Seeds for 05/30/2024 - 1 Peter 4:2
Scripture:
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
Observation:
In the light of this connection between suffering, sin, and the imitation of Christ, Peter makes an observation that gets to the heart of what sin is all about.
Those who have suffered for their commitment to Jesus and the Gospel grow in sanctification, or spiritual maturity and devotion. We must remember that justifying grace (to use the language of Methodists like myself), deals with the problem of sin as it relates to pardon, forgiveness, and reconciling our relationship with God. But sanctifying grace is the work of God to mature us fully so that we are restored in the image of God, which is the same as growing in Christlikeness. It is what one friend calls “the second half of the Gospel.” It is about transformation available to us because Jesus “breaks the power of canceled sin,” as Charles Wesley wrote (see verse 4).
Peter says those who are “done with sin” now “do not live… for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.”
That summarizes what sin really is, doesn’t it? It’s a simple contrast between living for human desires versus living for the will of God.
How can we check our progression in sanctification? Are we living for human desires or are we focused on seeking and living out the will of God? An honest grasp on the answer to that question will tell us a great deal.
Application:
How are you growing in sanctification, if you compare today to a year ago in terms of how intentionally and effectively you are living for the will of God versus for human desires?
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, you do not merely pardon us for our sin, but you break its power as well. Help me live into that by pursuing your will and not my own. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
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