The fourth chapter of I Peter is about judgment on the Christian because of his or her sinful personality. The judgment results in suffering. The suffering is a chastening designed to discipline us.

We notice that Christ suffered for us in the flesh. Christ did not need to suffer as we do, He suffered on our behalf. Yet Christ did learn obedience by the things He suffered.

We are to arm ourselves likewise with the same mind. We are to arm ourselves with a mind to suffer. If we do not we will never be able to stand up under the dealings of God.

Why do we have to be judged, to suffer, when Christ has suffered for us and paid the price for our sin? The reason is, our salvation has two major parts. The first part is the forgiveness of the guilt of our sin. The second, and more important part perhaps, is the moral transformation of our personality. The New Testament has far more to say about the moral transformation of our personality than it does about our forgiveness!

The guilt of our sins was taken care of when Christ made an atonement for our sins on the cross. The moral transformation of our personality requires judgment and suffering, among other aspects of grace, for its accomplishment. This is why the righteous are saved with difficulty. We hate to let go of our worldliness, lust, and self-will.

For example, part of our salvation depends on our forgiving those who have offended us. Sometimes it is many years before we are willing to come to Christ for the grace and strength to let go of our bitterness and unforgiveness.

In our day the second part of our salvation is scarcely mentioned. When it is it often is couched in psychological terms or otherwise presented as though it is something that is taking place so we will have a joyful, fulfilled life. This is all right for beginners, I suppose, but the main point of our moral transformation is that we may fulfill our destiny in the Kingdom of God. Our destiny in the Kingdom of God depends on the crucifixion, not the fulfillment, of our adamic nature.

Getting rid of bitterness, for example, will increase the freedom and lightness of our heart and may result in physical healing. This is true. But getting rid of bitterness also is part of our being prepared to do the will of God. God will not forgive us when we carry a spirit of revenge in our heart. In fact, all murderers will have their final end in the Lake of Fire. So getting rid of bitterness and hatred has much more significance than the procuring of our immediate happiness. It is an act of eternal judgment in the Kingdom of God.

Are you a parent? Do you only forgive your children or do you correct them? Which is easier for you to do, to forgive your child or to train him so he will not repeat the same offense?

To be continued.