1 Peter 4:3
3 For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.
Peter is saying to his readers that they have had enough evil in their lives (the things listed); that it is time now to live to please God and do His will.
1 Peter 4:1-2
1 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
Here the suffering of Christ in the flesh (His body) is death on the cross. If we arm ourselves with the same mind (or purpose), we are putting on the armor of that attitude of Christ’s readiness to die. Hence, if we have on that armor we are, in a sense, dead to the world of sin.[1]
More basically, as a Christian our old self (old man) was crucified with Christ; and so, we are free from the slavery of sin (Rom. 6:6-7); hence we should consider ourselves to be dead to sin (1 Pet. 4:1) and alive to God in Christ (Rom. 6:11), having a new nature.
The problem for Christians is that we can’t keep our armor on! We must in our prayers put off (put to death) sin in our mortal (earthly) body (Rom. 6:12) and put on the new man, which is to live by faith in the Son of God (Gal. 2:20).
[1] Barnes’ Notes, ElectronicDatabase. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft, notes on 1 Peter 4:1
1 Peter 3:22
22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.
Jesus Christ is now in heaven seated at the right hand of God, and all the angels and authorities are bowing down to Him. He triumphed over death and over all evil; He ascended into heaven, to a place of great honor; and we too who believe will have this great privilege and adventure.
1 Peter 3: 21
21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you — not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience — through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
Eight people were saved from the flood (v. 20). This is a picture of “baptism” (our salvation from sin and judgment by the power of Christ’s resurrection).
Hence, their salvation from the flood waters is symbolic of Christ’s resurrection—and ours: the flood waters being God’s judgment on sin; and the ark of safety being our salvation from judgment through His death and resurrection.
Baptism (the symbol of our salvation) involves “an appeal to God for a good conscience”—or to have our sins removed from us. When those eight persons decided to get into the ark they were trusting God to save them. In our day, we must begin our road to salvation with an appeal to God (our prayer) that He will remove all sins and save us. That appeal is our faith that through His resurrection power we will be saved, escaping judgment.
1 Peter 3:19-20
19 in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, 20 who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water.
It seems that during the three days that Christ was in the tomb, when his body was dead and His spirit was alive (v. 18), He went in His living spirit to where demon spirits were bound (put there during the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark for their wickedness). And He proclaimed to them His triumph over sin and death, and thus over their evil efforts against God’s plan for our redemption (read Col. 2:14-15).
1 Peter 3:18
18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
Christ suffered and died not because of any sin, for He was a just man His entire life; but He suffered for all of us who are unjust so that He may bring us to God—having our sins paid for. His body was put to death by sinful men, but His inner spirit lived on.
Looking back at verse 17, we can be glad if we suffer for doing what is right; for that is what Christ did. Hence, we are identifying with Him. He suffered and died being entirely righteous. But He went beyond that; He suffered and died for all of us who were guilty of sins. He suffered for our sins.
1 Peter 3:17
17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.
If one suffers for doing what is right he will have nothing to correct or feel guilty about. But if one suffers because of a sin, he must ask for forgiveness and correct his behavior.
1 Peter 3:16
16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.
Keeping a good conscience means that we will not do anything back to our accuser, or say anything cruel to them. In that way, they will have nothing to say again to us, only to be ashamed for what they already said to us.
1 Peter 3:15
15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
Carrying on from verse 14, Peter tells those who are being intimidated, not to fear them but to sanctify (or to set apart as holy) Christ, and to put Him as Lord in their heart. This will make them ready to make a defense for the gospel. Thus, for everyone who asks us to give an account for the hope we have (or for everyone who is critical of us), we will be ready to give them an answer. And then Peter emphasizes that we are not to be harsh with them as they are with us; as he states in verse 9, to not return evil for evil. We are instead to be gentle with them with reverence (or respect).
1 Peter 3:13-14
13 Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED,
When Peter says, “Who is there to harm you?” he is encouraging them to trust the Lord, and so, not to fear; for He will be with them (Isa. 41:10). If they, being righteous, suffer and fear intimidation they need not be troubled, only blessed by the Lord (Peter refers to Isa. 8:12-13).
Stephen Nielsen 