1 Peter 4:1-6 (NKJV) Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
Here’s a good summary of chapter 4: (Holman Commentary) “Chapter 4 teaches us that since Jesus suffered, we must be prepared to suffer. We’ve had plenty of time to sin. It’s time to stop and live for God. The end is near, so do what is right toward others, so that God will be praised. We will suffer for doing what is right. When we do, we should commit our lives to God and keep on doing what is right.”
V1 “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin…” Similar wording is used in 1 Peter 3:18. The word “since” requires us to do what follows. It is a reasonable response to Christ’s suffering for us. We are supposed to have the same motive and attitude as the Lord Jesus. We can do so with God’s assisting grace (Also, see John 14:16-17, Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 94:17, James 4:6, 2 Corinthians 12:9, and Hebrews 4:16). The Lord Jesus, who suffered in His life and death, is the model, the pattern, for our motives and attitudes. This also substitutionary atonement. Compare Hebrews 12:3-5. “Same mind” refers to attitude. Since Jesus suffered, we will suffer. Be prepared for it. Suffering produces patience and perseverance. Compare 1 Peter 5:10, John 16:33, Romans 5:3-4, and Matthew 5:10-12.
V2 “…that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” One of the purposes of allowing suffering is to train us to choose and follow the will of God. Consider Joseph (Psalm 105:17-22) , Jesus (Hebrews 5:8), and 2 Corinthians 4:8-12. We are born seeking our own desires. We are born again to seeking God’s desires.
V3 “For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.” There are two lives we live. The first is the non-Christian life as shown here and Ephesians 4:17-19. The second is the Christian life as shown in the New Testament. That old life should be over and gone. See Romans 8:7, 1 Corinthians 3:3, and Matthew 7:12-22 (Christians have a new heart (soul as in 2 Corinthians 5:17), so we should not be living as if we had the old heart as Jesus lists it traits). Another translation: 1 Peter 4:3 (EHV) Indeed, you have already spent enough time in the past doing what the Gentiles want to do: living in unbridled immorality, lusts, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and disgusting idolatry.
V4 “In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.” A new heart leads to new values and desires to live a godly life, not the old life. Unbelievers consider believers to be strange, so they mock, lie, slander, etc. those of us who wish to live by the traits of the new heart. The Greek word for “flood” is (G401) ἀνάχυσις anáchusis, which means excessive. So, here is an excessive flood of dissipation. The Greek word for “dissipation” is (G0810) ἀσωτία asōtia, which means (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Abridged – Little Kittel)) “The original sense is ‘incurable’; then we have the ideas of dissipation, gluttony, voluptuousness, and indiscipline.” The Greek word for “speaking evil of” is (G987) βλασφημέω blasphēméō, which means (Word Study Dictionary) “To hurt the reputation or smite with reports or words, speak evil of, slander, rail. [and] o speak with impious irreverence concerning God Himself or what stands in some particular relation to Him, to blaspheme.” Compare Luke 22:65 and Acts 13:45. If we find ourselves doing these things, then stop, pray, and ask God for forgiveness and help in time of need.
V5 “They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” Every person must give an account of their life to THE Judge, Jesus Christ. Christians give an account to Jesus (Romans 14:10-12, 1 Corinthians 3:10–4:5, and 2 Corinthians 5:1-11). Non-Christians (not true believers in Jesus) give an account at the White Throne Judgment, then sentenced to the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:11-15). The words “ready to judge” shows that Peter believed in imminency, that Jesus could come at any second. This is motivation to live a godly life now. Everything is recorded especially for those who refused to believe in Jesus (Revelation 20:12, Psalm 90:8, and Luke 12:2). The believer’s sins were blotted out by the ministering of the Lord Jesus and our faith in Him (Colossians 2:14-Vincent notes: “The compound verb here is used by Thucydides of whitewashing a wall; 1Ch 29:4, of overlaying walls with gold. The preposition also carries the sense of removal; hence to smear out; to wipe away.”)
V6 “For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” This has various opinions. The “dead” are not physically dead; they WERE spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:5, Colossians 2:13, Luke 15:24, and 1 John 3:14). The dead refers to the life before we believed in the Lord Jesus. It might also refer to those who believed but have since been martyred. Our flesh will be shed at sometime whether physical death or the Rapture. Some believe the verse refers to a second chance after death to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus. Yet we must remember Hebrews 9:27. We must be saved by faith (John 3:14-18). After an unbeliever dies they go to Hades and are tormented. If there was a second chance, probably everybody would believe.
Warren W. Wiersbe adds: “We must not interpret 1Pe 4:6 apart from the context of suffering; otherwise, we will get the idea that there is a second chance for salvation after death. Peter was reminding his readers of the Christians who had been martyred for their faith. They had been falsely judged by men, but now, in the presence of God, they received their true judgment. “Them that are dead” means “them that are now dead” at the time Peter was writing. The Gospel is preached only to the living (1Pe 1:25) because there is no opportunity for salvation after death (Heb 9:27).”
We learn:
- The importance of living a godly life
- The nonbelievers have a tendency to mock Christians
- The Gospel was and is preached to spiritually dead people