suffered – Ministry of Grace Church

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1 Peter 4:1 – Suffering With Him

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Will

Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

Truth to Learn

Suffering for righteousness produces a keen sense of Christ’s suffering and enables you to more fully live for Him.

Behind the Words

The word translated “suffered” is the from the Greek word pascho, which means to experience a sensation, usually painful (sometimes translated as “passion”). It is expressed in the Greek aorist tense, meaning that it was an action that took place at a point in time in the past, not continuous action in the past.

The word translated “ceased” is the Greek word pauō, which means “to stop, quit, or come to an end.” It is expressed here in the perfect tense, implying a process that has come to completion in the past with a resulting state of being. The emphasis of this tense is on the resulting state.

Meaning Explained

According to Peter, he who has suffered in the flesh, “has ceased from sin.” Since Christ never did sin, this can‘t be referring to Christ. Some have argued that this implies that when we really and truly die to sin in our flesh we will have attained a state of holiness in which we sin no longer. I don’t believe that this is what Scripture teaches.

The Apostle Paul addresses this same issue in it the book of Romans:

For if we have been joined together in the likeness of His death, we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection; knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him that the body of sin might be done away with, that from now on we should not serve sin. For he who died has been justified from sin. (Romans 6:5-7)

In this passage it is pretty clear that Paul is talking about us putting our “old man,” a term which refers to our sin nature, to death, figuratively. He goes on to say:

knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, He dies no more; death no longer has dominion over Him. For in that He died, He died to sin once; but in that He lives, He lives to God. In the same way count yourselves also to be truly dead to sin, but alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:9-11)

It is clear that Paul is teaching that we haven’t really died, nor has our sin nature really died but that we should consider ourselves to be dead to sin and not let it control our lives.

Therefore, what Peter is telling us in today’s verse is that if we are suffering for righteousness, we can identify with the suffering that Christ went through. And, whereas His suffering culminated in his atoning death for us we can consider ourselves to have died with him (at least our sin nature) and we can live a fulfilled life, not controlled by our sin nature.

Application

If you are currently suffering and you have done nothing wrong, of if you are suffering because of your testimony for Christ, you can readily identify with His suffering which gave us everlasting life. As a result, you can now more readily live for Him instead of living to satisfy your own sin nature.

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Thessalonians 2:14 – Family Suffering

Posted on April 15, 2016 by Will

from the Jews,

Truth to Learn

Many Christians suffer at the hands of friends and relatives.

Behind the Words

“Imitators” is from the word mimētēs, which we saw in the sixth verse of the previous chapter. It refers to “someone who mimics, imitates, or follows the example of someone else.”

The word “churches” is translated from the word ekklēsia, which is made up of ek, meaning “out” and a form of the verb kaleō, meaning “to call.” It literally refers to “the called out ones.” Originally, this word referred to an assembly of citizens who were called out by civil authorities. It is used throughout the New Testament, however, to refer to the church, either a local assembly or the world-wide church.

Paschō is the Greek word translated “suffered.” This word means “to undergo an experience,” “to be subjected to evil,” or “to suffer.”

The words “your own” are from idios which means “pertaining to yourself.”

“Countrymen” is translated from sumphuletēs, which is made up of sun, meaning “together with” and a form of phulē, which refers to “a family,” “a tribe,” or “a race of people.”

Meaning Explained

In yesterday’s verse Paul said that he was thankful for the way the people of the church in Thessalonica received the Word of God. As a result of receiving and believing the gospel message they became Christians, members of the family of God.

Now he says something very interesting about these new believers. He says that they became imitators of the members of the Christian churches in Judea. It’s interesting that he refers to the Judean Christians as being members of the “churches of God … in Christ Jesus.” The reason for referring to them in this way is that the followers of Judaism in Judea referred to themselves as a “church” as well. Early in the life of the church, Christians were thought of as nothing more than a new sect of Judaism. Paul is making it very clear that he is not referring to the followers of Judaism who met in a synagogue every week, but to the followers of Jesus Christ.

