by Hugh DeLong<\/p>\n
“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<\/em>” (I Peter 4:1-2).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
We see here yet another admonition to transform our living habits. Why am I here? How should I conduct myself? These questions are at the very foundation of living. Jesus’ purpose is easily stated by quoting Him: “I always do the things that are pleasing to Him<\/em> [The Father]” (John 8:29).<\/p>\n
Now<\/strong>, having become a disciple, Peter instructs us to have the same purpose in our lives. Such often comes with a pushback from the world, from the people we live among who are not disciples. Peter has been dealing with this pushback and our response to it throughout this letter. It is about decisions<\/strong>. I must decide <\/b>not to live like the world but by and for the will of God as revealed in these writings of the apostles and prophets of Jesus.<\/p>\n
After examining your life and the emphasis you have put on your various activities, what is your real purpose in living?<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Hugh DeLong “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”…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[763,941],"class_list":["post-91269","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-decisions","tag-purpose"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":29366,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/understanding-your-purpose\/","url_meta":{"origin":91269,"position":0},"title":"Understanding Your Purpose","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 3, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Doy Moyer \"For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps\" (I Peter 2:21). We have been called to a purpose, but unless we understand Christ's purpose, we will not understand our purpose.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":29737,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/since-christ-died-for-our-sins-do-we-have-any-responsibility-to-give-up-sins\/","url_meta":{"origin":91269,"position":1},"title":"Since Christ died for our sins, do we have any responsibility to give up sins?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 28, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have been telling people that, though I fully accept that Jesus sacrificed Himself for our sake and that He also died because of our sins.\u00a0 People tell me that He only died for our sins, and I find this confusing because in my mind mentally, verbally, and physically\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":29429,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-can-paul-die-with-christ-if-christ-is-living\/","url_meta":{"origin":91269,"position":2},"title":"How can Paul die with Christ if Christ is living?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 4, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I am confused about \"My old self has been crucified with Christ. 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