Sermonizing - Part III

Good morning sir. My name’s Jonathan Herbert and I’m from the church down the street. Do you ever think about religion? Oh, very good. Have you ever considered Christianity? No? Well, let me tell you a list of benefits...God’s promised us three main things. God promises to save us from our sinfulness, to restore our relationship with Himself, and to bring suffering and hardships upon your head...wait a minute...what? Is that how we evangelize? No, but maybe it should be. Suffering is something that God has promised to His people this whole way.

Peter wrote his first epistle to a group of people who were well-acquainted with suffering. In chapter 1, verses 6 and 7, Peter writes “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” These were people that had encountered trials, but Peter was encouraging them through that. These trials had tested their faith and had shown that it was indeed genuine. Suffering is a theme that recurs throughout the entire book. However, they weren’t really expecting to face this kind of suffering. It’s not really clear what kind of life they expected to be living as Christ-followers, but it wasn’t supposed to be one with this much pain in it. Throughout the book, we get the picture that this group of believers, located in modern-day Turkey, are a rather immature group, still young in their faith. In the lead-up to our passage, Peter reminds the church in chapters 2 verse 18 that “Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” Similarly in 4:1, he starts an argument by saying “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking.” The message is clear, Christ suffered, and it was expected that they would also be subjected to suffering. He also insists that it is a good thing to suffer for the sake of righteousness in 3:8-22. However, this all leads up to his final word on suffering, found in chapter 4, verses 12 to 19, which is our passage this afternoon.

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. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 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? And "If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

The opening statement in this passage is that we should expect suffering as Christians. “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.” Once again we see Peter painting a picture of believers who did not expect the Christian life to be difficult, although it seems difficult to see why. After all, Jesus has promised suffering to his followers. In Matthew 10:25 he says, “If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.” In John 16:33 he says, “In the world you will have tribulation”, and even his call to take up our crosses in Mark 9:34 gives the picture of more than a Sunday afternoon walk in the park. Paul adds in 2 Timothy 3 verse 12 that “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Jesus was beaten, humiliated, and then finally crucified – an execution that is likely the most painful way that any culture has found to kill someone. As we look at it, we can see an even larger picture than the original recipients of Peter’s epistle. John was the only one of the apostles to escape a violent death, and even that was because he miraculously survived being thrown into a vat of boiling oil. At the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, less than a dozen of the 318 delegates had not lost an eye or a hand, or limped on a leg that had been lamed from torture because of their faith. While today, right now, in this country, we do not experience any sort of sanctioned persecution; that is not the only sort of suffering that people face. Sickness, injury, financial trouble, the death of a loved one, strife in your family, all of these can cause deep suffering as well. I would be surprised if any of us in this room have escaped suffering of some sort in the time that we’ve been Christians. But what was your reaction to that suffering? Was it surprise? Was it anger? Was it disappointment? Peter tells us that the fiery trial is coming.

But what are we to do about it? It’s one thing to expect suffering to come, but that’s what we do before the storm hits. Knowing what is on its way is not enough. So when the suffering does come, we need to rejoice in the midst of it. Throughout this epistle, Peter seems to be referring to suffering in the context of suffering for the sake of Christ. When they suffer because of their identification with Christ, they enter into the experience of Christ’s own sufferings. It is only through suffering as a result of being a Christian that we share in Christ’s sufferings. If as a result of Christ we are put through trials on earth, then we will become that much tighter with Him. Let me explain this with an illustration. When I took my Emergency Medical Responder course, it was 2 of the most intense weeks of my life. Eight hours a day I was in the classroom. 3 to 4 hours were spent every evening studying. One of the side-effects of this intense schedule was a huge sense of camaraderie within our class. Because we were all going through the same pressure-cooker, we had something holding us together. We were deeply invested in one another because of our shared sufferings. Those who suffer for another become invested in that person. They rejoice when they see things going well for them, and mourn when they aren’t. Similarly, when Christ returns, those who have been more invested in Him by their suffering with Him will rejoice all the more in His glorification.

In verse 14 we then see another benefit to suffering for the sake of Christ. Another reason to rejoice in it. Here the suffering specifically of being insulted for the name of Christ is seen to carry a blessing. There is a clear link in the wording here to Matthew 5:11-12 which reads, "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” The blessing referred to here of the Spirit does seem to be more than Holy Spirit’s indwelling in all believers. Wayne Grudem believes that the Spirit of glory and of God resting upon you indicates an unusual fullness of the presence of the Holy Spirit to bless, to strengthen , and to give a foretaste of heavenly glory.

Then comes the warning in verse 15. Not all suffering is godly suffering, or sharing in Christ’s sufferings. If one is fined for speeding or put in jail for being drunk and disorderly, this isn’t sharing in Christ’s sufferings. Those are natural consequences of our actions here on earth. Peter makes it very clear that the suffering he refers to does not include suffering for decisions made against God and His authorities.

Peter then moves on to a defence of the term Christian. Acts 11:26 tells us that believers were originally called Christians by those around them. By non-believers, probably as a derogatory term. It literally means “little Christ”. But instead of shunning this label, Peter says that we are to glorify God through that name. By merely carrying that designation, one brings glory to God. I know people who have rejected the label “Christian” because of negative connotations. I wonder if they have done that too quickly.

Still under the banner of rejoicing in suffering, Peter gives one final tidbit in verses 17-18. I can only touch on this briefly, but God’s discipline seems to be in view here. Peter tells us that God is starting with His refining fire on His people, before moving on to the unrighteous and the ungodly. This brings to mind the picture of a father disciplining his children for their own good. This refining fire will leave no one untouched, but to the believer it will purify and strengthen, while the unbeliever will suffer great loss because of that same fire. Verse 18 is a direct quote from Proverbs 11:31 in the Greek and brings out the same idea. If the fire of God’s holiness is so intense that even the righteous feel pain in its discipline, then the sinner will find it to be a fire of eternal destruction.

Perhaps even harder than rejoicing in suffering is the very last command in this passage. Peter calls us to continue to good while suffering. This is a call to look beyond yourself. In the midst of suffering, everybody has the tendency to look only at their own pain and suffering, to forget that there are other people in the world. However, this call does make sense. If we are to expect suffering as Christians, and have been called to do good, then it shouldn’t surprise us to hear that we might be expected to do both at the same time. Of course this is easier said than done. However, even practically speaking, there are huge benefits to focusing on others when one is going through difficulties themselves. Isolation and an inward focus are major factors in the development of depression. Therefore, focus on caring for others would carry the opposite effect, and actually help one rejoice in the midst of suffering.

In this passage we see a trio of key themes that are necessary in order for a Christian to face suffering in a God-glorifying way. We are to expect it, rejoice in it, and carry on with doing good through it. So don’t be discouraged if you experience hardships because of your faith. Suffering is an important part of being a Christian, even if it is frequently forgotten. So when it comes, we should not be surprised, but rather rejoice and keep on living as Christ.