How to live in this world and understand it.

Peter has been giving his readers very important and specific instruction, relating to so many different areas of life, and situations. 
Now, he speaks in a more general sense, and talks about what to do in general with your life as a Christian, and what you might expect to see and experience, and why. 


See 1st Peter 4:1-6 below........

1 Pet 4:1 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,

1 Pet 4:2 that 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 Pet 4:3 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.

1 Pet 4:4 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.

1 Pet 4:5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

1 Pet 4:6 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.

There are six or so things that Peter has said.......

Believers are to arm themselves with the same mind that Jesus had. And, that is, that He suffered, and so are they. It goes with being saved. 

Also, we are no longer to live our lives for the lusts of men, but rather for the will of God. In other words as new creatures in Christ, we don't live to do the things that we used to do, and wanted to do, but rather we now live to do the will of God. To please Him. 

We have spent enough of our time in the past living after the ways of unsaved people, walking in all sorts of sins and such. 

Unsaved people think it's strange that you don't want to live the way that they do. Doing things that are really a waste of one's life. And, as a result of your following Christ, they will speak evil of you. 

These same people will one day give an account to God for their lives. He is ready to judge the living and the dead. That day of judgment is coming. 

This is why the Gospel was preached to those who have died, ( the deceased christians, martyrs )  They were judged and condemned to death by martyrdom according to human standards, but the are now alive in the Spirit after their death. ( Just like Jesus died, and is now alive ) 

This chapter really does help us understand how we are to live on a day to day basis, and to have understanding about those around us, and what to expect from them. And, to recognize that there is life after death in Christ. 

May God bless you as you continue in your own personal walk with Jesus Christ.