1 Peter 4:12-19
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Don’t Be Surprised
Don’t Be Surprised
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. 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.
Pray
This is the Third time that Peter tells the believers to endure persecution. So it has got to be important. Today I want to focus on the persecution side of ll of this.
I Peter 4:12 “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.”
Beloved, We know its going to be good here because peter is buttering every one up by calling them beloved. Kinda like when you ask your wife for a favor “hey Hun… Love of my life.....
Actually When Peter uses beloved here it shows the true motivation about what he is about to say. And that motivation is Love. What he is about to say is being said out of love.
Don’t be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you,
Point out it says when (whats when mean?) it doesn’t say if.
Why shouldn’t Christians be surprised that they might be persecuted?
Because we were told that we would be persecuted.
Matthew 5:10-12 (ESV)
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
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.
34 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town,
17 And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.
20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
Point out WILL not could.
I read a story about an American pastor, John Piper he tells this story about Brother Andrew, the Dutch missionary, from before the end of the Cold War:“Brother Andrew told the story of sitting in Budapest, Hungary, with a dozen pastors of that city teaching them from the Bible. In walked an old friend, a pastor from Romania who had recently been released from prison. Brother Andrew said that he stopped teaching and knew that it was time to listen.“After a long pause the Romanian pastor said, ‘Andrew, are there any pastors in prison in Holland?’ ‘No,’ he replied. ‘Why not?’ the pastor asked. Brother Andrew thought for a moment and said, ‘I think it must be because we do not take advantage of all the opportunities God gives us.’“Then came the most difficult question. ‘Andrew, what do you do with 2 Timothy 3:12?’ Brother Andrew opened his Bible and turned to the text and read aloud, ‘All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.’ He closed the Bible slowly and said, ‘Brother, please forgive me. We do nothing with that verse.’ ”(John Piper, Called to Suffer and Rejoice: For Holiness and Hope (Romans 5:1–8), preached August 16, 1992)
Maybe we should be surprised when we are not persecuted.
If we are not suffering as Christians, could it be that perhaps we are more like the world and less like Christ?
What are we are talking about here persecution?
We modern day wimpy Christians don't understand persecution. We think because someone calls us out of FB we are being persecuted.
“They hurt my feelings”
Or we don't get invited to that family social event because we are the duds of the gathering.
Maybe we get looked at like we are eccentric radical homes school, stay at home mom, child raising lunatics.
Set the stage!!
We know that Paul wrote this letter around 62 to 64 Ad.
So what was going on that he wrote this letter to these Christians and continually encouraged them about being persecuted?
We are only going to talk about the persecution in Rome however Christians were being persecuted all over. The Roman empire was huge in this time frame and a lot of the persecution of Christians occured under Roman Rule
49 AD Claudius Issued an edict commanding Jews living in Rome to adhere to their ancestral way of life a were restricted from holding assemblies.
In 49 AD a second edict was issued ordering all Christians to leave the city of Rome. Christians were the black sheep, because they would not conform to Roman rule. Christians were accused of incest, cannibalism, they were hunted down for what they believed in.
Claudius got the Ball rolling and then in steps the most infamous roman emporer of all time. Lucious Domitius Ahenobarbus. Also known as Nero Claudius Ceaser. He was known for being ruthless and fierce. Nero tried to drowned his own mother in a collapsible boat, when that didnt work he ordered her to be stabbed to death in her own home. , he exiled and murdered his own wife, married the woman he had an affair with, and three years later killed her in a fit of pure rage by kicking her in the stomach. In 64 AD there was a huge fire in Rome and it is believed that Nero set this fire. It is said that while Rome burned Nero sat on his patio and played an instrument. He then blamed the fire on the Christians to take the heat off him self. Nero was a very cruel and evil person many people in the first century referred to him as the Devil. This was known as the Neronian persecution.
Nero had a sick and twisted mind this is shown by the way he persecuted Christians.
He sewed them up in the skins of wild animals
dressed others in shirts made stiff with wax
fixed to Axletrees
set on fire in his garden to illuminate them
We see some of these referred to in
Hebrews 11:36-38 (ESV)
36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Finally in about 66 or 67 AD Paul and Peter were both martyred.
Paul was beheaded
Peter was crucified upside down because he was not worthy to suffer the same death as Jesus.
SO that's why Christians shouldn't be surprised or think that it is strange if they are persecuted. because this is the destiny, to one degree or another, for all believers.
We also see here that Peter said that the fire would be here to test us. One of the things we saw happening to the Christians is that when the persecution started some of the Christians would run and hide (we see this in the Hebrews passage we just read when it talks about wandering in the deserts, mountains and dens.)
However some of the Christians would stay and just deny their belief. The fire tried their faith.
13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
Rather then think it is strange that you are being persecuted rejoice.
but why should we rejoice? Because we are sharing in Jesus’ suffering. And We will rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed (when he comes again) The rejoice used here is an Exulting joy, We can rejoice amongst the suffering now then we shall exult for ever free from suffering when jesus comes again.
If we will not bear suffering for Christ now, we must bear eternal sufferings hereafter
14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
For the name of Christ basically means Christians. So if you are insulted because you are a christian or because you belong to Christ You are blessed. if you are insulted because you have no style that doesn't mean your blessed.
And why are we blessed ? Because the spirit of God is upon us.
The old testament and Jewish tradition often speaks of the spirit of God resting upon his people to empower them to complete their task.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.
Peter continues on here . Basically he is identifying the wrong kind of suffering. Don’t suffer because you are an evil doer.
I want to point out here that the first two we see Peter discuss criminal activity however the second two Peter mentions two sins that can result in social persecution. Believers should avoid behavior that is dishonoring to other people in general.
16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
It is interesting here that Peter uses the word Christian. Christian was originally used by those hostile to Christianity. One of the commentaries I read actually said that this is the only time in the new testament it is used for good. It may be very common today used to describe a follower of Christ however this word is rarely used in the the NT it is probably safe to say that Peter used it for emphasis to affirm believers identity with Christ and his sufferings.
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?
We see here the reason why it is better to suffer as a christian than it is to suffer as an evil doer. Because it is time for Judgement. And that Judgement will begin with the household of God. Judgment here is not punitive it is purifying. The suffering of Gods people purifies them.
And if this begins with Gods people what is going to happen to those that are not Gods people?
18 And
“If the righteous is scarcely saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
Peter here quotes Proverbs 11:31 “31 If the righteous is repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!”
When he says Scarcely saved it isn't barely saved it is saved with difficulty. So if the Righteous are saved through suffering 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.
The therefore brings this whole section to a conclusion
Suffering is ultimately Gods will and the believer must entrust their souls to him since he is faithful creator. While doing good. We know that we dont get to heaven with works however if we entrust ourselves to Him wont be be doing Good?