In the previous chapters the Apostle Peter has given a rather extensive treatment of the problem whereby his readers were faced. They needed this proper interpretation of the sufferings they had to endure. But, even though they may now be able to understand the reason for these sufferings better than before, more is needed. They must not only bear their sufferings according to the will of God, they must live lives which glorify Him. The believer must be able to do more than merely bow in submission before the things which he cannot change; his whole life must be a testimony to the grace of God which has been revealed to him.

Arming Oneself with the Mind of Christ⤒🔗

Not only has it been made abundantly clear to the readers in the foregoing that Christ has suffered in the flesh (they knew that) but that this suffering of their Savior has its significance too for the right view of the present life. They must arm themselves with the mind or thought of Christ, says the writer. They must have the same view of things which were exhibited by Christ. Christ came to defeat sin. Sin was His enemy. Sin separated the individual from the right relation­ship to his God. Sin must, therefore, be recognized for what it is. Sin was so grievous that it cost the Son of God untold agony and finally led to His death in the flesh. The believer must first know how great his sin and misery is so that he may seek the "way out." So must he arm himself with the mind of Christ. Then the present suffering will be seen in the proper perspective. Then you will cease from sin. Then you will hate sin! Then you will no longer be able "to live in sin."

If they are armed with that same mind they will attain to the purpose of their life. It will be a life which looks away from sin and longs for the living God. That mind was in Him. Many things and many experiences will attempt to remove them from the thoughts which filled His mind and heart, but they must actively arm themselves to do that to which they are called. The writer does not say how they are to do this, but the rest of the Scriptures, as well as other parts of this epistle, will make that clear to them. They must "sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord" and His Lordship will also show itself in their minds.

According to the Law of God←⤒🔗

If they have "ceased from sin" they may, of course, not live according to the principle of "the lusts of men" for the remainder of their lives. This is the principle according to which the unregenerate lives. They may not do this because they know what sin is and what it does. Nor may they console themselves with the forgiveness of past sins and now continue in the way of the lusts of men. The rest of the time given them in this life must be regulated by the mind of Christ.

They must be guided by the will of God. That will has been clearly revealed in the law which He has given. They need, therefore, not wonder which kind of life is approved and which one stands condemned. The mind of Christ is also in perfect harmony with the laws God has given His people.

Renouncing the Sinful Life of the Past←⤒🔗

As was mentioned in the first lesson in this series, the readers of this epistle were from among the gentiles. They had not been born in the covenant. They did not have the privilege of the early training in godliness. Those are the days to which the Apostle refers when he speaks of "the time past." That was the time when they lived the way the unbelievers around them live now. That "time past" was sufficient to show them what kind of a life it was. It was a long enough — too long — time for them. It was the time before all the sufferings of which they complain had come upon them. Would they exchange the present for the past? That past, of course, brought a far greater suffering on them than the present.

Peter characterizes the life of the gentiles as con­sisting of various sins. These terms show the depth of the degradation of the life of these gentiles. It consists of immorality, drunkenness, wantonness and idolatry. The last term is used because many of these sins were committed in connection with their worship of idols. This idolatry spilled over into various social functions where an idol was honored as the patron "saint" of that particular social group. In other words, it filled the whole life of the people. This was "the desire of the gentiles" — it was that in which they found their enjoyment. It was such an empty life — without purpose. It was a glorification of the flesh. Yet, that is the life in which unbelief finds its enjoy­ment and "satisfaction." How impoverished such a life is! These readers must see that! They complain con­cerning the sufferings which have come upon them now that they are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Look at that life from which you have been delivered! Look at that which the world calls enjoyment! You can no longer live that kind of life, says Peter, no, you have ceased from sin. See how great the work of Christ is which has already been accomplished in you! To see how far you have come you need only look to the past of your own life and to the lives of those among whom you now live.

Living by a Different Standard←⤒🔗

These gentiles do not realize that there is anything wrong with or mis­sing in their lives. Only the law of God gives us the knowledge of sin. Neither do these people look in envy on the believers and their mode of life. They think it to be strange that you do not join them in their manner of life. They are surprised that you cannot enjoy the things in which they find their en­joyment. They believe that the life of the believer is joyless. What enjoyment can there be in performing religious duties and living a life which is bounded by laws other than our own? The real enjoyment of life, according to them, comes when all inhibitions are removed and one does whatever his flesh dictates.

But the believer has a different standard whereby he judges life and its enjoyments. He is not able to accompany the gentile in his merrymaking. The very fact that the believer does not go along with the ways of the gentiles is a condemnation of the way of life they pursue. Therefore they speak evil of you. This may not be restricted to speech — they will also abuse you. You become an irritant to them! You spoil their enjoyment. The believer has died to the ways of the gentiles and has been made alive unto God.

Considering the Condemnation of the Wicked←⤒🔗

Not only is the life of the believer a condemnation of the manner of life of the unbeliever, but a far more important condemnation will come. They will have to give account to Him Who is the Judge of every man's life. God is pleased with the life of His people when it is in harmony with the profession which they make of faith in His Son Jesus Christ. He, however, judges the unbeliever too. He looks upon his manner of life. He is held accountable.

The God Who judges is righteous and just. He will not allow sin to go unpunished. He will judge both living and dead, i.e., He will punish both here and in eternity. What a blessing for these believers that they know that Christ has suffered and died for them so that there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. They must keep the Christ always before them so that they will rejoice in the salvation He brought them and to be able to live a life with which He is pleased.

Demanded by the Preaching, of the Gospel←⤒🔗

Although the people addressed had come out of the gentile world and were still able to remember that period of time, the gospel had come to them several years ago. The writer is, therefore, able to speak of those who are now dead who had the gospel preached to them while they were still alive. Not only had the gospel been preached to them, but they had also be­lieved the word preached. They had shared in the benefits promised by the gospel.

It was preached to them so that they might also come to an amendment of life. They would indeed reap the eternal profit, i.e., salvation itself, from this preaching — but they had also been instructed there­by in the kind of life which is pleasing to God. They had been judged in the flesh like men. Death had come to them too. The gospel does not prevent physical death. All men, believers and unbelievers, shall die and no one shall ever escape it. Even this physical death has been changed for the believer. The sting of death has been removed through Christ's victory over death, but death still comes!

Even though those who have gone before them have been judged in the flesh as men, they also learned to live unto God in the spirit. Here these people had examples of the Christian life which was expected of them. It may well be that this former generation did not have to suffer so much for the sake of Christ as the ones to whom the Apostle was writing, but the principle of their lives showed that they belonged to the Lord Christ and that they had ceased from sin.

The gospel which was preached to both the readers and those who had already died gave the blessing of eternal life and demanded a life which was God-glorifying. That is the full gospel! The gospel indeed has many promises — it also comes with its demands. These demands are not contrary to the promises given. The promises must be proclaimed to all men and the law must likewise be proclaimed to all. This is the whole counsel of God. Let men hear of the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord and let them know His will concerning the lives of men. Then man will know the joy of salvation and the joy of a life lived unto His praise. The former life of these readers and the lives of those who are still unbelievers will fill the hearts of the people of God with a deep con­cern and instill in them the urgency to make the will of God known to them.

Questions for Discussion:←⤒🔗

1. How can we cease from sin? Is this ever com­plete? Do we make progress?

2. How can we think the thoughts of God after Him?

3. Does the world enjoy sin? Explain.

4. What must be our attitude toward those things which are the pleasures of this world?

5. Is there true enjoyment in a Christian life? Explain