27/11/2025
DATE: THURSDAY 27TH NOVEMBER 2025
TOPIC: REVELATION OF PAUL IN EPISTLE OF PETER (PT.4)
SUB-TOPIC: 1PETER CHAPTER 4
BIBLE TEXT: 1PET.4v1-9
1Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
2 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.
3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
Many people have been left wondering when told that Christianity is really not a religion but a way of life. Starting with the teachings of the Lord Jesus on the mountain and the revelation of certain behavioural standards communicated through the revelation given to the apostles, we have some standard codes to guide our lives as Christian. Peter set this out right from Chapter 3 where he presented his Charter for a peaceful home. In the latter part of 1Pet.3 to 1Pet.4, his focus was more generic than specifically related to couple.
Codes of Conduct for Christians-1Pet.4v1-9
i. 1Pet.4v1- Mind of Christ
Scripture under reference says:
Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin
Peter in the above verse showed the sufferings of Jesus (he was a witness of it). This suffering included being lied against, spat at, slapped, beaten, stripped naked, nailed to the cross and pierced by the side with a spear. All these for no single offence. He (Peter) concluded that we should strive to have this same mind that is prepared to suffer with Christ when actually we committed no crime. It is to be noted that Paul in Phl.2v5 demanded of us the same thing for he is quoted as follows:
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
He then went on to give further details of the suffering of Christ in Phl.2v6-8.
ii. 1Pet.4v2- Lusts of men
Scripture under reference says:
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.
Any burning desire that is not rooted in the things of God that man strives to satisfy for carnal pleasure is what is called lust. These lusts according to 1Jn.2v16 include that of the flesh that seeks to satisfy our flesh e.g food, s*x, ma********on, drug abuse, pleasure etc. We also have that of the eye responsible for po*******hy, addiction to certain shows or programme etc, and finally pride of life which of course will include pride, arrogance, haughty spirit etc. Brethren, Paul spoke copiously against pride in not less than 18 times out of the 53 mentions of it in the bible.
It is interesting to note that the word lust was mentioned forty times in the New Testament, and these two Apostles (Paul and Peter) are credited with using the word twenty-six times. Paul agreed with our definition of the word lust in Rm.1v27 that is the unnatural use of their bodies by men. In Rm.13v14 he warned as follows:
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
In corroborating the revelation of Peter above (1Pet.4v2) that lust is directly against the will of God, Paul declared in Gal.5v17 as follows:
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
iii. 1Pet.4v3-4 Works of flesh
3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revelling, banqueting, and abominable idolatries:
4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
In these verses, Peter listed virtually the same thing that Paul classified as works of the flesh. Paul in Gal.5v19-21 says thus:
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Both men said these works should represent our past, not who we are again.
iv. 1Pet.4v5- Judgment of both living and dead
Scripture under reference says:
Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
Like Peter, Paul believed that all including the living (quick) and the dead shall appear before God for judgment. They do not believe that the dead escapes judgment by some priests asking forgiveness for the deceased. In Rm.14v9-10, Paul the apostle said as follows:
9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
v. 1Pet.4v7-9 Fruit of the Spirit
Scripture under reference is as follows:
7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
Just as it was in the case of the works of the flesh, there are things to reflect our new being. We are to be known by the fruit we bear (Lk.6v44). Love, hospitality, soberness are some of the things Paul categorized as being fruit of the spirit in Gal.5v22-23 which says thus:
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Every believer is a tree of righteousness and the planting of the Lord and are obligated to bring forth fruit, much fruit for that matter (Jn.15v8). It is not enough for us to have power but that our power must be tempered with the fruit of the spirit.
PRAYER:
FATHER IN THE NAME OF JESUS HELP ME TO MANIFEST THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT AT ALL TIMES-GAL.5v22-23.
BRO. TOBI ARIKAWE
