Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
We read in 1 Peter:4
verses 1 and 2,
"Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh,"
Oh, He suffered in the flesh!
That means He must have been a human being.
"Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh,
arm yourselves also with the same mind,
for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin."
You have to suffer through to the end. You suffer when you are tempted.
When you are tempted to do what you know is wrong -
which is transgression, and it is sin -
then you suffer. That is when Jesus suffered in the flesh;
He suffered through to the end, in His flesh,
so that sin was completely destroyed.
In the same way, you also need to understand to suffer.
That is what Peter teaches us.
And then you cease from sin,
as far as you understand; as far as you have light.
Finished!
Finished!
"that he no longer live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men,
but for the will of God."
In other words, when you become angry, take revenge, or are unrighteous,
even the world can see that you are not a good Christian.
May what we have heard here not just be words for us.
We heard about an inner cleansing -
to be cleansed and cleansed and cleansed and cleansed
with soap and fire!
Within!
We do not demonstrate that we love God,
when we come to Him and say, "Dear God, forgive me of all my sin
and throw it into the sea of forgetfulness - all the wrong I have said and done."
Of course that is necessary,
but it is not proof that we truly love God.
But, when we enter into an inner cleansing, where we want the fire and soap to cleanse
everything we find of egotism, pride, arrogance, honor-seeking
and all uncleanness,
then we begin to demonstrate that we truly love God.