Regardless of the Cost

You probably have never heard of Aida Scripnikova. She was born in 1941 in St. Petersburg, when the Russian people were fighting to free themselves from their invaders, the German armies. The enemy was eventually driven out, but for many decades there was no true freedom in her homeland. In the fall of 1961, Aida came to know Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. She was nineteen years old. With her new faith came the impulse to share it with others. So she purchased some postcards with a beautiful picture on one side and then she wrote a poem on the reverse side. The poem expressed her perception of life and the need for people to find God.

Aida then took her postcards, stood on the Nevski Prospect (which is the equivalent in St. Petersburg of Fifth Avenue in New York City), and handed out the cards to people who passed by. She was, of course, arrested.

In April of 1962 Aida was tried by a Communist court. She was exiled from St. Petersburg and lost her job as a laboratory assistant. She was arrested again in 1965 and sent to a labor camp for a year. In 1968 she was arrested again and sent to a labor camp for an additional three years.

I do not know if Aida Scripnikova had ever come across , but it is apparent that she obeyed the instinct of her heart. In the midst of unrelenting persecution she shared the message of Jesus Christ, regardless of the cost. In so doing, she lived out the implications of .

This chapter continues the dominant theme of the letter: the reality of a fleshed-out faith in the midst of oppressive circumstances. Believers in Jesus Christ should direct their hearts and minds toward living out the will of God, regardless of the cost. True believers must pay a price, but, in light of eternity, it is worth the cost.

Regardless of the Cost

The early Christians of experienced severe persecution and opposition because of their commitment to Jesus Christ. This chapter addresses why that is the case and how to respond to persecution in a manner that would honor Jesus.

1 Peter 4 ESV

1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does. 7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Before we begin, I want to clarify our view of suffering. When we speak of suffering we often imagine physical hardship. However, the spectrum of suffering is much broader. Suffering encompasses all kinds of trials in our life; from physical torture and death to verbal and mental abuse to oppression of our faith and even simply just not getting what we want. We often use particularly difficult illustrations of suffering to make the point that God is with us even in the worst situations, but this is only accurate if we remember that God is with us in every form of suffering we experience.

Living for the Will of God (vv. 1-6)

Living for the Will of God (vv. 1-6)

Pain and suffering are never easy to deal with. They become almost unbearable when they are inflicted upon us from other people. The model of Jesus becomes our inspiration and our guide as we, along with these early believers, face opposition to our faith. In order to make this inspiration a reality in our lives, we must have the same perspective on suffering that Jesus did.

Obeying God is the most important motivation in your life. (vv. 1-2)

As a matter of fact, the suffering that Christ endured was, in part, because of the righteous life that He lived. In verses 1-2, believers, in similar fashion, should arm yourselves with the same way of thinking. As believers in Jesus Christ, we are to adopt the same attitude Christ had toward His suffering. We are to be willing to suffer because we have chosen to live righteous lives. We are to think as Christ did about obedience and suffering: to be convinced that it is better to do right and suffer than to do wrong.

For whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin does not suggest that the believer, because they suffer for doing what is right, will never stumble or sin again. A Christian does not, through suffering, magically vault to the level of moral perfection.

These verses indicate that believers take seriously their struggle against sin and their commitment to obedience. By following this counsel, you demonstrate to others that obeying God is the most important motivation in your life, more important by far than avoiding hardship and pain.

Sin must remain in the believer’s past. (v. 3)

In addition, verse 3 says quite bluntly that our past experience of sin is sufficient, that we have experienced enough sin to know what it is. The Greek perfect tense, “suffices”, emphasizes that the kinds of activities listed in verse 3 are over; this part of our lives is a closed chapter. The descriptions illustrate a person who knows no restraints, has no checks and balances for life.

Believers may continue to struggle with the temptation of these kinds of activities, but they must remain a part of our past history.

Non-believers resent the believer’s life. (v. 4)

Moreover, unbelievers, who will continue in these activities, will be surprised when you do not join them. Unfortunately, their response does not remain neutral. The Greek here for “surprised” also suggests that they become offended. They malign the believer. In other words, they defame and injure the reputation of the believer, primarily through verbal abuse and slander.

