SMILING THROUGH THE PAIN: A THEOLOGY OF BIBLICAL SUFFERING

Introduction

Wouldn’t you love to come to the place in your Christian life where you could always respond with joy? Have you arrived? I know that I have not, but I desperately want to. As believers, everything we go through is a marvelous stewardship from God. This includes our own times of suffering. It is in the area of the “blessing” of suffering, more than any other area of life, where we learn to grow.

The great evangelist and preacher of another era George Whitefield, once said, “Oh, may God put me in one furnace after another that my soul may be transparent that I may see God as He really is.”

As we come to the end of chapter four of the gospel of hope, 1 Peter, we are confronted with a theology of suffering. In the text before us, the Holy Spirit will confront us with four essentials of how to smile through the pain of suffering, especially when it is undeserved.

ESSENTIAL #1: THERE IS WRONG WAY TO SUFFER (4:15)

There are four categories of offenses Christians ought never to suffer. The first forbidden category is that of suffering as a murderer. What does Peter mean that we are forbidden to suffer as a murderer? Were there believers actually guilty of hacking or stabbing others to death? NO! There is more than one way to kill someone. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 5:21-22?

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!” shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!” shall be in danger of hell fire.”

What does Jesus mean? Basically, if you demonstrate anger in your speech toward another person, you have committed murder. If that is the case, there has been some murders committed right here, especially last year. Telling someone off or telling it like it is while manifesting a blood-red face is definitely not the way Jesus wants it to be.

The second forbidden category is suffering as a thief. The word for thief in this verse is the Greek word “kleptes.” This is the word from which we get our English word kleptomania. Jesus says in His Word, “Do not suffer as a thief.” You might protest, “I have never stolen anything in my life!” Are you sure? It is possible for us to seal from someone and not even steal their possessions. You can steal by attempting to destroy another’s reputation. It is even possible to steal with your words. Jesus says, “Don’t do it!”

The third forbidden category is suffering as an evildoer. This word attaches the word “kakos” which is the Greek term for evil. The Holy Spirit put this word in just in case we thought, “Well, I am not a murderer and I am not a thief. I am in good shape.” Then we pat ourselves on the back. No, this general word for “one who does evil” pertains to any commission of any kind of evil. Jesus says, “Do not commit any acts of evil toward another.”

The fourth term is quite interesting because it seems to be out of place here. It is also a big word. It is the Greek word “allotriepiskopos.” This word is known as a hapax legomena. That is, it is a word that is not used anywhere else in the New Testament. Further, there are no uses of it anywhere in secular Greek writings as well. It appears to be a word that Peter came up with. It literally describes “an overseer or one who looks into the affairs of others.”

Why would Peter say such things to believers in the church of God? It is for the same reason that I am telling them to you. Pastor Peter and his congregation and Pastor Eddie and his congregation have the same exact problem. Peter is saying, “Some of you are suffering because you are guilty of these things, and you should suffer.” This is the type of suffering we endure when we are guilty.

To suffer in this manner is to suffer the consequences of our own behavior. Beware the wrong way to suffer.

ESSENTIAL #2: THERE IS A RIGHTEOUS WAY TO SUFFER (4:16)

Peter moves from the situation of those who are guilty of suffering wrongly to the arena where people are suffering innocently. They are suffering as a Christian ought to suffer. The term Christian is used only three times in the New Testament. It was not a term believers used for themselves. It was used by others to refer to believers, mostly in a derogatory and insulting way. It was the second century before the term became widely adopted by believers to refer to themselves.

It is amazing that we have come 360 degrees from where the believers of Peter’s day were to where we are today. We are in the same historical context. We are the enemy. They are coming after you. Folks, I will wear the designation of being a Conservative Evangelical Biblical Christian with honor! I am honored to be a Christian-a Christ follower. Despite what others have written and said about the term Christian, it does not refer to “little Christ.” It means “Christ follower.” Therefore, when the persecution comes, and it is coming, we are not to suffer in a way that brings shame and dishonor to Christ. Rather, our suffering should bring glory to Christ. A proper spiritual outlook makes suffering a privilege, not a problem. Our suffering ought to bring glory to God and it ought to bring good to those around us.

ESSENTIAL #3: THERE IS THE REASON FOR WHY WE SUFFER (4:17-18)

A cursory glance at these verses may cause one to think they are out of place in this text. Yet, upon closer observation, their inclusion makes perfect sense. Peter has been talking to us about the hard times these believers had been going through. They are being persecuted for their faith in Christ and they are hurting.

This verse has been formed by the joining of Jeremiah 25:29 and Ezekiel 9:6. The background of these verses, especially the Ezekiel reference, is the onslaught of the armies of Babylon against Jerusalem. The glory of God has departed the temple and Ezekiel quotes God as He instructs the Babylonians to “slay utterly old and young” and to “begin at My sanctuary.” The prophecy looks to the final hours of the fall of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar.

Peter certainly had these passages in mind when he wrote this section of the epistle. The word judgment as used here has both a positive and negative effect. It is not used in the sense of condemnation toward believers. The verse asks the question, “If God so examines His own people, “the house of God,” what then shall the end be like for those who have disobeyed the gospel?”

