1 Pet. 4:6 - Gospel preached so we may live in the Spirit

6 Now it was for this very purpose that the gospel was preached to those who are now dead, so that though they were judged in the flesh by human standards they may live spiritually by God's standards.

vs. 6 - Verse six could easily be linked to the previous verses, 3-5, regarding living in a fallen world. The sense that your faith in Christ will cause you to live differently than you did before you believed is foundational. The understanding that you cannot live this new life by your own power is critical. We must live in the power and control of the Holy Spirit. We are not saved from the penalty of sin by our doing. It is all on Christ. We cannot live the life Christ calls us to by our own doing. It is all on Christ and the Holy Spirit.
It is illogical to think God would save us by His power and grace, and then tell us we are on our own. Paul said it clearly in Gal. 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me".

"for this very purpose" - I believe it should read like this: "The gospel was preached so that men may live in the spirit according to the will of God (even those who are now dead) because the flesh has already been judged." Christ's death and resurrection sealed the doom on the flesh. We can live eternally only through the power of the Holy Spirit, because God wills it so. This verse is not saying that Christ preached the gospel to the spirits of dead people while in the grave. We know from Matthew's account of the crucifixion that believers who had died were resurrected and appeared in Jerusalem. See:. Matt. 27:53. We don't know if these believers were contemporary to Jesus's ministry, or if the resurrected were from ancient times. This is phenomenon is similar to the coming rapture when the Lord returns.

"... live spiritually by God's standards." - Most of this letter is addressing the problem of persecution. Peter is preparing the church for handling or dealing with the inevitable persecution. Part of the message is to live upright livers so you will not be arrested and accused because of bad behavior. The other part of the message: the world, corrupt and ruled by Satan, will hate you because it hates God and Jesus. That hate will not be retrained. It must spill out, and be acted out. You, the believer, will bear the brunt of thes hatred. By 'human standards" you will be judged as a loser, and must be punished. By God's standards, you will live forever in His presence - 'live spiritually'. His standard is based on what you do with Jesus Christ.
Through the cross and in the death of Jesus on it, the 'flesh' - this world - has been judged. It is doomed. The sentence has been passed, and it is death. The resurrection of Jesus is the first of the new life that is lived spiritually. This is yours if you believe.

The Gospel is preached so you may believe and become a child of God.

1 Pet. 4:3-5 - A changed life sometimes brings ridicule

A changed life sometimes brings ridicule

3 For the time that has passed was sufficient for you to do what the non-Christians desire. You lived then in debauchery, evil desires, drunkenness, carousing, drinking bouts, and wanton idolatries.
4 So they are astonished when you do not rush with them into the same flood of wickedness, and they vilify you.
5 They will face a reckoning before Jesus Christ who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.

vs. 3 - "the time that has passed" - This is a message that is repeated in almost every letter, whether by Paul, or James, John, or Peter. "You used to live like this. Don't do that anymore." Or, "You used to live like pagans, like Gentiles." We have the distinct impression that we Gentiles are evil. See: Rom. 1:28-32. Throughout the New Testament the Gentiles are depicted as godless and sinful. See: Gal. 5:19-21; Col. 3:5-6; 1 Thess 4:3-5. This is not simple prejudice or arrogance on the part of the Jews or the Christians.
There is one thing that separates Christianity and Judaism from ALL other religions on earth. That one thing is monotheism - belief in and worship of one single solitary God. Whether Canaanites, Moabites, Medes and Persians, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Hindu, Japanese, Chinese, American Indian, or Eskimo - the religions of these peoples have various and sundry gods. None of these religions are based on their god's love for them. Their gods were bigger and more powerful than humans, and more venal. The faithful are without good reason to act morally and in an upright manner. The gods themselves were not moral or upright. No other god has substituted his or her life for their believers.
Jews and Christians are oddities - worshipping one god, being separate just for him. The Jews' and Christians' faith practice does not include sacrifice of children, debauchery (e.g., temple prostitutes, etc.) that many of the pagan religions include. In many ways the other religions of the world are baffled by the purity required and demanded by our God. Change is expected. Good intentions are not enough. See Heb. 5:1-14, which says that you have been a Christian long enough to be mature, but you haven't advanced beyond simple instructions.
In the time this was written, in the Greco-Roman milieu, becoming a Christian was a massive change in behavior for the believer.
Today, in our post-Christian culture, the 'religions' of the time seem to be more subtle, maybe more 'blandly sinister' than the polytheist pagan religions of nations and cultures around Jerusalem. When we look around we don't usually see wanton debauchery. On the other hand, we cannot deny that sex permeates our entertainment. Porn is the biggest moneymaker on the internet; 'Sports Illustrated' has the 'Swimsuit' issue. The hate and prejudice from all sides of our political spectrum is daunting.
You may say, "But I don't do that stuff!" The standard for our life is much, much higher than, "I'm not as bad that guy."
Look at the 'Sermon on the Mount". (See Matt. 5:3-13, 20-48.) Look at what Jesus said. The standard is not "Be good. Do no harm." The standard is perfection. Vince Lombardi would tell his players, "We will strive for perfection. We may not achieve it, but in the effort we will find excellence." (NOTE: paraphrased, a little.) Christianity demands a total change in living. We are dead to the flesh, and alive in Christ. (See: 2 Cor. 5:17).
Now that we are saved it is time to live the rest of our lives for the will of God, because we spent our time (life) before we were saved living for ourselves. It is abundantly clear that our new life in Christ will separate us from the secular world. We are now citizens of a different world, the Kingdom of God. (See: Eph. 2;19) We are to live our lives worthily for Christ (see Eph. 4:1; Col. 1:10),

