Whoever suffers in the body is done with sin
1 Peter 4:1 - Too many of us never fully defeat sin simply because we refuse to make any sacrifices.
“Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.”
1 Peter 4:1 NIV
We hear from Paul so often in the New Testament that it’s easy to forget that the other major apostle — Peter — also wrote epistles. His first epistle was addressed to all Christians, particularly those who were living in Asia Minor and struggling under religious persecution. Peter is quite an important character in the development of Christianity, mentioned more times in the Gospels than anyone — excepting Jesus, of course.
This chapter deals with how followers of Christ should serve God in the end times (whenever they may occur) and the attitude of commitment that they should have in their struggles. God wants us to adopt the same level of commitment that Jesus had in His suffering for our salvation. In Matthew 16:24, He told us that “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” By this, Jesus meant that His disciples would have to show absolute commitment, even up to death.
Here Peter tells his readers they will need to arm themselves “with the same attitude”. Too many of us never fully defeat sin simply because we refuse to make any sacrifices. If a victory against sin was easy to accomplish, we’d be willing and able to achieve that victory. When the going gets tough, we aren’t willing to make that extra sacrifice, no matter how small. Jesus wants us to have a tougher attitude and to make those sacrifices against sin. For example, let’s look at Matthew 5:29-30:
“If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.”
That kind of commitment endures through any struggle!
Looking at the last part of this verse, Peter says that “whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.” He’s specifically talking about those who suffer physical persecution for the sake of Jesus, as it changes their outlook about sin and pursuing earthy passions. American theologian Wayne Grudem wrote that “Whoever has suffered for doing right, and has still gone on obeying God in spite of the suffering it involved, has made a clean break with sin.”1
With the exception of those who evangelize or serve Jesus in areas that are openly hostile to Christians, not all of us have had or will have an opportunity to physically suffer for following Jesus. We can still arm ourselves “with the same attitude” through our faith to Jesus, who suffered in the flesh for us. I close today’s devotional with a short and sweet comment from Charles Spurgeon, who said “I beg you to remember that there is no getting quit of sin — there is no escaping from its power — except by contact and union with the Lord Jesus Christ.”2
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Father in Heaven, thank You for the example set by my Lord and Savior Jesus, who came to earth to identify with my sin. He suffered on the Cross on my account so that I would be saved by faith in Him and through recognizing His sacrifice. I pray that I may each day grow in my resolve to live a more holy life for the Lord, who paid for my sin and broke the power of sin in my life. AMEN.
Scripture quotations taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica US, Inc.®. Used by permission.
Grudem, Wayne "The First Epistle of Peter: An Introduction and Commentary" (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries) (Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 1988)
Spurgeon, Charles Haddon "The New Park Street Pulpit" Volumes 1-6 and "The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit" Volumes 7-63 (Pasadena, Texas: Pilgrim Publications, 1990)