HOW TO SUFFER WITH CHRIST.
By Elias Goodwin
"Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin." 1 Pet. iv, 1. In this verse we are told, in the first place, that Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh. Secondly, to arm ourselves with the same mind, that is to suffer as he did, or with him. And thirdly that he that hath suffered in the flesh, (or with Christ,) hath ceased from sin. And why should he cease from sin? "That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God." Verse 2. In the first place we have sufficient testimony from the word of God, that Christ did actually suffer for us. I will quote a few passages to sustain this point. "Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps." Chap. ii, 21. "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust." Chap. iii, 18. Why did he thus suffer for us? That he might bring us to God. Verse 18. In what way did he suffer for us? "Being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit." Chap. iii, 18. "For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God." 2 Cor. xiii, 4. "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Phil. ii, 8. "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." Rom. v, 6. "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Verse 8.—"For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God." Chap. vi, 10.—"For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." Heb. ix, 26. These texts are sufficient to show in what the suffering of Christ consisted; viz., dying for our sins—in being put to death in the flesh. The second point to be noticed is that we are to arm ourselves with the same mind, that is, to suffer in the flesh, or with Christ. "If so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." Rom. viii, 17. "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake." Phil. i, 29. "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him." 2 Tim. ii, 12. The question may now arise, how are we to suffer in the flesh, (or with Christ) that we may cease to sin? I answer, that as Christ died, was crucified, put to death in the flesh, so also, we must be crucified with Christ, put to death in the flesh, that is, the old man, the carnal mind, the lusts of the flesh, must all die, or we can never be glorified, and reign with Christ. "For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him." 2 Tim. ii, 11. "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." Col. iii, 3. "I am crucified with Christ." Gal. ii, 20. "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now, if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him." Rom. vi, 6, 7, 8. "And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness." Rom. viii, 10. "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts." Gal. v, 24. These passages are sufficient to show how we are to suffer in the flesh, (or with Christ,) that we may cease to sin. Some, at least, do not seem to understand what it is to suffer with Christ. They seem to think that because they embrace the Sabbath, with other truths, and bear some opposition from the world, that they are suffering with Christ, while they are living after the flesh, and gratifying many of the lusts thereof. The reason that Peter gives for suffering in the flesh is, "That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God." Again, says Peter in his second Epistle, Chap. i, 4, "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but of the world." 1 John ii, 16. We see at the present time that the world is full of corruption. "Through lust" men have corrupted themselves and become as "natural brute beasts;" and if they do not escape by these "exceeding great and precious promises," they will assuredly "utterly perish in their own corruption." There are many ways in which men corrupt themselves, and probably in no one point, more than in eating and drinking. The world is full of inventions in the art of preparing something to gratify the appetite. It is the custom of most of professors of religion at the present day to get up parties of pleasure where they can gratify their own appetite in feasting, and "eating and drinking with the drunken." Matt. xxiv, 42. Surely they are "lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God." 2 Tim. iii, 4. Our Saviour understood how it would be down in these last days, when "perilous times" should come, and in view of this state of things he says, "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares." Luke xxi, 34. What does he mean by surfeiting? The definition of surfeiting is, to cause an indisposition by excess in eating and drinking. So we see that Jesus has cautioned us, who live in the end of the world, against gratifying the flesh in this point. To this agree the words of Paul: "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof." Rom. xiii, 14. "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." Gal. v, 16, 17. "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." Rom. viii, 8, 9, 12, 13. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption: but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." Gal. vi, 7, 8. Also, Peter exhorts us about these things: "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul." 1 Pet. ii, 11. "As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation." Chap. i, 14, 15. Oswego, N. Y., Dec. 1853.