vs. 4 - "they are astonished" - The unsaved still live for themselves, and they do not understand why we have given it up, why we have given it up, why our lives have changed. And since they don't understand we receive ridicule and persecution. They want us to return to their way of life.

vs. 5 "They will face a reckoning" - See Rev. 20:12; Matt. 16:27. And no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account. Heb. 4:13 Also, Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man. For God will evaluate every deed, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. Ecc. 12:13,14 And: When I pondered to understand this, It was troublesome in my sight Until I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end. Psa. 73:16, 17

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1 Pet. 4:1-2 - Be prepared to suffer as Christ did

Be prepared to suffer as Christ did

1 So, since Christ suffered in the flesh, you also arm yourselves with the same attitude, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin,
2 in that he spends the rest of his time on earth concerned about the will of God and not human desires.

vs. 1 "since Christ suffered" - Christ suffered and died - willingly. We must prepare ourselves for the same thing. He is our example.

"arm yourselves" - Adopt the same purpose as our Lord and Savior. God the Father asked Him to go into the world as a human to live and offer Himself up as a sacrifice to pay for sin. Adam's nature of disobedience has been inherited by all humans. In fact, the whole world has been deemed dead. None of it can be transferred into the kingdom of his beloved Son. Christ's suffering and death sealed that fate. His resurrection seals our new life. God will create a new earth in which His believers will live and work. Our fleshly human bodies will not be in heaven or the new earth. We have become new creatures, remember? (2 Cor. 5:17) The old has died, the new has come! So, prepare yourself to be persecuted. Prepare yourself by clinging to Jesus. Neither you nor I have the will-power, or the strength to endure persecution. In Christ we can.
I will admit I am not eager to test this statement. Jesus warned us to be ready to be persecuted as He was persecuted. If our Savior suffered, why should we think we are better than He? The world that hated Him, will hate you - assuming you are living for Him. John writes "the world does not know you, because it did not know Him." (1 John 3:2) It did not know, it did not understand, and the world hates Jesus with a hate that comes from Satan himself. Do you suppose the vehemence shown by the atheist and anarchist protesters is merely a 'fad'?
Did you happen to see the protests at a high school in the United States recently? (Background information: some Christian mothers were making lunches for the students. While the students were eating the mothers shared a Christian message. It was all free to the students. It was all voluntary; the students were not required to go to the park where the lunch was served was next to the school.) Atheists protesters tried to interrupt and intimidate the students. (It didn't work. The students remained calm and ignored the protesters.) One of the signs said, "Put Jesus back inside the church". This is the goal of the liberal/progressives of today. They want Christians to stay in the church, and not live their Christian lives in the public arena. This is mild persecution compared to that the Coptic Christians in the Middle East, or any Christian in Muslim countries, suffer.

"the one who has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin" - A most interesting turn of phrase... Does this mean that if we suffer we will quit sinning? All you have to do is get cancer, or some other chronic illness and you no longer have any desire to sin? That does not make sense. I would suggest this: those who are persecuted (suffered in the flesh) have changed from being pagans to being Christians. That is, you are being persecuted because you are no longer acting like a pagan non-believer but as a follower of the Lord. We 'must' suffer persecution, it is inevitable when we desire to live for God's will and cease from sin.

vs. 2 "in that..." - This ties into the last phrase of verse 1. Since we are finished with sin - it no longer has control over us - we can live the rest of our life on earth serving Jesus, not ourselves. In Christ we have died to the flesh, and cease from sin. See: Rom. 6:7; 1 John 3:6-8, 5:18. We have died to sin, and are to live for the Lord and not for ourselves (2 Cor. 5:15). In Christ we can do just that. Without the power of the Holy Spirit we cannot. Living for Christ, free from sin is expected! On the other hand, there is no reason to be overwhelmed with guilt when we fail. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9.

