First Peter Four Verses Three-Six
Words Of Truth

Words Of Truth


"That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth..." (Proverbs 22:21).

First Peter 4:3-6
Changed In A Way That Makes Us Strange To Those Who Will Be Judged For It

I. Introduction: We looked at not living according to fleshly desires already in this epistle (I Peter 2:11 and I Peter 4:2).

A. Faithful Christians do not conform to the world (Romans 12:1-2).

  1. Christians, through application of the word of God, keep ourselves unspotted from the world (James 1:21-27).
  2. In drawing close to God (Hebrews 7:19) we are not close companions with the world (James 4:4).
B. As we have discussed in this letter, conduct teaches the lost (I Peter 3:1).

  1. As Christians, we have changed and for some of us those changes are very drastic (I Corinthians 6:9-11, Galatians 1:21-24, and Ephesians 2:3).
  2. Now, we live as examples to others and they see those changes (Ephesians 5:8 and Philippians 2:14-16).

II. Body: I Peter 4:3-6

A. The saints addressed in this letter had sinful pasts (I Peter 1:14; 1:18).

  1. These Gentiles (I Peter 2:10) had a past of walking according to the ways of the Gentiles, which was not good (Ephesians 4:17-19).
  2. The Gentiles were taught to turn from their vanities (Acts 14:15).
  3. Peter’s inspired words are a generalization. His past was not necessarily according to the will of the Gentiles. We read the words “our”, “we”, and “us.” The point is, what most Christians have in common is not a list of certain sins, but that we have been forgiven of some sins in general (I John 2:12).
B. When “we” walked in… (Colossians 3:5-7; cf. Romans 6:17-20).

  1. Lasciviousness [wantonness] (Romans 13:13-14). *Thayer’s definition includes “unbridled lusts” (Strong’s # 766).
  2. Lusts (Ephesians 4:22 and James 1:13-16) which choke the word of God (Mark 4:18-19).
  3. Excess of wine (Proverbs 20:1, Proverbs 23:29-35, Proverbs 31:4-5, and Ephesians 5:18).
  4. Revellings [part of Thayer’s definition is “drinking parties”; Strong’s # 2970] (Galatians 5:19-21).
  5. Banquetings [cf. Esther 5:6] (Amos 6:1-7).
  6. Abominable idolatries (Colossians 3:5, I John 5:21, and Revelation 21:8).
C. Former companions see the change and think it is strange that you are not like them any more.

  1. No longer in the same excess of riot [unsavedness] (Strong’s # 810)] (cf. Luke 15:13).
  2. Think about one of the qualifications of an elder (Titus 1:6).
  3. They then speak evil of you [slanderously] (Romans 3:8).
  4. We have covered already in this letter how to overcome those that speak evil of us falsely (I Peter 2:12; 3:16).
D. They will be judged by Him that is ready to judge the living and the dead (John 5:22-30).

  1. The resurrection is both of the just and unjust (Acts 24:15).
  2. At which time all will be judged (Matthew 25:31-46 and II Corinthians 5:10).
E. Because of the Judgment to come, the Gospel was preached to those that are dead (I Peter 3:18-20).

  1. The Judgment will come from the words of Christ, the Gospel of Christ, upon all who have ever lived in this world (John 12:48 and Romans 2:16).
  2. He will judge those alive and those dead (II Timothy 4:1).
  3. The unjust are being reserved unto the day of Judgment (II Peter 2:9).

III. Conclusion: Our Next Study; I Peter 4:7