1 Peter 4:1

1 Peter 4:1 ‘Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,'

‘Therefore' -Connecting this chapter back to the previous verses concerning the suffering of Jesus (1 Peter 3:18-22). Peter now makes the application that this example should have on those who have been baptized and their conscience's cleansed.

‘since Christ suffered in the flesh' -‘suffered in the body' (TCNT); ‘endured bodily suffering' (NEB). Points to Note: 1. The word “flesh” does not inherently mean ‘sinful flesh.' 2. The suffering of Jesus was not an illusion, and another being didn't take His place. Neither did the Divine Jesus depart from His physical body prior to the sufferings. Jesus felt and experienced all the pain that could be inflicted upon His physical body (1 Peter 3:18; Hebrews 5:7).

‘arm yourselves also' -‘provide one's self with. thing' (Thayer p. 449); ‘equip, arm. with the same insight' (Arndt p. 575). ‘”Arm”…a military term that means “to arm, furnish with arms” (Thayer p. 449). This is something that we must do! Here is. choice. The language indicates that any person can adopt the mind of Christ, if they simply desire to think and act as Jesus thought. Mental preparation is needed to succeed in the Christian life. Unless we are willing to turn our mind and attitude over to God, we will fail (1 Peter 4:8; Matthew 6:24).

‘with the same purpose' -‘same resolve as he' (TCNT); ‘the same determination'(Wms); ‘the same attitude'(Nor). (1 Peter 2:1). Points to Note: 1. ‘think as Christ did about obedience and suffering: to be convinced that it is better to do right and suffer for it than to do wrong (cf. 1 Peter 3:17-18).' (Grudem p. 166) 2. The same readiness and willingness to suffer for God and His kingdom. 2. ‘We do not look for suffering, but are willing and ready, as necessary, to do so.' (Oberst p. 194) 3. This “same purpose” involves the willingness to suffer without complaint, to endure hardship without grumbling and discouraging everyone else (1 Peter 2:20). 4. This “attitude” that we must adopt includes refusing to be intimidated (1 Peter 3:14); giving. good and sound defense (1 Peter 3:15); remaining optimistic and excited about our future (1 Peter 3:15); and refusing to blame God! 5. What. noble incentive for serving God faithfully! We can have God's attitude! (Isaiah 2:8)

‘because' -further motivation.

‘he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin' -Points to Note: 1. Does ‘he' apply to Jesus or Christians?. believe we must apply it to Christians, because the phrase ‘ceased from sin' doesn't fit with someone who never did sin (1 Peter 2:22). In addition, we have ‘cessation from sin' in the following verses (1 Peter 4:2).. guess one could argue that Jesus ‘ceased from sin' in the sense that ‘He is done dealing with it', i.e. He offered Himself once for sins. “he has done with sin” (Arndt 638). But that really isn't completely true. For Jesus continues to make intercession for sinners (Hebrews 7:25). 2. The following comments are very insightful on the above expression: ‘As. general statement, without qualification, this would not be true, for there are many people who have suffered physically and yet still sin very much. Nor is Peter simply saying that physical suffering somehow purifies and strengthens people---it strengthens some (Romans 5:3; James 1:2), but others become rebellious toward God and embittered. Rather, we must read the sentence in the light of the theme of suffering for doing right which is found in the preceding context (1 Peter 3:14; 16-18). The kind of suffering in the flesh which Peter means is defined by 1 Peter 1:17: “For it is better to suffer for doing right, if that should be God's will, than for doing wrong.”….The phrase has ceased from sin cannot mean “no longer sins at all”, for certainly that is not true of everyone who has been willing to suffer for doing right…(1 John 1:8). It rather means “has made. clear break from sin”, “has most definitely acted in. way which shows that obeying God, not avoiding hardship, is the most important motivation for his or her action”. Thus, following through with. decision to obey God even when it will mean physical suffering has. morally strengthening effect on our lives: it commits us more firmly than ever before to. pattern of action where obedience is even more important than our desire to avoid pain.' (Grudem pp. 166-167)

The ‘sin' in this verse must be the rule, bondage, habit and practice of sin (1 John 3:6; Romans 6:7; Romans 6:18).