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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