Sharing in the Sufferings of Christ for the Glory of God
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English Standard Version Chapter 4
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.
Suffering (fiery trial) - 4 times
Glory - 3 times
I. Recognize the Certainty of Christian Suffering
I. Recognize the Certainty of Christian Suffering
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.
A. Those to whom suffering is expected.
A. Those to whom suffering is expected.
Peter here returns to the central them of his Spirit inspired letter to the elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. Except in this letter he calls them something different. He calls the elect exiles and sojourners, Beloved.
Who do we think of when the writers of the NT use this term?
What does this word mean to those who are recipients of a message and called Beloved?
John MacArthur writes, Beloved is a common pastoral word conveying tenderness, compassion, affection, and care.
Consider that for a moment, as Peter writes this letter to the young NT church scattered across the region he wants them to know what he is about to teach them is not from a hard heart, a lack of compassion, but his exhortation comes with a sympathetic, tender heart, filled with brotherly love for these believers. He wants them to know that he cares for them, loves them, and desires to see them living faithful, joy filled lives even in them midst of suffering for the glory of God.
B. The way in which this suffering will come.
B. The way in which this suffering will come.
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you.
We have already unpacked the imagery of fire as means of the purification of gold and precious metals in Chapter 1. Peter uses this imagery in
so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Peter says do not be surprised when these things happen. Don’t be caught off guard when testing comes. Remember we have a suffering Savior. He didn’t just come in the flesh and live as Sovereign King on earth. He came as carpenter whose mother and father couldn’t even find a room to birth him in. He spent his first years on the run. He spent the three years of his public ministry fighting with the pharisees and scribes who wanted to kill Him.
He finally spent the last hours of His life being tortured and ultimately crucified. Peter also reminds us that He suffered as our example so that we might follow in His steps!
Hence Peter’s exhortation, do not be surprised....
Here I also want us to notice the intensity and severity which Peter is warning the Beloved of. There is a sense in which the coming trials are going to be a hot, burning, painful persecution of these believers and believers for years to come.
Let me give you and illustration of this from the time of the reformation. We spent time at the site where these men I am about to read to you about were martyred last week.
On October 16th, as they waited for the fire to be set, they prepared themselves for prayer. Ridley’s brother in law interrupted their praying to give each of them a bag of gun powder to tie around their neck. This, he told them, would shorten their sufferings. They took the bags gladly, as a sign of God’s mercy.
The executioner stepped forward to light the fire. This time it was Latimer’s turn to embolden Ridley. He said, in words that have become mortal, “Be of comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man. we shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out.” The fire was lit. The kindling caught quickly engulfing the stake in black smoke. Bishop Latimer , old and frail, was overcome with smoke inhalation and died instantly. Ridley, however, was not so fortunate.
Latimer had died quickly. Ridley however, suffered terribly in the last minutes. The wood and hay on his side had been packed too tightly, and with not enough air getting into it only the lower half caught fire, causing his letgs to burn off; his upper body was untouched. He screamed in agony. “For God’s sake let the fire come to me! I cannot burn! Lord have mercy on me!” Finally, someone loosened the logs, letting the fire breathe; the flame shot high into the air. The fire quickly reached the bag of gunpowder, mercifully ending Ridley’s life. Belcher, Richard; In Search of Deep Faith. Intervarsity Press; Downer’s Grove IL. 2013 Pg. 26, 29.
Do you see the reality of these fiery trials that came upon men of God in the 1500’s? The Intensity of the suffering of these men who stood for the truth of God who refused to recant of their belief’s in the Scriptures and justification by faith alone through grace alone in Christ alone?
These types of fiery trials and martyrdom are still happening today. How about us are we willing to stand on the truth of the Word of God to the point of death if necessary?
C. The Purpose of Trials
C. The Purpose of Trials
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.
These trials come upon the Beloved for their testing. The faith of the believer is tested through these fiery trials, through suffering, and affliction. These trials test us so that we might see Christ is enough. These trials cause us to look to Christ, to lean on Christ and His power, and to ultimately be willing to say “even if this suffering is unto death I know there is a greater life coming.”
Tom Schreiner explains, “This notion is standard in the New Testament paraenesis, for God uses the trials of life to strengthen the character of believers and to make them fit for his presence.”
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Every time a Christian is sustained through suffering by the Holy Spirit he or she recognizes God promises are true. Each circumstance in suffering increases the believers faith, causes them to look more like Christ, and emboldens them to prepare for the next test. You may be able to remember when you first took a stand for Christ, you were nervous, unsure on how folks would respond, but then you made it through the situation, God gave you the strength and then the next time became easier.
Again think about Peter,
He denied Christ at Calvary.
He was restored, filled with the Holy Spirit and preached at Pentecost.
He would go on in the book of Acts to rejoice with John after they had been beaten.
Ultimately would be crucified upside down because of his stand for Christ.
See the progression? See the sanctification?
Notice what Peter calls Christians to following his call to recognize the reality of suffering.
Secondly he calls Christians to,
II. Rejoice as You Share in Christ Sufferings
II. Rejoice as You Share in Christ Sufferings
But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
Twice in this verse Peter calls the Beloved to rejoice in suffering as they are sharing in the sufferings of Christ. Notice the way the NASB reads,
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 4
13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.
but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ Keep on rejoicing!
When the persecution and pain comes keep on rejoicing.
When the testing and trials come keep on rejoicing.
When we are sharing in Christ suffering keep on rejoicing!
Let me give you some Scriptural examples.
Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,
For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.
