Lesson 59
Study of
First Peter Chapter 3
Intro:
This first section of chapter 4 is a strong hortatory
section, an encouragement to believers who are facing suffering and testing in
their lives.
Outline:
4:1-2
have an urgent call for the readers to properly equip themselves to suffer for
righteousness
4:3-6 he gives three
reasons to motivate them to appropriate the needed equipment (vv. 3-6).
4:1 The importance of our thinking as we face
suffering
Therefore, since Christ has
suffered in the flesh
Because
of the example set before us now the command, here is how it should impact our
conduct in life.
arm yourselves also with the same purpose,
The
weapon emphasized that is at your disposal!
with the same
purpose e;nnoia root is nouj the mind/thinking; the idea of this word is purpose, thought,
counsel or resolve
Note: It is used 12x's in Proverbs Prov. 1:4; Prov.
The
challenge here is to arm ourselves with the right thinking,
that is BD the thinking of Christ.
Paul gives us the same challenge in Phil 2:5
The Reason?
because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
- The point is that the believer in view is one who is
dealing with the suffering in their life by doing what is right, applying
truth
The next
phrase describes the how they're [or we're] able to accomplish the doing what
is right in the face of the suffering.
has ceased from sin
- by using the Perfect tense of the
verb Peter is going back to remind us of what occurred in the past, that is, a
completed act when we believed in Christ and were identified with Christ [RAPT
& CPT]
- Does this ring a bell with a verse
in Rom 6 namely verse 7 which also uses the perfect passive indicative to make
an important point related to the sin nature?
Rom 6:7
"for he who has died is freed from sin."
Death
has terminated that master--slave relationship. Now it is to be
Christ and the Word illuminated by Holy Spirit that dominates our life.
4:1 Therefore, since Christ has
suffered in the flesh, you also arm yourselves with the same mental attitude
because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin (sin nature no
longer to dominate life)
Observations:
1. Christ experienced great UNDSF as He went to the cross to solve the
problem of the barrier that stands between God and man which includes the
domination in life of the sin nature.
2. He died willing in fulfilling the will of God for Him for the first
advent. That was His mental attitude,
that is, doing the will of God whatever it takes.
3. We are to emulate Him (Eph 5:1 cmd to be imitators of God)
not what is evil (3Jn 11).
4. We also must be willing to undergo suffering (UNDSF) in life (f2) since it is necessary (1 Pet 1:6).
5. Earlier Peter
gave reminded us how Christ handled suffering, testing! 1 Pet
2:21-23
6. To fulfill the
command to arm yourselves with the same mental
attitude as Jesus Christ it takes preparation.
7. The
weapons of our warfare that we are to be armed with are divinely powerful.
2 Cor 10:4-5
Rabbit trail
*
In 2 Cor 10:4-5 Paul summarizes the principle on how we should
deal with and respond to unfair and unjust treatment.