Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

Desisting From Sin

1 Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as 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;

This statement by the apostle Peter has often been confused by those living in a works of law religion; how can a person stop sinning by suffering in their flesh?

Job 14:4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one.

First, and foremost, Christ is not telling us we can stop sinning by works of law, that is, by applying strong measures to our flesh. Works of law, in this case, means those that believe with all sincerity that if they come down hard on their flesh in applying God's commandments they can stop sinning, or a least sin less. Having said that, there is some truth to this application and thinking. But unfortunately, moreover, unwittingly, those teaching this application soon remove the Christ and replace him with their own self-efforts, by their self-will honestly believing they have stop sinning, for that moment, or in some area of their lives, which is self-righteousness, by works of law. We are staying they believe they are a less of sinner or stop sinning by making themselves by the power of their own will.

Proverbs 20:9 Who can say, "I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin?"

Desisting From Sin

First, no human can desist from sin, that is a lie, they can work hard at not to sinning in certain areas of their lives, but desisting from sin, not possible! Once a person is a sinner they are a sinner working their way out of sin is not a bible teaching, nor was Peter teaching such a thing here. We must understand simple truth once a person is a person they cannot become another species. Once a person is a sinner, they are a sinner as long as they are alive in their flesh, with the exception God gives them salvation from sin.

Ezekiel 44:23 They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

Mark 1:40 A leper came to him, begging him, kneeling down to him, and saying to him, "If you want to, you can make me clean." 1:41 Being moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand, and touched him, and said to him, "I want to. Be made clean."

Romans 6:7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.

Peter taught truth that did not originated with himself, or from some private interpretation of the scriptures, but instead, he was bored along by Holy Spirit to speak the will of God, that is, what God wanted him to speak to us. So what did Peter teach about sinning? Did he actually teach that we could say as some point to by hard work that we can desisted from sin? Will, lets read his words below.

1 Peter 3:21 This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you--not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Peter's teaching were in complete harmony with all the apostles writings, he did not say we could stop sinning by our good efforts, although, we had the greatest desire to stop sinning, but rather he taught that we must like all sinner ask God for a clean conscience through the blood of Christ Jesus.

1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Romans 3:10 As it is written, "There is no one righteous; no, not one.

Understanding Righteousness

Simply put, the subject of righteousness is not understood by most Christian's today they hear the word righteousness and they related it to saying words in a certain way, not watching certain entertainment(s), or going to a religious building, or certain group of people, the list is endless based upon our personal reverence for an object, person, or some place.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Romans 10:3 For being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn't subject themselves to the righteousness of God.

We must always remember there is no self-righteousness for a Christian, or any righteousness in a building, place, or things for a Christian. All Christian's must be made righteous through someone else righteousness, someone else efforts. When a Christian is taught this basic teaching from the start as a foundation stone of truth it will change their entire thinking about God and their personal relationship with God.

Philippians 1:11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 3:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

Christ died to give us his righteousness, why? Because we as sinner could never stand righteous (right)before God as a sinner. Righteousness is first and foremost meaning we don't have sin. Christ was the only sinless man on earth, since Adam was on earth. Thus, he took Adam's place to produce a sinless family for God.

Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:

1 John 3:9 Whoever is born of God doesn't commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he can't sin, because he is born of God.

Since then, that is, after Adam sinned, no human born can be righteous without being made righteous by God's means of righteousness. So when we read our bibles bear in mind that when it speaks of a righteous person God has accounted that person righteous by redeeming them from their sins. They were not made righteous because they had enough goodness, or did enough good works to make them righteous apart from God's own righteous imputed too them by his mercy.

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;

Romans 5:12 Therefore, as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin; and so death passed to all men, because all sinned.

All of us as Christian's are taught about the great men of faith in our bibles, and we try to emulate them and their actions, but if one thinks these men and woman had a separate righteousness apart from God giving them righteousness by his own standards of righteousness we are mislead. All were made righteous by accepting God's standard of righteousness, which is blood; purchasing them from their transgression by the life of an innocent victim, and putting complete faith in the blood as covering their sin given them by God's mercy this God's standard of righteousness, not man's. Which means they were made to stand right before God having their sins blotted out by believing God is good and righteous, not them, and he does not lie. If the blood was given it was enough to believe in God, and not themselves.

