Bearing The Name of Christ

Context

As we move forward throughout the rest of 1 Peter, we must remember the context in which it was written, if we are to get the full picture of what Peter is saying here.

When we opened up this book, we saw that it was addressed to those who had suffered heavy persecution and had been driven from their homes and scattered throughout a strange land.

We were also able to see what the overarching theme of this book was from the beginning, which was hope in the midst of suffering. Peter has issued that there can be light in the midst of darkness, if we are willing to seek it out. Peter has assured them of this by addressing their salvation, the scripture, and their lifestyles.

As we look at these verses today, we are going to see Peter really dig into this idea of “Joy in the Midst of Suffering”. Let’s see what Peter has to say.

Read 1 Peter 4:12-19

Content

Let’s take a look at vs. 16 again. “Glorify God in this matter”. What does that mean? Glorify God because you have suffered as a “Christian”. It means that we should glorify God because we have suffered for the name we bear. We have suffered because of our relationship to Christ.

Peter is making a very large claim in these verses. Peter is stating that to bear the “NAME” of Christ, is to also bear the “BURDENS” that come with that claim.

We have been so fortunate to exist in a time and place that one can be open about their faith without fear. Because of how this country was formed and what it was founded upon, we have existed, until recently, as a Christian nation. Obviously, we can see that we have been trending away from that a little more and more over the past several years, but we have still been blessed. We have taken for granted how serious it is to model Christ in our lives. Because of this, we are seeing a great movement away from God in this place. It has not always been this way, and it is also not this way in other countries.

We have rarely been persecuted because of our faith here in America, and even when we are, it is not severe. It is very rare to hear of someone that has been killed because of their faith, but one day it will be exactly like that. To be someone that serves God, and keeps His standards is now viewed as being narrow-minded, a bigot, judgmental, and simply flat-out crazy. It is not as it once was, and it is getting worse.

Partake (Vs. 12-13)

God is reassuring us that there will be suffering for those who are living as a Christian.

2 Timothy 3:12 NKJV

12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

1 John 3:13 NKJV

13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.

Presence (Vs. 14)

God has promised to be with us in the midst of our suffering!

2 Corinthians 4:17 NKJV

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

Posture (vs. 15-16)

God says there is no shame in suffering for righteousness sake!

Philippians 1:20 NKJV

20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.

Romans 1:16 NKJV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Pruning (Vs. 17-18)

Our suffering could be part of our own chastisement.

2 Peter 2:9 NKJV

9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,

Commitment

Product (Vs. 19)

Deuteronomy 6:24 NKJV

24 And the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day.