1 Peter 4:12-19 - Entrusting our souls to Christ in suffering

Introduction

If I was going to try to sell you something and there were conditions to it, where would I put those conditions? In big bold letters or in tiny, fine print? Isn’t this what the world does to us?

Have you ever seen commercials for magic pills or magic medicine that tell you that their product is so great and will make your life so much better or will cure you of whatever, but then at the end there is this really tiny print and a really fast voice tells you all the side affects that might happen to you, and there are so many of them that it is unbelievable. These advertisers tell you how wonderful their product is, but the stuff in their product you should worry about it tries to hide.

But Jesus isn’t like this. He tells us that the life of a Christian, the life of a follower, of a disciple, is a life of suffering. This is not taught very much in the church, is it? I mean, who came here this morning to hear a message that tells you, as a Christian, should expect suffering?

This is definitely not a popular message, but this is the message that I have for you today because this is the message of the word of God. And I believe that this message will even lead you to worship Christ.

Today we are going to see that suffering is part of the journey of a disciple of Jesus. For me to tell you to come and follow Jesus and not tell you what Jesus said about suffering is disingenuous and wrong. I want to tell you today what it means to be a follower of Christ. One of the biggest neglected doctrines in the church…the doctrine of suffering.

All that you heard was an apology or defense of why I am preaching this topic. So now, let me start with a question. How valuable is Jesus to you? What would you give or sacrifice for Jesus? He gave it all for you. He left heaven, left his glory, came to earth, took on the form of a servant, took on human flesh, lived a life of poverty, suffering, then was crucified and buried for you.

Western Christianity has demolished the truth of the Christian faith by not talking about suffering. It has said to us, “Follow Jesus and everything is going to be fine.” And as some false teachers say, “You can have your best life now.” Let me tell you that Western Christianity has missed the mark here, this is your hardest life now.

In the West, we think suffering is strange, we avoid it, and we are outraged by it when we see it in our culture if we see it. We think of suffering as someone’s snide comments, or being flipped off or honked at when they see your Jesus bumper sticker and are driving too slow. Let me tell you that is not persecution, not real suffering.

Eastern Christianity gets suffering. Just think of all the terrible stories that you have heard regarding Isis and the terrors of militant Islam. Stories of property being confiscated, torture, and lives being lost.

Now, I’m not saying that we aren’t persecuted in the West at all, or that what we experience isn’t persecution at all. But what can we really say when others are tortured, have given up everything, or have been killed? This is suffering. We know practically nothing of suffering in the West. Losing all? People telling you to get out of your house or die.

We need to wake up to the reality of what it means to be a follower of Christ. We should expect suffering, and we should rejoice in real suffering for Christ’s sake, and know that our souls are safe in Jesus’ hands.

Background

Peter wrote the book from “Babylon”. In Rev. 16:19 and 17:5 ‘Babylon’ is used as a cryptic name for Rome. The letter was probably written somewhere around 63-64 AD. It was written to a mixed crowd of Jews and Gentiles in Roman provinces all around Asia Minor.

Peter wanted to prepare Christians for persecution that was coming so they could testify to the true grace of God and stand firm in it.

So, he encouraged them to rest in God’s purposes, trust in his wonderful plan, remember the costliness of their redemption, the reality of the surety of God’s promises and the privilege of being God’s people, the example of Christ, and the certainty of God’s ultimate triumph.

The audience was in danger of losing their way. They were being tested through the suffering. What they were experiencing was different from what they expected when they first believed.

To answer this dilemma, Peter reassures them of the Gospel. They have been given new life, their sins have been forgiven, they are in God’s hands in the present, and their future is sure. The gospel shows them how to live and equips them in the present to prepare for eternity.

Thus, Peter tells them that suffering is part of their journey of faith. It tests the seriousness of their discipleship (1:7), links them with other believers (5:9), and will be vindicated on the day of judgement (4:16-19). So, they must view ourselves as strangers here, a part of God’s family and on their journey home, to heaven.

Exposition

In verse 12 of chapter four, Peter tells us that we should expect suffering (v. 12)

Now, let’s think about suffering for a bit because there are different kinds. Let’s name a few.

