1 Peter 4:3: For The Time That Is Past Suffices For Doing What The Gentiles Want To Do, Living In Sensuality, Passions, Drunkenness, Orgies, Drinking Parties, and Lawless Idolatry.

1 Peter 4:3

[3] For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. (ESV)

There is supposed to be a distinct difference between Christians and non-Christians. Here, Peter refers to those who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as Gentiles. We view the word, "Gentile," as simply being non-Jewish. For the sake of the context of this verse we need to understand Peter's description of Gentiles as being those who do not know the Savior.

Notice that the change in becoming a believer was supposed to mean a change in lifestyle. Previously, the recipients of Peter's letter would have freely engaged in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. These things brought them temporary pleasure. As a believer in Jesus Christ these lifestyle choices are off limits.

The question comes to mind, "Why are we not to engage in sinful pleasures?" First and foremost, because they are all focused on pleasing our selves. The believer in Jesus Christ lives for someone else. We live for Jesus Christ. We have become a new creation. We have new desires. To belong to Christ is to also desire what he desires, no longer focusing on our own desires.

The second reason why we do not indulge the flesh is that it will no longer give us the pleasure it once did. When we sin we immediately feel the disgust at what we have done. The Holy Spirit reminds us that the activity that once gave pleasure is offensive to the one whom we love. We are "ruined" for the things of the flesh. 

Do you struggle with the "old ways"? Ask Jesus to empower you by his Holy Spirit to say, "no" to fleshly passions and "yes" to the will of God.