1 Peter 4:12-19 - Suffering for God’s Will

1 Peter 4:12-19

Suffering for God’s Glory

12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.

17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now

“If the righteous one is scarcely saved,
Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

Fiery trials await those who suffer for God’s will in Christ as we identify with Him and proclaim the good news of His only remedy for our condemnation due us because of our sin.  Peter wrote to the believers then and it still applies to all who are in Jesus Christ today.  When we continue to suffer as He did for righteousness in truth, we also partake of His sufferings as can be expected.  If this is a surprise to us, we are either not reading or not understanding the scriptures that tell us these truths plainly as som erroneously do even today to give a false sense of joy and peace.  We have peace and joy with God in Christ (Romans 5:1) in the inner man while conflict boils around us because we know our destination in eternity with Him.  We have eternal life starting at conversion and never ending after we die because we have been brought into the kingdom of God within us (Luke 17:21) as we are found in Christ and in His righteousness.  When Jesus is revealed at His return our joy will be made completely full in the face of His glory!  Therefore, if here we are insulted and mocked now for identifying as Christians, we can look ahead and within to find exceeding joy in being blessed to suffer with Him for the redemption of others to whom we bear witness of the good news which can alone deliver them from the darkness of the curse of sin on whose tree (Galatians 3:13) Jesus was killed and transport them into the glorious light (Acts 26:18, 1 Peter 2:9-10) of the presence of God in His Son.  People will blaspheme Christ but we glorify Him by believing and receiving Him for life and godliness as witnesses to His person and work that is offered to them as well.  Knowing these truths, how then can we who are His continue to do evil as before we knew the grace of God in Him?  If we are to suffer, let it be for doing what is right and not for doing evil and suffering the consequences.  Suffering for Christ has no shame, but suffering for doing sinful things brings much shame in the end (1 Corinthians 3:12-13, 14-15, 16-17).  We are accountable yet still forever saved by grace which offers us no excuse to continue in sin, only the ability to confess and repent from it to receive forgiveness in that merciful grace because we are His.  Judgment begins in God’s house, the church, with those reconciled to Him who reckon themselves alive to God and dead to sin in our standing in Christ.  Those who do not obey the gospel and reject Jesus face an eternal reckoning.  We need to keep these things in mind and follow after Him on this narrow road to the Celestial City to come that we might bring honor and glory to our Lord by our lives lived in worship and obedience.  If we then suffer according to God’s will in following Him, we can safely and securely put our lives in His hands as we do good to please our Father in heaven who is faithful to keep us to the end.