Chapter 4

1 Peter 4:1-6

1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; Seemingly jumping from 1 Peter 3:18 or continuing a long and complicated thought, Peter ties his subject together suggesting that if we have suffered in the flesh, we have ceased from sin.   

Some will suggest he is referring to Christ taking on our sins in his body on the tree of the cross and suffering the punishment we deserved on our behalf, all to which we agree was done, and that, perfectly. 

But the wording of the sentence implies Christ hath ceased from sin, which can only mean that Christ has ceased from suffering for all sins, and having born them will suffer no more, but given the follow on in verse 2, more likely speaks to us in our daily lives, that we should cease from sin.  Yet we know we can never really cease from all sin in the lifetime, these bodies still clinging to the Adam nature which was not repaired or replaced in the new birth, therefore, we suggest that in our lives, when chastisement comes from a particular sin or sin(s) and the suffering is over, that sin ought not to tempt us again in this lifetime, bringing a cessation.   

Because the next verse, in context, cannot apply to Christ: 

1Pe 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.  Coming out of our state of depravity into a newness of life, and learning to walk therein involves giving up lusts of the flesh and submitting to the will of God. 

1Pe 4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: For this indeed was our case.  And Peter suggests that for the Gentiles it was customary for them to partake in such a lifestyle. 

1Pe 4:4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: And those whom you leave behind in that world of depravity cannot understand why you no longer engage in the evils you once enjoyed, and because they can’t see the change you have undergone internally, they speak evil of you to those who are willing to listen to such things.  

We again comment on Peter’s style, whether by dictation and translation or by his own hand, we cannot say.  But we suggest if he had one thousand ideas for this letter, he purposed to get as many points in as possible. 

1Pe 4:5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.  The quick and the dead.  The elect and the non-elect.  The elect are daily judged in the courtroom of the heart and mind where God is enthroned (in earth) and tabernacles with his people.  The dead will be judged out of the books at the end of time. (Rev 20:12) 

1Pe 4:6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. Without careful or rightly dividing, this verse could easily lead one astray into areas of doctrine that sound reasoning will not support.  Some men will apply this verse to the doctrine of gospel regeneration, saying that it is the preached gospel that brings one from death to life.  The doctrines of grace explain to us clearly and abundantly how one is brought to life from death in trespasses and sins, we can and must declare that gospel regeneration is a falsehood.  Therefore, we proclaim that Peter is telling preachers that it is impossible to tell, from viewing only the flesh who is a child of God and who is not.  

Preaching the gospel to the spiritually dead would be an exercise in futility, as they could not hear, or perceive the gospel message and it would in fact be foolishness to them.  That then is not the message Peter is communicating here, but rather that the gospel is the standard by which those non-elect, who will never be brought to spiritual life, are to be judged, at the end of time: Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 

that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. We spoke of Peter also writing some things that are ‘hard to be understood,’ as he says of Paul.  This is one of those things.   

During our lifetime, we are first considered an enemy to God; we dwell, as it were, as dead, among the dead, with no spiritual life or knowledge. God changes our status in the new birth, and while we appear before the judgment seat of eternity for only the briefest second, the gospel becomes our standard by which we will be judged in this lifetime, even by those who remain in that dead state.  They will watch to see if we conduct ourselves by the gospel or continue to walk according to men in the flesh.  This is our free will.  It is not our eternal salvation, but our choice of whether to serve God and thank him in this lifetime or not.