1 Peter 4:12-19 When You Suffer, You Are Blessed

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When You Suffer, You Are Blessed

1 Peter 4:12-19

Introduction: The challenge of suffering is rarely appreciated until we are personally affected. Talking and studying about suffering for righteousness sake prior to experiencing suffering is important and is preparatory, but there is no equivalent to the experience itself. That being said, to endure the trial, we must have our minds ready and trained so that we respond as God has instructed us instead of allowing the flesh to panic and make poor choices.

The last section of Peter’s letter is intended to provide comfort and hope when the trial comes. The message is beautiful and needs to be embedded in our minds.

1. The Blessing of Suffering (12-16)
   1. Looking at these five verses, Peter offers three ways we should be comforted when the trial comes (12-14), and then gives an exhortation against mistakes that can be made during suffering (15-16).
   2. The first message of comfort may seem odd, but it is likely the most important of all. The idea of not being surprised but accepting trials as a normal, to-be-expected, part of being a Christian is critical to keeping us from overreacting and being shocked.
      1. If we are “surprised,” we will think something is terribly wrong. “Maybe God has deserted me. Maybe I’m not living in a way to please him. Why isn’t he answering my prayers and taking this away?”
         In other words, when trials come, our reaction should be more like shrugging our shoulders, smiling, and saying, “Well, that was to be expected!” The idea that should be in our minds is, “That is what is supposed to happen when we proclaim Christ.” Cf. Eccl. 7:13-14
      2. Jesus said, “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets” (Luke 6:26). We all have a strong desire to be liked and for people to speak well about us. But as a Christian, that is just not reality unless we are not being bold about Jesus and our stance for him.
      3. Further, the trial is a test. A test is the way God gives us a passing or failing grade. Genesis 22:1 begins with, “After these things, God tested Abraham.” And at the end of the test, God said, “Now I know that you fear God…” If God needed to test Abraham 40 years after calling him from Ur, we certainly need to be tested! In the test, we discover our strength. And in the test, God discovers whether we truly fear him above all else. Passing the test is proof of a passing grade! 
   3. Peter’s second message of comfort is that by suffering for Christ we are sharing in Christ’s suffering. I think for me, and probably for most Christians, we have not appreciated the need to share in Christ’s suffering. Instead, we have considered his suffering something he needed to do to save us without any application for us. That is simply not true.
      1. Jesus made the connection in Matthew 16:21-24. There is no messiah without the cross and there is no disciple without the cross. Paul makes the same point in 2 Corinthians.
      2. As the rest of verse 13 suggests, suffering with Christ is the path to glory (Hebrews). When his glory is revealed, so is ours.
      3. Therefore, the comfort in sharing in Christ’s suffering is that during the trial we can immediately and continually think of rejoicing and being glad for our suffering when Jesus’ glory is revealed.
   4. The third way we are comforted when suffering for Christ is that we are “blessed because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon us.” Let’s consider why this is so important:
      1. First, we are blessed because God’s presence is with us. One of the major mistakes Job made during his trial is believing that God was not present and was ignoring his suffering. In Job 37, at the end of Elihu’s final speech, a storm arose and Elihu showed Job how God was in the midst of the storm. We desperately need to always recognize God’s presence. That is one of the key blessings of being created as God’s temple. 
      2. Second, this is another allusion to God’s blessing on Jesus. Isaiah 11:1-2, “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.” As we noted many times in our study of Isaiah, whatever the Messiah does, we do. But it is also true, whatever blessings the Messiah receives is also what is promised us because that is why he came and suffered – to lead us to glory through him.
   5. Peter’s concludes this section with a warning that a Christian ought not to suffer for any wrongdoing. There is nothing blessed about suffering when it is our own dumb fault.
      1. Peter’s mixture of sins is quite interesting. The first three are serious enough for one to be convicted in a court of law. However, being a meddler simply brings consequences from the general public. In other words, such a person becomes a nuisance. The word “as” means “even as”, (NIV). In other words, whether it is the things we consider major sins or even just a meddler, don’t do those things.
      2. It may be that a Christian’s higher standard of morality would lead to interfering in personal lives of others with “tactless attempts at conversion” (J.H. Elliott). I have watched both preachers and members do this with visitors, as if using the spur of the moment opportunity to condemn one of their beliefs or particulars in their lifestyle. That approach is simply beginning in the middle instead of seeking a study of the Bible.
   6. Therefore, the message of verse 16 is that the only “crime” in the eyes of the world for which you should be willing to suffer is for being called a “Christian.” Obviously, the name was being used in a derogatory way, but instead of being ashamed of the slur, give glory to God. As Paul often did, turn your accuser toward the wonder of what God has done in Christ.
2. Suffering Is the Beginning of Judgment (17-18)
   1. Again, verse 17 may not at first seem to be a statement of hope, but that is mostly because of the challenge of the wording: “it is time for judgment to begin” and “if the righteous is scarcely saved.” What could be comforting about this?
   2. Let’s begin with verse 18, which is a quotation from Proverbs 11:31 LXX. [the Hebrew shows little relationship to the Greek translation]. The CSB translates the closest to the LXX: “If a righteous person is saved with difficulty, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 
   3. When we compare verses 17 and 18, we can see that verse 18 is a confirmation of what is said in verse 17. 
      1. Therefore consider that the time of judgment has already begun for the righteous. The way it has begun is through trials and suffering.
      2. The ungodly and the sinner are not presently suffering (they do not suffer for righteousness sake), but will ultimately suffer on the Day of Judgment. Therefore, if even the righteous are presently suffering, how bad will it ultimately be for those who do not obey the gospel?
   4. Therefore, the message is that God’s eternal judgment has already begun through the suffering of the righteous. This suffering has marked and separated them from the ungodly and sinner.
      1. 1:6-7 confirms this as trials that purify us and result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
      2. Matthew 3:11-12 indicate a similar picture. John announced that the coming of Jesus would bring a baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire. Verse 12 explains by describing the winnowing process of separating the wheat from the chaff – which is exactly what is, and has been happening since the time of Christ. However, the ultimate fire is the burning up of the chaff after the wheat has been gathered into the barn.
      3. Therefore, Peter is comforting his readers and all who suffer for Christ by showing them that being rejected by the world is a sign of the future judgment already being seen in the present day. They should see this rejection as an honor and not shame. This is how we rejoice (vs. 13).
3. Final Comfort: Trusting God Even While Suffering (19)
   1. First, please notice a couple key words and phrases that bring us encouragement and joy in spite of suffering:
      1. “Those who suffer according to God’s will…” Suffering for Jesus is no accident, as if Satan is in control and God can do nothing about it. We need to rest in the fact that the is the will of God.
      2. “Entrust their souls to a faithful Creator.” Job had complained that God wouldn’t answer him or have a discussion with him concerning the wrongs he felt he was enduring. When God finally spoke to Job, he never answered Job’s questions. Instead, he asked Job a long series of questions about the universe and God’s creation that Job could not answer. In other words, “Job, trust me as a faithful Creator.” Job’s only answer was to repent. He should have trusted!
      3. “While doing good.” How difficult to keep doing good while suffering for doing good! But that is the key to glorifying God. It is the key to passing the test. It is the key to proving ourselves in a time of “judgment.” When you suffer, just keep doing good! 
   2. “Therefore” is the beginning of this final sentence. It is based on all the Peter has written to them. They have an identity as elect, chosen exiles who have been built as living stones into God’s holy temple. Even while suffering, they are to continue to do good because God is faithful to bring them praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Berry Kercheville