A PRACTICAL THEOLOGY OF SUFFERING

1 Peter 1:1 ESV

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

1 Peter 1:2 ESV

according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

THE WORTH OF KNOWING THE CHARACTER OF GOD WHEN SUFFERING

OF GOD IN SUFFERING

OF GOD IN SUFFERING

(SOMEWHERE USE THE HYMN “WE REST IN THEE”)

Quote Westminster Confession of Faith “What is the chief end of man? To glorify God….”

The Christian life is a cross bearing life. It is a life that willingly owns the beauty and triumph of the cross and at the same time willingly embraces the causes of the cross. Jesus says in 16:34

Matthew 8:34 ESV

And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.

Matthew 16:24 ESV

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

:

up his cross and follow me.

Jesus holds out to us the triad of Christian discipleship

Deny himselfTake up his crossFollow me

Romans 8:17 ESV

and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

The Bible -

how to suffer and die well

Hold both: sov of God and evil of men in suffer together

tension

The Bible is the mind of God to us on how to suffer and die well by the knowledge of Himself. The Bible holds out the antinomy of both the hand of God in suffering and the realities of sin and evil in the world that cause them. Hence, to suffer well is to be made able to live in the reality of the divine tension of the sovereignty of God in all things and the responsibility of man.

Some seek to rescue God

yet, in this they devalue His character

“Jesus is the rock of my salvation His banner over me is love, then we have problems if love is limited

his omnipotencehis omnisciencehis omni-benevolence toward his people.

If the children are right when they sing, “Jesus is the rock of my salvation His banner over me is love, then we have problems if love is limited

PETER DOES NOT BEGIN WITH WORDS OF EASE

BEGINS BY SHOWING THAT GOD IS RIGHT IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING

THIS IS A LETTER OF COMFORT

Luke 22:31–32 ESV

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

This is a letter of comfort’ it is s letter to strengthen them in their suffering. It is a direct fulfillment of what Christ said to him on the night Peter betrayed him in the gospel of ,

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you,* that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

HOW DOES HE DO THIS?

GIVING A WORD ABOUT GOD - SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE TRINITY AND THEIR WORK IN OUR SUFFERING

The Knowledge of God and Suffering

The foreknowledge of God (vv1,2a)

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

according to the foreknowledge of God the Father

I. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE FATHER IN OUR SUFFERING - HE CHOSE US FOR IT

1. They are exiles (give context of why).

Not by birth, but re-birth

i. By birth they are at home in the world and pursue its hapiness

ii. By rebirth they long for another home and find discomfort and suffering in this world

They are elect (exiles)

Foreknowledge =for loved. Your current situation (immense and horrific suffering) is due to the love of God before the foundation of the world. How does this encourage?

GOD SEES WHERE YOU ARE....HE PUT YOU THERE!!!!

His love has not lapsed or failed you because of your situation: His eyes are upon you; he sees you. The implication that God is love suggests, to some, that such horrific and intense suffering is inconsistent with love. Peter says differently: you are where you are because of God’s love. You are exiles, and all that that brings with it in terms of suffering, “according to the foreknowledge of God.”

When we can affirm and believe this, our eyes begin to open to the purposes of God in suffering. You cannot talk to people about the purpose of God in suffering if they cannot see their suffering in the context of their being exiles according to the foreknowledge of God. God , in other words, must be preimmenent. His person and His ways must be established before we ever ask how our situation fits into His design. This is not where most people begin and thus, why at times, get mixed up. We are not the reason for our suffering; the glory of God in us is the reason for suffering, so to begin there is to be on the right track to understanding our situation aright (Theology from above-theology from below)

Verse 6

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,

After Peter describes this glorious salvation of God granted to them,

It is God who, out of abundant mercy has caused you to be born again (cp 1:23: both in passive voice). It is an inheritance that cannot be lost because it is: “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven….”but what of this “keeping.” If God is keeping me then why do I suffer? In other words, how does His keeping of me relate to His sovereign deign that I suffer? The keeping is a keeping so that we do not fall away; God’s keeping of us involves, at times suffering, so that we do not get too comfortable in Him in the world.“Though now, for a little while, if need be….”Do you hear the echo of , and 4?

2. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE SPIRIT IN SUFFERING? - HE CHANGES US BY IT

“in the sanctification of the Spirit…

a. Holy Spirit is the means of bringing election to its intended end, namely whole sanctification in heaven (see v 9). How does this relate to suffering? (verse 7)

One prominent focus of the letter is holiness (1:15,16) and Holy Spirit is the on by which such a life is born and sustained. And yet, this is not a passive kind of holiness (it comes merely by God’s act alone), but fundemental to holiness is the knowledge of God (cite ,) In this chapter Peter holds out at least two aspects of God that are resident in the life of one who is growing in holiness:

I. God is holy (vv15,16)

II. God is impartial (v17)

III. God is gracious ()

b. The work of the HS, while third in terms of redemptive historical purposes, is ranked second here. Why? Obedience to Jesus is owing to the work of the Holy Spirit.

3. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF GOD THE SON IN OUR SUFFERING - HE CONQUERED IT BEFORE US

For obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with His blood

Flow of this point

Flow of this point

II. What does that obedience practically look like?

1 Peter 2:16 ESV

Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.

What is the foundation of that obedience? How does one behave as a free person in the midst of suffering? How does one honor the one inflicting pain, in the midst of the pain? How does one remain obedient to God when such obedience is the cause of your pain?

a. Look to Jesus

i. He is the source of our obedience

1. Active obedience

a. Active obedience in suffering is rooted in “looking” (,)

2. Passive obedience

a. The value of Christ’s obedience in suffering

1 Peter 2:22–23 ESV

He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

Hebrews 11:24 ESV

By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,

,

Hebrews 11:25 ESV

choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

Hebrews 11:26 ESV

He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.

LIKE MOSES

Hebrews 11:26 ESV

He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.

26

1. what does the Heb writer mean by the word “considered?”

obedience to Jesus’ is a reference to his obedience- which is the foundation of our obedience (His “active” obedience) [Peter points to Christ as our example: 2:23]

Active Obedience: This refers to Christ’s living out righteousness on our behalf (full conformity to the law of God, that we through Him might be righteous. If He had simply earned forgiveness for us then we would not have the righteousness of God.

Peter points to Christ as our example 2:21,22;

Passive ObedienceThis refers to Christ suffering for usPeter shows Christ as our pattern here (vv23,24)cp 2:23 with . The healing that Peter refers to in light of Isaiah passage is healing from physical and emotional pain caused by suffering. Do not look for such healing or relief in this world or life; Home (heaven) is where peace is found).

If HS is the means to obedience to Jesus Christ in what way is Jesus the foundation of obedience?

(emphasis on verse 7)

When Jesus says ‘it is to your advantage that I go away those words are references to the cross. So the means by which the Holy Sp. Sanctifies is by working in conjunction with (in tandem with) the finished work of Christ. He sanctifies us to obedience out of the obedience established in the person and work of Christ-now a reality within us by virtue of the new birth (1:22,23).

Conclusion

Principle: An abiding and deepening knowledge of God must be the chief pursuit of all who will live and suffer well.”

Implications

Suffering is a given (explain, using Peter, first, then rest of bible)

Pursuing a deeper knowledge of God is the most practical truth you can attain.excurses on how we see what is “practical.’everything relates to god

§ to understand god is to understand reality; not the other way around

§ if your reality and god are distinct; if your reality does not include a right knowledge of god, you do not live in reality.

“right” is an explosive word because this is the line of demarcation for many. to get here “to a right knowledge of god” is to be biblically discerning, historically (minded) and humble (teachable)

Pursuing and attaining a deeper knowledge of god is for theologians only!

this is an odd statement because it goes against, seemingly, everything we understand and know about how god speaks to his people and the fact that he can, indeed does, speak to all of his people. yet, it is true that god can only be understood by theologians.

what is a theologian: definewhat makes a theologian: new birthpoint: if you affirm biblical truth you are a theologian; the point is whether or not you are a good or bad theologian. all who affirm truth are not biblical theologians etc…

Suffering will not last long, then you must live

i add the word ‘live’ to this definition (it was not there when i first wrote it) this because one might get the notion that a deepening and abiding knowledge of god is for those who are either suffering now (while they are not) or who will suffer in the future (and their aim is to avoid it). suffering has an appointed end and purpose, which means that there are seasons where no persecution or any such suffering occurs. then, you must simply live and this is dependant on your knowledge of god (1peter 3:10-12)

Under the portion on Christ: see Ferguson sermon on sufficiency of atonement

O child of suffering, be thou patient; God has not passed thee over in His providence. He who is the feeder of sparrows, will also furnish you with what you need. Sit not down in despair; hope on, hope ever. Take up the arms of faith against a sea of trouble, and your opposition shall yet end your distresses. There is One who careth for you. His eye is fixed on you, His heart beats with pity for your woe, and his hand omnipotent shall yet bring you the needed help. The darkest cloud shall scatter itself in showers of mercy. The blackest gloom shall give place to the morning. He, if thou art one of His family, will bind up thy wounds, and heal thy broken heart. Doubt not His grace because of thy tribulation, but believe that He loveth thee as much in seasons of trouble as in times of happiness. What a serene and quiet life might you lead if you would leave providing to the God of providence! (Spurgeon Morning and evening)

We see in Simon’s carrying the cross a picture of the work of the Church throughout all generations; she is the cross-bearer after Jesus. Mark then, Christian, Jesus does not suffer so as to exclude your suffering. He bears a cross, not that you may escape it, but that you may endure it. Christ exempts you from sin, but not from sorrow. (Spurgeon)

o is it with the temple which Jesus builds; the making ready is all done on earth. When we reach heaven, there will be no sanctifying us there, no squaring us with affliction, no planing us with suffering. No, we must be made meet here—