Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude…
Summary: Salvation and works are two things that are related but separate. We work to serve our God and in the process we put our own wants and needs aside.
So far in his letter, Peter has been talking about why we should live for Christ. Now, in this verse, he turns to the question of how we should live for Christ.
This is a difficult passage. Can I be blunt here? Christianity is often “sold” as a quick remedy for past sins, and a free ticket to heaven. I am speaking from personal experience, so what I say does not cover other churches or situations. All I am saying is that in my experience, I have seen this happen.
I also think it is important to differentiate between salvation through Jesus Christ, and living for Christ. In John 3, Jesus instructs Nicodemus about the nature of salvation. In verses 14-15 he explains, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” Salvation is not complicated.
In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul explains the power of Jesus to save regardless of our ability to serve him on earth. In verse 15 he writes, “If it [meaning what each person builds for God] is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.” It is not our work for God that saves us.
Yet there is a benefit in serving God in this life. After revealing himself to the woman at the well, Jesus gently chides his disciples for being focused on food instead of God’s work. He says, “I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.” (John 4: 35b-36)
There is work to be done. We are to help our Lord “harvest a crop for eternal life.” To do that we need to be focused on the right thing. If we are too busy indulging ourselves with things that taste good or feel good, we miss the point of our being here and the opportunity to serve. To serve our Lord, we need to keep our eyes on God, just as Jesus did.
Application: The suffering Peter refers to is simply the minor inconvenience of putting aside what we want so we can better focus on what God wants.
Food for Thought: What triggered the suffering in Christ’s body that Peter is talking about?
I am going with unbelief of others,..Nicodemus went to Jesus under the cover of darkness filled with unbelief,..when He rose Lazarus from the grave He wept because of the unbelief of others,..the list goes on of unbelief from others,..and it goes on today,..
I have been so blessed by God for the little ministry He has me doing,..placing New Testaments in little libraries across and throughout Portland and other areas. I find them while out n estimates,..it has become sort of natural to pull over when I see one,..get out of the truck, walk over and place one in view for all to see when they walk by,..several Testament have been taken as I have stopped by the same little library a few times and the New Testament was gone,..so another seed is left in its place,..
This has led to conversations about our Lord and Savior,..only He knows who believes and who doesn’t,..one can say one thing about the why they believe just to make my ear feel good,..but sometimes after the talk I go away scratching my head,..I know He has got me doing the right thing,..because it is what I don’t see that is happening,..people are reading these New Testaments and so hopefully they will come to believe on their own,..
Even His disciples had a hard time believing what He was saying about His Father and Himself,..I have been blessed to believe in what He said to be true,..
That’s my take on it anyway,..keep smiling in Christ!
Thank you, John!
Your insight on this passage is good. You went past physical suffering directly to the suffering God feels when his sheep stray. It is a beautiful thing you are doing by sharing God’s Word. Keep it up!! 🙂
What triggered the suffering in Christ’s body that Peter is talking about?
1 Peter 4:1
How can believers be prepared to suffer for righteousness’ sake? How do we maintain our faith when all around us is coming apart?
Peter is writing to Gentile Christians. He has just finished chapter 3 covering Godly living. (Living for God rather than men.)
“Therefore” is the first word of Chapter 4 and points us back to Peter’s writings in Chapter 3.
Becoming a Christian is the most exciting moment in anyones life. How can we adequately explain what it is like to approach God as a bound, condemned, dead person and walk away set free from from all bondage and given eternal life. What do we do as this new person, how do we thank the loving God who has given us life.
God speaks through Peter in Chapter 3. Begin with yourself. Put on, become this gift from God and live the life He has given us. Move to our family. Bring the peace of God into our home by our love and respect for one another. Grow in our church. Learn to live in peace, united with our brothers and sisters in the Lord. And be an example to the world by allowing Christ in you be seen by the world in everything we do.
In the second half of Chapter 3 we see the response of the world to the righteousness of God when seen in every believer. Some will be brought to us so God may minister to them through us, however the majority will be convicted of their sins and feel anger toward us. We will face varying degrees of of persecution. Our path through these times is to remember and focus on Jesus Christ. He is our example in all things. He came, for our sakes, lived the word of God for our sakes and endured all this world could throw at Him, WITHOUT SIN, NEVER COMPROMISING, for our sakes.
When we feel the suffering is becoming more than we can bare, look to Jesus. He gives each the strength to walk in victory over our trials.
Ron,
You provide us with an important insight into Jesus’ life: No Compromise. I think that is powerful because so often I feel I know what is right, but I “soften” what I do so that I don’t offend others. Jesus was solely focused on his Father’s will. He never compromised. Fortunately for us, his Father’s will includes loving us, his lost sheep. His love embraces us and returns us to our proper place, with him!
😀