might just be better for y’all to not even meet together”. Even the massive amount of spiritual gifts they have been given has turned into a debate about who has the most important gifts.

That is quite the contrast between what Paul says of them in the first nine verses. But that he does this intentionally. Paul isn’t merely buttering them up. Nor is he only looking at them with rose-colored glasses and doting on them as only a mother would. No, Paul knows that their fundamental problem is that they are living out of the wrong identity.

This same thing is true of us today. We, as the Corinthians did, live out of an identity. If you’re identity comes from your bank account then you’re going to be prone to sue your brother in Christ. Likewise if you pride yourself on being a religious icon then you’ll fight over spiritual gifts instead of use them to serve. The Corinthians were playing the “one-up” game because they weren’t firmly fixed in Christ. They wanted to the Apollo sect to beat out the Cephas sect. Much like we Baptist can think we’ve got the God-market cornered. Or worse yet, the secular sectarian politics which sadly drives many Christians. Such foolishness betrays which kingdom we are living for—which kingdom gives us our identity.

Who are you?

What a vital question this is. We answer that in a myriad of ways. For some we answer it connected to our families: “I’m a husband, wife, daddy, mommy, son, daughter, grandma, etc.” For others we connect it to our vocations. We are what we do. Still others will connect it to things like their pocket books: “I’m one of the wealthiest guys in town”. Or, “I’m flat broke and busted.”

We answer this question in accordance with our level of power: “I’m the guy in charge around here. Not me, man, I’m just a little guy nobody even notices—stay behind the scenes—that’s my job.” We answer it connected with personalities—type A, type B, excited, somber, quiet, loud, and sometimes we even make sinful choices part of this—I’m a curious person (gossip), I’m kind of angry person, I’m just a worrier. We answer it in a way tied to our morality—I’m a pretty good person, I’m a nice guy, I’m a giver. Or maybe our church activities, positions—I’m a deacon, a trustee, a Sunday school teacher, a pastor.

And sometimes we are defined by other stuff—I’m an addict, I’m gay, I’m a victim, I’m abused, I’m divorced, I’m worthless.

Sometimes our identities are things which we take great pride in. Other times we hide in shame. It’s kind of like when your kid does something really good…”That’s my boy!!” You want everyone to know you are connected to this person. But when he just burned down the house the husband is greeted with, “Do you know what your son did…”

We will always attach our identities to something or somebody. If our identity is not attached to Christ it will be attached to someone, something. Whether we puff out our chest in pride (I’m the wealthiest guy in town) or hang our head in shame (I’m flat broke) we are speaking out of an identity –a desire to “be somebody”.

In Corinth they had similar things. Who are you? I’m part of team Apollos. I’m the guy who speaks in tongues better than any of those other jokers. Oh, I’m not like those fools who can’t eat meat they got at the market, I understand the gospel. I’m a forgiving dude. I’ve arrived. I’m knocking this Christianity thing out of the park….you get the picture.

Do you ever wonder if Team Apollos got jealous when God used Team Cephas? Can you imagine their Twitter wars? There was probably an outrage of the day for each of these factions. Sinners will always give you fodder for your rage cannon.

But notice how God, through Paul, works to put a stop to all this nonsense. From the beginning he reminds them of who they are. Their identity is found in Christ not anywhere else. They were saying “I belong to Apollos, I belong to Cephas, I belong to Paul” and God is saying, “No, you belong to me.” Notice how verse 2 begins. “The church of God…” Not Apollos, not Paul, not Cephas, but God. It is God’s church. They belong to God– those who have settled in Corinth and have been rescued by Jesus.

How does this change things?

If my identity is found in money then I’ve got to claw and scrape and do everything I can to be financially successful. Same with power. Same with parenting. Same with pastoring. None of those are big enough to hold the weight of our identities. They will all come crumbling down. So when I hear in the gospel that my identity is found in Christ that changes everything. I don’t have to make my life about these other things. I belong to God. That means he calls the shots. My job is obedience.

Paul also reminds the Corinthians that they aren’t the only church. Their identity is found in Christ just like all of the others who “in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”. You don’t have to compete or compare yourself with other churches. That’s just silly. But you’ll do that if your identity isn’t found in Christ. You’ll compete instead of cooperate. You’ll start asking the wrong questions and make wrong comparisons. But Paul reminds the Corinthians that they aren’t alone in calling upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are in this with other believers from all around the globe. Their calling is to be the church at Corinth. To be obedient to God and do their thing that God has called them to do.

Did you notice that Paul also called them “those sanctified in Christ Jesus”? Corinth? Sanctified? That’s foolishness, Paul. These guys are messed up and the furthest thing from holy. But do you see what Paul is doing. He is reminding them of what Christ has done. That he has set them apart. He has bought them at a price. They just aren’t living it out. They are living out of a different identity. What would happen at Corinth if they lived out of their identity as those who belong to God, who are sanctified to Jesus along with all the other saints? It’d change things wouldn’t it?

And so too for us when we see that our identities are found in Christ we will be freed up to be kingdom focused instead of self-focused.

“I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am” –John Newton

—

Photo source: here