The Christian's Call to Suffering
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For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
1 Peter 2:19
This morning before we begin expounding our text I want to consider the life of a man who gives us an illustration of man’s inability to be subject to their master without being subject to the Master. This man lived like many of us as a rebellious teenager, but his life would look much different than that in his late teens. This man is John Newton.
John Newton was so angry and sinful as a teen that when he finally was kicked out of his last boarding school his father who was a sailor put him to work on the ships with him. This is where Newton although with his Father was also in the company of sinful sailors and continued in his debauchery.
In a movie about the life of Newton he mad this comment, I began to focus all of my rage on working hard work and efforts to please the officers, not because I had any true respect for them but because I saw it as my opportunity for a change. So I started to work hard and showed officers great respect at least to their faces.”
What is the problem with this line of thought and selfish obedience?
Newton did get his promotion, but the problem was an angry rebellious employee at heart only becomes an angry cruel taskmaster when promoted. To get to the rest of the story Newton ended up doing pretty well as a midshipman except for the way he treated sailors who worked for him. However, during one of their trips into port Newton attempted to go see his future wife and was eventually caught, captured, and convicted of desertion. After demotion for trying to desert, he requested an exchange to a slave ship bound for West Africa.
Eventually he reached the coast of Sierra Leone where he became the servant of an abusive slave trader. He was later rescued, his father purchased his freedom and he became a captain of a slave trading ship. It was during one of his voyages that during a storm, Newton cried out to God for salvation and God began to work in his life to draw him out of the slave trade and into the pastorate!
Do you see the irony. Newton was a disrespectful, disobedient employee, who tried in his own power to be a submissive employee, who ended up being a slave against his own will, because of the grace of God was freed, became a slave trader, was saved, continued to sail, had a stroke, was taken out of the slave trade, and finally called into God’s service in the ministry! His life is an illustration of Peter’s text. He went from a servant in Sierra Leone to a servant of the One, True God!
Why is Peter spending so much time talking about submission and suffering? Is it that important that we are under subjection to our government? Is it really that big of deal if we are submissive employees faithfully obeying good and bad bosses? Shouldn’t we just live out our faith at home and in church and then work and live in the world however seems right in our own eyes? No....
Again, look at the life of Newton!
Peter is going to give us a couple reasons for our submission as we come to verses 19-21. He has laid out a couple of “rules” of submission in verses 13-18 and now he provides us with the reason for this submission. How do we know he is laying out the reason?
Notice how he starts verse 18,
For this is a gracious thing in the sight of God...
Look at verse 21,
For to this you have been called...
Peter is telling his readers be subject to your masters first of all because,
I. Christian Submission Pleases God
I. Christian Submission Pleases God
but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
1 Peter 2:
Peter is saying, when you are subject to your masters this is a a gracious thing....It is pleasing to God when we submit to those who are in authority. He is pleased with us we find favor in God’s sight when we are faithful workers and servants.
Robert Leighton explains, “And this is indeed the true glory of it that it pleaseth God; it is a pleasing thing in God’s eyes…Though we owe all our patience under all kinds of afflictions as a duty to Him, and though His grace is His own gift, yet He has obliged himself by His royal word, not only to accept of it but to praise it, and to reward it in His own children.”
Notice these conditions God put’s around this favor.
First it is a gracious thing,
A. When Mindful of God
A. When Mindful of God
In other words, suffering is not pleasing to God when we have our selves in view. If I say
I am going to put up with this so I can be promoted that is not pleasing to God.
I am going to be submissive so that I might make more money this is not a gracious thing in the sight of God.
I am going to submit for the sake of my own comfort this is not pleasing to God.
On the other hand, If we suffer while thinking,
God has placed me in this position for a purpose therefore I am going to submit in subjection to Him.
God has sovereignly set me under this master so I am going to be subject to Him.
God has called me to do all things for His glory so I will suffer as His servant.
God may use my faithful submission to save my boss or my coworkers.
God will one day make all things right and we will be set free from unjust subjection!
Do you see the difference? There are times we may submit and suffer for the sake of self. What Peter is calling us to is the same thing Jesus called us to, suffering for righteousness sake!
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Peter echoes this same call in,
But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,
Therefore, when we suffer for the sake of God, for the sake of Christ, and for righteousness He is pleased with His people.
How do we make sure we are mindful of God?
Make much of His Word!
Prioritizing Time in Prayer.
Placing ourselves in the Midst of His People!
Tom Schreiner writes, “To sum up, when Peter said it is “grace” for someone to endure suffering because of their relationship with God, his point was that those who suffer in such a way will receive a reward from God and that the reward in context is their eschatological inheritance—future salvation.”
