First Epistle of Peter
THE CHRISTIAN AND SIN
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 4:1 (KJV)
"Christ hath suffered"
This verse takes us back to verse 18 of chapter 3, where the Lord is given to us as an example of patient suffering for well-doing. We are told to arm ourselves with the same mind. We usually speak of arming one for offense. If a man has a gun or some other implement of attack, we say he is well-armed. The thought here is not armed for the offensive but rather for defense, to have on heavy armor to protect from the onslaught of the enemy. To suffer uncomplainingly like Christ, is the armor we are to put on. This will more than likely disarm the enemy, or make his judgment all the greater and at the same time increase our reward. This is dealt with in verse 14 of Chapter 3.
"for He that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin"
This expression "suffered in the flesh" is exactly the same as what is used of Christ at the beginning of the verse. This is the sense in which we are to understand this or there will be no understanding the last expression, "hath ceased from sin". This is not to be thought of as suffering for wrong-doing or sickness or accident, but suffering persecution for well-doing. Christ suffered because of His testimony for God, and because His righteous life condemned the sins of the wicked. The early Christians suffered for exactly the same reason. They no longer went on in the wicked ways of their past. Some of their past sins are recorded in verse 3. From these sins they had ceased and that is why they were suffering. In other words, they were suffering in the flesh, because they had ceased from their former sins. Not that they were living sinless lives or were perfect, but they had ceased from the grosser sins of the wicked round about them.
Suffering might not be as severe now, but it is still possible to suffer severe ridicule because of no longer drinking with the boys or listen to filthy conversation or watching pornography. Some have lost positions because they would no longer be dishonest. Others have been forced to leave home because of standing for Christ. Some still have to suffer because they have ceased from sin.
A Christian need no longer continue in his former life of sin. By His power, God does give power over sin. A Christian may fall into sin, but he will not live in it. A Christian may fall into sin, but he will not love it. He hates sin. He realizes that Christ died for his sins and they must be bad if it was necessary for Him to die for them – "For sin shall not have dominion over you" (Rom. 6:14). Before the new birth, sin rules us. After being born again, we may still sin, but sin no longer rules our lives and we are no longer slaves to it. We have freedom in Christ. We were bound by sin and Satan, but now we are free. "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" (John 8:36). Once freed, who among us would want to go back to the chains of sin?
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 4:2 (KJV)
"no longer should live the rest of his time"
This verse is a continuation of the thought at the end of the last verse, "hath ceased from sin". It also gives a bit of how we should live when it says to "the will of God". In other words, it speaks of the time from one’s conversion to as long as he is left here in the flesh and for as long as he remains faithful to Christ. After conversion he is to live a radically different life than before. He is no longer to live a life that is pleasing to the flesh, but one that is pleasing to God.
"lusts of men"
This word "lusts" means "cravings" or "appetites". It especially refers to sinful cravings. We have some of these listed in verse 3. Our old sinful nature is always craving gratification, but the Christian is to constantly hold these in check.
This is possible because of the indwelling of the Spirit of God. We can resist the lusts of men and live a life well pleasing to God because of the power of the Spirit. Sometimes unsaved folks will say, "No use for me to become a Christian; I could not live the life anyway". However, no one really what he can do, given the opportunity. But one who has been born again by trusting and obeying Christ can do so by His power – a new life within makes it possible to live a new life without.
However, it does not follow that it will be easy to always hold down the flesh and live life according to the will of God. It will take a measure of struggle and looking to the Lord for assistance. In Romans 7:15-25, Paul speaks of these two natures within him struggling against each another.
"but to the will of God"
In this verse, we have "the will of God" and in the next verse "the will of the Gentiles". They are in direct contrast one to each another. If we are living to "the will of God", we are not living to "the will of the Gentiles". To please one is to not please the other. If we are not in trouble with one, we are with the other. We have two wills and two counterforces. The world will try to pull us one way and the Spirit of God the other. If we do not live to the will of God, there is no object in the Lord leaving us here. He leaves us here to represent Him and this we should seek to do.
This may lead us into suffering. Christ ever sought to do the will of God and He suffered for it and so may we. Christ had to die because He fully did the will of God. Many a child of God has been martyred for the same reason. "Fox's Book of Martyrs" tells of many who suffered thus. Rather than deny their Lord by word of deed, they were willing to undergo the worst kind of torture, ending in death.
