1 Peter 4:1 - Meaning and Application

The apostle here draws a new lesson from Christ’s sufferings. Earlier, he used Christ’s suffering to call believers to patience in their own troubles. Here, he uses it to urge them to put sin to death.

Notice how the exhortation is stated. The starting point is that Christ suffered for us in the flesh, that is, in his human nature. The result is that we should arm ourselves with the same mind, courage, and determination. In the first part of the verse, “flesh” means Christ’s human nature, but in the second part it means our corrupt human nature. So the meaning is this: as Christ suffered in his human nature, so you, in line with your baptismal promise and profession, must make your sinful nature suffer by denying yourself and putting sin to death. If you do not do this, you will not truly share in Christ’s death and resurrection, and you will not stop sinning.

From this we learn, first, that some of the strongest and best reasons against all kinds of sin come from Christ’s sufferings. If you do not turn away from sin, then all true sympathy and tenderness toward Christ as a sufferer are lost. He died to destroy sin, and while he willingly endured the worst suffering, he would never agree to even the smallest sin. Second, true self-denial begins in the mind, not in harsh punishments or physical hardship. The human mind is worldly and full of hostility. The understanding is darkened and cut off from the life of God (Ephesians 4:18). People are not straightforward in themselves, but partial, blind, and wicked, until they are renewed and made holy by God’s saving grace.

The apostle then explains what he means by being dead to sin and stopping sinning (1 Peter 4:2). He speaks negatively and positively. Negatively, a Christian should no longer live the rest of his earthly life according to sinful desires and corrupt cravings, like people who live only by their fleshly nature. Positively, he should shape his life according to the revealed will of the holy God. From this we learn, first, that the sinful desires of people are the source of all their evil deeds (James 1:13, 14). Temptations may come from outside, but they would not succeed if people’s own corruption did not support them. Second, all good Christians make God’s will, not their own desires, the rule of their lives. Third, true conversion brings a great change in a person’s heart and life. It turns a person away from old, popular, and enjoyable sins, and away from the ordinary sins of the world, toward the will of God. It changes the mind, judgment, affections, way of life, and conduct of everyone who experiences it.

The apostle also supports his charge by appealing to fairness (1 Peter 4:3). “The time past of our life,” he says, “may be enough to have done the will of the Gentiles.” In other words, it is only right and reasonable that, since you have already spent the earlier part of your life serving sin and Satan, you should now serve the living God. Even though the readers were Jews, while living among the Gentiles they had learned their way of life. From this we learn, first, that when a person is truly converted, it grieves him deeply to think about how the earlier part of his life was spent. The danger he has run for so many years, the harm he has done to others, the dishonor he has brought on God, and the loss he has suffered all weigh on him. Second, while a person’s will is still unholy and corrupt, he keeps walking in wicked ways. He chooses them, enjoys them, and makes them his daily work, and his bad condition grows worse and worse. Third, one allowed sin leads to another. Six sins are named here, and they are linked together. There is lewd conduct shown in looks, gestures, or behavior (Romans 13:13). There are lusts, acts of sexual immorality such as fornication and adultery. There is excess of wine, which includes any immoderate use of wine that harms health or duty, even if it falls short of drunkenness. There are revelings, meaning rich and careless feasts that are too frequent, too full, or too costly. There are banquetings, that is, gluttony or excess in eating. And there is abominable idolatry, because the idol worship of the Gentiles was tied to sexual immorality, drunkenness, gluttony, and every kind of brutishness and cruelty. Some of the Jews who lived long among them had been corrupted by such practices.

A Christian’s duty is not only to keep away from what is openly evil, but also from things that often lead to sin or give the appearance of evil. Excessive drinking and overeating are forbidden just as lust and idolatry are.