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
