Fiery Trials - Exceeding Joy

V.12:

Trials for the believer, are a promise.

These are not always trivial adversities, but will at some point be "fiery trials"… we can count on it.

When that time comes, we shouldn't wonder "why is this happening", it should be expected!

We don't need to waste time seeking explanations, we need to spend our time living on the promises of God.

Peter, who once himself was so fearful that he denied Christ, warns us not to fall into the same reaction. 

He says that we should be “glad with exceeding joy.” We should “rejoice”.

V.13:

This is seemingly strange but excellent advice.

Our response to trials should be to rejoice.

James 1:2

James 1:2 NKJV

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

So, as strange as this sounds, we can rejoice in our present suffering, because of the promise of exceeding joy later.

Though we suffer now, we have a promise of exceeding joy later.

Revelation 20:6

Revelation 20:6 NKJV

Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

Revelation 21:4

Revelation 21:4 NKJV

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Christ Himself said:

Matthew 5:11-12

Matthew 5:11–12 NKJV

“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

What a joyous promise, indeed.

We may suffer in His name now, but when His glory is revealed, we will rule in His name.

V.14:

The ability to rejoice in Christ during our suffering is proof that we are Christians.

When we do this, we are living our faith in such a way that the world readily recognizes that we are Christians.

We actually look like Christ.

When people look at us, they see Him, and it is Him who they hate and speak evil of.

Hatred for Christ is the reason Christians are reviled.

John 7:7

John 7:7 NKJV

The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.

So…when we suffer in His name, it is because we are indistinguishable from Him!

As such, we glorify Him. 

We should Praise God for that!

V.15:

The sinful behavior spoken of here is not the type of behavior that glorifies Christ.

In fact, if we act like this, then we look nothing like Christ. We are living a lie.

If a person professes Christ but lives in sin, they are living a lie.

1 John 1:6

1 John 1:6 NKJV

If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

1 John 2:6

1 John 2:6 NKJV

He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

V.16:

There is no glory in suffering for our own wrongdoings. There is no honor in that.

There is no glory in suffering for our sinful behavior.

1 Peter 2:19-20

1 Peter 2:19–20 NKJV

For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.

Glory comes when we suffer because of our faithfulness to Christ.

If we walk as He walked, we will suffer as He suffered, but that is nothing to be ashamed of.

Paul suffered for Christ, and he was not ashamed of the Gospel.

Romans 1:16

Romans 1:16 NKJV

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

V.17:

Judgment has already begun, the Gospel is a "two edged sword" saving some and condemning others, and it will all be consummated at the last judgment.

Judgment begins at the house of God.

This judgment is not condemnation, but the purging, chastening, and purifying of the church by the loving hand of God. 

It is far better to endure suffering as the Lord purges and strengthens the church, than to endure the eternal sufferings of the unbeliever in hell.

If God will chasten His own children now, then what of the ungodly later?

V.18:

Even the righteous do not deserve their salvation"for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."

"there is none righteous..."

Salvation is not of our works .

Ephesians 2:8-10

Ephesians 2:8–10 NKJV

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

What of the sinner?

They will appear before the judgment seat, and be banished to Hell.

Those who refuse God’s grace WILL be judged by their works.

Revelation 20:11-15

Revelation 20:11–15 NKJV

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

V.19:

Those who suffer for doing God's will ARE Christians.

As Christians, we should be faithful to Him, just as He is faithful to us.

He is our creator, and didn't create us just to abandon us, but instead remains forever faithful!