The context of the passage at hand is the coming persecution of God’s people by ungodly forces. God is going to take that persecution and use it as a pruning of the church. He will do the same today. God uses the blessing of suffering to rid His church of the refuse of worldliness that we have allowed to come into His church. God will use our suffering to reveal to the world who truly is not ashamed of Christ and His gospel. That is what God will do through suffering. God will allow spiritual persecution for the purpose of uncovering those who are truly serious about standing for the gospel and those who are not.

Friend, if you just showing up instead of allowing God to show out in your life, you are the chaff and God is getting ready to remove you. If that concept was true in Peter’s day, and it was, you can be assured it is even truer today. Just let a little persecution come into play and you will shortly see who truly loves the Lord Jesus and His church.

Here is the biblical principle: judgment must first begin with us. We are God’s people. We do not need to be busybodies. We do not need to be murdering people with our words. We are called to be pure and holy people.

The question of verse 17 is now phrased in terms of salvation rather than judgment (18).

This is almost a word for word quotation of Proverbs 11:31 from the Septuagint. Here is what this verse is saying. If the righteous have been saved only through great difficulty (scarcely), the prospects of the spiritually lost are certainly even more hopeless. Man is completely helpless to save himself. Only God can save.

What is the answer to Peter’s rhetorical two-part question? The answer to both parts is “hell.” What happens to those who are ungodly? What happens to those who do not obey the gospel of Christ? Here me! Their destiny is hell. Ultimately, they choose that. They choose to disobey God. God has revealed Himself through nature, through history, and through the conscious (moral argument for God). There are churches on almost every corner. Yet, most people are going to reject God and say, “I’ll just go to hell.” God says, “Go ahead. I don’t want you to, but that is where rejecting Me will take you.”

The biblical principle is that those without Christ are going to experience true and eternal suffering and condemnation.

However, for those of you who love and live for Jesus, I say by the Word of the Lord, “Endure this. Hold on the Christ” There is coming a day when there is going to be a grand reversal. Increasingly, following Christ is going to cost you more and more. Be willing to pay that price. There is a divine reason for our suffering.

ESSENTIAL #4: THERE IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BELIEVER IN SUFFERING (4:19)

In this verse we are presented with an appeal to believers. Those who suffer are to trust the providences of a beneficent God. The word commit in the NKJV should be more accurately translated entrust as in the CSB. it is a financial term that literally means “to deposit in a bank. It is the exact same term Jesus used in Luke 23:46 where He says, “…Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.”

Just as Jesus entrusted His spirit to the hands of the Father, so are we in our suffering entrust ourselves to our faithful Creator. The word creator suggests power and authority. God is not just the Creator, He is the faithful Creator. The point is that the One who is Creator continues faithful in preserving those who trust in Him. Notice that we entrust our selves in our suffering to a faithful Creator “according to the will of God.” Even in our suffering, God has a divine design. No matter what we face, we can trust the faithfulness of our Creator God.

Do you want to experience the power of God in your life? I believe we all agree that we would. Here’s the deal. We will never experience the power of God in our lives without God’s process to get us to the power. What is that process? It is the process of godly suffering. First comes the process of suffering, then comes the glory of His power. It is through suffering, not the absence of it, that will bring us through.

When suffering comes, realize and recognize it for what it is. It is part and parcel of the Christian life. When it happens, don’t get angry at God. Don’t shake your fist heavenward at God. Rather, do this-REJOICE! Glorify God and and entrust, deposit your life afresh and anew to Him. The old advice still holds: trust God and do what is right. There is the responsibility of believers in the process of suffering.

CONCLUSION

How can we sing through the pain of suffering, especially when we don’t deserve it. First, remember there is a wrongheaded way of suffering and avoid it. Second, realize that God has given a righteous way to suffer. Third, there are divine reasons for our suffering. Finally, there is the believer’s responsibility in the process of suffering.

Elizabeth Prentiss was born in 1818. From an early age, she had a great gift for writing both in prose and poetry. She became published at the age of sixteen. Her father was a pastor and she married a pastor, Dr. George L. Prentiss. Everything was wonderful in the Prentiss household. They had a beautiful boy. He was five years old. They were ministering in a church in New York City during the 1850’s, which was going great. That is until their five-year old son named Eddie died. It was devastating to them. A short time later they had another child, this time a daughter. Her name was Elizabeth. She only lived one month. This was the darkest time of Elizabeth’s life. It was during this difficult time of life that she wrote a song that she would forever be known for. Yet, she never did anything with this poem, which would later become a song. For thirteen years she kept the words of this poem to herself. She did not even share this with her husband. She finally mustered the courage to show her husband. He told her that it was wonderful and encouraged her to have the work published. Thus, the poem became a song and it is found in our hymals. The title of the Hymn is More Love to Thee. [read stanzas of hymn]

After coming through this dark night of the soul, Elizabeth Prentiss also wrote these words: “I see now that to live for God, whether one is allowed ability to be actively useful or not, is a great thing, and that it is a wonderful mercy to be allowed even to suffer, if thereby one can glorify Him.”

Yes, persecution is coming and suffering and sorrow are part of life down here. Yet, it will be worth it all when we cross over and stand before the Lord Jesus. So, I want to witness to everyone I can. I want to preach with everything within me. I want to work for Him until He comes or until He calls me home. Then, on that day, when I close my eyes here and open them up there, I will see my Savior face to face. That is the reason I can smile through the painful times down here. He is worth it all!