1 Peter 4:12-19 - How to Respond When You Suffer for Christ
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Introduction
Introduction
[The Burning of Rome by Hubert Robert]
The main subject of Peter’s letter is how to walk with Christ in the midst of suffering.
In 1 Peter 1:6, Peter mentions that his readers “have been distressed by various trials”.
In 1 Peter 2:12, he mentions them being slandered as evil doers.
In 1 Peter 2:19, he implies that they have been suffering unjustly.
In 1 Peter 2:21, he says that they should follow the example of the suffering Christ in their own suffering.
In 1 Peter 3:9, he says that they should return evil for evil or insult for insult, which indicates that they had received evil and insult.
In 1 Peter 3:14, he implies that they had been suffering for the sake of righteousness.
In 1 Peter 3:17, he says that it is better that they should suffer for doing right rather than doing wrong.
In 1 Peter 4:1, he speaks of Christ’s suffering in flesh and the suffering of his reader’s in the flesh, which indicates that they were truly dead to sin and living for God alone.
Some think that Peter wrote this letter just before or after the burning of Rome.
The Romans believed that Emperor Nero burned the city in ordered to replace what burned with what he wanted built.
Great temples, shrines, and idols were incinerated. Many died in the fires. And the people were furious.
To redirect their rage, Nero blamed the Christians.
Soon persecution against Christians broke out in Rome and then spread to other parts of the Roman Empire—places like Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia (1 Peter 1:1).
Peter tells us that he was writing from ‘Babylon,’ which may have been code for ‘Rome’ (1 Pet. 5:13).
If so, then Peter is writing to those starting to feel the fire of Roman persecution as one who is still in the flames of Roman persecution.
Perhaps this is why Peter said that the faith of his readers was being ‘tested by fire’ in 1 Peter 1:7.
And perhaps it explains why Peter describes this persecution as a ‘fiery ordeal’ in 1 Peter 4:12.
[INTER] How do we walk with the Christ in midst of the fiery ordeal, in the midst of the flames of persecution?
You might be thinking, “Rocky, I’m not being persecuted; why would this question be important to me?”
One, you are not being persecuted right now, but we never know when despot will incite persecution against Christians by blaming them for something they didn’t do.
Peter’s first readers weren’t always persecuted. But when persecution came, they had questions about how to follow Christ in it, so Peter wrote to them.
His letter helps prepare us for faithful obedience to Christ amidst persecution should it ever come.
Two, Peter’s letter helps us to pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world who are daily living in the fiery ordeal.
Sometimes all we know to pray for is their safety, but Peter words instruct to us pray that they would continue to be people of prayer (1 Pet. 4:7), people of love (1 Pet. 4:8), people of hospitality (1 Pet. 4:9), and people of service (1 Pet 4:10) as they endure persecution.
That’s what we learned from Peter’s words last week in 1 Peter 4:7-11.
[PROP] Tonight, in 1 Peter 4:12-19, we learn that in the fiery ordeal, we should keep on rejoicing, glorify God in the name of Christ, and entrust our souls to a faithful Creator.
Major Ideas
Major Ideas
#1: Keep On Rejoicing (1 Peter 4:12-13)
#1: Keep On Rejoicing (1 Peter 4:12-13)
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.
Q. Take a moment and slowly read through vv. 12-13 again. I’m not looking for anything specific, but what is something that leaps out at you?
The likelihood of fiery trials.
“Don’t be surprised… as though something strange were happening to you” (v. 12)
The comprehensiveness of fiery trials.
“among you… upon you… to you” (v. 12)
The purpose of fiery trials.
“for your testing” (v. 12; cf. 1 Pet. 1:6-7)
6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
The fellowship of fiery trials.
“to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ,” (v. 13)
Many other Scriptures speak of our sharing in Christ’s sufferings as we suffer for faithfulness to Christ, but those same Scriptures also speak of our sharing in His glory, His comfort, and His resurrection life.
In Romans 8:17, the Bible says we are children of God…
17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
In 2 Corinthians 1:5, the Bible says...
5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.
In 2 Cor 4:10, it says that suffering believers are…
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
And in Philippians 3:10-11, it says that Christians have been declared righteous on the basis of faith so…
10 that (we) may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that (we) may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Peter is saying the same thing in 1 Peter 3:13: if we share in the sufferings of Christ, we can keep on rejoicing, because we know that we will also share in His glory when He comes again.
