Sharing in Christ's Sufferings: A Call to Endure

Are you familiar with the story of redemption? We don’t often use the word redemption even though it is a central part of the Christian story.

Redemption is the act of liberation or deliverance from bondage, used mainly in the context of salvation. It is the release from bondage by an outside person buying back what or who is in bondage. Redemption is related to atonement and salvation but it is not the same. To redeem a person, the price has to be paid for that redemption.

The price that God paid was the suffering of His Son which ended with the death on the cross. That is the price that Jesus paid for all those the Father calls. Because of our fallen state, because we were in bondage to sin, in order to bring us out of that state of sinfulness and back into God’s family, God had to pay the price.

Jesus chose to suffer so that the price of our redemption could be paid. His own suffering lead to the culmination of redemption. That is the story of redemption. However, since we have been called to follow in Christ’s footsteps, we are also called to follow in His suffering which also becomes a part of the redemption story for others to see.

I hope you have your Bibles with you. Please turn to 1 Peter 4:12-19 and follow along as I read.

1 Peter 4:12–19 LSB

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you. 13 But to the degree you are sharing the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are insulted 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 put to shame, but is to glorify God in this name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the house 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 must entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing good.

Do you enjoy being here? I am not asking if you are ok being here; if you think you should be and that is ok with you. I am not asking if you are even happy being here. What I want you to ask yourself and answer for yourself is; do you have joy being here in God’s house; in God’s presence. Do you find that coming here helps to bring you joy?

If you have answered yes, then why would we experience sufferings in our lives?

1. Embrace Expected Trials

As a follower of Christ, there should not be any surprise that we have trials.

We have been told throughout the NT that we will face trials; that various types of trials will come our way. We also know these trials come upon as a means of testing.

We have been lulled by the idea of the American Dream. Come to America and dream and that dream can be yours. However, that dream has been twisted into the idea that if you come to America, you then deserve to be given whatever you want.

It is presented as a buffet table of all the possible comforts that this world can provide. You are now an American and no longer need to work, or earn what is rightfully yours.

The Declaration of Independence declares that we have certain inalienable rights. The Constitution commands the government to protect those rights. But too many have lied to the public and sold us the idea that we have many more rights now. Free healthcare, free money, free food, free, free, free. So now people demand those supposed rights, without working or earning them.

This is the new American Dream that we see presented in all the main stream media today. And because of this new dream, no one should have to suffer in any way.

But the Bible teaches us that as followers of Christ, we will face trials, we will suffer for being a Christian. But suffering as a Christian or because you are a Christian is drastically different.

When we suffer because we follow Christ, we are being tested. In whom do you trust? Our slogan on our currency says, “In God We Trust”. When we suffer, we actually have the chance to be a witness for God.

John MacArthur said:

First, suffering brings believers closer to Christ.

John F. MacArthur

At the time of suffering, we might feel as if we are far from God, but it will always bring a Christian closer to God.

Though Peter doesn’t expressly say what trials will happen, putting this in his context, most Christians at the time would be thinking martyrdom. This letter was written while Peter was in Rome. At the time, soldiers would come and drag a family member out of the house. They would be taken, dipped in tar then hung on pole and lit on fire to provide light at parties hosted by Nero.

I think the understanding for us is that trials can be severe or not as severe; however, they are still meant as ways that we can glorify God, and be a part of the redemption story.

2. Reframe with Reverence

About the closest Peter comes in writing about any specific trial is being insulted.

The word translated into “insult” is more than just someone putting us down. It means to be reprimanded harshly or in a demeaning way for perceived or real faults. The word we would most be familiar with is slander which means to make false statements that damage a person’s reputation.

I think we can infer from this that being insulted means someone is making up stories about you that are not true or have any factual basis and spreading these around so that others start to think they might be true.

And the main reason this is done is because you are a Christian.

Believers who find themselves being slandered because of Christ are uniquely blessed by God. This goes against any health and welfare doctrine anyone has ever preached or taught. Being healthy, being wealthy aren’t signs of being godly. Being godly is shown by your actions, your conduct in good days and in bad days.

