1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath
suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for
he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live
the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3 For the time past of our
life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in
lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable
idolatries: 4 Wherein they think it strange
that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 5 Who shall give account to him
that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 6 For for this cause was the
gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according
to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. (1 Peter 4:1-6)
At the outset of our devotion, perhaps it will be profitable to consider with
what Mind we should view all things both heavenly and spiritually.
Let
this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (Phil 2:5)
For
who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the
mind of Christ. (1 Cor 2:16)
And
be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will
of God. (Romans 12:2)
He
that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. (1 John 2:6)
1 Forasmuch then as Christ
hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind:
for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin. We are not our own, but we belong to God. If we have
"done it OUR way" that way leads to the depths of despair and hell.
There is only one right Way, and that is the Way, the Truth and the Life which
is Jesus Christ. "As a general rule, if taken at its basic meaning: Those man
who suffer generally reflect on their life and ways, are humbled, loathe
themselves because of their past iniquities, and ceases from them; for, in a
state of suffering, the mind loses its desire for the sins of the flesh,
because they are embittered to them through the apprehension which they have of
death and judgment; and, on their application to God's mercy, they are
delivered from their sin. The greater meaning seems to me to be: "Those
who have firmly resolved, if called to it, to suffer death rather than
apostatize from Christianity, have consequently ceased from, or are delivered
from, the sin of saving their lives at the expense of their faith."
If we have been faithful to God's Word, we will not escape hardship and
suffering as a result. We will be ostracized from common society and labeled as
radicals or hermits. But walking in the Mind of Christ places us on that
straight and Narrow Way that leads up to Heaven.
The salient point of today's text is singular:
Walk in the Way of
the Lord
a.
The Command to do so:
The first verse combines with the second and is our commandment: "Forasmuch
then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with
the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of
men, but to the will of God.
One major difference in the NATO command structure and that of the old Soviet
regime was this: In the NATO forces, there was, and remains, a structure of
command that descended from the most senior officers to the lowest private. If
a leader were attrited, the next in seniority took command, all the way down to
the last man. The Soviet forces had no such command structure for attrition.
When the leader fell, there was a dilemma. With God as our Commander, we have
no such problem of either example. We have only Him to follow. If we abide by
our 'marching orders,' we are all marching with the same purpose, intent, and
perseverance - the Mind of Christ!
b.
The Reason for our dilemma before coming to Christ:
The American soldier of time past would die in battle bravely for his country,
but he needed to be told a reason for his sacrifice. If he knew the WHY, the
HOW was a matter of ingenuity and courage. The sinner tries to solve the
question of HOW before he examines the WHY. What sense does it make to drown
our sorrows in drugs, alcohol, and promiscuous and sensual pursuits when the
end is death? Let us settle the WHY and the HOIW will be no challenge. "For
the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the
Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings,
banquetings, and abominable idolatries." When we operate under someone
else's plan of action, we are not thinking for ourselves; but when we have put
on the Mind of Christ, we think, act, and live with that Mind. Our
thoughts that are His thoughts become naturally our own. We have no division of
opinion when we are One with Christ, and there will be no division and
contention in our churches either when the Mind of Christ rules for His Mind is
indivisible.
c.
The Result:
Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same
excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that
is ready to judge the quick and the dead. For for this cause was the gospel
preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men
in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit." The people of
God are considered 'peculiar' by the world. "But ye are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye
should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into
his marvellous light: (1 Peter 2:9) The world marches to its own
drummer, and believes that the whole creation is out of step when it is them
who are missing the beat of the True Drummer. For doing God and living according
to righteousness, we are blamed for doing evil by the world. Why, do they not
truly understand? No, they do truly understand, but if they admit to a God who
is just, they are faced with the dilemma of repenting of their sins and
allowing the Holy Ghost to amend their lifestyles. This, they cannot abide.
None will be left without excuse. Those who lived in the days of Noah, before
the Gospel of the Promise of Abraham was preached, have had the Gospel preached
to them in prison by Christ. They cannot admit to having no preacher to warn
them. Being in the spirit in that prison, they were given volition to live in
the same Spirit of Christ while having died in the flesh.
How about you, dear Reader? Are you dead in trespasses and sin, or alive in Christ
having died TO those trespasses and sins.