First, we bring it upon ourselves. This happens when we do things that are wrong, foolish, or are simply ridiculous. An example is when we break the law by speeding on a holiday and get a ticket. Another is when we are nasty people and end up having no friends and no help when trouble comes our way.

Second, we experience trouble or difficulty in this world. This is when we end up experiencing the results of our broken and sinful world. It could be a physical ailment, the death of a loved one, or the onset of a disease and the suffering that comes with it.

Third, from outside by means of oppression. It might not have anything to do with anything we have done. This type of thing could happen when wars or invasions happen by foreign powers.

Fourth, persecution for the name and sake of Jesus. When because of our association with Jesus, we are mistreated, attacked, ridiculed, mocked, or experience financial or social ramifications for being “of or in Christ.” When we are hated and experience what Jesus tells us in Matt. 5:10-12, reviling, persecution, and evil lies against us on Jesus’ account. Abu and his family are an example of this. Another example might be a neighbor or coworker making stuff up about you to make your life miserable, to get you fired, or to bring about pain and suffering in your life just because you are a follower of Jesus.

None of these sufferings should really surprise us. Why? Three of the four are related to sin, either ours, others’, or sin in general. These are the consequences of mankind’s rebellion against God. But what about the fourth, being persecuted for Jesus’ sake?

Well, that shouldn’t surprise us either. But why? Well first off, Jesus tells us. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 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.” He also says that “…all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.”

You see, we will suffer because it is simply the reality of this life. It is baked into the natural order because the natural order has rebelled and continues to rebel against God. All the prophets spoke of God’s reign through Jesus and Jesus spoke of his reign and coming kingdom. He spoke of repentance and faith, reliance upon God and living life as God designed…loving and obeying God. The world doesn’t want this. They killed Jesus for simply being who he was and doing what he did. Christ, God himself, suffered and was glorified, why should we not experience the same if we are his people and share his message. It is simply the way it must be. If we are shocked by it, we have missed a thread running through the whole of redemptive history.

So Peter tells us that we should expect a fiery trial. This could be understood as seasons when we will lack what we need, the strength to do it, and even the feeling of being protected. It can be physical or verbal persecution because of the reality of our discipleship. It could even be the attacks of Satan or the pain of death.

Why? Well, we follow Christ in a world that doesn’t share his values and is governed by Satan. We are enemies of the prince of this world. He hates us and will do anything to destroy or neutralize us.

Thus, Peter wants us to realize that persecution is part of following Jesus. Are we being persecuted? If not, why not?

Next, in verses 13-14, Peter tells us that we should rejoice in suffering (vv. 13-14).

Why should we rejoice? Shouldn’t we be sad? Well, first Jesus says that we should rejoice. Second, we identify with Jesus, learning to be like him. His suffering can draw us close to him. Third, we get to be a part of the most joyful of all things, seeing God honored. We honor as we suffer because we practice solidarity with him. Fourth, we can honor God because he will vindicate our suffering, it won’t be worthless.

Our suffering is extremely precious, for it allows us to participate in the fellowship or koinonea of Christ. It makes us partners with Christ in his suffering. What does this mean? We experience the same kinds of sufferings as Christ’s, for the same reason as Christ’s. We being righteous in Christ are persecuted by the wicked. We represent Christ and we identify with him and his people just as he did.

In fact, we are told that we should rejoice a whole bunch in our suffering, rejoice exceedingly. We should count it a blessing when we experience it for the sake of Jesus Christ. Why? Because we have the Spirit of God resting upon us through it. In the OT, the words, “the glory” were another way of saying the name of God. So, the spirit of glory is the Spirit of God. The glory then is the presence of God among his people by his Spirit. So, in persecution, God’s Spirit rests on us just like the shekinah glory in the OT.

But how can we do this? Our natural desire is to avoid all suffering. We must trust in Christ’s power and his judgment. The only way to bear suffering is to know that Christ is with us and will sort it all out in the end. He will bring the judgment that is deserved at the right time.

But usually we feel all alone during suffering. We wonder where God is. We wonder where he went to and if he still cares for us. We feel abandoned in our time of need. But this is the farthest from the truth. When we are being persecuted and reviled, God’s Spirit rests upon us.

