cease sin (1 Peter 3:13-4:6)

1 Peter 3:13-4:6


These verses contain a couple of old (and really good) Scripture memory verses:

"always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you" (v. 3:15)

and

"For Christ suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God..." (3:18).

As we have seen, and I'm rather stunned at how much Peter emphasizes this, this epistle refers to suffering "for righteousness' sake" (v. 13) over and over. Here, in verse 13, Peter seems to reference the last couple of beatitudes (Matthew 5:11-12) when he says

"But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed."

The command to always be ready to give a defense is given to those who because in their suffering they are not afraid of their abusers or persecutors, neither are they troubled, but rather sanctify (hallow) Jesus as Lord in their suffering. This is the hope they exhibit, beginning deep within their hearts, and manifesting in their tongues and their conduct - such hope may provoke questions either out of curiosity, for further persecution, or because the questioner really wants it too.

Again, Peter says that our behavior will cause something among those who oppose us - in this case it will put them to shame. "For Jesus suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous..." is Peter saying that, although Jesus suffered once for all sins (ours and our persecutors' sins), we too as righteous people suffer not only at the hands of the unrighteous, but in some respect, for the unrighteous?? (cf. 2:12, 15, 19-25; 3:1-2, 9, 16)

Another constant theme in this epistle is not just his suffering ("to bring us to God") but also "the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him" (3:21-22). God vindicated Jesus, who now reigns over all authorities. Though we are to be subject to them, we are first subject to Jesus as Lord who subjects them.

Lastly, Peter gives a kind of promise in 4:1-2 in saying

"Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God."

These are difficult verses. I honestly have never really understood it. He certainly is speaking of those who suffer faithfully, following Jesus' example, entrusting themselves to God and not reviling but rather blessing in return. As Peter says in the opening of his letter, trials are intended by God to have a purifying effect for our faith.

If we can move through our trial as those born anew with the life of Jesus within, so that we're not just following his example but also living out his life within us; if we do not sin when we are sinned against, then indeed, at least in this sphere or this instance we have, as the Greek literally says, "ceased (or stopped) sin." In other words, we have not perpetuated it, we have not returned evil for evil (2:23; 3:9), which is exactly what Jesus did in his suffering on the cross. And in so doing, we too put our stake (cross?) in the ground that we will not live out of our passions but for the will of God.

Jesus entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He gave himself over to the will of God. He drew his life and power from God, from the Spirit - which is his will for all those who receive his good news also (4:6). I don't think the point of these verses is to say the "flesh" is bad in the sense of life in a body, but in the sense of life in the body being animated or empowered by human, earthly passions, priorities or principles rather than for the will of God and by the Spirit and in the life of Jesus Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
(1 Peter 1:3, RSV)