受苦和与罪断绝
彼得前书四章1至6节
1基督既在肉身受苦，你们也当将这样的心志作为兵器，因为在肉身受过苦的，就已经与罪断绝了。
2你们存这样的心，从今以后就可以不从人的情欲，只从神的旨意在世度余下的光阴。
3因为往日随从外邦人的心意行邪淫、恶欲、醉酒、荒宴、群饮，并可恶拜偶像的事，时候已经够了。
4他们在这些事上，见你们不与他们同奔那放荡无度的路，就以为怪，毁谤你们。
5他们必在那将要审判活人死人的主面前交账。
6为此，就是死人也曾有福音传给他们，要叫他们的肉体按着人受审判，他们的灵性却靠神活着。
信息分享
接着几天，我们将回到彼得前书的最后两章。这两章经文，对我们每个人都深有启发。
今天所读的经文涉及两个重要的主题：受苦和与罪断绝。它们都是我们决志成为基督徒后，生命出现改变的其中两个经历。我们成为新人之后，性情和心志都会与之前不同，但同时也要面对新的问题。
第1节首先提出基督的受苦。我们不可能像基督那样受苦，可是，我们不能再按照肉体的喜好而行，对我们的肉体而言(即我们的旧人而言)，也算得上是一种受苦。除非我们明白到我们的旧本性已经与基督同钉十字架，我们才可以永远地脱离它的辖制。基督钉十字架的时候，已将罪在我们身上的势力彻底粉碎。
因此，我们如今在世为人，是「只从神的旨意」(2节)，而不是为了满足自我的私欲。
彼得在第3节提及我们还没悔改时的光景。我们成为基督徒的那一刻，属世的人生便出现了一个分水岭。我们的生活便出现「得救之前」和「得救之后」的分别。
世人却不明白这改变(4节)。他们只看见我们成了基督徒后所放弃的东西，却看不见我们所得着的东西。其实，对比于我们所得着的福分，我们为基督的缘故而放弃的一切根本是微不足道。
要为主受苦，当然不会好过；要逆流而上，走世人所不认同的道路，也并不容易。然而，我们若想为主而活，这就是我们必须踏上的道路。
反思：
我是否基督的精兵？是否愿意跟随神的羔羊？我是否害怕承担祂的使命，或提起祂的名字便感到脸红？
SUFFERING AND SEPARATION
1 Peter 4:1-6
1 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,
2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.
4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.
5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
Message
We have returned to the two last chapters of 1 Peter for our readings over the next few days. These chapters are full of strong teaching for us all.
These verses deal with two important subjects, suffering and separation. This is all part of the great change that takes place when we come to Christ. We receive a new nature with new desires and ambitions and even new problems.
The first verse mentions Christ's sufferings. We cannot suffer as he did, but it is still painful to the flesh (the old nature) not to have its own way. It is only as we see that old nature crucified with Christ that we will ever be free from its power. Christ broke the power of sin and the old nature over us when he was crucified.
Now we live for the will of God (v. 2), not just to fulfil all the lusts of the self-centred flesh.
In verse 3 Peter mentions the time of our conversion. Earthly life is divided at that point for the Christian. We speak of the time 'before we were saved' or 'since we have been saved'.
The world can't understand this (v. 4). They see what we have given up since we became Christians. What they can't see is what we have received as Christians. That is far more than anything we may have given up for Christ's sake.
It isn't easy to suffer. It isn't easy to be different from the world, but if we are going to mean anything for Christ in this life that is the way we have to travel.
A THOUGHT:
'Am I a soldier of the cross, a follower of the Lamb?
And shall I fear to own his cause
Or blush to speak his name?'