1 Peter 4:1-6
1 Peter 4:1 (NKJV) 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.
The word “therefore” tells us to think back on the context. To understand, we must remember the direction the speaker (writer) has been taking. In 1 Peter 4:1, it says, “Since Christ suffered for us in the flesh…,” making it clear that the author is talking about the suffering of Christ and the “since” in this phrase also clarifies that he introduced this subject before this point.
So far in the book, the author has spoken of the suffering of Christ in relation to at least two issues - our persecution and our salvation. In 1 Peter 2:21, it says,
1 Peter 2:21 (NKJV) For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps…
This passage is speaking of bearing up under persecution. 1 Peter 2 is talking about suffering under injustice. Jesus is our example of where to find the strength to face persecution. Jesus told us,
John 16:33 (NKJV) In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
When we suffer persecution, we must learn from Jesus how to stand. Persecution is not a question of if but of when, because, as Jesus says, “in the world, we will have tribulation.” We see how Jesus overcame, and by following His example, we too can overcome.
The short answer to how He triumphed is found in 1 Peter 2:23.
1 Peter 2:23 (NKJV) when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously…
Jesus committed Himself to God, who judges righteously. Jesus’ example of perfect trust will carry us through our troubles.
Peter also speaks of Jesus’ suffering for our salvation. In both chapters 2 and 3, Peter speaks of salvation. However, in chapter 3 verses 18 and following, he narrows the focus down to speaks directly to the question of how Christ’s suffering saves us.
Please look at 1 Peter 3:18-22. In verse 18, Peter tells us that Jesus died “the just for the unjust.” “The just for the unjust” refers to the price Jesus paid for our sins. Then Peter uses the example of Noah’s ark to explain how believing in Jesus saves us. At the time of Noah, if people wanted to be saved, they had to enter the ark. It is the same with Jesus. If we are to be saved, we must ask Jesus. Jesus’ suffering for our salvation results in a message of warning and invitation - warning of coming judgment, and invitation to enter the “ark.”
Now, as we enter chapter 4, Peter calls us to consider the suffering of Christ once more. He says, 1 Peter 4:1.
1 Peter 4:1 (NKJV) 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.
Peter tells us to arm ourselves with the same mind that Jesus had when He suffered in the flesh. Then Peter says, “for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.” From this statement, we gather that this time Peter is talking about Jesus’ suffering in relation to our sin or “flesh.” However, this time he is not talking about how Jesus paid for our sin. He has shifted the focus to how we should live in light of Jesus’ sufferings. In other words, Peter is now telling us how to follow Jesus’ example in “ceasing from sin.”
In context, Peter just wrote about the ark. When the eight persons got on the ark, they floated above the destruction of the world. The people on the ark were kept from what everybody else went through.
However, when we ask Jesus to save us and we enter the “ark” of salvation, He does not float us out of the world. We continue to live in the same house, eat the same food, and wake up in the same bed. However, as Peter explains, our lives must change in keeping with the salvation we receive. Jesus’ example is the key to this change. Peter talks about Jesus’ suffering in relation to the flesh because sin originates in the flesh.
Let’s recap what we have said thus far. For persecution, we are to trust God. For salvation, we are to ask God. Now, for our flesh, we are to follow Jesus.
The main point Peter takes from Jesus’ example is found in 1 Peter 4:1. This verse instructs us to “arm yourselves with the same mind.”
Let’s start by considering what Peter means by “mind.” The word he uses for “mind” in this context can be translated as “determination” or “intent.” In Hebrews 4:12, this same word is translated as “intentions.” As in, “…a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
We are to have the same determination that Jesus had, and that determination has to do with ceasing from sin.1 Peter 4:1 says, “…for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.”
1 Peter 4:1 (NKJV) 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.
Jesus suffered perfectly. By “perfectly,” I mean that He did not sin. So in relation to His flesh, He suffered perfectly. Following His example is difficult because we do not suffer perfectly as He did. Hebrew 4:12 explains it this way:
Hebrews 12:4 (NKJV) You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.
At this point in our discussion, it will be helpful to consider the meaning of the word “ceased” that Peter uses. The word that Peter chose means “(a) active voice: I cause to cease, restrain, hinder, (b) middle voice: I cease, stop, leave off.”
When Jesus calmed the storm, and the waves stopped, the author of that account used this same word for “ceased.”
