‘Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, you arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that you no longer live the rest of your time in the flesh to the desires of men, but to the will of God.'
Peter now specifically applies his words in terms reminiscent of Romans 6:3-4. Inasmuch as Jesus has suffered in the flesh, in other words has died (1 Peter 3:18), they too are to arm themselves with the same mind and are to see themselves as dead with Him, for then they will cease from sin. They are to recognise that dead men do not sin. So as those who are dead to the world they are no longer to live the remainder of their lives according to human desires but according to God's will.
Thus Jesus' suffering unto death is to be the basis of our future lives. We too must recognise that we have died with Him (Galatians 2:20). We too must deny ourselves, take up the cross and follow Him (Matthew 16:24-26). And furthermore we must suffer and die on it. Then, having been made alive by God, we can live in newness of life. For those who have set their minds on Christ, bringing their minds in subjection to Him (arming their minds - compare Ephesians 6:10-18), have died to the normal course of human life and its desires, while those who are alive in the spirit seek only the will of God (Romans 7:25). And part of the thought here is that they are to see any future suffering as a part of this process (1 Peter 1:7).