I am not preaching against health or wealth. I am not saying because you are healthy or wealthy, you are not a Christian. What I am saying is that regardless of your status in the world, how you conduct yourself in front of others demonstrates your level of love for God.

Part of the reason that Peter doesn’t go into a lot of specifics is because he doesn’t want us to pick and choose what trials we or another face. To be honest, it can be a trial to have money as well as to not have money. Someone with lots of money can sin just as easy as someone with barely any money.

Peter goes on in verse 15 to remind us that we are not to rejoice in suffering because of sin. When we sin, there are consequences. There is forgiveness for sin but that does not always remove some of the consequences of sin. If you break the law and are caught, you can get forgiveness from God for that disobedience but that doesn’t mean God will take away the consequences of the fine or punishment for breaking the law.

When we do find ourselves being persecuted, slandered, insulted, laughed at, threatened because we are a Christian, then we need to reframe what is happening.

What we are going through might be difficult, we are not to be ashamed of what we are facing but instead we should turn and glorify God that He is helping us in our becoming more Christ-like.

We are being used by God to show His story of redemption in our lives.

3. Persistence Through Purification

Have you ever heard someone say, “But everyone else is doing it.”

It is meant as an excuse of why you should be allowed to do something. It isn’t about what is right and wrong, what is moral or immoral. It is purely what that person thinks will bring them happiness. It is used by kids all the time.

However, it is also used within churches to justify sin.

But Peter reminds us that judgment should begin within the church instead of outside the church.

Every single one of us has pointed a finger at someone or at others and said they should pay for what they are doing. Peter is now pointing the biblical finger at each of us, and saying that we should be judged before anyone outside of Christianity is judged.

But wait a second there. We have forgiveness of our sins. The Bible tells us that all of our sins are forgiven so we don’t have to worry about being judged because of sin. Yes and well, no.

We are forgiven. We have salvation, atonement and are part of the redemption story and we are promised those whom God calls will not be lost.

If this is the case, then why do I need to worry about my sins, especially when my sin is so small compared to those lost and dying in this sin ridden world.

It goes back to understanding part of why we go through trials. Trials are a way of testing us as well as purifying us. God’s plan in His story of redemption is to keep working with us, with His church, in order that we may be more and more like Christ while in this world.

Our jails and systems of corrections ideas in this country have gone through changes. Early on, jail was a punishment. At some point, being sent to jail was turned into a time that was supposed to help make you a better citizen, and whether that happens can be debated.

What hasn’t changed with God is the use of trials for His people. They have been and still are a means God uses to make us better; to make us more like Christ. This won’t change.

And as God corrects us and helps us to learn, those outside the wall get to witness both God’s people being judged and the response God’s people show during those times.

Many years ago, when I was much much younger, I would read Mad magazine. It was a mixture of funnies and satire but all from a worldly perspective; though at times the satire was true.

There was one short strip that I laughed at but it was something that has stayed with me. It showed to HS aged boys talking. One was saying how his parents let him stay out till he wants, do what he wants, go where he wants. The other said that he always had a curfew, had to let his parents know what he was doing etc, and he then added the line, But who is complaining.

The first one, who seemed to be bragging that he could do whatever he wants looked sad and said he was the one complaining.

Truthfull, we were created by the Creator and we all have certain things about is that are the same, regardless if we are believers or not. We want to be loved and we want to be shown that we are loved. A big way that we know we are loved is by someone in our lives knowing about us, caring about what we do and where we are. We want boundaries. We might push against them but we want them. We were created so that we had the desire for love.

John MacArthur said in a sermon once that “The purest joy in a Christian’s life is when we are obeying Him.”

He also said, “A believer’s joy is deepened through trials.”

We will all go through trials. These are meant to produce a more Christ-like walk for a Christian.

Instead of being sorrowful about facing trials, we should recognize these trials are a way that God uses to help purify us.

We should also know that people around us are watching us as we go through these.

What will your reaction and actions be when you face these trials?

Let’s pray.