1 Peter 4:1-13
4:1 Therefore, since
Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same
attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2
As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil
human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3 For you have spent
enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do-living in
debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable
idolatry. 4 They think it strange that you do not plunge with them
into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But
they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the
living and the dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached
even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged
according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in
regard to the spirit.
7 The end of all things
is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you
can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers
over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without
grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to
serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various
forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very
words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God
provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus
Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
12 Dear friends, do not
be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though
something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you
participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed
when his glory is revealed.
The story of
Rip Van Winkle is set in pre-Revolutionary War 18th century. Rip is a
lazy man with a nagging wife. One day as she nags away at him, Rip
wanders up into the mountains with his dog. He meets up with some
fun-loving people, drinks too much whiskey, and falls asleep. When he
wakes up his gun is rotted and rusty, his beard has grown a foot, and
his dog is nowhere to be found. He discovers that much more than his
beard, gun, and dog have changed. Rip gets in trouble for saying he
is a loyal subject of King George, who no longer occupies the throne.
His wife is dead. Most of his friends perished in the war. Because of
the passage of time and the ensuing changes around him, Rip has
become a stranger in his own town.
What happened to Rip Van Winkle is
similar to what happens to believers when God invades our life and
transfers us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His
beloved Son Christ Jesus. Our internal GPS unit still shows the same
location, but everything is different. We become strangers to the
world we once knew. Within our families, our relationships, even
within our own hearts things are transformed.
It can frighten us to realize the
people with whom we were once kindred spirits are now hostile. Peter
wrote his first epistle to those who had found themselves living in a
strange world they once called home. He wanted to give hope to
pilgrims enduring fiery trials because of their inner transformation
so that they would endure to the end.
Peter and John wrote their letters to
suffering Christians, encouraging them to stay true to their faith
and not give up. Knowing that suffering is inevitable and that it has
a purpose, it helps us to persevere in our faith. This is because we
have a promise from God that at Christ Jesus' return He will bring an
end to all suffering. “and He will
wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any
death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the
first things have passed away." (Rev 21:4)
Until that time however, suffering is
inevitable.
1. Suffering is inevitable
– (4:1, 12)
There was a time when there was no
suffering, and there is a time coming when for some all suffering
will end. Suffering was not present in a Genesis 1-2 world, nor will
it present in a Revelation 21 world. Yet every day between those two
sections of Scripture is marked by suffering, an inevitable result of
the fall. “In this you greatly
rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have
been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith,
being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested
by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the
revelation of Jesus Christ; “ (1
Peter 1:6-7)
Just as the "rain
and sun fall upon the just and the unjust," so too
does the curse of sin. Romans 3:23 tells us, “for
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” All
means everyone, Christian and non-Christian alike – we all under
the curse of sin.
Yet suffering still surprises us.
Believers in Christ Jesus can be duped into thinking that our status
as children of the King will free us from trials. But Scripture
passages such as James 1 teach otherwise, “Consider
it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,”
(James 1:2) - suffering is to be expected for the Christian.
Romans 8:17 states, “Now
if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with
Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may
also share in his glory.” You should not be shocked when
you are called to suffer. In this age of the cross you should be more
shocked by seasons of reprieve.
First Peter 4:1 is helpful in this
regard. "Since therefore, Christ
suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking"
(v. 1). Then in verse 12 Peter exhorts the suffering
saints, “Beloved, do not be surprised
at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing,
as though some strange thing were happening to you;” In
other words, you are commanded to develop a Christ-exalting theology
of suffering and then to not be shocked when you have to use it.
Do you avoid suffering? Do you trust
that Christ Jesus will be present in the midst of suffering?
“teaching them to observe all that I
commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the
age." (Matt 28:20). Have you developed a Christ Like
theology of suffering? Are you using it?
Yes, suffering is inevitable for
Christians. Yet as hard as it is to comprehend when we are going
through it, suffering is also purposeful.
2. Suffering is purposeful
– (4:3-13)
At times Bob Ross, longtime host of
"The Joy of Painting," gave his viewers anything but joy.
He would paint an intricate, beautiful mountain, or a grove of happy
little trees on a mountain ridge. Then, he would do the unthinkable,
painting a huge tree that covered nearly everything else. If you were
not familiar with Ross' techniques might think he was careless. Who
would make something so beautiful only to waste it? Yet when his
painting was finished, the casual viewer would understand that Ross
had everything planned from the beginning. Every element of his
paintings contributed to the overall effect, even those parts that
became mostly obscured.
The same is true of the Lord. He is
purposeful. First Peter 4:3-13 helps us to see God's good purpose in
the fiery trials that He leads us through. God brings suffering into
your life to chisel away the remaining corruption of sin. This pain
is part of what God does in "working
all things together for our good." Suffering brings
you into greater conformity with Christ Jesus, which is always your
greatest good.
Peter wants his readers to know that
their "inheritance" is secure. It is in the finished work
of Christ Jesus that they should place their hope, you should too.
Even in the midst of various trials God is purposefully working for
your good.
Do you trust that God has a purpose in
your suffering? I know that when you are suffering or struggling it
is hard to find that purpose, but think through past trials you have
endured. In what way did they mold you for the better? How might the
Lord be doing something similar through your present trials?
Conclusion:
God has a good purpose for your
suffering. The book of 1 Peter Chapter 4 encourages you to take heart
in the midst of your trials and trust Christ Jesus' nail scared hand.
When you strive to avoid suffering, you fight God's means of divine
grace.
You should never pursue suffering for
its own sake. Yet when the option is given between suffering and
ungodliness you are urged to joyously endure. You can stare the
darkness of a lost world straight in the face and say, "I'll
take the gospel to them even if the only means to do so is through
pain." God calls you to embrace suffering and trust His hand,
knowing that your inheritance is secure.
To the person who does not know Christ
Jesus as Lord and Saviour I'm sure all this talk of suffering sounds
pretty bad. And you are probably thinking why would I want to be a
Christian if it means suffering? I can think of only one reason,
Christ Jesus will end all of your suffering one day. But without Him
your suffering will go on forever.
If you are one who always wants to know
what the bottom line is, here it is. With Christ Jesus you will
suffer while here on earth, but it will all end in heaven. Without
Christ Jesus your suffering will last an eternity.
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