Jesus suffered perfectly or completely. He was crucified. In other words, He died in His flesh. To cease from sin, we too must die. We must “mortify” the flesh. That is “kill” it. Romans 12:1 uses the imagery of presenting our bodies as “living sacrifices.”
Romans 12:1 (NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice…
Refusing the desires of our flesh may involve some discomfort. For example, consider Jesus fasting in the wilderness for forty days. Peter describes our ceasing from sin in verse 2.
1 Peter 4:1–2 (NKJV) 1for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
1 Peter 4:2 describes the determination or intention that Jesus had and with which we must arm ourselves. We must determine, set our minds, and make it our intention to 1) no longer live for our desires (lusts) and 2) live for the will of God. We are to exchange living for our will for living for God’s will. Please notice this involves a putting off (the flesh) and a putting on (the Spirit).
We do not live for God’s will in our own strength but in the power of the Holy Spirit. To see this in Peter’s writing, we will have to jump from 1 Peter 4:2 to 1 Peter 4:6. Where it says,
1 Peter 4:6 (NKJV) 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.
I have skipped some of what Peter says and will go back to where we left off. But I want us to understand where Peter is going. When it says that the gospel was preached to those who are dead, it is talking about those dead in their trespasses and sins. They are to move from “dead” to “living in the Spirit.” We see this also in verse 5, where it says,
1 Peter 4:5 (NKJV) They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
1 Peter 4:5 says that God is ready to judge the living and the dead. He says, “They will give an account to Him.” All men will be judged. (I am working backward, starting at the end, so please follow carefully.) The “they” of this verse (verse 5) are those of the world that judge Jesus’ followers harshly. When Peter says, in verse 6, “that they might be judged according to men in the flesh.” He refers back to verse 4, where it says that unbelievers will speak evil of us because we do not run with them in their abominable idolatries.
In pointing out the judgment of the world against believers and the judgment of every person by God, Peter shows us the necessity of making a choice. Either we go the way of men and determine to do the will of the flesh and be acceptable to the world, or we choose to mortify (kill) the flesh and live for the will of God. Either way involves death. We are dead to God, or we die to the flesh.
The Apostle Paul teaches this same thought in Romans 6:10-11.
Romans 6:10–11 (NKJV) 10For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Again, let me remind you, we do not do this in our own strength. If we walk by the Spirit, we will put the flesh to death.
Romans 8:12–13 (NKJV) 12Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
At this point, I would like to go back to where we jumped forward. In 1 Peter 4:3, it says,
1 Peter 4:3 (NKJV) 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.
The word “Gentiles” used here is also translated as “nations.” Another meaning would be “world things” as opposed to “spiritual” or “heavenly” things. This word refers to someone living a “worldly” life. In other words, before we asked Jesus to save us, we lived just like the rest of the world (the nations).
Living out the values of the world is meaningless. Peter describes the world’s values as lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, and so on. There is no profit in these things. They leave one empty, and the pursuit of such things is endless, tiring tedium. Peter says that no matter how short or long a time we have lived chasing these things, we have spent enough time to know that these pursuits are worthless.
However, the “Gentiles” (the world) think we are crazy for not pursuing the “fun” with them. 1 Peter 4:4 says,
1 Peter 4:4 (NKJV) 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.
The Bible defines the things the world runs after as a “flood of dissipation.” Another way of saying this is an “overflowing waste.” Here is the contrast. What God says is an overflowing waste, the world says are the only things worth having. Thus, the judgment of the world; we are evil because we do not chase after the lusts of the flesh with them.
We have a choice. We can follow the example of Jesus and arm ourselves with the determination to do God’s will, or we can spend our lives as an overflowing waste.
Either way, we will be judged. The world will judge us according to the flesh. The world values the flesh. It feeds the flesh. However, spiritually, the flesh is death. The flesh always leads to death. Before we knew Christ, we were dead in our trespasses and sins. The gospel was preached to us who were dead that we might be made alive in God by the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead.
Have you not had enough of the world?
How long must we wallow in the abominable idolatries of the world before we determine to do the will of God?
Not one of us is perfect. We will still sin, but we must not determine to sin. We must not make sin our way of life. When we walk by the Spirit, He will make our sin known to us so that we can walk free of it.
There is no need to be dominated by sin.
Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in paths of righteousness, and He will.
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