We learn here that the manner in which the Thessalonians were imitating the churches in Judea was in their suffering. He’s not so much indicating that they suffered alike, but that they also suffered at the hands of their own countrymen. Paul was very familiar with the way the Judean Christians suffered because he, himself, was one of the Jews who persecuted Christians there (see Acts 8:1-3). The Thessalonian Christians also suffered at the hands of their own countrymen. This persecution may have originated with Jews, but it was later carried out by the Greek people of Macedonia as well.

Application

Do your friends and family members treat you differently because you are a Christian? If so, you’re in good company. Don’t hate them for it, continue to pray for them, that God would open their hearts to believe the Gospel message as well.

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Thessalonians 2:2 – God-Given Courage

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Will

But also, we had suffered previously and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much opposition.

Truth to Learn

Serving God faithfully means you will encounter opposition.

Behind the Words

The words “we had suffered previously” are translated from the Greek verb propaschō, which is made up of pro, meaning “before, in time or position” and paschō, meaning “to suffer.” So, we can see that propaschō means “to have suffered previously.” It is expressed as an aorist participle, so it could be translated as “having suffered previously.”

“Were spitefully treated” is from the verb hubridzō, based on the noun hubris, meaning “an insult” or “arrogance.” Hubridzō means “to act with great violence” or “to treat with contempt, causing injury.” This is also expressed as an aorist participle, so it could be translated as “having been treated injuriously.”

The words “we were bold … to speak” are translated from the Greek verb parrēsiadzomai. This word means “to speak openly, boldly, and without restraint.”

“Opposition” is from agon, which refers to “contention,” “opposition,” or “striving for victory or mastery.” It is a picture of a contestant trying hard to win a victory in an athletic event in spite of strong opposition.

Meaning Explained

As we discussed in the previous verse, Paul and his companions faced a lot of opposition to their ministry in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. He tells us now that they suffered as a result of their work and they were treated with acts of violence by those who opposed them in Philippi.

In spite of the fierce opposition they faced, however, Paul and his helpers spoke openly and boldly when they presented the gospel message to the people in Thessalonica. They didn’t suspend their ministry in the face of opposition and they didn’t fall back to take a defensive position. Instead, they presented the message of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ openly and with conviction.

Our enemy doesn’t want others to hear about the good news. He wants to silence us and intimidate us so that we will be afraid to speak the truth. Also, notice that the courage and conviction with which they performed their ministry didn’t come from internal fortitude or gritty determination on their own part. They knew that the message they proclaimed came from God, and they relied on the Holy Spirit to give them the message to deliver and the boldness to deliver it.

Too often today, Christians lose heart when they face opposition to their ministries. Sometimes it appears as if they are looking for an excuse to back down and take the easy road of appeasement. Instead, we all need to bathe our efforts in prayer, asking God to give us boldness in proclaiming the gospel message to a lost world.

Application

Have you suffered as a result of proclaiming the gospel message or teaching the truth as given to us in the pages of the Bible? Don’t lose heart, my friend! Seek God’s face and step out with spiritual courage, serving God faithfully. That doesn’t mean that the opposition will stop, it just means you’re being faithful to God’s calling on your life. Go forth boldly!

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Thessalonians 2:14 – Family Suffering

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Will

For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans,

Truth to Learn

Many Christians suffer at the hands of friends and relatives.

Behind the Words

“Imitators” is from the word mimētēs, which we saw in the sixth verse of the previous chapter. It refers to “someone who mimics, imitates, or follows the example of someone else.”

Paschō is the Greek word translated “suffered.” This word means “to undergo an experience,” “to be subjected to evil,” or “to suffer.”

The words “your own” are from idios which means “pertaining to yourself.”

Meaning Explained

We learn here that the manner in which the Thessalonians were imitating the churches in Judea was in their suffering. He’s not so much indicating that they suffered alike, but that they suffered at the hands of their own countrymen. Paul was very familiar with the way the Judean Christians suffered because he, himself, was one of the Jews who persecuted Christians there (see Acts 8:1-3). The Thessalonian Christians also suffered at the hands of their own countrymen. This persecution may have originated with Jews, but it was later carried out by the Greek people of Macedonia.

Application

In God's service, for His glory,