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 4:3 (KJV)
"For the time past our life may suffice"
Peter is here saying, as it were, that these Christians had had enough of this old fleshly sinful life before they were saved, so now they should consider it as a matter of the past. The word "suffice" just means "sufficient". They should consider that they had sufficiently practiced their old habits and ways and they had had enough of their old associates and amusements. A Christian realizes that all these old things were but vanity anyway. They give only momentary pleasure, while Christ gives lasting joy and peace.
Some of these early Christians, maybe most of them, must have lived very wretched lives before they were saved. This verse surely contains a black-list of sins. If such could be saved and so remarkably changed there is hope for everyone today. Sometimes some say, "I am too bad to be a Christian." None are too bad for the Lord Jesus Christ to make over. Every conceivable type of sinner has been saved and changed into a saint.
Sometimes we might hesitate to speak to some because they are so bad and we feel like it is hopeless. The Lord says, "Preach the gospel to every creature". There are no hopeless cases. Sometimes the most hopeless looking are the most likely. A bad sinner often knows he is a sinner and it is not so difficult to lead him to the Savior. The hardest to reach are the self-righteous ones.
"to have wrought the will of the Gentiles"
"To have wrought" means "to have worked out to completion". In other words, they had worked out the old sinful life to the full and they should now say goodbye to it forevermore. The word "will" means "inclination" or "desire" – they had worked out the desires of the Gentiles or heathen.
This verse seems to suggest that Peter is not writing to Jewish Christians, but mostly Gentiles. The sins listed here are those found among Gentiles rather than Jews. The restraint of the law kept the Jews from falling into these vile sins, at least to some extent. Paul is very emphatic in saying all have sinned, both Jew and Gentile, but he speaks altogether differently of the Jew than he does of the Gentile. In Romans 1 to 2:16, he is speaking to the Gentiles; then in verse 17 he starts on the Jew. He does not accuse them of these vile things as he does the heathen in chapter 1.
"when we walked in lasciviousness"
This word "lasciviousness" speaks of "immodest sensuality" or morals that would shock the public decency. The heathen practices along this line must have been very bad and many of these Christians probably were guilty in this way before being saved. They were probably not much worse than many in our land today. Sexual morality is certainly at a low ebb. Let those who know the Lord be careful not to be ensnared in these pitfalls.
"lusts"
This we noted in connection with verse two. This speaks of sexual indecencies and any unclean craving that one might have.
"excess of wine"
Or "wine bibbers". This would speak of one just soaking up wine until he was drunk. Drunkenness was very bad in that time, but perhaps not much worse than now.
"revellings"
This speaks of wild, drunken times. Wild drinking parties are also prevalent today.
"banquetings and abominable idolatries"
This word "banquetings" literally is "drinking bouts", thought to have been connected with pagan religious rites. These "abominable idolatries" were literally criminal things done in connection with their heathenism.
Obviously, many of these converted Christians must have been deep-down sinners. These things were the general practice. Anyone continuing on in these abominable sins cannot be considered as having obtained a new life from the Lord.
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 4:4 (KJV)
"they think it strange"
The story is told of a man known for living a sinner's life who was converted to Christ – completely changing. Later he met one of his friends. Instead of going off with him into some sinful practice, he spoke of Christ. He had a hard time convincing his old friend that he was the same man. His friend said, "You look something like my old friend, but you act and talk so differently. I can't believe you're the same man."
If one professes to be a Christian and yet in some measure follows these sinners in their ways, they will say he is not consistent. They will laugh and ridicule, too. Not only that, buy they will use this Christian's bad ways as an excuse for not becoming a Christian, by saying, "He's no better than I am."
"ye run not with them"
Here is one who is running with a company of wicked men, drinking with them, gambling with them, going to the brothel with them, engaging in every conceivable form of sin. He gets saved and all these things cease. This they cannot understand and it upsets them greatly. It condemns them as nothing else could. First they may laugh and ridicule; then perhaps speak evil of such; and even curse them. A preacher could preach a thousand sermons and never have the effect of one sinner suddenly becoming a saint.
"speaking evil of you"
The expression "speaking evil of you" is just one word, "blaspheming". One who is saved from a life of sin can expect this and if properly understood it would make him happy.
