1 Peter - Part 28 - 4:12-19

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Suffering

Last time we were in 1 Peter, we saw that for Christians not only is there a certain way that we are to conduct ourselves in how we live, but there are also behaviors that we should expect to encounter from pagans and atheists and in fact all who are enemies of God. We should expect to be hated - we should expect to suffer. For many decades now modern evangelicalism in America has taught the exact opposite, saying that we can dance on this razor’s edge of pleasing God and pleasing man and win people over. Sure not everyone may get on board but we’ll at least get some if we just act sensitively towards seekers. But here’s the problem my friends. While much of modern evangelicalism is I believe well-intentioned, it is not well-informed. God reminds us through Paul in that no one seeks God, not one. Man of his own nature and will does not seek God - rather God seeks man, chooses man, and saves man. Rather than trying to cozy up to those who by their nature hate God we should seek first to love and obey God, then to love our neighbors by sharing with them the truth. And if we do that - if we do what God says in His word, if we declare what He has declared - then we will be hated and we will suffer. We don’t like that idea very much. We don’t like suffering or pain or being hated. But may I suggest that rather than running from the inevitable that we learn to embrace what God has allowed that He may be glorified and men may be saved? Let’s Pray.
Father as we approach your word this morning I pray that you will open our eyes to see and our ears to hear. Helps us to understand what you have seen fit to give us through your servant and our brother Peter. We deal once again with hard words that we don’t like. We don’t want to suffer and we certainly don’t ask for pain or hardship - we ask that you would bless us that we may bless others to your glory. But Father help us to embrace the suffering when it comes, not to curse misfortune or blame you as though you could be guilty of doing us wrong. Instead Father helps us to see how even in our hardships and times of trial and suffering that we can still glorify you and praise your Holy Name. Encourage us to that end we pray - in Jesus name, Amen.
1 Peter 4:12–19 ESV
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. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 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? And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
Peter reminds us once again not to be surprised when bad things happen or when hardships come. He uses a very vivid description here saying - fiery trials will come upon us to test us. My friends we have such a poor understanding of testing. We look at that word and we think of the tests we did in school growing up which were done for the benefit of the institutions who do the testing, not for the student. But that’s not how the trials and testings of God work. God does not administer tests as a teacher or professor does, to discover what if anythings the students have learned. There is no information that God lacks which He must seek to aquire through some type of metric measuring system or ordeal. God does not allow or ordain testing to gain something He does not possess. So why the testing then? Why such trials and ordeals at all? Who do such things benefit? The answer is quite simple - us. We benefit and learn through testing and trial. We grow through the stresses and stretching of the ordeal. No human being can grow or learn without suffering and struggle. It is not possible. We’ve tried to say it’s not so and our own culture thrives on trying to remove all struggle and hardship and difficulty and ordeal and it has been to our great detriment. We want to seem intelligent without studying, successful without sacrificing, and popular without actually spending time with real people. We want to be wealthy without having to work, we want to reform without actually changing, and we want to be well toned without actually ever hitting the gym and changing our diet. Don’t believe me? Do you remember the thigh master? How about the shake weight? What about the Slendertone? All products insinuating that you can have excellent results if you buy their product that takes the actual work out of working out. We have diet pills, companies that will print you a phony diploma, self-help guides of every stripe, and books on how you too can get rich quick. My friends there’s no such thing as success without struggle. There’s no such thing as growth without suffering. It does not happen. It is an illusion peddled by charlatans. Christian growth is no different. If you want to grow - you must suffer and struggle. The tests and trials you go through, aren’t for God’s benefit, they’re for yours.
And Peter says that when such trials and hardships come that because of who we are and what we know we may rejoice. How? Because we can see the end game. While all around us people are crying woe is me - we can see God’s glory being revealed in big ways and small ways. We can see it God’s foreordained planning and in His provision in small matters. We can see little bits of glory being revealed in the midst of trouble, while others cannot. That doesn’t mean it’s easy, that doesn’t mean this comes naturally or that this attitude takes no effort - but we are able to rejoice when we suffering, especially for the name of Christ, because we are sharing something that our savior experienced. We are participating in something that he knew full well. Peter even says that in being insulted for the name of Christ that we are blessed. What our enemies intend for evil our God purposes for good and uses in amazing ways to bring glory to Himself and good to His people.
But note something very important here. Peter distinguishes between Christians suffering for the name of Christ and doing good versus people claiming Christ yet doing wrong receiving the due punishment of their bad behavior. You cannot commit a sin and then ask God why bad things are happening to you - yet this happens all the time. A person abusing medication gets addicted to it and arrested and they ask God why - yet the reason is very obvious - he should not have abused the medication to begin with. A young woman sleeping with her boyfriend gets pregnant and has to drop out of school and asks God why - yet the answer is very plain to see - she should not have been having sex since she wasn’t married. A man cheats on his wife with a younger woman and gets caught which destroys his family in an ugly divorce, and he asks God why - yet the answer is clear as crystal - he should not have been having sex with anyone other than his wife. We ask God why so often, not for suffering for doing good deeds and obeying Christ, but rather for our disobedience. My friends don’t do that. When you suffer because you sinned, when you suffer because you chose to act against the word, the will, and the way of God - don’t ask God why? You know why! You are receiving in the flesh the immediate consequences of your own decisions. Instead of asking God why - how about asking God for forgiveness as well as anyone else that you wronged?
Peter distinguishes between suffering for wrong doing and suffering as a Christian, suffering for doing what is right. And Peter says if you suffer for doing what’s right, you don’t have to be ashamed. You don’t have to hide your face or cover your eyes - because you in suffering for Christ are glorifying his holy name.
Peter continues by giving a warning. He says that judgment is coming. We’ve all heard that from many preachers before. But Peter says something very specific about the judgment that’s coming. He says it doesn’t begin with all the pagans and atheists and evil doers in the world. No God’s judgment begins at the household of God - it begins with the Church. God is going to begin His judgment of mankind by cleaning house and separating the chosen few from the church pews. Does that surprise you? Did you think that just coming here every Sunday meant you were good with God? Did you think nibbling a cracker and tossing back a shot of grape juice got you off the hook? No my friends you must be cleansed by Christ in order to be saved. And the very real, ugly truth of it is that there are a great many people sitting in church pews in America every Sunday morning that have never been cleansed, they have never been converted and when judgment comes beginning with the church they will be very surprised by what happens. God’s judgment begins with God’s house. But it doesn’t end there.
Peter says if it begins with the church, how much worse do you think it’s going to be for those outside of His house? How weighty the judgment, how righteous the sentence to come on those outside the church who rebelled against God with every breath, who hated Christ with every word, who disobeyed Him with every action and thought? Peter uses paraphrasing and illustrating from it saying, “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” There is naught hope for those who are not coming unto Christ - there is only the expectation of a fearful and fiery judgment. Do not take this lightly - this is a warning to both Christian and non-Christian alike. God will not be mocked.
Do not take Christ’s sacrifice for granted. Don’t belittle his blood spilt and body broken. For those of you who are not Christians don’t presume upon God’s grace expecting that you are granted tomorrow. Repent of your sins, believe in Jesus, throw yourself upon His mercy and grace. Trust Him fully and completely. And Peter says if you will do so - you will know that even in times of trouble and hardship that your soul is entrusted to our faithful Creator. My friends is there anyone you could trust more than the one who loved you enough to die in place of you, paying your spiritual debt and washing you clean of your sins? No - there is no one that can be trusted more. And I urge you dear friends to trust in Christ Jesus today. If you have never done that before and you would like to make that profession and confession today come forward as we stand and sing.
Peter says therefore, let those
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