60. If We must Suffer

If We must Suffer, Suffer for Christ

When we first began the series on 1 Peter, in the very first sermon it was declared that 1 Peter is a deeply theological book. There is no other letter that comes close to mentioning God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit as often as Peter does. Not only does Peter address theology but addresses our right response to such great truths. They are worth living for and they are worth dying for. Peter addresses the doctrine of man, of salvation, adoption, the church and membership in it, and the proclamation of the gospel,

In this section of Scripture, we have been looking at what Peter is teaching regarding the proper way we are to accept suffering. We are to rejoice in undeserved suffering, and what suffering is that? It is that suffering we endure for confessing Christ as Lord. Peter says we are blessed in our fiery trials so that Peter specifically means that suffering solely for our love of Christ.

1Pe 4:12-19  Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;  (13)  but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.  (14)  If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.  (15)  But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters.  (16)  Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.  (17)  For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?  (18)  Now "IF THE RIGHTEOUS ONE IS SCARCELY SAVED, WHERE WILL THE UNGODLY AND THE SINNER APPEAR?"  (19)  Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

The Wrong Reasons for Suffering

Who is Peter writing to?

This may seem like a very simple question to answer, and it is. Peter is speaking to Christians, in local churches, throughout the region on Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. Who or what is a Christian? The answer to the question who is that person whom God has called before the foundation of the world that we be holy and blameless before and predestined to adoption. Eph 1:3,4 Who by the grace of God through a faith which has its origin as a gift from God and not derived in or from fallen man or woman is saved from the future wrath of God. That saving faith has as its object the Lord Jesus Christ who fulfilled all the requirements of the Law in His complete obedience to the Law and suffering the wrath of God on the cross for our disobedience. This salvation occurs on God’s predetermined day and as a result, the fruit of faith is displayed from the child of God having been made a new creature, the old has passed away behold new things have come. As a new creature we are no longer under the dominion of sin. Sin is no longer the Christian’s master, no longer dead in trespasses and sins but made alive together with Christ. Gal 2:20  "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me. With this in mind let us look at the negative command given.

The Negative Command Given - But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.

Each person is addressed in relation to the whole.

Sins Forbidden (Two Classes) that are set apart by the word ‘as’

First we have those by which we are Legally Liable

As a Murderer takes a life

A Thief takes the means of sustaining life

An Evil Doer takes the peace of living quietly within the law. The evildoer could also be translated as criminal, including all criminal activity.

These crimes were punishable by imprisonment and death in the Roman empire just like the crime of confessing Christ as Lord. Only suffering persecution and dying for our Christian profession is praiseworthy in the sight of our God.

Non-legally Liable

As a busybody NKJV KJV, translated as meddler in other’s matter ESV, NASB.

The Greek word literally means overseeing other people’s affairs. Negatively to mean that one who has no authority inserting themselves into the affairs of another. Because this is the only place in Scripture this is used it is difficult to pin down the exact scope of the word. But the general consensus is one who busies himself/herself with what does not concern him or her; that is, one who pries into the affairs of another; who attempts to control or direct them as if they were his/her own. There is Scriptural prohibition against such activity.

2Th 3:1-11  Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you;  (2)  and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith.  (3)  But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.  (4)  And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.  (5)  And may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.  (6)  Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep aloof from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us.  (7)  For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you,  (8)  nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we might not be a burden to any of you;  (9)  not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, that you might follow our example.  (10)  For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone will not work, neither let him eat.  (11)  For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.

The implication is that it is a negative to act like a busybody.

1Ti 5:13  And at the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention.

The Point is this. Suffering for our sinful behavior is not the same as suffering for Jesus. They do not imitate the sufferings of Christ in suffering for doing the will of God. God is not honored in this kind of suffering and we are to honor God in all that we do, whatever the consequence is pursuing that is; we do not look for suffering persecution but we should not shrink back from it up to and including death. For the Christian to suffer for such wrongdoing should be shameful. Though Peter means to use the contrast in actual murder, thievery and evil doing as worthy of death vs that of suffering for our Christian faith we know that from the law of God that whatever negative command is given the positive is inferred. The command of Thou shalt not murder has greater meaning than to not kill but means that we are to uphold and protect life. Not only should we not steal but we are to show care for the possessions of others. It should cause our faces to flush red in humiliation for our sin and for dishonoring the name of Christ.

My hope is that some of you are asking yourselves, ‘How, if your definition is correct of who and what is a Christian, is it possible for one to commit such sin? And it should fill you with not a little fear that Christians are capable of such sin. It should fill you with a lot of fear that you are capable of such sin.

We have all heard Christians committing scandalous sin. The divorce rate among Christians is nearly as high as that of non-Christians. There is certainly a reason for those divorces. How many were because of divorces? We have heard of many well-known professing Christians who went to jail for sins committed. No one is above it and as soon as you think you are you are in danger.

