Suffering as Saints
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English Standard Version Chapter 4
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.
I. Judgment at the Household of God (17)
I. Judgment at the Household of God (17)
For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God;
If we just read this verse ripped out of the paragraph it is going to sound a lot different than reading it in its context. Peter has just exhorted the scattered Church (household of God) the Beloved, to not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you. He is preparing the church for the persecution to come. He calls them to rejoice and be glad if they share in Christ’s suffering. He reminds them to remember the Spirit of glory and of God rests on them. He calls them to suffer faithfully and to glorify God in their suffering.
Then Peter writes, For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God.
Following this exhortation to faithful suffering Peter proclaims these fiery trials are coming because it is time for judgment of God’s people. Judgment at the household of God. Immediately, we are probably thinking why is God starting with the Church? These men and women are coming to faith, being born again and now they are being judged? This is because we often think of judgment being a matter of condemnation. But that is not exactly what Peter is referring to here.
John MacArthur writes, The Greek word for judgment is krima and refers to a a judicial process that renders a decision on someone’s sin. The word identifies a matter for adjudication and is used especially for divine judgment. (pg. 256)
Krima means the content of the process of judging - judgment, decision, evaluation
We need to understand the purpose and result of this judgment is different for the believer and the unbeliever. For the believer or the “household of God” this judgment is not for the purpose of condemnation, but for purification.
For the believer or the “household of God” this judgment is not for the purpose of condemnation, but for purification.
But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.
Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:
So often we look at disciplining, and suffering as a negative thing. Which in reality for the believer it is a wonderful thing. Now I am not saying it is not a painful thing. This suffering may hurt physically, emotionally, and spiritually. But the purpose is far greater than the pain. Because as we suffer as a Christian we are are purified, the dross and sin of our lives are burnt off....We are tested and our faith is also strengthened.
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 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.
We become more and more conformed to the image of Christ and we are being prepared through purification to meet the Lord Jesus Christ, and will be and may be found to result in praise and glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ!
Thomas Brooks writes, “As our greatest good comes through the sufferings of Christ, so God’s greatest glory that he has from his saints comes through their sufferings.”
Let me give you one more passage,
But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
Does that not change the way we view suffering? Suffering with God’s glory in mind will completely change the way we view and react to suffering in affliction in our own life.
Here is another truth that comes from suffering as the “household of God,” we are not alone. The household of God is not me or you, our any other saint suffering in solitary confinement. The household of God is the body of Christ, the fellowship of believers, the community of saints. In other words we don’t go through this suffering alone, we don’t have to walk through these trials in isolation. Instead we have fellow brothers ans sisters who suffer along side of us. To encourage us, to pray for us, and to counsel us.
What does Peter say,
If it begins with us....not me not you, but us. Let us never forget we are not to suffer alone. We are not to be separated from the family of God, but instead we are to suffer together for the glory of God!
In verse 17 Peter explains, Judgment at the household of God,
He goes on in 17 and 18 to explain,
II. Judgment for those who disobey the Gospel of God. (17b,18)
II. Judgment for those who disobey the Gospel of God. (17b,18)
and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who disobey the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous are scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?
Let’s make sure we understand who the us are first.
Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;
So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
So the honor is for you who believe
The us Peter is talking to are those who have repented, believed, and obeyed the truth of the gospel.
The us are those who have been born again by the mercies of God.
The us are those who believe and will not be put to shame.
Then Peter turns to those, who are those,
Those who do not obey the gospel of God
and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
Peter is answering the question here, “if the household of God is suffering through judgment what about those outside the household? Those who do not obey, why are we scarcely saved and they seem to be flourishing?
There are times when the household of God, those who have recieved the grace of God seem to be worse off than the unbeliever. The unbeliever may be flourishing in this life.
They may have more money, more friends, a bigger house, and even better health.
They will never be persecuted for their faith, they will not be set a blaze for being obedient to the gospel.
They will never experience trials as a testing for their faith.
However, we must understand they all will experience the same ending to this temporal life. That is death, believer and unbeliever alike will all face the ending of this life in one form or another. Either through death or the return of the LORD. But, when we look at the current situation it may cause us like Peter to ask the question?
If judgment begins with us, what will be the outcome for them?
Peter, rephrases the question in verse 18,
And if the righteous are scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?
Peter is quoting the question from,
If the righteous is repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!
Here Peter reminds us, that yes it may be painful for the household of God here on earth. The fiery trials will be intense. But we must remember these fiery trials are purifying us for the judgment to come. These afflictions now are conforming us, cleansing us, and preparing us for the return of Christ.
Even though it seems like the sinners and unbelievers are flourishing now, we must remember their judgment is to come. There fiery trial will be eternal.
Wayne Grudem writes, “The impious (a godless person without true reverence for God) and sinner will, by implication, find it to be a fire of eternal destruction.”
Paul explained it to the Thessalonians this way,
2 Thessalonians 1:5-
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— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.
in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
Paul says, the believers faithful endurance through trials, the steadfastness of their faith is evidence of the righteous judgment of God.
He tells the Thessalonians, this righteous judgment of God, is so you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which we are suffering.
How about that for setting our mind right in regards to suffering?
Paul then answer the question on what will become of the ungodly and those disobedient to the gospel.
God is going to inflict vengeance on those who do not know Him or obey Him. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his might.
Instead of enjoying the ability to worship in his presence the unbelievers will be eternally crushed by God’s wrath!
John Calvin, writes,
Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles Chapter 4
In short, God so regulates his judgments in this world, that he fattens the wicked for the day of slaughter. He therefore passes by their many sins, and, as it were, connives at them. In the meantime, he restores by corrections his own children, for whom he has a care, to the right way, whenever they depart from it.
