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,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. 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. 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. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 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.--1 Peter 4:1-6
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
We looked at the first two verses here in our previous study called The Ultimate Weapon. Peter goes on to say that we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles. Some of the believers that Peter was writing to had lived pretty dark lives before coming to the Lord. Peter was saying enough! They were now to put aside the old life and live and walk in the newness of life in the Lord. They were not to live anymore for the lusts of the flesh but for the will of God. Seeking His will and His glory alone. He then goes into a list of sins that often characterize an unbeliever's life.
An unbeliever's heart, the bible tells us, is darkened to the things of God, his conscience seared and his moral standards eroded. The sentence of death is in him. The bottom line for every sinner is that they become worshipers of themselves and begin to look like what they worship. They become its essence, so to speak. Their world becomes smaller and smaller until all they can think about is themselves and what they want. They cease to even think about who their sin might be hurting. They become all that matter.
God's desire is to pull us out of this miry pit of sin we are in. He will not do this, however, unless we ask. They day I cried out in weakness and helplessness to Him was the day that my life changed forever. God heard my cry and gave me the metaphysical glasses I needed to see. You won't see unless you cry out. (If you are not a believer, and your heart sincerely desires a relationship with Jesus...go ahead...cry out...pray...ask Him into your heart. You will SEE what I mean...a heart change will occur and your visuals will be different) When Christ enters the unbeliever's heart, light shines in and begins to point out the ugliness, selfishness and destructiveness of the sin in their life. They are no longer slaves to sin and because of their acceptance of Christ's sacrificial death on the cross are now not only free from the penalty of sin but also from the power of sin. They no longer HAVE to sin. As a new believer walks with the Lord he sees that his God is the answer to all things. If God is his portion then truly he realizes he has everything needed for the journey.
Peter goes on in verse 4 to say that a new believer's friends and/or family will not only think his new behavior strange but will also speak evil of him. As an unbeliever, you may be loved by many, but when the Lord enters your life, the very same people may in fact hate you. They will be shocked and suspicious at your new behavior and speak evil of you. We are not to be surprised when this happens. The new believer's light shines and his former friends who still love darkness feel condemned and move away from the light. The sad thing is the unbeliever may blaspheme the name of the Lord in this life but Peter reminds us that they will give an account for their behavior some day. The judgment of the living unbelievers will take place before the Millennium begins; the wicked dead will be judged at the close of Christ's reign on earth.
Peter goes on here to say that it is for this reason that 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. I understand this verse to say that the gospel was preached to people who might now be dead but accepted the Lord when they heard it preached here on earth and believed. They may have suffered here on earth or even have been killed for their faith, but because of the stand they took for Christ their reward is now with them...eternal life in heaven with Jesus.
If you do not believe the gospel, you may earn the approval of men but in the long run you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and the righteous judgment of God. If you do believe the gospel when it is preached, you will earn the approval of God and the blame of men. Approval of men now judgment later...disapproval of men now and eternal life later. Abraham chose to suffer with the people of God rather than enjoy the passing pleasure of sin...
I will end with some verses from Romans Chapter 2...
"And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who "WILL RENDER TO EACH ONE ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS": eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God."--Romans 2:3-11
Love
Mom