Levitius 5:15 "If anyone commits a trespass, and sins unwittingly, in the holy things of Yahweh; then he shall bring his trespass offering to Yahweh, a ram without blemish from the flock, according to your estimation in silver by shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering.

Numbers 15:27 If one person sins unwittingly, then he shall offer a female goat a year old for a sin offering.

Micah 7:19 He will again have compassion on us. He will tread our iniquities under foot; and you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

Matthew 1:21 She shall bring forth a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins."

The bible teaches no sinner can stand before God on his or hers own merit, God must act wiping clean their transgression by paying the price for their sins, if one were able to make themselves sinless, without the filth of our flesh, which is, sin. Then Christ would not of had to suffer and die for our sins.

Matthew 26:28 for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.

Desisting From Sin by Suffering in Our Flesh

Let us be clear without any question of that yes meaning yes, and our no being no! The only way for a Christian to stop sinning, desist from sinning, is in Christ, in Christ means our being in Christ righteousness by our faith in his blood, placing no value in our fallen flesh to redeem us from sins.

1 John 3:6 Whoever remains in him doesn't sin. Whoever sins hasn't seen him, neither knows him.

We must constantly recall there is no other way to stop sinning, a person can suffer ruthlessly in their flesh, but they will not stop sinning, don't be fooled. They cannot stop sinning without being in the life of Christ that is the only way one cannot desist from sin. So what did Peter mean by our suffering in the flesh that we desist from sin?

2 Timothy 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

1 Timothy 4:10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we have set our trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

Suffering for a Christian's in their flesh means that they cannot work their way out of sin by their own power, and/or strengthen which cause extreme faith. Suffering in our flesh lets us know without doubt that we are under undeserved kindness which is the only way we can stop sinning, we must always be mindful of our true condition as sinners in our flesh so that we set our minds upon the Christ righteousness and not our own good works instead of believing that this day we are not such a bad sinner.

2 Corinthians 1:6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer.

2 Corinthians 7:9 I now rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you were made sorry to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly way, that you might suffer loss by us in nothing.

In other words, we as Christian's cannot boast in our flesh on any day we have stop sinning, boasting we did good today in being a better Christian as if we earned ourselves a special reward from God for this day. Our boasting we are better than others in our not sinning that we don't like in them, better, because we acted and spoke more like a Christian's today, or for a week. Boasting in how much we have done for God. Stop boasting in self! Boast in Christ, righteousness that saved you, do we really understand what it means to boast in Christ? Most do not they have been taught to boast in the flesh, and its effort tagging Christ name to it!

1Cor.1:30 But of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: 1:31 that, according as it is written, "He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."{Jeremiah 9:24}

Boasting in Christ

Boasting in Christ is not arrogant or proud, because Christ is not arrogant or proud? Did Christ boast of his own good works, or in his Father's good works? Christ didn't boast in Christ. Christ boasted in the Father, he spoke of God's love towards him, how God is good, and wonderful, he did not put others down by boast in YHWH, as doing more than them; making them feel unworthy, he humbled himself as a servant of God, and extending the same to all that loved the Father, as equal not above!

Matthew 5:45 that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.

Matthew 19:16 Behold, one came to him and said, "Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" 19:17 He said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."

Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.

God does not love the world and its boasting, boasting in God our Father is telling the truth of his power, his goodness, his love for us and those we talk to. It not about shinning making ourselves feel better, it is about making God our Father love known, and sharing him with those wanting God's love.

Colossians 1:10 that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

When we boast in Christ we are saying, we boast in what he did for us, his righteousness, we are humbled by God's undeserved kindness in Christ, we are happy to serve as a servant of God waiting upon his direction in our lives as our head. We understand our righteousness is not good, we want God's gift of righteousness in our lives, his will found in his son Christ Jesus, We want to be made clean in Christ, not ourselves.

