1 Peter 4:12-19: A Life of Suffering

Welcome back to our study of I Peter...thank you, Matthew, for the last two sessions!

Goal for tonight is to learn what suffering is, what to expect from it, and how to endure it

Let’s review our theme verse...I Peter 4.19...which is included in tonight’s passage...
Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Keep working on it...it takes time and repetition to memorize something...you can do it!
Now we’ll turn to our text for tonight...I Peter 4.12-19...SLIDES let’s stand in honor of God’s word

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And
“If the righteous is scarcely saved,
  what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Let me set the stage here for a moment...you’ll recall that suffering is the primary theme of this book, the letter Peter writes to the dispersed believers of Asia Minor...Peter sees that the church was entering a season of suffering that would test the very foundation of their faith...history recounts that indeed, some fell away during the persecutions of the late first and into the third centuries...in the ESV translation, Peter uses some form of the word “suffer” eighteen times in this rather short letter, more than double the number of uses in any other NT book...the next closest is Hebrews, with eight occurrences...the apostle wants to prepare the church for what he knows is coming...and as is sometimes the case, I think he's writing somewhat to himself...he had suffered for Christ for almost thirty years, and it was likely clear to him that he would die before for his faith within the next few years...he knew what lay ahead of him, for he knew Jesus’s words of prophecy to him just before Jesus’s ascension in John 21.18-19, and he knew they would soon be fulfilled...

Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

So as we read this passage tonight, and actually the entire book, remember that it’s being written by a man who knew what it meant to suffer...and knew how to endure it for Jesus...so let’s learn from the Holy Spirit and Peter how to respond to suffering 

The Nature of Suffering            4.12
Peter begins this short passage with a sort of prelude...4.12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you 

As we begin, let’s focus on two things: “Beloved” and “fiery trial” --- “beloved” is a reference you might expect from Peter, considering his love for these believers...but the English phrase “fiery trial” is unexpected...he has discussed suffering throughout the letter so far, but this is the first time he’s described it in such a vivid way...the Gr word is ‘pyrosis,’ a noun which translators turn into two English words, to fully translate it...the other two uses are closely related, both appearing in Revelation 18, where the word is translated simply “burning,” there describing the destruction of Babylon...twice it’s said that even at a distance people could see the “smoke of her burning”

The thought here is a “burning ordeal” – a situation so painful and difficult that it’s difficult to imagine...if you’ve ever suffered a burn of any sort, even a sunburn, you know how incredibly painful burns are...but it isn’t just suffering, it’s also a test... when it comes upon you to test you

The word here is very contextual...it is about equally translated as “temptation” and “test” or “trial” – in the Lord’s prayer, it’s the word that’s used in the phrase “...lead us not into temptation...” but here the sense is not enticement to evil, but God using this ordeal of suffering to prove what is in us as believers...a similar word is used to describe Jesus’s testing of Philip at the feeding of the five thousand, when he asked Philip, “where are we to buy bread...”

The uncomfortable truth is this: sometimes God brings tests to us, or uses circumstances to test us, to show us what is really in us...He already knows, but the experience is for our learning...can you remember a time when God used a situation, and your response in it taught you something about yourself?

We could all give some biblical examples...David as he spares Saul’s life in the cave (I Sam 24), Moses when God tells him to take His word to Pharaoh, Abraham as he was called to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Moriah; and maybe most telling, Peter in the courtyard of the high priest on the night of Jesus’s arrest...

The point is that the fiery ordeal that will put us to the test is coming...perhaps in persecution, perhaps not...but it will reveal who we really are, the actual nature of our walk with Christ...will we pass that test?

Our Response to Suffering
Now let’s examine how we are to respond to these coming times of suffering and testing...

Don’t be surprised

 I Peter 4.12-14
See verse 12...the Holy Spirit through the pen of Peter is telling us now, the time of testing is approaching...it was common in Peter’s day and becoming more so as the first century drew to a close...perhaps it is less likely today, but as in Peter’s day, the intensity and frequency of harassment, ostracism, and eventually persecution seems to be rising in recent years...we should not be caught unawares, beloved...in Luke 21.17, Jesus warns His followers to expect opposition as the times become darker... You will be hated by all for my name's sake. As Peter writes, such adversity won’t be strange or unexpected...it should be something for which we are prepared and ready...and part of that is knowing it’s on its way

Rejoice

Peter writes, 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 

This is another example of the paradoxical nature of our faith...when we die, then we live...the foolishness of the Gospel shames the wisdom of the world...in our weakness, we are strong (I Corinthians 12.10)...now Peter tells us that as we suffer, we should rejoice...

