Divine Living Requires World Losing (Part 1 of 2)

Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with this 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 lust of men, but for the will of God. For the time already passed is sufficient for you to have carried out the desires of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them in the same accesses and dissipations, and they malign you. But they will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For the gospel has, for this purpose, been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God. (1 Peter 4:1-6)

Two Kinds of Lives

What would it be like for you to know that the time to live as an unbeliever is gone? Is that something that would create within you a sense of utter disappointment? Or is that something that would create within you a huge sigh of relief? Because of the gospel of Jesus Christ, that ability, that lifestyle, that way in which you would have behaved, or the things that you would have pursued, or the passions that you would have had—those things are officially and finally over. You don't have to live that way anymore. Is that a sigh of relief or disappointment?

The point of this passage deals with the comparison of two kinds of lives, two ways of life. One is the life of an unbeliever, the way of a Gentile—that's the terminology Peter uses to refer to somebody who is not a believer. Normally, Peter's terminology would have considered all of us Gentiles, even Gentile dogs, given the hatred and animosity a Jew would have had toward a Gentile. But now in Christ, it has changed to incorporate and include us as true Jews. Those who are not truly believers are considered Gentiles.

So the comparison is between the life of a true believer and the life of an unbeliever, pitted against each other. One will win. In our desire, in our way of life, we're going to crave some kind of pleasure, some kind of enjoyment, some kind of satisfaction. It's either the life outlined by those who recognize that the time that has passed was sufficient to participate in life as an unbeliever, and now is the time to live as God lives, as verse 6 says.

To recognize the significance of choosing the transcendent kind of life that this passage talks about, divine living requires worldly losing—losing our understanding of the world, losing our understanding of the behaviors of unbelievers. That means letting go of, relaxing our grip on, the kind of life that can be considered worldly. Divine living requires worldly losing.

Arm Yourselves with Christ's Purpose

The Apostle Peter gives instruction at the beginning of this passage in verse 1: "Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking," or as the NASB says, "equip yourself with the same purpose." Embrace the same mind of Christ, that as He suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with that—whoever suffers in the flesh has ceased from sin.

Peter's instructions pertain to now and to the not-yet. The command to arm yourselves has implications for now as well as not yet. A similar concept is in 2 Peter 1, where increasing in spiritual qualities causes you to never fall—not finally fall, but to be kept and preserved by God for eternal life.

It's not just about finding good things to endure suffering. The passage indicates that part of your equipping, part of being armed, is the suffering itself. Since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with that same way of thinking—Jesus' way was to suffer for the sake of the gospel, for the will of God. The benefit is that whoever suffers in the flesh ceases from sin.

A part of equipping as a Christian includes not only being equipped to go through suffering, but the kind of suffering mentioned here. It's not just any suffering; it's a qualitative kind of suffering that Peter wants as part of our arsenal for dealing with life and godliness.

The Purpose of Godly Suffering

To grasp this fully, broaden the context. In 1 Peter 1:6-7:

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:6-7)

Trials grieve us—they're taxing, painful, with significant emotional impact. But the purpose is the tested genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that perishes. Gold's value passes away; it's temporary. A tested, genuine faith is ultimately valuable. That's the real health, wealth, and prosperity gospel: Go through the trial, and the you that comes out is better, more valuable, resulting in praise, glory, and honor at Christ's revelation.

Peter emphasizes the goodness of the result of the trial. As obedient children, don't be conformed to your former passions done in ignorance (1 Peter 1:14). Don't go back to the previous you, the unbelieving you.

In 1 Peter 2:18-21, slaves be subject to masters with respect, even unjust ones. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.

For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2:20-21)

There are two kinds of suffering: pointless suffering when you sin, and suffering when you do good, like Christ who committed no sin. You weren't called to a life of ease or comfort, but to suffer for the sake of the gospel, as in 1 Peter 3:13-14,17:

Who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed... For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:13-14,17)

Suffering for righteousness' sake brings blessing—the total cessation of sin permanently, for eternity. That's the significant blessing.

Jesus was not taken into custody because He did something wrong, but because of the gospel, which offended people. The true testimony that produces converts is the gospel lived out—suffering for doing right, not wrong. Examples include persecuted pastors and believers overseas who suffer for the gospel.

In a 2005 sermon on these verses, Pastor Tim illustrated a brother put on probation, risking his job, for speaking Christ's name at work. That's the position Jesus took: total distinction from the world, standing firmly convicted, even losing life for the gospel.

To suffer for doing good, people must know who we are and what we believe, derived from Scripture alone, standing on the gospel in its entirety.