Do you see how the apostles responded to sharing in Christ’s suffering? They were not saying “oh woe is me I have it so bad”. Instead they rejoiced, sang, prayed, and praised God in light of their afflictions. They thought it was a privilege to suffer for Christ. They understood they were not even worthy to share in the suffering with Christ and understood that these sufferings would result in being glorified with Christ?
Pastor David wrote in his study guide, “Rejoicing and shock stand at opposite ends, and a deep awareness of our union with Christ—and all that it entails—preserves the Christian from surprise that metastasizes into disenchantment and disillusionment. To expect suffering, it should be emphasized, is not to welcome it in some blindly fatalistic way; it is however, to be realistic about our union with Christ.”
Think about what Jame wrote,
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
How will you and I respond to affliction? Will you and I sing hymns of praise when persecution comes?
So Peter tells the early Church to,
Recognize the certainty of suffering,
Rejoice in light of suffering,
Third, Peter calls the church to,
III. Relax in Suffering because the Spirit of glory and God Rest on You.
III. Relax in Suffering because the Spirit of glory and God Rest on You.
If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
What happens when we think persecution, mocking, or insults are about to come our way? We worry, we may get anxious, we may be grieved, we may even fear. But what does Peter tell the believers in verse 14,
A. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed,
A. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed,
μακάριος, ία, ιον (s. prec. and next entry; Pind., Pla., X.+)
① pert. to being fortunate or happy because of circumstances, fortunate, happy.
In other words, don’t see these insults as a thing to be despised, or afraid of, but see them as a good thing.
The New Bible Commentary 4:12–19 Suffering for Christ’s Sake
In every age since Jesus Christians who have tried to live like him have become the target of slander or hatred from those who have been challenged or convicted by their behaviour.
Christians are actually fortunate when they receive these insults, why?
B. because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
B. because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
Peter is not saying that the Spirit of glory and God comes upon you as you suffer, but as you are born again, he is already with you, He is already dwelling in you. He is resting on you. Therefore, when the trials and testing come remember, the Holy Spirit is already there to give you super natural help in times of persecution, affliction, and suffering. You will not make it in your own strength. You will not rejoice in persecution in your own power. We need power from own high to share in the sufferings of Christ.
Call out on God to give us relief and rest when we are wrestling our way through the trials of this present world. We must be assured that our blessing and rest is not only eschatological, in the future, but we can recieved rest and relief from the Spirit of glory, presently!
Rests means “to give relief, refreshment, intermission from toil.”
Some of my favorite words from Jesus are found in,
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
When we find ourselves weary run to Christ.
When we find ourselves grieved go to the Father.
When we find ourselves persecuted pray to the Persecuted One.
When we find ourselves in the midst of hard times, remember the Holy Spirit rests on us!
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
If we belong to Him, we have the Holy Spirit resting on us, therefore we must rest in Him!
Consider the words of Paul to the Corinthians,
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Peter has called Christians to,
Recognized the reality of suffering,
Rejoice in the midst of suffering,
Rest in the Spirit of God during suffering,
Finally in verses 15-16 Peter calls the church to,
IV. Remain Steadfast in Suffering for the Glory of God.
IV. Remain Steadfast in Suffering for the Glory of God.
A. Don’t Suffer Because of Sin
A. Don’t Suffer Because of Sin
But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
In verse 15, Peter writes don’t suffer as a sinner. Don’t suffer for being stupid. Don’t suffer because you have stolen something, don’t end up on death row as a murderer, don’t get punched in the nose because you are a meddler.
1 Peter
Instead suffer,
having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
B. Suffer Because of Sanctification
B. Suffer Because of Sanctification
Don’t suffer because of sin, remain steadfast in your sanctification,
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.
1 Peter 2:19-20
Peter is making another bold statement about the righteousness of suffering in the name of Christ. It is a good thing to suffer for righteousness sake. It is not something to be dreaded or to shrink back from. It is something to rejoice, rest, and relish in. Not that we want to be some over zealous jerk to to try to entice suffering, but we don’t want to be a such a coward and curl up in a ball every time their is an opportunity to stand for Christ and share in his suffering.
Spurgeon Commentary: 1 Peter Exposition
If you do not share in Christ’s humiliation, how can you expect to share in His exaltation? But if worldly people begin to rebuke and reproach you, take it for granted that they can discern something of Christ in you. Dogs do not usually bark at those who live in the same village with them; it is only at strangers that they bark. And when ribald tongues are lifted up against you, you have reason to hope that you are a stranger and a foreigner to the citizens of this world, for they love their own, as our Savior reminded His disciples, “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, for this reason the world hates you” (John 15:19).
C. Suffer for the Glory of God
C. Suffer for the Glory of God
Instead of being ashamed of being a Christian, of being in Christ we must remember that every time we remain faithful to Christ we bring glory to His name!
The NIV Application Commentary: 1 Peter Original Meaning
What these Christians must learn to cope with is the loss of social standing involved with conversion and consistent Christian living (though this does not imply they were previously in the upper class).
Again, consider Peter’s own life for a moment. Had he been perfect in remaining steadfast in suffering. Had Peter ever failed when he had the opportunity to suffer for Christ? Absolutely, and so will we, however, we must remember we can be forgiven and restored as we return to Christ in repentance and faith!
Remember the words of John the Baptist I must decrease so he may increase. I must be willing to lose that souls may be won for Christ. Make no mistake Christ is going to win, but the way in which he has ordained His victory, his glorification is through suffering.
Therefore let us glorify God in the name of Christ!