There are many reasons why, but let me offer one tonight...we can rejoice as we suffer for Christ because in that suffering, we are following after Him, identifying with Him, for He suffered before us...that’s one of the fundamental messages of this letter, and the one to which Peter devotes the most attention as he writes

Because Jesus suffered, as we walk in His Spirit, so we will suffer, as well...for the life that was and is in Him, is now in us, too...Paul speaks to this connection with Christ in Romans 8
Romans 8.11  If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

The life we now live today is given to us by the Spirit, the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead...He dwells in us...and because He dwells in us, people around us can see Him as we walk in obedience to the Word of God and in genuine love toward others...as we live this life in such a different way from the people around us, as we live the way Jesus lived, we have to expect that the world will respond to us as it responded to Him: with curiosity at first, then disapproval, then anger, then rage...when we push back against the world system simply by living for Jesus, the world will push back...that system can’t tolerate those who belong to Him...Jesus tells His disciples in John 15.18  “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 
Jesus, through His life and His teaching, drew the wrath of the world...if we will examine the Scripture to see what that teaching was, here’s what we’ll find: 

There is an Almighty God, and He is the Maker of heaven and earth

Mankind is not God, but instead is accountable to God 

God is our righteous and sovereign King, and we are His subjects, whether we acknowledge that now or later

There is eternal life and happiness for those who turn to Him in faith, turning away from themselves and their sins, and they will know life with Jesus and others who love Him, always experiencing His love and presence, in a place that I Corinthians 2.9 describes this way: “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
  nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”

But for those who reject God, who insist on living for sin and self, who wish to live a self-directed life instead of a God-directed life, who seek glory for self, there will be a just and eternal punishment, separated from God and all that is good, terrible beyond our wildest imaginations

That message was so intolerable to the world that eventually they killed Jesus for it...so when the world responds to you with censure and condemnation, rejoice, for that’s a sign that they see in you what the world saw in Jesus...and what a commendation that is!

And that joy is made complete when His glory is revealed – Gr ‘apokalypsis’ – when the Father pulls the veil of this world back and we see Him for who He really is in all His wonder and beauty...something like what John experienced in Revelation chapter 1 seeing the risen Christ...

Be Blessed

Peter continues that same thought in verse 14: 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 

 As Matthew mentioned last week, there is little evidence for Christians in Peter’s day enduring life-threatening persecution...but they certainly were increasingly judged and ostracized and “cancelled” in our language today...and as Peter says here, insulted...in fact, the very word, “Christian,” was originally meant as a slur or insult...

But Peter encourages the believers to take a different attitude toward the insults of the world...we are to recognize once again that if the world sees the Spirit of Christ living in us, and rejects us for that reason, then we are to consider ourselves blessed, or happy...that’s proof that the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you – when you experience adversity and struggles because of Christ, we need not be sad...be encouraged, for you are being a true witness for your Lord...

And as we walk faithfully before Jesus, loving Him more than we love the world, then we have a sure and certain hope, eternal life with Christ, life which we can just begin to glimpse in the pages of Scripture...Paul reminds us in Romans 8.18  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. ...as the old hymn says, “the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace...” 

But Peter makes clear that our fitness for heaven is linked to our faithfulness here, even in the face of suffering...Charles Spurgeon makes that point well...”There are no crown-wearers in heaven who were not cross-bearers here below.”

P.S. One word of warning...

I Peter 4.15-16
Peter warns his readers again, as he did in 2.20 and 3.17, not to suffer for doing evil...he didn’t want them to think there was virtue in suffering for any reason...there is only credit, as Peter says it, if you suffer for doing good...he makes the point again here... But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. In fact, not only is there no credit for suffering for sin, it defames the name of Jesus when we sin and suffer for it, especially when it is a public sin...the first two words are clear...they mean exactly what you think they mean...”evildoer” is just that, a person who does evil, but especially someone who deserves to be punished...what’s interesting is that Peter puts “meddling” in the same group as murder, theft, and general wickedness...this Gr word is another single-use word, only appearing here in the NT...it means to be a busybody, to spend time and energy getting involved in other people’s affairs, where it’s none of their business, for no good reason...a nosy, meddling person...the first three descriptions aren’t surprising, but we might not always understand the damage a meddler can do...closely connected to gossip, meddling can be especially damaging to a fellowship, and is a serious sin...beware, church, of becoming inappropriately involved in the affairs of others...and there is no value at all in suffering for sin...

