Today we will focus on 1 Peter 4:1-11

This is quite possibly the most difficult portion of 1 Peter that we have encountered so far.

This section will require us to have some discipline in our study.

Since therefore Christ 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. (1-2)

Peter makes three statements which combine into a greater argument.

#1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking…

Peter says that because Jesus suffered in his earthly body…we must prepare ourselves with the same mentality.

Part of God’s design within Jesus’ willingness to die for us while in his earthly body…

…was to demonstrate to us that it is possible to deny the longings of the earthy body, in the midst of great suffering, in order to please God.

…for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin… #2 …for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin…

Peter says that whoever embraces this mentality will soon learn that you cannot suffer for Christ while also seeking to please your sinful desires.

The opposite is also true, you will be less inclined to satisfy the desires of your sin nature when you are actively suffering for Christ.

Peter says that whoever embraces this mentality has crossed-over… they have ceased living for their sinful desires and are living fully for God.

Peter doesn’t mean that those who are willing to suffer in this way will cease sinning entirely…rather, they will cease living for sin entirely.

#3 …so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.

Peter says that believers who are willing to follow Christ in this way now have the goal of living the remainder of their time on earth, in this fallen body, for the will of God.

Peter says that believers who are willing to follow Christ in this way are deliberately no longer living to fulfill the passions of their sinful nature, but instead are living to fulfill the purposes of their God.

For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. (3)

Peter says that our prior 10-15-20-30 years spent in unbelief and spent in wholehearted pursuit of the passions of the sinful nature should be sufficient enough.

This does not mean that it was ever proper for us to have lived that way, but, rather that…

‘We have had enough of these things; we have tried them; we know that they do not fulfill; and there is no reason why we should indulge in them any longer.’

With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. (4-5)

Peter says that our unbelieving friends will find it strange when we no longer join them in their worldly pleasures.

Peter says that they will be unable to understand the reasons why you have abandoned that lifestyle.

To them it is a very strange and confusing thing, for someone to give up the pleasures of the world for a course of life which doesn’t seem to them to hold out any promise or reward.

Why?

1st, they do not sense the guilt of their own sinful behavior. They do not feel the shame of their wicked ways.

2nd, they do not take their Maker and their God into consideration. They do not contemplate life after death, eternity and judgment.

3rd, they have no ability to comprehend that the reward that God promises is much more valuable than the reward that sin holds out.

For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does. (6)

This is the trickiest verse in the whole section and different scholars and commentators have debated for years over the best interpretation.

In summary, the debate is over whether the ‘living’ and the ‘dead’ should be interpreted literally or figuratively.

For our session today, it would take way too much time to explain the arguments and reasons for and against either.

If taken ‘literally’ it would mean that the gospel was preached to the already dead and judged and they were allowed to be brought back to spiritual life.

My opinion is that the clearest way to interpret this verse is in light of the immediate context, which seems to suggest a ‘figurative’ interpretation.

Let’s back up one verse and explain…

With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. (4-5)

Peter says that the unbeliever will be surprised when the believer does not join them in the same evil behaviors.

for everything they have done. And that the unbelievers are failing to realize that they too will have to give account to God, who is ready to judge both ‘the living’ and ‘the dead’, for everything they have done.

both the living (saint) I take this to mean that the unbeliever fails to realize that one day soon God will hold all of humanity accountable… both the living (saint) and the dead (sinner)

With respect to this they [unbelievers] are surprised when you [believers] do not join them [unbelievers] in the same flood of debauchery, and they [unbelievers] malign you [believers]; but they [unbelievers] will give account to him [God] who is ready to judge the living [believers] and the dead [unbelievers].

If we were to take this same interpretive theory to the following tricky verse, let’s see what we get…

For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead [unbelievers], that though judged in the flesh the way people are [everyone is], they might live in the spirit [as believers do] the way God does. (6)

Essentially, Peter is saying the gospel should still be preached to / is being preached to the living dead (unbelievers)…

just like the living alive (believers) and God himself. …because although they stand condemned in their body, just like everyone else, if they repent they can be made alive in the Spirit, just like the living alive (believers) and God himself.

The theology of this interpretation is confirmed in many other places in scripture, none more clearly than in Ephesians Chapter 2…

dead [living dead, sinners] And you were dead [living dead, sinners] in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world…

dead [living dead, sinners] in our trespasses, made us But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,  even when we were dead [living dead, sinners] in our trespasses, made us alive [living alive, saints] together with Christ… (Ephesians 2:1-5)

This interpretation makes much more sense in the immediate context, especially when you consider the very next verse…

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. (7)

Peter tells the believers, that because they know that everyone (living-saints, dead-sinners) will soon be held accountable to God for their lives on earth...they should earnestly live a certain kind of life!

get your life on track and to get your priorities straight is One of the best ways to get your life on track and to get your priorities straight is to remind yourself of the coming end of all things and the judgment of God.

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be…(7)

This is a major point of emphasis in the book of Peter…

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be dissolved in the fire, and the earth and its works will not be found.

Since everything will be dissolved in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness… 2 Peter 3:10-11

Peter says different times in his letters that because the end is near, because we will soon stand before God…

We should be a certain kind of people. And we should be characterized by certain kinds of actions.

Let’s briefly look at these characteristics…

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. (7)

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.  Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. (8-9)

Self-Controlled

By Self-Controlled we mean someone who is able to manage their mindset, attitudes and actions according to their spiritual desires & God’s will.

The opposite of Self-Controlled is someone whose life is not under the control of the Spirit, but rather is under the full sway of their sinful nature, evil desires & the world system.

Sober-Minded

By Sober-Minded we mean someone whose mentality and outlook on life is centered on reality, the imminent return of Christ and the end of all things.

and rarely considers the more serious realities. The opposite of Sober-minded is someone whose mind is set on this physical life; someone who is fixed on the fiction of this life and rarely considers the more serious realities.

Earnest-Loving

By Earnest-Loving we mean someone whose entire demeanor is could be characterize by an endless and reckless love for anyone and everyone.

The opposite of Earnest-Loving is someone whose mind is set on themselves and how they can get ahead and make their life better for themselves...not someone else.

Happy-Hospitality

By Happy-Hospitality we mean someone who can’t help but constantly display the ‘others-centered’ nature of God through a glad gathering of people in their homes and activities.

The opposite of Happy-Hospitality is someone who never wants to be around anyone else and when they do, it is done dutifully and begrudgingly.

Paul closes this section with a encompassing challenge to the believers to use whatever spiritual gifts they have been given to glorify God and edify the believers.

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God;

…whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (10-11)