Peter Writes to Pilgrims — 1 Peter 4:1–6 — Leaving the Old Life
« My translation of 1 Peter is to convey the flavour of the Greek rather than to be for English fluency and literacy. Leader information shown in this fashion »
A. Review
1. Outline, thus far (abridged):
a. 1:1–2:12 – The Blessings of Spiritual Pilgrims
b. 2:13–4:11 – The Duties of Spiritual Pilgrims
i. 2:13–17 – Living as Earthly Citizens
ii. 2:18–20 – Facing Unjust Treatment
iii. 2:21–25 – Christ the Example
iv. 3:1–6 – A Good Woman (Wife)
v. 3:7–12 – A Good Man (Husband)
vi. 3:13–17 – A Defence in Suffering
vii. 3:18–22 – Peter’s “Creed” … review …
2. 18 Because Christ also once for all died as punishment on account of sins, the Righteous One on behalf of the unrighteous many, in order that He should give you admission to God; though physically put to death, yet spiritually made alive; 19 in which spirit also, proceeding, He preached to the spirits in prison 20 those formerly disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited patiently in Noah’s days of preparing himself an ark, into which a few — that is eight souls — were brought safely through water, 21 which symbol, as baptism, now saves you (not the taking away of dirt but the request of a good conscience unto God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ; 22 who is by God’s right hand, having proceeded into heaven, while angels and authorities and powers have been made subject to Him.
3. What facts about Jesus Christ does Peter recite?
a. He died « once (only once; a sufficient once) »
b. He died for « sins; as punishment, implied by ‘on account of’ »
c. He went into « the place of departed spirits (or ‘hell’) »
d. He was « resurrected from the dead »
e. He « ascended into heaven »
f. He is « exalted at the Father’s right hand »
g. He has received « His Messianic authority as the God-man »
B. Overcoming Sin 1 Peter 4:1–2
1. 1 Hence Christ suffered bodily. You also then, equip yourselves (as for war) with the same thinking: because he who has suffered bodily has finished with sins. 2 To this end, that you live your remaining bodily life no longer by evil human desires, but by the will of God.
2. What item of his “creed” (3:18-22) does Peter single out? « – Christ’ suffering which encompasses His crucifixion and death »
3. What has Peter already had to say about this in …
a. … 1 Peter 2:21, For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps (NAS)? « – Christ’s suffering was an example »
b. … 1 Peter 3:18, For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit (NAS)? « – Christ’s suffering was for sins, for our sins »
4. How does this help us to deal with our sin …
a. … in these verses, also Philippians 2:5, Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus (NAS)? « – think as Jesus did, putting first the will of the Father; then fear and persecution will not cause you to deny Christ »
b. … in Hebrews 2:18, For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. (NAS)? « – Christ understands our temptations »
5. What other armour will help us deal with sin, Ephesians 6:11ff, Put on the full armour of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. … (NAS)? « – the spiritual armour provided by God, particularly the shield of faith »
6. What absolutely finishes sin’s power, Romans 6:7, for he who has died is freed from sin. (NAS)? « – death; also verses 6, 18; Galatians 2:20 – what kind of death is this? … death to our old selves »
7. What brings victory over sin in practical terms, Colossians 3:5, Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. (NAS)? « – the mortification of the body; the considering of yourself to be dead to sin »
C. The Reaction of Old Friends 1 Peter 4:3–4
1. 3 For you have passed enough time accomplishing pagan purposes, having conducted yourselves in excesses, in evil desires, in times of drunkenness, in wild parties, in drinking-bouts, and in lawless idol-services. 4 In this the pagans think it to be alien — and speak evil of — your not running with them unto the same excessive abandonment.
2. The worship of the various false gods historically incorporated much of the behaviour described in verse 3. The festivals to Bacchus were riotous revels. The priests and priestesses of the ‘temples of worships’ were often simply prostitutes. These are practical evidences of what Paul taught in Romans 1:18–32
3. The word ‘pagan’ is literally ‘nations or peoples’ but is used in the Bible to refer to the Gentiles, people who do not know the true God, or take Him into account in their life style. How would you summarize the motivations that direct the lives described in this verse? « – self-gratification, pleasure, hedonism, satisfaction of the bodily desires, ‘if it feels good, do it’ »
4. Children who grow up in a Christian home and early come to know Jesus Christ as Saviour, may be blessed by never having been participants in these things … yet what danger do they face concerning them? « – being inundated with these ideas on all sides, they may begin to think of them as the norm »
5. Some people, though not Christians, by strength of character or other reason may not participate in these things … yet in what way may they share the guilt of them? « – by tolerating such activities as allowable behaviour in others »
6. When someone is converted to Christ and the Holy Spirit changes his life style, what will be the responses of old friends? « – to make fun; to encourage participation in the old pleasures; to consider the person as weird, odd, radical, ‘holier than thou’ »
7. What responses can be made to such friends? « – testify to the joys to be found in Christ; … that those things do not satisfy; warn of the results of such living; … how God sees such things »
D. Just Judgement is Coming 1 Peter 4:5–6
1. 5 These will render account to the one in readiness to judge the living and the dead. 6 For unto this purpose it was proclaimed to the dead, in order that though they should have been judged bodily according to men, they are living spiritually according to God.
2. What is Peter’s warning to those living such lives? « – they are going to have to face the Judge about how they have lived »
3. Who is the one ‘in readiness to judge,’ 2 Timothy 4:1, I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom (NAS)? « – Jesus Christ »
4. What constitutes His readiness? « – His righteous life as the Son of Man; purchasing man’s salvation on the cross; being exalted to the right hand of power of the Father; His first coming was as Saviour (John 3:16-18); His second to reign; He now awaits, ready for the Father’s command to return »
5. How was it ‘proclaimed to the dead,’ 1 Peter 3:19-20? « – Christ, though bodily dead, did this in the Spirit. »
6. There are many diverse (and strange) interpretations of these verses, but in seeking to understand them, we need to take the following into account
a. Romans 5:12–17: what resulted from Adam’s sin? « – death, as judgement, came bodily upon all mankind »
b. The subject of Hebrews 9 is the salvation provided by Christ, our high priest; respecting Christ’s work, what is the next event that follows our death? « – the judgement »
c. Luke 16:20-25: what does Jesus’ account of the rich man and Lazarus teach us about the situation after death? « – there are two classes of the dead, forever separated »
d. How were men saved in the Old Testament economy (Galatians 3, Romans 3:20, Romans 4, Hebrews 11)? « – by faith (‘by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified’) »
e. 2 Timothy 1:10; what did Christ do? « – brought life and immortality to light through the gospel »
f. A tentative interpretation of this preaching act of Christ
i. the condemned dead « , in agony, were told of the fulfillment of the purposes of the grace of the God which they had refused so that they might confess the justice of their coming judgement »
ii. the blessed dead, « were told of the fulfillment of the work of redemption on their behalf and were ‘led captivity captive’ into paradise, the presence of Christ »
