THEY THINK IT STRANGE

1 Peter 4:1-4 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; 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. 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: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you.

What a great passage teaching us to accept, maintain, and support the Christian character and conduct that God, through Jesus Christ, would have us use as our guide throughout our life here on earth. Jesus' earthly life should always be our example. Our mind should always be in tune with that of Jesus, thinking the same way that He would think. Regarding all that we say and do, we should continually ask ourselves, "Is this what Jesus would have us do?" Verse one tells us all to arm yourselves likewise with the same mind. Putting on the same mind as Christ, is compared to putting on the whole armor of God in order to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand (See Eph. 6:13-17). Jesus displayed firm courage to patiently endure the trials and temptations while He lived here on earth. The best defense we can have against sin and the evils of this world is to have the same mind our Savior had toward them.

We should realize Peter wrote this letter to Christians, primarily located in the area of Asia Minor. Some could have been of Jewish heritage, but most were probably converted Gentiles with pagan backgrounds. Upon becoming a Christian, and being baptized into His body, the new obedient convert puts on the mind of Christ - a mind that submits to the will of God, instead of living in sin, and submitting to the worldly lusts of men. The Christian becomes a new creature with a new mind set. In Ephesians 4:22-24, Paul confirms this teaching when he told the Christians at Ephesus that they were to put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Although, now converted to Christianity, those to whom this was written were once outside the body of Christ. As such, their walk, or conduct of life, was directed by worldly desires. Peter mentions, in our lesson text, some of the earthly passions that guided the lives of unconverted Gentiles in that day. It is these same fleshly desires that guide the lives of non-Christians today. It was the will of the Gentiles to walk in lasciviousness, which includes all kinds of impurity and unrestrained behavior. They also walked lustfully, having an obsessive desire for things belonging to others, and is forbidden by God. They indulged in all sorts of riotous feasts, drinking parties, and wild celebrations in order to fill all types of sensual desires. Peter refers to these as walking in excess of wine, revellings, and banquetings. Peter also says that the pagan Gentiles walked in abominable idolatries. Their idol worship was conducted in a most obscene and impure manner, which included sexual transgressions as well as the practice of magic and witchcraft. Such was abominable; meaning its practice was vile, loathsome, and disgusting in the sight of God.

The same lessons learned by newly converted Christians, in the time of Peter, and the other apostles, are learned by those becoming members of the body of Christ through belief and baptism today. Conversion to Christ causes a change in one's manner of life. Notice the change of life style that took place with the Christians at Rome. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live (Rom. 8:12-13). To unconverted friends and neighbors, new Christians are considered to be strange because their manner of life does not center on the satisfaction of worldly passion and physical desires. Their pleasure is now found in serving God and His Son Jesus Christ. Christ is the light - Christians walk in that light (1 John 1:7). Christians walk in truth (3 John 3&4), walk in love (Eph. 5:2), walk in ...good works (Eph. 2:10), and they walk, even as He (Christ) walked (1 John 2:6).

With these tenets governing the Christian's life, sinner friends will speak evil of you, your new life, your new religion, your God, and your Savior, Jesus Christ. They see you now living a life as a Christian, and they think it strange.