Q. What would you say is the opposite of joy or rejoicing?
The opposite of joy might be anger or despair.
The opposite of rejoicing might be slander, complaining, or anxiety.
In midst of a fiery trial, actions like slander, complaining, or anxiety come naturally.
However, rejoicing in the midst of our trials is supernatural response enable by the Spirit of Christ living within us.
[ILLUS] We need look no further than Peter for an example of this.
When Jesus revealed His suffering to Peter, Peter responded in his flesh by saying that would never happen.
But when Peter and the other Apostles were persecuted for preaching about the death and resurrection of Jesus, Acts 5:41 says…
41 So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.
In our flesh we say, “No way!” to suffering for Christ, but in the Spirit we rejoice.
[APP] This ought to be our aim as we rely on the Holy Spirit: to rejoice when we are given the honor of suffering for Christ.
We shouldn’t be surprised by it.
We should understand that God is using it to bring Him glory.
We should look forward to sharing in that glory when Christ comes again.
And we should keep on rejoicing.
#2: Glorify God in the Name of Christ (1 Peter 4:14-16)
#2: Glorify God in the Name of Christ (1 Peter 4:14-16)
14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.
Q. Again take a moment to read over those verses slowly. What is highlighted in your mind as you consider Peter’s words?
An evidence of salvation.
“If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you,” (1 Pet. 4:14).
This evidence and assurance of salvation—to be enabled by the Holy Spirit to endure with Christ through suffering for Christ—is a great blessing.
A familiar theme.
“Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler, but… as a Christian,” (1 Pet. 4:15).
A troublesome meddler may have been an agitator who stirred up citizens to rebel against the government.
But in other places in this letter, Peter also warned against suffering for doing wrong…
19 For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.
Q. In 1 Peter 4:16, Peter says that when we suffer as Christians, we are not to be ashamed, but are to continue to glorify God in the name of Christ. This raises two questions: (1) Why might we be tempted toward shame if we suffer as a Christian? (2) And what does it look like to glorify God in the name of Christ?
(1) We might be tempted toward shame because persecution may make us feel that we are in the wrong even when we aren’t.
When Nero blamed Christians for the burning of Rome, Romans attacked them for a wrong they didn’t do.
Even so, they attack likely made them feel like outcasts who had something to be ashamed of.
Peter says when you suffer as a Christian, you have nothing to be ashamed of.
(2) We continue to glorify God in the name of Christ by proclaiming the message of Christ and living the way of Christ.
This means we tell the world the truth about who Jesus is, what He did, and what He will do.
He is the Son of God who lived, died, and rose to save us from the eternal death our sins deserved.
And He will return from heaven to execute His judgment on all those who refuse to follow Him.
[ILLUS] Before the Apostles rejoiced in Acts 5:41, Peter and John were arrested and commanded to speak no more in the name of Jesus.
But when all the believers heard about this threat, they prayed. Acts 4:31 says…
31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.
[APP] When we are persecuted for living for Christ, our response ought not to be shame, but a prayerful dependence on the Holy Spirit so that we can live with even greater boldness for Christ.
#3: Entrust Your Soul to a Faithful Creator (1 Peter 4:17-19).
#3: Entrust Your Soul to a Faithful Creator (1 Peter 4:17-19).
17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? 19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.
Q. As you consider Peter’s words in these verses, what would say his point is?
Peter’s point that God uses persecution to purify and cleans the household of God, i.e., the church, but the judgment to come on those who disobey the Gospel will be far worse than a fiery trial; the judgment of God on unbelievers will culminate in a lake of fire.
No matter what fiery ordeal believers go through for the sake of Christ, we can trust that God is using it to purify us, and we can trust that this is as close to the lake of fire as we will ever get.
Q. Look at v. 18 where Peter quotes from the Greek translation of Proverbs 11:31. What do you think it means that is with only great difficulty that the righteous are saved?
A few passages come to mind to help us understand this...
23 And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 “Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” 26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
21 After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”
If living for Christ on earth means tribulation for believers, what will rejecting Christ mean for the godless sinner in eternity to come?
Verse 19 is the end of the matter...
19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.
Doing what is right as we follow Christ is what we must do.
If we suffer for it, we keep rejoicing, continue to glorify God in the name of Christ, and entrust ourselves to our Creator.
He made us in His image.
He made us new by His grace.
Through the persecution He allows to come our way, He is making us into the image of His beloved Son.
Conclusion
Conclusion
