To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout the earth, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:

Grace and peace be yours in abundance. You are invited to come to the Wednesday evening prayer meeting and pray. (8:30 PM EDT Wed., Dec. 12, 2001) (If you have e-mail prayer requests, please send them before 5:00 PM.)

This is at least a five-commentary passage. Unfortunately, I only have four commentaries available. But even if some parts of it are difficult to understand, there is still quite a bit for God's elect (that's us) to learn from it.

The passage starts out with the word 'therefore,' referring back to the last half of chapter 3. In chapter 3 verses 13 through 17, Peter tells us that, even though it is unreasonable to expect to suffer for doing good, it will happen. We will suffer for doing good. 'It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous to bring [us] to God (1 Peter 3:17,18).' Also, he 'has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand -- with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him (v22).'

So, referring to all these things, our suffering, Christ's dying for us, and the fact that he is at God's right hand in heaven, Peter starts out chapter 4 with these words, "Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin." Literally, Peter says, "He who has suffer in the flesh has ceased from sin (see NASB). This verse may cause some confusion because it's natural to ask, "Who has ceased from sin? Is there anyone who has completely stopped sinning?" But we can also ask the question, "Who has completely made his attitude the same as that of Christ when he suffered for our sins?" What we can really learn from this verse is that the more our attitude is like that of Christ, the less we will sin. Finally, our attitudes will be completely like his and we will not sin any more. We will completely cease from sin. This will come true when we will see him as he is and we are like him (1 John 3:2b). And that's a wonderful and glorious hope. It'll happen too. The word of God says so.

So what is the 'attitude of Christ' that we are to arm ourselves with? The apostle Paul says that our attitudes 'should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross (Philip. 2:6-8)!'

Jesus's entire purpose was to come to earth as a man and to die for our sins on the cross. He pursued that purpose steadfastly during his entire life up until his death when it was fulfilled. When it was time to go to the cross, he prayed to his Father in the garden, "Not my will, but yours be done." He defeated sin and death completely and went back into heaven and is at God's right hand -- with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him (3:22). When we fully have the attitude of Jesus, we will fully be done with sin.

Peter goes on to say the following: "As a result, he (the one who has the attitude of Christ) does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do-- living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you (vv2-4)." Peter is telling you that you used to live an ungodly life, but now, the people that you used to hang out with think it's strange that you don't do the same things they do. But even if you are able to say that you never lived a life of drunkenness or drugs or immorality or whatever, there was still a time when you were God's enemy. You hated God and in no way would submit to him or anyone else unless you were forced to. And even then, there was no submission or obedience in your heart. You probably were ready to heap abuse on anyone who would willingly obey anyone else, unless, by God's grace, you were young enough in years when you accepted Christ for these thing to not have fully developed in you.

But now you are changed. And to the extent that you have the attitude of Christ toward obedience to God and toward suffering on behalf of others -- and suffering for God's glory, you are done with sin. Jesus chose suffering. Not in the way you might deliberately inflict pain (or inconvenience or any kind of self-denial) on yourself just for the sake being able to say that you did it, which is nothing but pride, but in order to help someone who is in need. We were in extreme, extreme, extreme need and Jesus suffered for us.

In verse 5, which says, "But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead," God is telling us (through Peter) that there is a distinction between us and them. God is ready to judge those who have already died as well as those who are now alive. 'Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die' is really misleading. Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment. The dead will be judged.

Verse 6 says: "For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit." There are all kinds of interpretations for this verse, but I will stay with just one.

First of all, the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are dead (The NIV says 'now dead' even though the original text did not have the word 'now.' Their understanding was that Peter meant that the gospel was preached to them while they were still alive. I agree with them.) -- the reason the gospel was preached to those who are now dead is so that they can be called to account. God is ready to judge them and they will be without excuse. This is what the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 1:18-20: "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-- his eternal power and divine nature-- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." I believe that God has preached the gospel through his creation, and in other ways, from the time of the fall. Now he has preached it through his Son and through those who have followed him. So men are without excuse.

I think that when Peter says that the gospel was preached so that those who are now dead might be judged according to men in regard to the body (literally, 'in the flesh'), he means the kind of judgment that is according to the Old Testament law. The purpose was for them to be convicted of sin so they would repent and live according to God in regard to the spirit (literally, 'in the spirit'). Not everyone repents. But those who do, know God and have eternal life.

I am writing this assuming that I am writing to those who already have eternal life, God's elect. But if there are any of you who don't know God, who don't know Jesus, know this, there is a judgment, and there is salvation for you through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the judge and he is also the Savior.

Pray for all of us to arm ourselves with the same attitude that Jesus had when he suffered for us, to save us from God's judgment in spite of the fact that we fully deserved it. Jesus is the only way of salvation.

Come and let's pray for each other as well as for the whole church. Come and encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Love them.

Love in Christ,
Dean

PS: If you absolutely can't make it to the prayer meeting, send your prayer requests back to me by e-mail and we'll pray for them.