Since, therefore, Messiah suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 1 Peter 4:1-2
There it is—in a nutshell, we are dealing with human passions. Now, before we dive into the text, let us understand the meaning of ‘human passions.’ And we are talking about corrupt passions, passions that control a person. They do not align with the creative spectrum of Yehovah in that they are not (holy) set apart for the use of His will. Anger in and of itself is not a corrupt passion, for we are to hate that which is evil and are told to be angry and sin not. However, out of control, anger does not equip one to have the stability to apply the will
of Yehovah by the individual toward the situation or circumstance before them. Our corrupt passion, in the form of anger, presents us with a myopic view of the situation or circumstance before us rather than allowing the Ruach Kodesh (Holy Spirit) to work through us in a way that brings glory to Yehovah being united and following the example of Yeshua that was set before us.
For speaking loud boast of folly, they entice by human passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. 2 Peter 2:18-19
Not dealing with human passion as a young believer can and will set you up for failure in your growth, even with good intentions of learning more about Yeshua and faith toward Yehovah. Aligning oneself or putting oneself in front of so-called preachers, teachers, and prophets who profess themselves to believe in ‘God’ and ‘Jesus’; will open them up for such ‘ministers’ to use their passions to introduce error and false doctrines.
And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and human passion (ἐπιθυμία – desire, craving, longing) of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
In the parable of the Sower, Yeshua warns us about human passions, i.e., the corruption of such, where He explains that even though one may have the Word of Yehovah, human passions unchecked can unequivocally not bring forth the fruit that would come from obedience to the word which they had heard.
On many Christian study sites, the Greek word ἐπιθυμία for human passions, when it is defined, has prompted or given notes toward theological ideas. This word describes the human passions that we as humans deal with every day in which we live to interact with our fellow members of mankind, and the weight of this word is to warn us that we have the power to follow an emotion to its full extent. However, in having the power (will) to do so, we must submit that God-given will toward the advancing of the will of Yehovah and not our own. Here we see the fault of mankind being in union with sin, in that we strive to ‘control’ the circumstance or situation before us. We as the sons and daughters of Yehovah are faced with submission to the Ruach Kodesh, or rebellion. In saying rebellion, the first stage to become mature in the young believer is not to follow their human passions grieving The Spirit that has been given unto them as a gift; to obey Yehovah’s guidance in every walk of their lives. Nevertheless, through discipleship, we as believers are expected to learn from the Apostles concerning the deceitfulness of sin. Brothers and sisters, we have by the favor of Yehovah been given (if you have received the Spirit since you believed) a gift given unto us by the greatest cost a human can bestow on one needing defense against a threat so great that it has wrecked millions of lives waiting for the judgment of Yehovah; and that is, the sacrifice of life. Our attempt at human passions toward any situation or circumstances should be humbled by our faith, which is defined by the crucifixion of Yeshua HaMashiach and the resurrection of him; a cost given unto humanity whereby we may receive the Ruach Kodesh – our only help.
“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” John 16:7
The tevilah of teshuvah (the baptism of repentance) given unto those during the time Yeshua walked the earth was the turning back to the instructions of Yehovah from the damning effect of rabbinical Judaism by which the takanot of the leaders of Judaism, the Prushim, had upon those who heard the Torah in the Synagogues. It was the adding to or taking away from said instructions of the Torah. They were burdens that brought the hearers under bondage. The Messiah spoke concerning the takanot of the Scribes and Prushim, including the Sadducees’ teaching. The liberty conferred in the writings of the Gospels by Yeshua reflected separation from said takanot. Yet in English translations we read the Messiah, Yeshua, to have said: “…whatever they ask you to observe, observe and do. But do not imitate their deeds, for they do not do as they say.” ‘The reality of that quote’ (and by study, I wholeheartedly believe that this is the correct translation of this text) of Yeshua (Matthew 23:1-3) is this:
“After inspecting the treasury, Yeshua addressed the multitude and all of his disciples [who were present in the Temple court] for the last time saying, ‘The sages and the Prushim sit in Moshe’s seat [they purport to have Moshe’s authority]. Therefore, whatever he (Moshe) commands you to observe, that observe and do – but do not follow the takanot and ma’asim of the Prushim for they say [they follow Moshe] but they do not do [what Moshe says to do!]. Matthew 23:1-3 The Chronological Gospels, The Life and Seventy Week Ministry of the Messiah CKJV Aviv Moon Publishing March 26, 2001
The stringent laws that they had placed upon Jewish life were not in line with the instruction of Yehovah. Not only were they not in line with the instructions (the Torah) of Yehovah; they were in direct contrast to Yehovah’s given commands. So, the tevilah of teshuvah was a turning back, a rejection of the takanot found in the Mishnah and the Gemara contained within the Talmud.
Our faith is contained within the Torah and the discipleship that is given unto us through the Apostles by gaining the maturity to function through the Spirit in obedience. Setting ourselves separate (holy) in a world hostile toward the example of obedience Yeshua lived.
Read, read, read! Open up Scripture and read. Do not stop reading. One who has read and has read often, places themselves to be used by the Spirit to bring to their mind at any given situation or circumstance, correct communication of the gospel of the Kingdom. If you have the calling of Yehovah, through the belief and obedience to the testimony of Yeshua, upon your life and have only a Bible; you are blessed! Do not listen to the world! Do not go looking for a ‘Church’! Read your Bible yourself. Start at the front and read to the back; then repeat this, and repeat this, so that you may become familiar with Scripture. Then seek the fellowship of those who out of sincerity seek to understand and follow what Yehovah is expressing through the Spirit after accepting the testimony of Yeshua – the Messiah (the Anointed One) of Israel.