1 Corinthians 4:7 For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn't receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

Many Christian's are unwittingly in a race, a competition with Christ tying to make a name for themselves by doing good works like Christ did on earth. They want to shine, be special in Christ, they are not part of Christ they are competing against Christ claiming to be like Christ in doing good works. Such presumptuousness is shocking they can't be Christ, if so Christ died in vain. None of Christ apostles boasted in their flesh, they boasted in Christ and his righteousness given them to as a gift of God's love to save them.

Phip. 2:5 Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus,
2:6 who, existing in the form of God, didn't consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, 2:7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. 2:8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross. 2:9 Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name;

Christ did not boast in doing his own good works, he boasted in doing his Fathers good works, he did nothing of his own will. What are we thinking as Christian's when boasting in our good works? We are to do the works of whom as Christian's. Did you note the name Christian's which means we have become a part of Christ body, he being the head of the body, we don't have separate good works. We should do like he did the works of our head, Christ Jesus the head of his body, God is the head of Christ. We do not belong to ourselves, we belong to Christ life his will, purchased by his blood for the will of God through Christ as our director.

John 15:1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer.
15:2 Every branch in me that doesn't bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 15:3 You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 15:4 Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can't bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me. 15:5 I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

This is why we must suffer in our flesh, for righteousness, not our own righteousness, but Christ righteousness. For when we suffer in our flesh we find how far we fall short of God's glory in our own righteousness, so we must be in Christ to save us out of this body under going death. Now in Christ we desist from sin, not that we don't sin, but we put our complete faith in Christ our head and not ourselves in our flesh.

2 Corinthians 1:9 Yes, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead,

1 Corinthians 2:5 that your faith wouldn't stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves.

Addition to Desisting from Sin:

1 Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as 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;

For our flesh to exist and survive on this earth it must obligate others to debt or itself be obligated to debt; debt for payment of friendship, loyalty, work, and family to take care of us, and so on...

Matthew 10:37 He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn't worthy of me.

This is accepted in our world despite those that would loudly protest otherwise, thinking their love is pure, and without obligating others to them for some sort of reward.

Rom.13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

Desisting from sin means suffering in our flesh which can be summed up this way. When we walk in love, love holds no debt of any kind for payment. Thus, we suffer in our flesh when we walk in love, why? Simply put, because love abolishes debt owed us, thus, we cannot get our needs meant in our fleshly so it suffers.

Rom.3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom. 3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't boast and don't lie against the truth. 3:15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. 3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.

Those suffering in their flesh in this manner stop sinning because they are in Christ whom holds no debt of payment for their sins in their flesh. They are walking in God's love, found in Christ. In other words, their flesh is of no value at all, they walk by Spirit and must stay in faith to believe God will supply their daily needs by faith.

James 4:13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow let's go into this city, and spend a year there, trade, and make a profit."
4:14 Whereas you don't know what your life will be like tomorrow. For what is your life? For you are a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. 4:15 For you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will both live, and do this or that." 4:16 But now you glory in your boasting. All such boasting is evil. 4:17 To him therefore who knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin.

Without faith they are using their flesh for payment by obligating others to give them the needs of their flesh. Walking in love takes away the power of the flesh, kills it obligation to flesh, and its desires causing it to rebel and suffer for the things it desires.

James 4:1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your pleasures that war in your members?
4:2 You lust, and don't have. You kill, covet, and can't obtain. You fight and make war. You don't have, because you don't ask.
4:3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures. 4:4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Gal.5:13 For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don't use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another. 5:14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."{Leviticus 19:18}
5:15 But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don't consume one another. 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won't fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Moreover, this is how those suffering in their flesh desist from sin of the flesh. Although, they suffer for wants and needs of the flesh common to all mankind they chose a course of letting go of debts for payment. and needs of the flesh the world uses to build, gain, and survive by. These are suffering for righteousness sake, that is, for the law of the Spirit, love, which makes them of no uses to this world. If the world cannot obligate us in the flesh we are of no uses at all to its system of things. We are thus, not know by this world.

1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.

1 John 3:1 Behold, how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn't know us, because it didn't know him.

1 John 4:5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak of the world, and the world hears them.

1 John 4:17 In this love has been made perfect among us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, even so are we in this world.

1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.

Completed: November 28, 2015

by: Daniel a Slave of Christ Jesus