Now after that brief warning, Peter returns to the theme of suffering for Christ...let’s review for a moment our response to suffering...we are to not be surprised by it, to rejoice as we share in our Lord’s suffering, and consider ourselves blessed if we are called to suffer for Him...now we learn more from the apostle...
Don’t be ashamed

We need not be ashamed...how could we possibly be ashamed of our Lord Jesus, who gave His life so that we might be delivered from our sin and guilt and shame? Peter says in verse 16, 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 

Why are we not to be ashamed of Jesus? It’s obvious...He is the righteous and holy God of the universe, He is our Lord and King, He is the lover of our souls...why would we possibly be ashamed of Him? But then as now, the world will try, through their mockery and ridicule, to make us back up from our faith, to silence us when we should speak, to make us ashamed of Jesus...don’t let them win that fight...stand firm in your faith and in your conviction of the truth of the Gospel...Jesus takes this matter seriously...listen to Mark 8.38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Our message to the world is a good one, a godly one, the only message that can bring them life...Romans 1.16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 
And even though it makes no sense to be ashamed of our Lord, we still need these warnings and the encouragement we read in the Word and we receive from others, like II Timothy 1.8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
So don’t be ashamed, believer – stand firm for the Gospel and share in His sufferings...

Instead, 

Glorify God

I Peter 4.15-16
It’s one thing to endure suffering if and when it comes...and it’s important to not ever be ashamed of the Gospel...but how can we positively glorify God in our suffering? As Peter says in the last half of verse 16, but let him glorify God in that name. 

In short, suffer like Jesus...endure adversity and pain as He did...be faithful when you’re insulted, harassed, ostracized, and excluded...persevere when you want to give up...be courageous when your flesh wants to fear people...be forgiving when your flesh wants to strike back...picture Jesus during His betrayal, arrest, trial, and crucifixion, and strive by the Holy Spirit’s power to live as He did, to follow the example of the One who said in John 12.28, “Father, glorify Your Name”

Judgment Begins
Now Peter turns from suffering for Christ to the judgment of Christ...– I Peter 4.17-19

17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And
“If the righteous is scarcely saved,
  what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

I trust verse 17 does not surprise you...both the OT and the NT teach that God will judge all according to their works...

Jeremiah 17.10 “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

II Corinthians 5.10 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

We are not saved by our works, but by grace through faith in the atoning death of Jesus Christ...and because we are His, redeemed by His blood, we will not be condemned, according to Romans 8.1...and that would be enough, wouldn’t it? But the Father has determined that He will also reward believers for their works...we will indeed experience judgment, but not unto perdition, but for works done for Christ...(see I Corinthians 3.10-15)

So judgment will begin with us...and as Proverbs 11.31 says, quoted by Peter, if the righteous are scarcely saved, what of those who will not believe, those who, as Peter says, do not obey the gospel of God? They will face a judgment that is difficult to imagine...we see it in Revelation 20.11, the great white throne judgment...

Judgment is a reality for all people...if you know the Lord now, live for Him, that He may see and reward your works...if you do not know Him, seek Him while He yet may be found...
For believers, Peter’s advice has been our theme verse from the beginning of this series...now that we’ve finally arrived at its place in the text, let’s take a closer look...

Entrust your souls
– I Peter 4.19
19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Based on all we’ve learned in this letter so far, we need to really learn this truth...”those who suffer” will include us, and when the Lord brings a fiery trial to each of us, let us acknowledge His sovereignty authority to bring into our lives any experience He sees fit to us for our good and His glory, even if it involves our suffering...may we know that what comes our way is indeed God’s will and may He help us to see His hand in it...

In that moment, what will be our response? We will entrust our souls – our very lives – to Him, not focusing on the circumstances or the adversity, but on our faithful God...to entrust ourselves to Him is an act of faith...we don’t know what will come our way in this life, but we can make the decision now that whatever comes, we will entrust our souls to Jesus...our faithful Creator, who is in control of all things and events, across all time and space...

So what remains for us? To do good...continue to rely on the Spirit as we walk through each day, seeking ways to love others in Jesus’ Name, not growing weary in well-doing, but instead having our strength renewed by our loving Lord...may it be so!