1 Peter 4:3 KJV
[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:”
Peter reminds believers that the way they used to live is in the past. Their old life is over, and their new life in Christ will be completely different than living after the flesh. This is true for us as believers today. The Lord not only saved us from Hell but from sin and ourselves. We have been given new life in Christ, and with this new life comes a new purpose. We no longer live to please our flesh but to please our Savior.
I think this says a lot about the times in which we live. It seems that a lot of people want religion to give them fire insurance, but they want to keep living as they did before they supposedly got saved. We know that good works do not save a person, but after salvation, works do follow. Life is different, and a change on the inside produces a change on the outside.
The word “lasciviousness” talks about a life with no restraints, the word “lust” deals with strong desires, the phrase “excess of wine” indicates debauchery and drunkenness, and the word “revellings” means carousing. And if that’s not enough, Peter adds banquets and abominable idolatries. This does not sound like the lifestyle of someone who has been born again. Salvation delivers a person from these sins. Those who claim to be saved and continue living the wicked lifestyles they did before have deceived themselves. I understand that a believer can slip back into the same sins they committed before they were saved, but they will not enjoy them like they once did, nor will they continue without chastisement. If they continue to rebel, then it could lead to an early grave.
My concern is for those who claim salvation and never came out of these ungodly lifestyles. They have been deceived into thinking that repeating a prayer or filling out a religious form has given them an entrance into heaven. They will be utterly shocked on judgment day if they do not truly get born again. I’m glad that salvation delivers us from our past as much as from our future. The old life is over, and now we desire to follow Christ and do His will.
Dear reader, are you truly saved? Has there been a change in your life since you professed Christ as your Savior? Have you abandoned your old life?