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. In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign (insult) you…

      1 Peter 4:3-4

We have already been told by our Lord that it’s going to happen. And personally speaking, compared to some of the persecution going on in the world today against Christians, such as the cutting off of heads, the wrongful jailing, and other physical persecution directed at those who belong to Christ, I really have no room to complain. With people literally giving up their lives for the sake of the gospel, I think we can survive “mean talk” on social media, lost job opportunities, or the common verbal attacks that come at those of us who are heaven bound. But no mater what form the persecution takes, it should come as no surprise to any of us that it is happening. The world, as a general rule, is in process of rejecting anything that is of God, of Christ, or of the Spirit of God. This is not hyperbole. Just turn on your television and watch the news stories that seems to dominate the news cycle and you will see it being played out on a national and world scale…a rejection of goodness, righteousness, and that which is of Christ. Of course, the rejection of what is godly is to embrace that which is evil for those are the only two options any of us have. 

Today’s passage is a great reminder to all of us, as believers, that the divide between those who are saved and those who are not, is wide and unrepairable apart from repentance (2 Corinthians 6:14-17). Hopefully, we are not persecuting people for living in unbelief. Quite the opposite should be true of our lives. We care, we love, we tell the truth, and we show kindness, mercy, and grace to those who do not even deserve it. But don’t hold your breath to receive the same from the unbelieving world. They have no capacity to do so. When it comes to supporting ungodly behavior, the “loving” rhetoric will be there but when it comes to dispersing that same “caring” attitude toward Christians, watch it quickly turn to the gnashing of teeth and the shrill of demonic influence. Why? Because we are not dealing with political positions or mental health issues alone, although those two things are real. What we are seeing played out on the world stage is a foreshadowing of eternity. It is a spiritual battle from beginning to end. And the only remedy is for an individual heart to be transformed by the saving power of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Those who love the Lord already have a home waiting for them in heaven. And those who reject God, Christ, the gospel, and persecute those who belong to Christ also have an eternal existence waiting for them as well, unless repentance and a spiritual awakening happens. 

“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 begins by reminding us that, before our salvation, we too spent enough time running after the things that the lost world runs after. There isn’t a Christian alive that cannot, in some way, relate to what their life was before Christ and what it is becoming since surrendering their lives to Christ (Ephesians 4:22-24). Restoration, salvation of the soul, and a changed life are byproducts of being born again (John 3:3). So Peter reminds us that our past needs to remain there…in the past. But now that we are different, set apart for God, and filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, we are going to attract attention…and it may not be a positive response from the world. “In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign (insult) you…” The “they” here is important. It is referring to all of those outside of fellowship with God, those apart from Christ. And what does Peter say will be the response from these people toward us as we live out our lives for Christ? They will be surprised. Surprised at what? That we don’t pursue the same things that they still pursue. And what things do they pursue? In short…worldly things. “You used to be so fun but no you’re just a party pooper.” “Who do you think you are…I know the things you have done in your life.” “Here comes goody two shoes!” Sound familiar? These are just a few of the things that unbelievers will say toward born again believers. But make no mistake…it is our new life in Jesus that bothers them. Consider Jesus’ words on this:

“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.” 

    John 15:18-19

Notice why Jesus says that the world will hate us. It is because we have been chosen out of this world. We live here for now but this is not our home. Jesus reminds us that if we were living for worldly things like they are, they would accept us as their own. So remember…it’s not us, it’s the One that we belong to that brings out this hateful and despising rhetoric. “They are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign (insult) you…” Excesses of dissipation simply means an uncontrolled life where something other than the Spirit of God drives them. And because we don’t participate with them and do what is necessary to be in their “club,” they insult us. This can come from family, so called friends, or the world in general. But the response to our godly behavior and our standing up for what is good, righteous, and pure is an indictment to the condition of their heart, mind, and tragically, their soul. So Peter follow up with this:

…but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

          1 Peter 4:5

Judgment is going to start in the house of God, don’t forget that. But the ultimate judgment on this world will happen to those who have rejected so great a salvation. In the end, they will loose everything, including their own souls (Luke 9:25, John 3:18, Hebrews 2:3). And so Peter continues:

If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

        1 Peter 4:14

It actually is proof that we belong to Christ when we receive such treatment. No one goes out in the world and looks for persecution but when this treatment comes to us because we belong to Christ and because we are living a life that is different from the rest of the world, we should gives thanks that we are being recognized as those who have truly been saved. 

The rejection of goodness, righteousness, and everything godly…it’s what the world is about and it is our job to meet them with the love of Christ, speaking the truth, and doing everything possible to bring them to saving faith in Jesus! 

“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Matthew 5:10-12