Free Bible Commentary
“First Peter 4:1-3”
Categories: First Peter"Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.”
---End of Scripture verses---
When we see through the eyes of faith the suffering that Christ endured for our sins, that should motivate us to arm ourselves “with the same purpose” or “attitude” (verse 1). Jesus was completely committed to the cause of righteousness and no amount of antagonism and suffering could provoke Him to sin. We must “consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that” we “will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:3). When we faithfully endure suffering as Christ did, that should help us to not take sin lightly and put up a much greater fight against it. In that sense we have “ceased from sin,” but it we must “arm” ourselves for battle because the fight will not be an easy one.
Other than repent, there’s not much we can do about the previous sins we have committed. Since the past cannot be changed, the best thing we can do when we come to love and trust Christ Jesus is “to live the rest of the time in the flesh…for the will of God” (verse 2). We all come to Christ with “baggage” from a life that was formerly devoted to “the lusts of men”. The guilt and shame of our past spiritual infractions should not cripple us emotionally but inspire us to make much better use of the remaining time that God blesses us with. “For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.” (Romans 6:20-21)
All of us have wasted enough of our time carrying out the desires of the flesh (verse 3). When you claim the name of Jesus it is time to get serious about your battle for righteousness and against sin. “Sensuality” is the unbridled pursuit of pleasures of the physical senses. “Lusts” are sinful desires predominantly of a sexual nature. When we were “born again” (John 3:3-5) we put to death that old, out of control, lust driven person of sin, and left him buried in the grave of baptism.
Please notice that 3 of the 6 sins listed in verse 3 have to do with drinking alcohol. “Drunkenness” is drinking to excess, “carousing” is “revelry” associated with idolatrous feasts, and “drinking parties” are celebrations of a secular nature. A faithful child of God should not dabble in the drink but make a clean break from alcohol consumption. It’s time to sober up to the seriousness of our battle against sin. It is absurd try to array yourself in God’s full battle armor and wield the sword of the Spirit with a drink in your hand!
Please read 1 Peter 4:4-6 for tomorrow.
Remember 11 September! Have a great day!
-Louie Taylor
