A Process & Outcome of Refining

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1 Peter 4:12-19 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. 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.

Opening Prayer

Clarifying the Difficulties

At first glance, these three verses sound a little frightening.

They sound as if they disagree with the testimony of justification by faith alone in Christ alone.

But, they only sound that way if we stay at the surface of the passage...

And, if we keep the context of the letter away from these three verses.

Some questions to think about in these three verses:

#1 – What does Peter mean by judgment?

#2 – Will Christians face judgment?

#3 – What is the purpose of the judgment of God in this passage?

#4 – Why is God’s judgment linked to the persecution of Christians?

So, let’s address the first two questions...

#1 – What does Peter mean by judgment?

#2 – Will Christians face judgment?

Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

These sound like great works, right?

What is the problem with these works?

The problem with these works is they are not connected to faith in Christ...

They’re connected to faith in SELF.

And, everything and anything disconnected from faith in Christ is SIN.

So, biblically, as we see in this passage, judgment carries with it evaluation.

Matthew 24:31-34, 41, 46 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ... 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Here we see that judgment not only carries with it evaluation...

But separation, as well.

So, biblically the judgment of God equals evaluation, separation of believers from unbelievers, and an eternal verdict upon those judged.

Will Christians face judgment? Yes.

But, we will have a different outcome than unbelievers.

Now, I want to look at the third question...

#3 – What is the purpose of the judgment of God in this passage?

#4 – Why is God’s judgment linked to the persecution of Christians?

2 Thessalonians 1:4-10 Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. 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— 6 since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 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 8 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. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10 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 (the gospel) to you was believed.

So, what Paul is saying...Peter is also saying...

1 Peter 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?

Notice that Peter speaks of two different outcomes...

An outcome for the household of God (Peter has stated we are)...

And, an outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God.

Those outcomes are based on judgment, which means evaluation...

And, any time you have evaluation you have separation.

So, what we see being said here is that the trials that come into our life for being Christians...

The suffering that we face and endure because we name ourself with Christ...

And, pledge our allegiance to Christ...

Is a refining process.

Remember what Peter said in v.12...

1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you,

But this testing is not only a refining process for the household of God...

It is a refining process for those who disobey the gospel of God.

Now, I want to look at the fourth question...

#4 – Why is God’s judgment linked to the persecution of Christians?

God has often used outsiders/unbelievers for the process of refining His people.

Let’s think about...

The Process & Outcome of Refining

The process of refining is using intense heat and pressure to drive out the impurities from the object being refined.

The goal & outcome of refining is to find out the reality of the object your refining...

Is it real or not?

If it is real, then you would also want the object purified.

So, another goal would be the purity of the object being refined.

So, God allowing trials to come upon the Church is for the refining and purifying of the Church.

Does he really allow such to take place?

Matthew 13:18-23 “Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

Jesus uses agriculture to teach a truth that we see in our experience as Christians.

We see some people, the first soil, reject the gospel from the very beginning.

The gospel never effects the intellect, which is the starting point of conversion.

We see some people, the third soil, they are effected intellectually...

But, they never let it pass the intellect because they count the cost and determine it is not worth it to them.

We see some people, the second soil, receive the gospel...

Respond with external zeal and expressions that seem real...

They get plugged into the Church.

They become active in ministry.

They may even evangelize people.

But, when trials and suffering for the name of Christ enter their life...

They turn from Christ.

They no longer think Christ is worth it.

Then we see the fourth soil.

This is the one who receives the gospel with joy...

And, endures to the end.

Their faith in is Christ and they find Him worthy to suffer for.

Now, we know that God ordains all things.

And in His ordination, He allows trials to come upon His people...

In order to purify the Church.

To alleviate the Church from hypocrisy.

To enable the Church to have a good and faithful testimony to the world.

God cares deeply and acts faithfully upon the Church for its purity.

Look at what the Apostle Paul says...

1 Corinthians 11:18-19 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.

God allows divisions in the Church so that there is refining within the Church.

Again, because God cares deeply and acts faithfully upon the Church for its purity.

So, another thing we find in trials is...

The Persuasion of Refining

Philippians 1:27-28 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.

What God teaches us is that as we endure suffering for Christ...

As we cling to Christ and our response to suffering is in obedience to Christ...

We give off this aroma to unbelievers that we are saved...

And, they are not.

And, in the mercy of God, if there is still time in their life...

It may be the very thing that converts their soul.

So, not only does our enduring suffering for Christ assure us of our salvation...

But, those who persecute Christians are given a convincing effect of their doom.

And, we should pray that the end result is the salvation of their souls.

When Peter says in 1 Peter 4:18 And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

He’s quoting Proverbs 11:31 which speaks of being repaid in this life.

Peter is using here to say if the righteous are saved, yet have difficulties in this life...

What will be the end of those who oppose God and His salvation?!

That word scarcely is better understood as “with difficulties”.

Again, meaning the righteous…those who love God and whom God loves...

If they have difficulties in this life…but are rewarded with salvation...

What will it look like for those who oppose God?

Worst! —> Difficulties without salvation.

This is their best life.

This is as good as it gets.

I want to close with the final command of this passage...

1 Peter 4:19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

What the refining process should cause in us, as Christians is to trust God...

The persuasion of refining should be, for us, to cling to Christ...

His righteousness.

His atoning blood.

His faithfulness to not lose us nor forsake us.

All our hope is bottled up in the person, work and faithfulness of our Savior and our God.

And there should never be a moment when we are not entrusting our soul to our faithful Creator.

Closing Prayer