The Suffering of the Cross
By Jeff Fry, Darwin Park Community Church, Lichfield, UK
1 Peter 4:1-2 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2 As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God[1]
NIV Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. [in what? – in your struggle/suffering to throw off sin] 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
Thesis: We must cross-suffer like Jesus did.
I. Intro
A. Review
B. This Week: Christ was sent by the Father to suffer and die for our sins. The Scripture also says that as Christ was sent so are we. We are also meant to suffer on our road to inheriting the glory of heaven. This suffering is inevitable as we seek to throw off sin in our lives.
II. We must cross-suffer like Jesus
A. State
1. Review the passage (1 Peter 4:1-2 and Hebrews 12:1-5)
a) 1 Peter 4:1-2
(1) “arm yourselves with the same attitude” – what attitude? (ans: the attitude that Christ had toward his suffering – he suffered in order to deal with sin once and for all). We should have this attitude too – to throw off sin even if it takes suffering.
b) Hebrews 12:1-5 (Read context : Hebrews 11:35-40)
(1) Background: Hebrews 11 –
(a) The Hall of Faith (play on “The Hall of Fame”)
(b) Great fathers of the faith who were known for living by faith (living by and trusting in God’s word)
(c) Hebrews 11:35-40 – the examples of suffering
(2) What are we to throw off? (everything that hinders, esp. the sin that so easily entangles)
(3) In doing so, who or what are we to focus on or set our eyes on? (Jesus)
(4) And what is it about Christ that we are to consider especially? (ans: the opposition he suffered from sinful men)
2. v. 1 What is cross-suffering?
a) Answer: throwing off hindrances and sin that keep us from our relationship with God
b) The struggle, the fight is for our relationship with God. The enemy wants to stifle your relationship with God.
c) It is assumed that Christians will be fighting against sin by the power of the Holy Spirit
(1) This is natural for all true Christians
(a) That we hate the sin we see in us
(b) That we fight against it
(2) That we are in a race of faith
(a) Our own personal faith journey with God
(b) God has a purpose for us here and it is
(i) To glorify him by living by faith in His word
(ii) God rewards those who live by faith
d) Illustration
(1) The picture is of a runner who is in a race to win:
(a) Everything that hinders (even though it is not bad in and of itself)
(i) Tank tops with no sleeves so as not to hinder arm movement
(ii) Very light, short, shorts so as not to hinder his/her running
(iii) Shoes are light and if you are in track you would even have little spikes on the shoes so as to get better grip on the surface
(iv) Runners go into strict training
(a) Regular training
(b) Requires discipline
(c) Special diets
(2) You are in the race of faith and in order to make any progress spiritually you must throw off anything that hinders you and the sin that so easily entangles you.
(a) Some things that hinder you may not even be bad things in and of themselves but may be holding you back in your spiritual life
(i) Too much tele, not enough devotional reading
(a) We can never miss our favourite tele program but we easily miss our time alone with God
(ii) Greed for money or possessions
(a) Another new car
(b) The latest ninetendo video game and countless hours playing it and no time spent with God
(b) The sin that so easily entangles you
(i) You know what it is
(ii) Often in the family – one that you will see that down the generations your family members too dealt with – generational
(a) Alcoholism
(b) unfaithfulness
(c) outbursts of anger
(d) problems with sexual lust
(e) perfectionism
(f) caustic, critical tongue (my example)
(iii) Satan will focus on this one and loves to play this card on you
(iv) If you are not aware of this sin then the enemy will have a field day with it.
(v) Freedom in Christ course
3. V2 how do we cross-suffer?
a) Expect opposition like Jesus had when you throw off sin and hindrances
(1) “let us fix our eyes on Jesus … who for the joy set before him endured the cross … consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart”
(a) implicit is that we will suffer like Christ when we start to do battle with sin and try to start throwing off hindrances
(b) Why?
(i) Because our world is secular for the most part
(ii) Because when you start to throw off sin you will come into conflict with a sin-saturated world
(a) For example putting an honest days work in and working hard at your job and not taking advantage with extra long breaks, resting when supposed to be working, etc
(b) You will face opposition for those who are cutting corners and being dishonest
(c) Sin is often subtle
(iii) 1 Peter 4:1-5 1 Peter 4:1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2 As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do – living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead”
(iv) Illustration – Campbell software (software piracy)
b) Expect to share the glory of Christ when you cross-suffer
(1) Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
(2) Jesus who suffered on the cross and then received his reward is our example of what will happen to us.
(a) We will receive a reward
(b) We will share in the glory of God
(i) Romans 8:17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs-- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
(3) Don’t grow weary of throwing off hindrances and sin because you will receive your reward
(a) Illustration: those of you who serve here every Sunday will receive your reward as this is a form of sacrifice and suffering
(b) I know your suffering in preparation and time away from family and certainly God sees it.
(c) You have to throw off the sin of laziness and discipline yourself to prepare worship or Sunday school and then you have to give up the rugby match on tele to be here to do whatever it is you are doing.
(d) Don’t think that God doesn’t see your service to him. You are storing up for yourself a glory that is going to be far more worthwhile than the rugby match on tele (even if England does beat Wales!).
(4) You can’t share in this glory if you don’t cross-suffer (throw off hindrances and sin)
B. Apply
1. Have you cross-suffered in the last year?
a) If not, why not?
(1) Must ask yourself - Are you really pursuing holiness – throwing off sin and hindrances to your relationship with God?
(2) Effort is implied
(3) Hebrews 12:4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
2. How are you working to throw off sin in your life? Sinful thoughts, sinful actions, sinful habits, sinful attitudes, sinful words
a) Focus on Christ and the way he threw off sin and hindrances during his life which led to such opposition from worldly men that they put him on a cross and crucified him.
b) Romans 12:1-2 – renew your mind with Scripture (soak your mind in Scripture – your mind is a sponge and Scripture is the water being soaked up into it – the truth)
c) Stronghold buster explained – in our Freedom in Christ course we will learn how to target the “sin that so easily entangles us” (stronghold) and bust its hold on us.
III. Conclusion
A. The suffering of the cross is our suffering too.
1. you don’t have to go seeking suffering – just pursue holiness and suffering will be a by-product of it
2. that’s cross-suffering : throwing off hindrances and sin
B. Prayer for those who
1. are not cross-suffers yet to become cross-suffers
2. are growing weary and losing heart of cross-suffering – that they will experience anew the promise of the glory they are storing up for themselves in heaven
[1]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (1 Pe 4:1). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.