Non-believers of every era tend to resent the convicting purity of the believer’s life, and as a result, the Christian becomes the victim of their slander. Through this slander they seek to somehow justify their own behavior by painting the non-participant believer in a negative way.

The last word will be with God. (vv. 5-6)

Although this may be true, verses 5-6 tell us loud and clear why we should stand against an ungodly life: the coming judgement. It will be universal, for it will encompass all the living and the dead. Unbelievers will have to give an account of their lives but will not be able to withstand divine scrutiny. God is ready to judge, so this judgement could come suddenly, without warning.

Those people who practice these things and who abuse Christians for failing to live the same way may seem to have the upper hand for the time being, but the last word will be with God. He is already prepared. A time is coming when the world as we know it will come to an end and God will judge the world.

Living for the Will of God in the Church (vv. 7-11)

Living for the Will of God in the Church (vv. 7-11)

Since the end is near, live in love toward others. Minister to them with your spiritual gifts. As you serve others, God will be praised.

In the church where there is a lack of love and common purpose and where the spiritual lifeline of communication to God is broken, the forces of opposition will weaken and eventually destroy the church. In these verses Peter emphasizes how crucial it is that local churches be strong in fellowship with firm links of life and loyalty between members and also between the members and God.

Living for the will of God is an urgent and immediate call for all believers. (v. 7a)

Verse 7 starts out by stating that the end of all things is at hand. Christians typically take a statement like this to refer to the day that Jesus returns and, therefore, believe there is still time for us to decide to do God’s will. However, this statement should be taken more personally as well. When is YOUR “end of all things?” We cannot assume that we can do the will of God later, we do not know that there is a next year for us, a next week, or if our next breath will fail.

Living for the will of God is an urgent and immediate call for all believers.

Demonstrate a willingness to forgive others and to depend on God’s grace. (vv. 7b-11)

First on the list of believer’s priorities, in verse 7, is purposeful prayer. Our prayers must be self-controlled and sober-minded. This suggests that believers pray intelligently, that they think about and evaluate their situations in life maturely, truthfully, and correctly as they pray about them. In other words, believers are to take prayer seriously.

The second priority, in verse 8, is forgiving love. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly burns into our minds the supreme importance of love as the controlling factor in all relationships. This kind of love, “agape” can be commanded because it it a decision of the mind, not a feeling into which a person falls. The goal of agape love is always to seek the good of the other person. The evidence of agape love is action, not words. The extent of agape love is sacrifice. True agape love is constantly being stretched to the limit by the demands made on it.

One of the most difficult and inconvenient times to extend love is when someone has hurt or wronged us, especially within the church. We must demonstrate a love that is willing to be stretched since love covers a multitude of sins. The present tense here indicates that this is to be constantly true in the life of the believer. However, love does not ignore the reality of personal sin any more than it justifies or condones sin. Confrontation of sin is appropriate and necessary. Understand though, it is just as important to demonstrate a willingness to forgive and then move on. Forgiveness, like love, is an act of the will, a personal choice.

However, love does not ignore the reality of personal sin any more than it justifies or condones sin. Confrontation of sin is appropriate and necessary. Understand though, it is just as important to demonstrate a willingness to forgive and then move on. Forgiveness, like love, is an act of the will, a personal choice.

In light of agape love, verse 9 tells us that believers must put action into God’s love command. Hospitality among Christians is an important and tangible expression of love. Therefore, Christians are to provide hospitality without complaining or whining about the time and expense involved. This is an expression of agape love.

One final priority remains for believers in verses 10-11. This priority is best summarized as intense serving. Every believer should use whatever gifts they have received to serve one another. Through such sharing we are acting as good stewards of God’s varied grace. Believers are agents of God in passing on the benefits of his grace in our life. God does not grant us gifts of grace solely for our personal use; he gives them for the benefit of the body of Christ.

Believers are to take these gifts seriously and to exercise them with an attitude of dependence on God. When the gifts of grace are applied in this way, the attention and praise shift from the individual believer to God, the one who has gifted the believer in the first place.