This should sound to us as the ringing of the bell of warning of impending danger. Not just these sins but all sin. Mat 26:41  "Keep watching and praying, that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Keep watching and praying. The intention is to keep watching over ourselves, over our own hearts. Jesus said Mat 15:18-19  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.  (19)  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

In my own mind when I read this I think “I would never…’ but the reality is unless I keep watching and praying I might. When we consider how Jesus internalized the law, that it was no longer a matter of external, but it was also the inward attitude of the heart that we break God’s commands how often have we committed murder because we were angry with someone, or committed adultery by looking with lust at someone, or coveted what someone else had? All that comes from the heart and though we are not liable legally to civil government who wants to sin like that before the Lord God who knows the innermost parts of our heart?

But I point us back to Matt. 15:18,19 It is from the heart these things originate and it is but a short step to commission.

Jas 1:14-15  But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.  (15)  Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

In the book of Joshua we have the story of Achan. The people of Israel went out against a small town after destroying Jericho and they were defeated. The reason they were defeated was because God had put a ban on taking things that were devoted to destruction. Eventually it was revealed that he had broken the ban and his response on why he took it is a picture of how we come to sin.

Jos 7:21  When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. And there they are, hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, with the silver under it."

Lay hold of the means of grace that God has provided for our sanctification. Faithful intake of the word of God it in hearing it preached, the reading and study of it, memorization and meditation of it, fellowship of believers, faithful submission to the one who God has entrusted your souls to oversee. Verse 15 speaks of one who has no such authority but seeks to insert themselves into the affairs of others. But chapter 5 begins with those who do. 1Pe 5:1-5  The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:  (2)  Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;  (3)  nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;  (4)  and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.  (5)  Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE."

The Right Reasons for Suffering – suffering as a Christian v16

Right Theology if anyone suffers as a Christian

The word Christian is a term coined by pagans to describe believers. It literally means Christ like or little Christ. It was not meant as a term of endearment but one of derision. To suffer as a Christian means that theology concerning Christ was right. In the Roman Empire there could only one lord, Caesar. Warren Wiersbe explains it this way "Roman law required each citizen to pledge his loyalty to the emperor. Once a year, the citizen would put a pinch of incense on the proper altar and say, “Caesar is Lord!” But the Christian confesses that “Jesus Christ is Lord!” Believers refused to bow before Caesar. Sometimes the Roman official would write the name of Christ on the ground or on a wall and ask the Christian to spit on it. If the Christian refused, he or she would be arrested, tried, and perhaps killed. By bearing the name of Christ (Christian), they were put to shame before their friends. But what a glorious name to bear! It is a name higher than any other.

Human nature seeks to avoid unnecessary suffering and seeks to protect it’s life. A lie is not something people die for and Christians throughout history have set aside this natural tendency of survival for the Lord Jesus. Who He is and what He has done and the truth of it means more to the believer than his own life.

Right Living

We see this as the positive response to the negative in verse 15. Just as Christ explained God Joh 1:18  No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. Every act of Christ in His earthly ministry was an explanation of the Father. His obedience, His compassion, His mercy; as Jesus so the Father, as the Father so Jesus.

Every act of obedience, every act of compassion, mercy, and grace shown in the name of Christ is a reflection of Him in us. As we have seen in 1Pe 4:1-11  Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,  (2)  so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.  (3)  For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousals, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.  (4)  And in all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excess of dissipation, and they malign you;  (5)  but they shall give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.  (6)  For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.  (7)  The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.  (8)  Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.  (9)  Be hospitable to one another without complaint.  (10)  As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  (11)  Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Right living in relation to sin and the world - live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God

Right living in proclamation of the gospel - ) For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.

Right living in relation to one another – prayer, love for one another, hospitality, use of gifts in serving one another.

Right Response – let him not feel ashamed but glorify God in that name. The name of Christ.

Glorifying God means showing by your actions and attitudes that God is glorious to you — that he is valuable, precious, desirable, satisfying. And the greatest way to show that someone satisfies your heart is to keep on rejoicing in them when all other supports for your satisfaction are falling away. When you keep rejoicing in God in the midst of suffering, it shows that God, and not other things, is the great source of your joy. We glorify God in His faithful care of our soul in and through the work of Christ on our behalf and applied to us by the Holy Spirit. We rejoice in it, because of this work, the world sees Jesus in us. As a result of that the world naturally hates us because it hated Christ first. If we suffer for His name sake it is a testimony of the mighty working if God transforming, conforming us to the image of His beloved Son. The Apostles rejoiced after they had been flogged by the Pharisees for preaching Jesus because they were counted worthy of suffering for His name sake. Should that time ever come for us it is my prayer that we too would rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer in the name of Jesus.