1 Peter 4:3

‘For the time past may be seen as sufficient to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles, and to have walked in lasciviousness, lusts, wine-parties, revellings, carousings, and abominable idolatries,'

For they are to recognise that the time for reckless partying is over now that they have something better. They had previously lived vain lives following the desires of the Gentiles. They had walked in ‘lasciviousness, lusts, wine-parties, revellings, carousings, and abominable idolatries' (what a picture of the lives of many today). But now they had had sufficient of that because they had seen that life had something so much better to offer. They had finished with idolatry and its corrupting festivals, and their lives had taken on a new meaning and significance for the future, for they had died with Christ and were now out to live for Him.

Note the contrast between ‘lasciviousness, lusts, wine-parties, revellings, carousings, and abominable idolatries', and ‘being fervent in your love among yourselves, using hospitality one to another without murmuring, ministering (the gifts you have received) among yourselves' (1 Peter 4:8). The love-feast has replaced the lust-feast. Those involved in the latter thought only of themselves, those involved in the former were to think only of one another.

We should also take note of Peter's reference to ‘abominable idolatries'. This confirms the background of his readers. The force of demonic religion was clearly particularly prevalent in this area. And that is why he has written as he has in order to demonstrate Christ's victory over these evil forces.