1 Peter 4:3-6

"Licentiousness" describes uncontrolled desires, such as, gluttony and sensual passions. "Lusts" is a word describing desire for things forbidden. "Drunkenness" and wild drinking parties, or "revelries," should also be put away. Woods says the word translated "drinking parties" describes a drinking contest in which each one tries to outdo the others. "Abominable idolatries" would describe the sinful excesses some went to in worship of idols. The Christians to whom Peter wrote had participated in all of these. Having realized the emptiness of sin, Christians look on their lives of selfish desire as being more than long enough (1 Peter 4:3; Romans 6:21; Romans 13:11-12).

Living totally unrestrained lives was so common and acceptable to the Gentiles that they were shocked by those Christians not joining them. They were astonished that Christians did not rush to let their lives overflow, or flood, with evil deeds. So they blasphemed them, accusing them of untrue things in an attempt to injure them.

However, Christians do not have to worry with a response since these will be judged by the great judge of the living and the dead (Matthew 12:36-37; Romans 14:12; Acts 10:42). Kelcy says the word "ready," "indicates that Christ is competent and qualified; he stands prepared to judge and may do so at any time." Because Jesus will judge all men, the good news was proclaimed to some who had died by the time Peter wrote. They were not dead when preached to, but had heard the message that can cause one to live eternally in the spirit like God. All will be judged according to what they did in the flesh (2 Corinthians 5:10). Those who obey the gospel will live in the spirit like God (1 Peter 4:4-6).