1 Pet. 3:18-22 - Christ died for our sins

Christ died for our sins.

18 Because Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, to bring you to God, by being put to death in the flesh but by being made alive in the spirit.
19 In it he went and preached to the spirits in prison,
20 after they were disobedient long ago when God patiently waited in the days of Noah as an ark was being constructed. In the ark a few, that is eight souls, were delivered through water.
21 And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you - not the washing off of physical dirt but the pledge of a good conscience to God - through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
22 who went into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels and authorities and powers subject to him.

v. 18: - "Christ also suffered once for sins" - Christ is set up for us as an example. He did not deserve what He went through for us. Because He did suffer and die unjustly, because He took all of the sins of the world upon Himself, we can go to God through Him. God approved of the sacrifice Christ paid, and Christ was raised to life in the Spirit. When Christ's body died, and when He resurrected the sentence was passed on our old nature and body. We are to given new ones - a new nature immediately upon acceptance of Christ, a new body at the Rapture.
The phrase "once for sins" is important. Remember, sin came into the world through one act - Adam's disobedience. The first human doomed us all to being slaves to sin. We inherited sin nature, just like you inherit everything that makes you human - nose, binocular vision, basically hairless, upright and bipedal, self-awareness, etc. Jesus, born being wholly God and wholly human, lived a sinless life, and was crucified. That one death gathered up all the sin and killed it. He took all the sin upon Himself, and bore it to Hell. His resurrection validated the price paid. This is crucial to grasp, believe. All eternity hangs on the fact that God accepted the price paid. And when He was resurrected, He started the new life. That new life, with a new body, living in a new earth, a new heaven is now ours in Christ. One man died one death to give you and me new life and hope. He doesn't need to die each time a new human is born, or each time one of us falls away and lives in sin. He died once for all. Now, not all will accept that sacrifice. That is their problem. If you don't believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, God's wrath remains on you. See: John 3:36. You either have eternal life, or you don't. It is stark, black or white.

"to bring you to God" - Our sin nature, inherited as descendants from Adam, prevents us from having a relationship with God. There is no task we can perform, no sacrifice we can make that will bridge the gap between sinful us and righteous God. So, God took it upon HImself to provide the way to Him. Some will ask, "Why didn't God just wipe out the whole universe and start over? He spoke it into existence, why not just speak it out of existence? Wouldn't that have been easier?" From a human point of view, it might be. When creating something, be it art, or or a quilt, or a landscaping of a back yard, we will admit defeat and failure throwing it all away and starting over. God does not do that. Our free will, God designed us to be able to choose, causes the break in relationship. God gives us the chance to right the relationship by offering the way back to Him via Christ Jesus. In Christ's death, all of the 'old world' has ultimately died. None of it will remain to be transferred to the kingdom of light. In Christ's resurrection the new world has been born, it is all new, and without the sin inherited from Adam. That is why you must be 'born again.' (See: John3:3)

v. 19: - "In it he went and preached" - I do not believe this says Christ, while dead in the grave, went and ministered to the spirit world. Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, appealed to the people living in past times to turn to HIm (God) and be saved.
Jesus, in the Spirit, through Noah (see vs. 20) came to the people of Noah's day and ministered to them. By 'ministered', He gave them the opportunity to repent of their sins and turn to Him. They did not. They died in the flood and are now waiting (imprisoned in Sheol) for the final judgement. (See 2 Cor. 5:20).
This is true for all of human history. "The righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel from faith to faith, just as it is written, "The righteous by faith will live. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness, because what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools." (Rom. 1:17-22) There is no excuse. You can't say, "I didn't KNOW!" (Rom. 2:1)

v. 20: - "they were disobedient long ago" - The people were disobedient before the flood came. God was very patient and tried to save many through Noah (see Rom. 2:4, 9:22; 2 Pet. 3:9, 15, especially GNMM (see note 1)). He waited until it was obvious that no more would come. Only eight people were saved; Noah, his three sons, and their wives.

v. 21: - "not the washing off of physical dirt" - could read, "correspondingly, we are saved in baptism through the resurrection of Jesus Christ; we are given a clean conscience by God. Baptism is not cleansing of the body." Note: Noah and company were saved by the ark from judgement, the flood. They were not saved by the waters of the flood. In like manner, we are saved from judgement in Christ. He is our ark. Noah was saved by faith in God; we are saved by faith in Christ Jesus. Baptism is a step of obedience, a public testimony that our life is the Lord's. Christ's blood washes away guilt.

v. 22: - Christ, after the resurrection, ascended to heaven and sat down at God's right hand. He has been given all power and authority. (See: Eph. 1:20-22; Matt. 11:27; 1 Cor. 15:24-28.)

