Did anything change? Faith means to commit it to truth!
This week I had the opportunity to witness to one of my uncles. While I was there he prayed to receive Jesus. I celebrate with the angels in heaven this decision he has made. I asked him after he prayed if anything changed. I explained to him that when you are saved, your life should change. The Holy Spirit comes into you and now you have an excitement and a desire to no longer live in sin. I am not saying that you will not sin but that the desire to serve the Lord will be strong and when you sin there will be disappointment. When you truly have FAITH for the first time that you will spend eternity with Jesus in heaven you suddenly no longer fear death. You might still have a concern about the process but not of the death itself. Peter describes this change in
1 Peter 4:1-2 '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, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. '
Let's break these verses down today. "Therefore", points us back to the previous chapter which tells us, that Jesus died for sins once for all and then resurrected Himself and is at the right hand of the Father so that He might bring us to God. So we see because of this promise it says "since Christ has suffered in the flesh". In the flesh means being in His incarnate state 100% man while still being 100% God. Here we see that Christ suffered and we know His suffering led to death, Then it says we are to "arm yourselves also with the same purpose." We are to prepare for our own suffering and even death in the flesh. Jesus told us this. He said that we would suffer in this world.
John 16:33 'These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”'
Because we have followed Him by FAITH we will suffer. Then Peter tells us how things will change and why we will suffer. "because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. " Ceased from sin, means it is no longer our life but a rare circumstance that convicts us because in our FAITH we desire to do the will of God through the Spirit that lives in us!
There is the change. We will now live in FAITH for the "will of God"!
Then listen to the way Peter closes this topic in the next chapter. 1 Peter 5:6-11 'Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your FAITH, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen. '
What a change! Is that Good News or what? Keep your FAITH for you will suffer for a little while and then you will be exalted at the proper time. so cast your anxiety on Him. Jesus cares for you. Death is not the end when you have FAITH (commit it to truth), it is just a moment in the flesh that leads instantly to the promises of God in Eternal Life.
What a change Salvation by Grace through FAITH brings!
Love Bro. Scott