Schriener further explains this graciousness of God. Our subjection not only pleases God, but the favor in which God shows us is our eternal salvation, our eternal reward, our future hope! God does not just send us a note saying good job. He promises that one day all those who trust in Christ will one day hear the words,
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
Suffering in subjection is not only pleasing to God when we are mindful of God,
Secondly is is a gracious thing,
B. When One Suffers Unjustly.
B. When One Suffers Unjustly.
What is Peter talking about when he says suffering under subjection unjustly?
Peter says in verse 19, God is pleased when one is mindful of God and when one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. There are three key words here.
endures = to bear up despite difficulty and suffering, to demonstrate endurance.
sorrows = a state of mental pain and anxiety
suffering = to undergo an experience, usually difficult, and normally with the implication of physical or psychological suffering
Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996).
Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996).
He also explains what he is not talking about.
He is not talking about suffering for sin…See verse
For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure?
For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure?
Here is where I want to refer to the best theologian I had in my life growing up. My Mom, Beverly Braswell. If she would have written a commentary on this verse she would say, “If you are going to be dumb, you better be tough.” In other words, if you suffer because of your sin that is on you. If are experiencing physical or mental pain because of your own sin don’t come crying to me… If you are beaten because of your rebellion don’t expect any compassion...
In all seriousness, Peter is contrasting two reasons servants may suffer. They could suffer at the hands of unjust masters as they lived obedient faithful lives, but they could also experience suffering for sin, for slacking off, for smarting off, or some other form of rebellion against their master.
I can think of example after example of people who have worked for us over the years have cheated, lied, stolen, violated policies and even laws, and then when the consequences come, they act surprised. They can’t believe they are receiving a written warning, being suspended, or even separated. I have heard and seen some of the most unbelievable things said and done during these situations. What Peter is saying here if you sin don’t expect to please God, don’t expect to receive grace from God, don’t expect to received credit from God for your suffering. You don’t get rewarded for sinful rebellion!
On the other hand it, is a gracious thing,
it, is a gracious thing,
C. When One Does Good While Suffering Unjustly.
C. When One Does Good While Suffering Unjustly.
Do you see the contrast,
1 Peter 2:20b But, if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
Why does it please God when Christian’s bear up under suffering?
Why does a Christian receive a reward for his or her patient endurance through submissive suffering?
It pleases God because we are placing our faith and hope in our heavenly Father who has promised us a greater inheritance, a heavenly reward a future salvation from our current suffering! Our confidence is in the King of heaven and earth, not our current masters on this earth. Therefore when we suffer righteously we don’t worry about the pain and anxiety now, we look to Him who will provide for us a joy inexpressible and full of glory as we are obtaining the outcome of our faith the salvation of our souls!
A.W. Pink wrote, “As [one] sees the apparent defeat of the right, and the triumphing of might and wrong…it seems as though Satan were getting the better of the conflict. But as one looks above, instead of around, there is plainly visible to the eye of faith a Throne…This then is our confidence—God is on the Throne.”
Paul commended the church at Thessalonica for their suffering,
Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering—
2 Thessalonians 1:
The second reason Peter provides for our submission is,
II. Christians are Called to Suffer.
II. Christians are Called to Suffer.
A. Because Christ Saved you for Suffering
A. Because Christ Saved you for Suffering
Peter says, you have been called to salvation and suffering is sure to follow.
Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Hebrews
The author of Hebrews points back to all those who had received salvation by grace through faith went through unimaginable suffering. It was because they had their eye on something better, or Someone better. They were willing to suffer because of their salvation.
But notice what he says, at the end, since God had provided something better for us. They died before they saw God in the flesh, they died before they beheld His glory full of grace and truth. Although they were saved through the same faith, the same sacrifice they were looking forward to the Suffering Servant while we look back to the Suffering Servant and see how he suffered for us.
The OT saints suffered because they were promised a suffering servant.
Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?
As New Covenant Christians we look back and see that Christ has fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah. We see what he has done for us that we might be saved. We see the rejection of his people, the mocking He received, the beatings He took, the torture He bore, and the cruel death He experienced at the crucifixion. We understand that this was for our sake even though we were like sheep who had gone astray! We understand that we are called at salvation to experience suffering.
Tom Schreiner is rightly states, “So what Peter said here was that believers were called to experience their final reward through enduring suffering. Suffering, in other words, is not a detour by which believers receive the inheritance to which they were called. It is God’s appointed means for receiving the inheritance.”
Believers then bear up under suffering because we have been called to salvation and are looking forward to our eschatological reward.