Living for the Will of God During Suffering (vv. 12-19)

With this in mind, you must return good for evil. When you suffer for doing the will of God, commit your suffering to God, and keep doing good. Rejoice in suffering for Christ so that you will be overjoyed when you get to heaven.

Joy is confidence that God is in control of every area of our lives, even the painful places. (vv. 12-13)

In fact, four times in verses 12-19 the words suffering or suffer are used, and verse 12 talks about the fiery trial. Peter describes experiences of suffering comparable to the pain of being burned with fire and instructs that believers must not be surprised when things like this assault their lives. Hidden in the word surprised is the idea of becoming resentful and bitter about the circumstances. Our sufferings are not accidental, nor are they interfering with God’s purposes for our lives. In fact, these sufferings are part of His purpose. This is suggested by the phrase fiery trial. This expression contains the picture of a refining fire or a testing process that produces a positive result. The fires of suffering are designed by God to purify and strengthen the lives of his followers.

Our suffering is the same kind of thing that Christ received, and therefore, in some sense, suffering is an indication of the believer’s identification with Christ. Believers share Christ’s sufferings. Share is translated from the word koinoneo, “to share or fellowship with someone.” Think of it this way: Your closest friends are those with whom you have suffered and hurt. As you stumble and crawl through pain together, you grow together as friends. These experiences are the unshakeable foundation of your relationship.

The same thing happens in our spiritual lives. As we view our persecutions as suffering for Christ and with Christ, we love Him more deeply and trust Him more completely. Suffering has meaning as it puts us into deeper fellowship with Jesus Christ. As this occurs, our level of trust in his wisdom and care in our lives increases so that we are able to rejoice. Joy, in its most sublime meaning, is a deep confidence that God is in control of every area of our lives, even the painful places.

A lack of persecution in a believer’s life suggests a less-than-faithful lifestyle and testimony. (vv. 14-16)

Furthermore, verse 14 mentions a specific kind of suffering: if you are insulted for the name of Christ. Insulted means “to be abused or slandered.” It illustrates unjustified condemnations being hurled against the believer. There is often more bitterness and pain felt in these attacks than in the theft of property or the agony of physical pain. However, the Christian who suffers these kinds of abuses is uniquely blessed because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. The Holy Spirit is within the believer continually; at any moment we can draw on the Spirit of God. Especially in moments of crisis and suffering, God’s Spirit is available to strengthen and refresh the believer.

However, verse 15 offers a disclaimer or, rather, clarification regarding the suffering Christian’s experience. Believers should not rejoice in certain kinds of pain and suffering and should not consider themselves blessed to be a part of such suffering. Peter lists four descriptions to exemplify evil in this verse. When we commit evil and suffer the consequences of those actions; the believer is not to say, “I am suffering for Jesus’ sake or for the sake of righteousness.: You are not. You are suffering because you commited a wrongful act.

With this in mind, in verse 16, legitimate suffering for the name of Christ is again mentioned as a direct contrast to the behavior pattern described in verse 15. Christian appears only three times in the New Testament, but in every case it identifies the TRUE followers of Jesus.

Faithfulness to Christ will produce suffering and persecution, but Peter seems to connect that the reverse is also true: a lack of persecution in a believer’s life suggests a less-than-faithful lifestyle and testimony.

Because we know that God is faithful, we can count on Him to fulfill His promises to us. (vv. 17-19)

Comparatively, verses 17-18 are best understood in connection to the entire paragraph, beginning with verse 12. For the believer in Jesus Christ, trials and sufferings can have a positive impact. They have a refining and purifying purpose. One commentator puts it in these words:

The effect of persecution is to show up in the church those who really believe and are prepared to stand firm and those who do not really believe and so fall away when under trial. This judgement also purifies the true believers, encouraging them not to commit shameful acts.

reinforces this point from the perspective of the unbeliever.

