THURSDAY
Yesterday we covered the rather strange passage at the end of chapter 3, where Peter seeks to connect the situation of Noah’s day to the current day of his hearers. He exhorts them to follow the way of Jesus even if it leads to suffering. Now in chapter 4, he is going to build another idea onto the example of Christ.
1 Peter 4:1-6 1 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, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 3 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. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 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.
Again, Peter is calling the believers to follow the example of Christ and live in righteousness even if it leads to suffering. The idea he builds onto it is that one who has suffered has ceased from sin. What does Peter mean when he says those who have suffered have ceased from sin? It seems best to take this in the sense that the ones who have chosen to live in righteousness, even if it means putting themselves at odds with the norms of their culture and suffering for it, have already demonstrated outright obedience to Jesus, so sin has lost its power over them. The path of least resistance for these Christians would be to live in “sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties and lawless idolatry.” They were being maligned and mistreated because they didn’t live this way anymore. So those who have suffered have already indicated that obedience to the will of God is more important to them than avoiding suffering. They are more motivated by God’s will than by their sinful desires.
In verse 5 Peter reassures them that, although they are suffering now for choosing righteousness, those who are maligning them will eventually have to face judgment from God. That judgment will be far worse than the mistreatment they are currently facing from their society.
He states that God will judge the living and the dead. The common thought in the Greco-Roman world was that death absolved one of all wrong-doing. Peter is teaching that death does not absolve one of judgment from God. Verse 6 continues that idea and says in essence, “Because death does not absolve us from God’s judgment, the gospel was preached—while they were living—to those who are now dead.”
Jobes summarizes all of verse 6 well:
The gospel was preached because judgment is coming (4:5), so that (4:6) people may live in the realm of the Spirit as judged by God's standards, regardless of how they were judged by human standards during this life (the flesh).
Karen H. Jobes. 1 Peter (p. 273).
This would not only warn those who don’t believe, but it would also encourage those Christians who have lost loved ones. They are reminded that the efficacy of the gospel extends beyond death. Even if Christ does not deliver in this life and death ensues, the gospel is effective even in the next life.
The Christians in Peter’s day seemed to have the opposite emphasis on the gospel than is common in Evangelicalism today. They wondered if the gospel is effective for the next life. Today, many Evangelical Christians think the gospel is only effective after death and has little bearing on how we live now. The message of 1 Peter counters both. The gospel is effective both in this life and the life to come.
Peter seeks to reassure his hearers that even if they are maligned now and don’t get justice, God will be the ultimate judge in the end. What a comfort to those who have been mistreated and haven’t gotten justice. What a peace this gives to those who are desiring justice now and consider taking matters into their own hands. It’s this belief that allows Christians to experience injustice and, though we can pursue justice, not seek vengeance in return.
Reflection
Arm yourself with the same way of thinking as Christ. Live for the will of God, not for human passions like sexual sin, idolatry and drunkenness. Know that the effectiveness of your life in Christ is for today as well as after death. Be so committed to doing what God says is right and true and good that you would be willing to suffer for it.