We also bear up under suffering,
B. Because Christ Suffered For You
B. Because Christ Suffered For You
Our suffering is different from Christ suffering in one primary way. His suffering was the vicarious sacrifice for the salvation of His people. Christian suffering is so that we can point other to Christ for salvation. Christ’s suffering can be further differentiated in these ways,
Christ suffered so that sinners like you and I would be saved.
Christ suffered while remaining sinless (which we cannot).
Christ suffered so that he could die as our substitute.
Christ suffered to atone for the sins of His people.
Christ suffered to appease the wrath of God on the behalf of sinners.
We suffer so that we might be the means God uses to show sinners the only way to salvation, through the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ!
We then suffer because we were called to suffer, because Christ suffered for us, and finally,
C. Because Christ Left an Example for us to Follow
C. Because Christ Left an Example for us to Follow
Now, next week we are going to expound on how Christ suffered, but I want us to consider how we are to follow His example.
Consider the words of Paul,
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Paul says, follow my example as I follow Christ’s example. Did Paul suffer? Did Paul count it all joy?
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Romans
How did Paul suffer? He suffered looking to Christ.’
Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
Romans 8:34
It doesn’t matter if we suffer physically from the fall, from the government, or from our employers we are to suffer because Christ has suffered for us. He has left us an example that we might follow in His steps.
Christ has called us to salvation for suffering.
Christ has suffered for our salvation.
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 25.89 χάρις, ιτος
25.89 χάριςd, ιτος f: a favorable attitude toward someone or something—‘favor, good will.’ ἔχοντες χάριν πρὸς ὅλον τὸν λαόν ‘having the good will of all the people’ or ‘all the people were pleased with them’ Ac 2:47; εὗρες γὰρ χάριν παρὰ τῷ θεῷ ‘for you have found favor with God’ or ‘for God is pleased with you’ Lk 1:30.
In the expressions ἔχοντες χάριν πρὸς ὅλον τὸν λαόν (Ac 2:47) and εὗρες γὰρ χάριν παρὰ τῷ θεῷ (Lk 1:30) it would appear on the basis of superficial examination that the subject of the participle or the verb is in some respects an active agent. Semantically, however, the subject is actually the recipient of the good will, and in these contexts it is either the people or God who takes pleasure in or is pleased by the grammatical subjects in question.
Christ has set the example for us in His suffering.
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 25.89 χάρις, ιτος
25.89 χάριςd, ιτος f: a favorable attitude toward someone or something—‘favor, good will.’
Spurgeon Commentary: 1 Peter Exposition
If buffeting comes upon you for Christ’s sake, you are, in some sense, made partakers of His sufferings, and you shall also be partakers of His glory. A true child of God lives wholly for God. He is not merely a Christian when he goes up to the place of worship and sings the praise of the Lord, but he seeks to live for God as soon as he opens his eyes in the morning and until he closes them again at night. It is for God that he eats and drinks, and for God that he buys, and sells, and works, and gives, or saves, or does whatever it is right for him to do. The Levite of old had no business to do in the world but the business of God, and the true Christian is in the same condition. Though he keeps a shop or ploughs the fields, he keeps shop for Jesus and ploughs the fields for Jesus. He is not his own master, but he is the servant of Another, even the Lord Jesus Christ, and it is his joy to labor faithfully as a steward and a servant on behalf of his Master.
Here is our application for this passage. We are all living in a fallen world. In this world there will be suffering, there will be sorrows. They will come in the form of sickness and death, but they will also come as we work and serve in this sin stained world. What we must remember is that we have been called out of the darkness of this world and into the glorious light of our Savior who suffered for us. We now serve Him, we now submit to Him and follow His example of suffering.
That means while we may work for a earthly master @
Osmose, Douglas Co. Schools, Parsec, Johnson Controls, Alliance Roofing, US Postal Service, As a Homemaker. We manage operations, safety, build, mechanic, drive that bus , teach students, and care for the home in submission to and for the glory of Christ.
Ladies you may think why is my vocation at home so important.
Douglas Co. Schools,
This means even when our boss even if it is our spouse is unjust to us we bear up under it and count it all joy that we can suffer with King Jesus and for Jesus and we long for the day when He returns and suffering is no more!
Parsec,
One of the Puritans prayed,
Johnson Controls,
Alliance Roofing,
US Postal Service,
As a Homemaker
Here, it is my duty
to be as Christ is in the world,
to do what he would do,
to live as he would live,
to walk in love and meekness,
then would he be known,
then I would have peace in death. (Valley of Vision pg. 41)