How about the picture Calvin paints, he is fattening the ungodly up for the day of slaughter. He has the sweet feed poured to them now. All they can eat, live it up. Keep enjoying the things of this world more than you enjoy the things of God and you will be led to the day of slaughter. Keep walking and laying in the manure of the feedlot and you will be put to death and become food for the birds the apostle John says in revelation.
Peter wants us to know that this is the fate of those who do not believe. This is the eternal destination for the ungodly. So don’t get caught up in the differing judgement we face in this life, we must keep our eyes on the eschatological judgment that is to come.
We have seen,
Judgment on the household of God,
Judgment on the ungodly,
finally Peter tells us of,
III. Judgment According to the Will of God. (19)
III. Judgment According to the Will of God. (19)
A. The One Whom Wills Suffering.
A. The One Whom Wills Suffering.
Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will
In verse 19 Peter reminds us that our suffering and affliction is not just some random incident that is going on. We are not just unlucky and run into this persecution by accident. Peter teaches us that God is Sovereign over suffering. There is not one hair on the head of one of God’s children that he doesn’t know is there. There is not one bruise, one broken heart, or one fiery trial that we go through that God is not in control of.
Remember what Peter said in,
For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
We to often see suffering as a bad thing, which it is a painful thing, but we must remember it is a helpful, edifying, purifying, and strengthening thing when a child of God goes through suffering according to the will of God.
Why is that? Why is suffering according to God’s will a benefit for the believer?
Because of,
B. The Way We Respond to Suffering.
B. The Way We Respond to Suffering.
Look at verse 19 again,
Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator
Suffering ought to drive us to the Father, to our Creator. Not just a watch maker Creator that creates us, winds us up and turns us loose. But, a faithful Creator who has promised to care for, protect, and save His children.
Paul says it this way,
which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.
Paul explains, that he was not ashamed of his Lord, his imprisonment, or his suffering for the gospel. He knew he had been called to preach the gospel. He says, God, saved us to a holy calling, this calling was made manifest at the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do.
He is confident in this suffering because of the one in whom he believed! His faithful Creator.
He tells the Corinthians,
Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.
Peter and Paul both tell us suffering exposes our weakness and drives us to the One who is strong.
The one who not only is King over us but Creator.
God does not just rule over us he is the one who raised us up out of dust.
God is not our sustainer He is the one who breathed life into us.
God is not only our physical Creator, Peter says God is our faithful Creator.
I want us to consider what it means to be faithful for a minute.
The word faithful means to be worthy of trust or belief, trustworthy, dependable, inspiring trust/faith.
Peter is saying God is trustworthy and dependable even in the midst of suffering. He is not just making this up. Peter knows this not only expierientally, but also from the Scriptures.
The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,
Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation, the servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”
Isaiah
In light of the the household of God suffering for sanctification and trusting in our faithful Creator Peter explains,
C. The Way We Walk in the Midst of Suffering.
C. The Way We Walk in the Midst of Suffering.
The family of God who is suffering according to God’s will is to entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. In other word’s as we experience the disciplining judgment of God we remember the result of our judgment as compared to the judgment of those outside of the faith, those who do not obey the gospel of God.
Our judgment is temporal and preparatory and their judgment is eternally destructive. There will be no relief from the suffering of those who do not believe.
In light of that we are to entrust our faithful Creator and do good. We are not to revile in return, we are not to threaten when threaten, we are to preach the gospel, love our neighbors according to the Scriptures, devote ourselves to God’s people and God’s Word.
As we come to the end of Chapter 4 and we close out this paragraph of verse 12-19 I want to do something a little different. Scot Mcknight in his commentary gives us a list of 9 principles we can learn from this text that we should consider when we think of suffering as the family of God. His point is when we look around today we don’t suffer like the Christians in Peter’s day, but if we live out our faith and walk according to the Scriptures we will more than likely suffer shame in the eyes of the world. So here are his 9 principles to help us cope with suffering shame as believers.
The NIV Application Commentary: 1 Peter Contemporary Significance
(1) Christians ought not to be surprised if they suffer shame and loss of status because of their faith (4:12).
The NIV Application Commentary: 1 Peter Contemporary Significance
(2) Suffering shame for Jesus should be understood as a test to prepare us for God’s final judgment (4:12).
The NIV Application Commentary: 1 Peter Contemporary Significance
(3) Christians ought to welcome the opportunity to share in the sufferings of Christ (4:13).
The NIV Application Commentary: 1 Peter Contemporary Significance
(4) Christians ought to be able to transcend their present pain by reflecting on the transcendent glory that awaits God’s people (4:13; cf. 1:3–9).
The NIV Application Commentary: 1 Peter Contemporary Significance
(5) Even if anxieties and cares jump up to terrify Christians at every turn when facing suffering, they should be able to thank God for the Spirit, who will enable them to continue in doing good and in bringing glory to God (4:14).
The NIV Application Commentary: 1 Peter Contemporary Significance
(6) When facing suffering, the Christian needs to remind himself or herself to guard good behavior with a firm shield (4:15).
The NIV Application Commentary: 1 Peter Contemporary Significance
(7) Christians are to take their eyes off themselves, endure shame, and turn their eyes on the glory of God as they face injustice because they are following Jesus (4:16).
The NIV Application Commentary: 1 Peter Contemporary Significance
(8) Because Christians realize that the final day of reckoning is yet to come and is a firm, fixed date in God’s diary, they must strengthen their resolve to obey God in the face of suffering and injustice (4:17–18).
The NIV Application Commentary: 1 Peter Contemporary Significance
(9) Finally, when facing suffering in the name of Christ, Christians must continue to do good works as an expression of their trust (4:19).