1 Peter 4:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.

NIV: As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

NASB: so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human lusts, but for the will of God.

CSB: in order to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for human desires, but for God’s will.

NLT: You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.

KJV: That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

NKJV: 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.

This concludes a thought begun in verse 1. Peter has said that Christians who have suffered in their bodies have ceased from sin. This is not intended to mean that Christians who have suffered, or who are willing to experience persecution, have achieved sinless perfection. We may still make sinful choices. What has changed is the direction of life for Christians who have physically suffered for Christ. Or, for those who have learned to expect persecution as part of our purpose here on earth. Such Christians have chosen the path leading away from indulging in sin as a lifestyle.

It's a question of our reason for getting out of bed in the morning. What drives us? Christians who are prepared to endure struggles for Christ are motivated to do the will of God, even if it hurts. Otherwise, we would use up our lives chasing the fulfillment of our "human passions;" we would live to find pleasure, material possessions, and or status and significance in the eyes of other people (1 John 2:16).

1 Peter 4:1–11 urges Christians to take on Jesus’ attitude toward suffering. We should see it as an expected part of fulfilling God’s purpose for us on earth. Those who willingly endure suffering for Christ set the course of their lives away from mind-numbing sins. This is true even when those who still commit those sins bad-mouth them. We must stay alert so that we can pray in these end times. We must keep loving each other, using God’s gifts to serve each other with God’s power in and through us, so all the glory goes to Him.

Peter continues to describe how Christians should respond when faced with persecution: Take on Christ’s attitude, and expect God’s purpose for your life to include suffering. Set the course of your life away from mind-numbing pleasure seeking. Be alert so that you can pray effectively in these end times. In fact, rejoice if you share in Christ’s sufferings. God uses suffering to refine the faith of His people, and our present suffering contributes to future glory. If you suffer, keep doing good while trusting your soul to your Creator.

Peter’s letter to Christians is about how to live in the world while suffering for faith in Christ. Thus far, he has assured Christians that their future is secure with God. We are His holy people, set apart for His purposes. Christians are called to live in submission to every human authority. Now in chapter 4, Peter writes that we should take Jesus’ attitude toward suffering and expect it in this life, avoiding mind-numbing sin while loving each other earnestly. God may use suffering in this life to refine our faith, but the end of all things is near.

Some 30 years after the resurrection of Jesus, Christians are facing greater persecution for their faith. How should they respond? How should we respond to suffering today? The apostle Peter writes this letter both to comfort believers and to encourage them to stay strong. He urges them to put all their hope in their perfect future with Christ, and to obey and trust Him in the present, even in their suffering. Christ suffered greatly; now the Christ-followers have the opportunity to follow Him even in this, showing His grace and power in their hopefulness, obedience, and faith.

Accessed 11/23/2024 9:09:51 PM