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Note 1: "GNMM" = Good News for Modern Man Bible translation (I think it has been renamed to 'New English Translation".)
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1 Pet. 3:13-17: You are blessed. . .

You are blessed if you suffer for the sake of righteousness

13 For who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good?
14 But in fact, if you happen to suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them or be shaken.
15 But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.
16 Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you.
17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil.

v. 13: - "who is going to harm you" - It would be foolish to think that the believers in the Lord Jesus Christ will not be persecuted. If the savior was crucified for no earthly reason (having been falsely accused by the Jewish leaders, etc.), the followers are not better than He, and should not expect better treatment. They (the enemies of God) may kill you. But they cannot take away your eternal reward. Even Satan cannot harm your eternal soul. In Christ your new nature is untouchable.
It is important to understand that 'harm' here means harm to your soul. The body is part of the world, and will not be part of the new world. New earth, new bodies! No doubt this body can be 'harmed', but with respect to eternal matters, it is a little thing.
This is hard to grasp, maybe even causing you to recoil. "What!? I don't want to suffer! I especially don't want to suffer when I've done nothing wrong! I don't want to suffer when I have followed and believed Jesus Christ!" That will not save you from persecution. Read Hebrews 11. Satan and the world hates (HATES!) the Lord Jesus Christ and His followers. Satan and his minions (including people, not just devils) will do all sorts of evil in order to crush the church. See: Matt. 5:11; Matt. 10:28; Luke 12:4; 21:12; John 15:20; Prov. 16:7; Rom. 12:14; 1 Pet. 3:20.

Verses 14, 15, & 16 really are basically one thought.

v. 14: - "suffer for doing what is right" - You may be persecuted, but not for the reason you might expect - righteousness. Beware of the righteousness of the Pharisees (Matt. 5:20). See: 1 Pet.2:20. He approved of real righteousness (doing what is right in the eyes off the Lord, living in the power of the Holy Spirit, staying in His will). God will bless us if we suffer persecution due to that righteousness. We need not fear those who persecute us. If (when) we are the Lord's, they can only hurt our physical bodies. See: Matt. 10:28; Rom. 8:38, 39. As Christians, death holds no power over us. Don't be fooled. Dying a physical death may be gruesome, or painful, horrible. It is the 'second death', eternal separation from God that is to be feared. We may dread the process of dying, but death itself is powerless - we are the Lord's we will go to be with Him.
Why is that death powerless over us? Because Jesus has already died that death, and was resurrected. We are in Christ and as such, we share His death and resurrection. We do not suffer the separation from God - Christ did that. To read a really good explanation of this, see "The Normal Christian Life" by Watchman Nee (an older book, written in 1957).

v. 15: - "set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts" - Give Christ the most holy place in your life. Campus Criusade for Christ described it as 'putting Christ on the throne of your life'. We have a living hope within us. We are called to hope and receive a blessing. Be ready and willing at all times to counsel with and explain to anyone who asks us about the hope we have. See: Col 4:6; 2 Tim. 4:2.

"Always be ready" - But we must share in love, and be gentle, have (show) respect for those we talk to. Belittle no one. If you just bought a new car, and it is the best car you have ever driven, don't you want to share that with others? If you just moved to a new neighborhood, and the people are friendly, and the homes great - don't you want to share that information with others? If your favorite football team has just won an amazing game - don't you want to share with others? Your faith in Christ is the same, only much, much better. A new car does not give you peace with God. A new home and neighborhood does not break the domination of sin in your life. A football win does not give eternal joy.

v. 16: - "may be put to shame" - We may suffer for righteousness sake. If so, be prepared to defend the hope we have, but with gentleness; and always remain pure, so that the revilers do not have anything on us, and thereby they will be ashamed. The number one accuser is Satan. He is defeated by Christ's resurrection. Anything with which he might attempt to slander you to God is met by Jesus saying, "He is mine", or "She is mine." All accusations cease!
In this world, we may be accused by enemies of Jesus. Be sure your behavior is done with clear and clean conscience. In this way, others can be your rebuttal witness, and testify on your behalf. A crowd of witnesses saying, "Those things can't be true. I know this person. I've seen this person work and live." The false accusations will be thrown back in the slanderer's face. Don't gloat about this. Give God the glory that your life is a light in the world. He has empowered you, it is to His honor and reputation that praise may be given.

v. 17: - "than for doing evil" - There can be no glory for us if we are suffering, and deserve it! This is a very clear statement that all may not be sweetness and light for the Christian. God may put you in a position, situation, or location in which you will be persecuted for your faith. God has promised that we will not be forced to bear more than we can endure. If we are not experiencing suffering: we either are (1) not witnessing for Christ, or (2) He knows we cannot withstand very much. Please do not use the latter as an excuse. If God has placed you there, He knows you can do it. He knows what you need, and will suppply it, when needed. Corrie ten Boom said as much in her memoir "The Hiding Place".