But Peter tells us in verse 15 that we must not suffer for the wrong reasons (v. 15).

It is easy in our modern Western culture to think we are being persecuted when we, quite frankly, are not. We aren’t being persecuted when we get a speeding ticket driving to church on Sunday morning. We aren’t being persecuted when we lose our job, unless it was quite literally because we are a follower of Christ. We aren’t being persecuted when someone sees our “You’re going to hell without Jesus bumper sticker” and honks at us and flips us off. We aren’t being persecuted when people post things on Facebook against God.

Our suffering must not be for unlawful activities, evil deeds, or simply being a busybody, into other people’s business. We are told not to do things that will produce suffering, rather, our suffering should come because God brings it so we may participate with Christ and glorify him. It is a blessing from God that he brings about and not us.

Bearing the suffering of Christ for his name and his sake should not be something we are ashamed of even if the whole world is told of our rebellion against it, rather we should glory in it, in being counted worthy to bear the name of Christ. Through our suffering we share in a special bond with Christ.

Jesus wants us to suffer for doing good and to suffer for following him not our own lusts.

Next Peter tells us the ultimate reason why we should suffer in verse 16, and that is to honor Christ (v. 16).

We don’t need to be ashamed, because when we suffer, it brings honor to Christ. We must glory in God receiving the glory through our suffering. Our main purpose in life is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. And so when we suffer, it brings Christ glory and thus fulfills our ultimate purpose. We don’t need to be ashamed when we are doing what we were made to do.

Then Peter tells us in verses 17-18 that we don’t need to fear suffering, only judgment (v. 17-18)

But what is this judgment spoken of that begins in the church? The judgment that is said to be beginning?

It is the reality of what separates the true from the false believers and purifies the true believers. We experience trials and suffering to purify us. It proves our loyalty and judges our commitment to the world vs. our commitment to God. When we stand firm, committed to God, our dross is burned off or purified and we are proven to be God’s children.

And so, if we, as Christians, are purified by trials, how terrible will it be for those who are not found in Christ. One commentator said, “The righteous are saved only by grace and not without sharing in the sufferings of Christ. We enter the kingdom through many hardships and through a process of spiritual growth that requires exertion.”

The life of a Christian isn’t and shouldn’t be easy. It will be a process of judgment against our love of self and the word which will ultimately result in us clinging to Christ.

But woe to those who are not being judged through refining and purifying. Woe to those who will be judged as rebels and lovers of this world and self more than  God. Woe to those who will not trust in Christ for their redemption.

Our suffering has a purpose, it draws us closer to God. The suffering of the wicked has a purpose, but that is to expunge or remove them from the country of God. All of those who hate God love death and will eternally experience it.

And so Peter concludes in verse 19 with some help for us, when we suffer, and we will, we must entrust our souls to Christ, knowing it is God’s will (v. 19).

We are to entrust ourselves and put ourselves under the care of our creator and sustainer. We are to bow to his will or desires and go through the trials of purification with joy, knowing that this is his best plan for us. We are not going to experience our best life now, but our hardest life now.

Our suffering is a means of becoming more like Christ. This is our joy and our desire. So, we suffer according to God’s will when we suffer as Jesus would. When we say “Your kingdom come, your will be done…”

Application

And so what does this practically mean for us?

Avoid evil and glorify Jesus by our good works. Love God, love others. Obey God by keeping his commands. Don’t be caught by the world doing evil. Instead be caught holding Christ up as Yahweh, Lord over all.

Be ready to give a defense of the hope that is in you, Jesus Christ. In other words, let your life demonstrate your belief in Christ as he lives in and through you. Then share the good news of Christ’s life, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and his imminent return.

Expect suffering and only try to avoid it by avoiding evil. Embrace suffering and know that God’s special presence is with you as you bear fiery trials for Christ’s name.

Finally, entrust yourself to Christ who is the keeper of your soul. He is not doing bad things to you, but rather is manifesting his glory through you. You will need to cry out to him in your suffering and ask him to strengthen you to bear it.

And so, I leave with full disclosure instead of fine print. Enter the blessedness of Jesus by embracing a life of suffering for him, and in so doing you will experience the Spirit of glory and of God resting upon you.