Proverbs 11:31 ESV

31 If the righteous is repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!

Unbelievers, unlike the followers of Christ, are not part of the refining judgement of God. the judgement they face is judicial; it takes the form of punishment. When Jesus Christ returns, they will face the fire of his anger in judgement.

Finally, verse 19 summarizes teaching of the entire letter of 1 Peter. Believers do not suffer accidentally or because of irresistible force of blind fate. rather, they suffer according to God’s will. This should be enough for His followers to entrust their souls to God. Believers are in good hands, not with a human insurance agency, but with an all-loving and faithful God who has cared for us from the beginning. He asks us to commit ourselves to [our] faithful Creator.

The combination of “faithful” and “Creator” reminds us of God’s love and power, even in the midst of suffering and pain. God created the world, and he has faithfully ordered it and sustained it since creation. Because we know that He is faithful, we can count on Him to fulfill his promises to us. If He can oversee the forces of nature, certainly he can see us through the trials we face.

Day by Day

Holman New Testament Commentary: I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude IV. Life Application: Day by Day

Day by day and with each passing moment,

Strength I find to meet my trials here.

Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,

I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.

He whose heart is kind beyond all measure

Gives unto each day what He deems best.

Lovingly, it’s part of pain and pleasure,

Mingling toil with peace and rest (Baptist Hymnal 1991, 66).

Her name was Lina Sandell. Swedish. Born in 1832. She loved her dad, idolized him, in fact. As she grew older, she often ministered alongside him. When she was only twenty-six, her father died. They were traveling together by ship and were standing together on the deck, reveling in the beauty of creation. For some reason, the ship lurched unsteadily, and Lisa Sandell’s father fell overboard. No rescue was possible. He drowned before her eyes. The one she loved, cherished, and idolized was gone. That is when Lina Sandell dug deep within for help and found it. That is when she wrote these words:

Day by day and with each passing moment,

Strength I find to meet my trials here.

Strength I find to meet my trials here.

Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,

I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.

He whose heart is kind beyond all measure

Gives unto each day what He deems best.

Lovingly, it’s part of pain and pleasure,

Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Day by day Christians face the same routine: relationships with people outside the church, relationships with people inside the church, and our reactions to both groups. Whenever we grow spiritually, emotionally, or intellectually, those who were with us before our growth often have serious difficulties with the changes in our lives, unless the same growth has happened to them. That is certainly the case when a person becomes a Christian and begins the life-changing journey of spiritual growth. It usually results in some significant lifestyle changes. Those changes usually prompt some significant reactions, many of which are negative.

could be described as “a chapter of reality.” Peter has lived a real life, experienced real pain. Most of this pain was inflicted by others. Often those who crack the whip in our direction are angry or jealous toward us. Sometimes that is because we model a lifestyle that troubles them because it shines light on the darkness of their life. In response, they either become enraged and lash out at us with ridicule and slander, or they respond with jealousy, never admitting that they want what we have. Either way, we end up on the receiving end of pain simply because we have chosen to follow Christ. That is what makes this letter so practical and relevant for our lives. In the midst of our pain, we are able to go on because we have one another and because we have the Lord as our example. He is the one we hang on to and trust with our lives. His faithfulness is our anchor.

When we are feeling the heat, it is easy to curl up into a ball and forget about everything and everyone. Peter’s advice is to go out of our way, through the enablement of the Holy Spirit, and to continue to love and serve one another in the body of Christ. We need one another. We need to draw strength from the Lord and from our relationships.

The community and fellowship of our local churches has not been stressed as the biblical priority that it is. Our culture has so invaded our lives as Christians that at the first sight of conflict or difficulty, we are prone to run to another congregation and bad-mouth the one we have just left. Quite the opposite pattern is seen in the New Testament. These Christians needed on another and were encouraged to pray together, work together, and extend grace, love, mercy, and forgiveness to one another. This is necessary for the health of the body and the cause of Jesus Christ.

PRAYER

Day by day and with each passing moment,

Strength I find to meet my trials here.

Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,

I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.

He whose heart is kind beyond all measure

Gives unto each day what He deems best.

Lovingly, it’s part of pain and pleasure,

Mingling toil with peace and rest.