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1 Pet. 4:17-19 - Judgement - Entrust your soul to Christ

17 For it is time for judgment to begin, starting with the house of God. And if it starts with us, what will be the fate of those who are disobedient to the gospel of God?
18 And if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of the ungodly and sinners?
19 So then let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator as they do good.

For Christians first, then others

vs. 17 - "starting with the house of God" - We are judged first (Judgement Seat of Christ). See: 1 Cor. 3:11-15; 2 Cor. 5:10. Consider this, if we, as the children of God are to be judged, think of what it will be like for those who refused to accept Christ as their personal savior. This judgement (JSoC) is not about our salvation. It is about how we have 'worked out our salvation'. Our behavior and the works we do in this life as Christians will be tested. Put through the purifying fire. Only the things we have done in the power of the Holy Spirit (those things in the will of God) will survive. God has prepared works for us to do. (Eph. 2:10). This is the eternal report card. This is not about whether or not you graduated, but how well you did what God asked you to do.

"if it starts with us" - The big question (graduation - from earth to heaven) has already been answered. Is you name in the Lamb's Book of Life? IF your name is there, you are have eternal life. Is there really a ledger in heaven where everyone ever conceived has been tallied, and checked off? I think this image is for our benefit - we can visualize a record book in which every person who has believed in God and the Lord Jesus Christ is accounted. (See: Rev. 3:5, 13:8, 17:8, 20:12, 15,27.)
The judgement of Christians is not regarding condemnation or salvation. The judgement of Christians consists of comparing our present life to what God has called us to do. There are heavenly rewards for those who have done as He commanded (crowns, jewels, etc.) (See: 2 Tim 4:8; Jam. 1:11; Rev. 2:10)

vs. 18 - "barely saved" - See vs. 17. What to make of this phrase? "Barely Saved?" How can that be? In Christ, aren't we completely saved? Of course we are completely and wholly saved through the work of Jesus Christ! I think Peter is refering to the teaching of Paul concerning the Judgement Seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10) where the works of believers are judged. The works done in the Spirit will remain, those done in the flesh will be consumed by fire. See: 1 Cor. 3:13-16 It is conceivable for a Christian to go through the Judgement Seat of Christ and come away with his salvation intact, but nothing else. There would be no "Well done, my good and faithful servant". By the skin of his teeth, or barely saved.

"what will become of the ungodly" - However, if your name is not in the Lamb's Book of Life, there is another ledger containing your 'works'. There is no good reward from this book. It starts with Hell, and goes downhill from there - negative rewards, or so to speak. It is difficult to imagine what could be worse than eternity separated from God! Although this world is the province of Satan, it still benefits from the hand of God, the over-arching presence of His Spirit. Hell is devoid of God's presence - completely.
What is the purpose of this second book? The answer is very stark - black and white - if you have the Son you have life. If you don't have the Son, you DO NOT have life. See: John 3:36, 6:40, 20:31; Gal. 2:20; 1 John 5:12. It is implied that an account of our actions is kept - God knows all; nothing can be hidden from Him - whether we are believers or not. There will be 'rewards' for those behaviors. I believe this to be true for both Christians and non-Christians alike. Dante had "Nine Levels of Hell" in his famous work. Although all of Hell is populated by those who chose to reject Christ as Savior, there will additional negative consequences for their life choices. The torment of being separated from God, will be exacerbated by having chosen to ignore His leading in moral behavior. There are worse things than going to Hell! Separation from the love of God plus torment for eternity! Don't let this happen to you.

vs. 19 - "entrust their souls to a faithful Creator" - Jesus has told us life is found in Him, and only Him. Committing to Jesus is entrusting your eternal life to One Person. If HE is faithful (and HE is!) then your soul is safe from the second death. See: John 14:6, 20, 23. He will Love you! The Father will Love you! He will live (abide - make a home there) in you. If we can trust the Lord with our eternal soul, then when we are under persecution and suffering, we are trusting Him because it is His will for us to suffer (it purifies). We most surely should trust ourselves when we act correctly and do His will.

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