1 Peter 4:1-6 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

The “Therefore” that begins this passage refers back 1 Peter 3:18 – “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”

Followers of Jesus will have suffering. It is part of the fallen world in which we live. The sufferings meant here are those that are unjust because we do good, just as Christ suffered in his body for doing nothing but good.

Because Jesus bought us back from sin and death, we have the desire to live for Him and not to satisfy our sinful longings. If only we could do so. We continue to fall short of how God would have us live. Paul wrote a bit about that in Romans 7.

Part of the problem is that this world will continue to tempt us. It seems alluring, but when we give in to those temptations there is an almost instantaneous regret. And we know we will have to face Jesus as our Judge. Thankfully, the blood of Jesus cleanses us from ALL unrighteousness.

Verse 6 is worth noting. Can you preach to the dead? Jesus had preached/proclaimed victory after His triumph, but that does not appear to be what Peter is talking about here.

Hebrews 9:27 makes it clear that once you die you are judged, there is no more opportunity to come to faith. So preaching the gospel to those who have died would be pointless. So what does this mean?

First and foremost I think it refers to the gospel being preached to people who have since died. It was preached to them before they physically died so that they could be led to believe by the Holy Spirit and have eternal life.

There is another way to understand this passage as well. It is possible to be physically alive and spiritually dead. Those who do not believe in Jesus are in this condition. If you are spiritually dead and die physically, you will be eternally dead. That is the condition of those “spirits in prison” mentioned in the last chapter. We are to proclaim the Good News of Jesus to those who are spiritually dead now so that they can believe the message and have life now and life forever.

God wants everyone to be saved from damnation. That is why He sent Jesus to us. That is why He wants us to share the message.