Living for the Will of God

Arming ourselves with this thinking results immediately in living the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. Suffering for doing good has the immediate result of living for God's will.

If you've asked, "What is God's will for my life?" Arm yourself with the gospel and suffer for doing good. That's where you are most in God's will, as Jesus was in Gethsemane: "Not my will, but yours."

Human passions are what humans want; the time past suffices for doing what Gentiles want. Living for God's will fulfills what those sins try to accomplish—enjoyment and satisfaction—permanently.

The Sins of the Gentiles

Verse 3 lists sins: sensuality, passions, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, abominable idolatries. This isn't exhaustive; sensuality and passions are attitudes, the next three specific examples, and lawless idolatry summarizes all. Anything lawless or idolatrous fits.

Sensuality is anything contrary to the gospel pleasing to the senses—license to sin, no self-control, beyond moral bounds.

Passions are cravings: premeditated need, feeling off without it, missing out. Like a detox diet revealing physical addictions—cravings for soap, canola oil, steaks. Spiritually, sin cravings feel abnormal without them.

Drunkenness is desiring the experience for pleasure, regardless of aftermath.

Carousing (orgies) is excessive eating—premeditated, with purging to continue, combined with drinking and promiscuity.

Drinking parties center on drinking for enjoyment, not fellowship or God. Food or drink isn't sin, but making it central is idolatry. The scriptural limit? Zero when it's the centerpiece.

Consequences of Not Joining in Sin

When you don't participate in the things unbelievers do, they are surprised. If you have unbelieving friends or associations, remember these concepts: compromise on a little can lead to compromise on a lot. Anything a non-believer does that hinders your salvation, your progression in the gospel, or your witness—no matter how small or big, whether listed as sin or leading to sin—avoid it. Be prepared for what happens next.

Verse 4 says, with respect to this, they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery and dissipation. They're dumbfounded that you don't want to get drunk, fornicate, or live in rebellious, lawless sexuality. It makes no sense to them without a heart change by the Holy Spirit and the gospel. They malign you. That's how you immediately enter suffering for doing good for the gospel's sake.

Make sure there is a distinction between you and the world, and the world will naturally persecute, malign, and cause you to suffer. We hear of brothers and sisters overseas—heads beheaded, families torn apart. That's extreme persecution. But don't discount what we experience here. If it were insignificant, some churches wouldn't have caved. It's a big deal to stand for faith even in the land of the free.

It's a big deal to be maligned—called a bigot, hateful, believing in myths and fairy tales, verbally assaulted. It's still persecution God has decreed. Another form here is comfort: easy to be carried away by devices our land provides. It's hard to endure both overt assaults and subtle drowsiness that makes us sleepy, silent, inactive as Christians. Not enduring both is sinful; enduring both is glorious.

They will mistreat and persecute you. Prison is possible here, has happened, could scale up. Living as a Christian means someone will be your antagonist. A close friend once said to me, "When you're done with that Christian thing, give me a call." Another was dumbfounded I wouldn't continue in sin.

Comfort in Persecution

Warning of persecution prepares us to suffer for what's right, leading to cessation from sin and living for God's will—a beautiful reality. But persecution hurts; it's grieving, as Peter said in chapter 1 about various trials.

Peter provides comfort in verse 5: they will give an account to the one ready to judge the living and the dead. Nothing done against you goes unnoticed by your sovereign God. When oppressed, we cry for justice, like martyrs before the throne. It won't go unnoticed. God judges: justice satisfied in Christ for your persecutor, bringing gospel comfort, or justice served on them eternally. God is your avenger.

Verse 6: for this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead. This isn't preaching to corpses. It's past-tense preaching to those now dead: judged in the flesh as people judge, but living in the spirit as God does. That's our title's source—a transcendent life, armed with the gospel and suffering for right, living for God's will, according to God, in the spirit as God lives.

How do we live as God lives? John said, imitate God as beloved children. Live divinely, supernaturally. Is God dissatisfied with his life? No, he finds infinite joy in the Godhead—Father, Son, Holy Spirit loving perfectly. He graciously brings rebels into that fellowship.

Questions for Reflection

Do you recognize embracing the gospel means embracing its lifestyle, following Christ's example? They're not exclusive; they're a package deal. Embracing it often means forfeiting our lives, even physically.

Does the gospel mean so much that commitment to it—suffering for it—is something you're content with? Real commitment always results in real suffering.

Are you content your time in unbelieving living is gone?

What sins are you craving?

What things are you emphasizing in excess—things not sinful in themselves, but you'd fight to keep if taken away?

The gospel's purpose: live according to God. Do you have constant gospel enabling you to live for God's will? Read, recite, preach it to yourself daily until you live it.