1 Peter 4:12–19 - BibleStudy.ph

These are the original teaching notes from this passage.

I Peter 4:12-19

Review…

Grace for SUFFERING…
- It is the WILL of God to SUFFER – for going GOOD – I Peter 3:13-22
- But we must have the right MIND to SUFFER – I Peter 4:1-11
- FIRST – ARM ourselves with the MIND of Christ!
- Who SUFFERED for the sake of others – on the cross – so that they might be saved…
- We also use our TIME wisely to seek after the will of God for our lives!
- SECOND – NOT wasting our TIME doing the will of the Gentiles…
- Those who are not saved – think it strange we no longer run with them…
- Because they do not realize that they will have to give an ACCOUNT for their life…
- For this cause the Gospel was preached to the DEAD [spiritually]
- THIRD – knowing TIME is short…
- Therefore – we use our GIFTS – as we SPEAK the Word – and do all in the ability of God…
- So that in ALL THINGS God may be GLORIFIED through Jesus Christ!

Forged in the FIRE…

1^st – Not a surprise… vs. 12-14
- 1^st – Going to SUFFER… vs. 12
  - Having defined the WILL of God to SUFFER – and our MINDSET in SUFFERING…
  - We now move on and see us HOW we are to SUFFER for Christ…
  - The first things we need to address is that we are NOT to be surprised by SUFFERING!
  - BELOVED…
  - BELOVED [ἀγαπητός] – from the root word [ἀγαπάω] those LOVED by God…
  - Those who are LOVED by God – are going to SUFFER – John 16:33
  - This can seem counter intuitive to us – LOVE and SUFFERING seem to be OPPOSITES…
  - If God LOVES us – then He would NOT allow SUFFERING in our lives…
  - God should keep us from DIFFICULTIES – He should make our lives EASY!
  - Job was a VERY good man – but lost everything – his wealth – his family – his health…
  - One might question why God would let such hardships come on someone He loves…
  - Before the trials Job only knew about God – after He say God with his own eyes!
  - Job 42:5 – “I had heard about you before – but now I have seen you with my own eyes.”
  - We often assume bad things only happen to bad people – you get what you deserve…
  - But the truth is God lets bad things happen to good people – those whom He LOVES…
  - Because it is in the hard times of life we cry out to and draw close to God!
  - Hebrews 12:6 – “Whom the LORD loves He chastens…”
  - FIERY TRIALS…
  - Do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you!
  - FIERY TRIALS [πύρωσις] – 3x in NT – the fires of a FORGE meant to BURN metal…
  - An appropriate description because the heat of TRIAL [πειρασμός] is meant to BURN…
  - I Peter 1:7 – “The genuineness of your faith – being… tested by fire.”
  - When a blacksmith first picks up raw METAL – it looks nothing like the finished product…
  - The ONLY way to shape it into a USEFUL tool – is to throw it into the FIRE – over and over…
  - Through intense HEAT – and POUNDING – he is able to reshape the METAL…
  - Make something USELESS – into something USEFUL – a tool in in the hand of the MASTER!
  - We want God to use us – but at FIRST – we are just RAW material…
  - God must FORGE us in the fire – into something useful in His hands…
  - Therefore – God allows us to go through TRIALS – SUFFERING – He puts us in the FIRE…
  - Where we are BROKEN [our pride] – we are melted and made flexible…
  - So we can be reshaped into the perfect TOOL – fit for the MASTERS use!
  - NOT strange…
  - As though some strange thing happened to you!
  - STRANGE [ξένος] – 14x in NT – to lodge a stranger in our home…
  - We are NOT [imperative] to treat TRIALS like a stranger in our home…
  - The inference is that we should be welcoming TRAILS as though they were an old friend!
  - Too often when things in life fall apart – we react with surprise and astonishment…
  - As though something unusual has happened – and we are caught off guard…
  - Maybe other people have hardships – but we never thought it would happen to us!
  - The truth is we should expect TRIALS – welcome them like an old friend…
  - Knowing TRIALS are how we are FORGED into the Men and Women God wants us to be!
- 2^nd – Joy in SUFFERING… vs. 13
  - But rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christs sufferings…
  - That when His glory is revealed – you may also be glad with exceeding joy!
  - Instead of being surprised by TRIALS – we must [imperative] REJOICE…
  - Not that we are HAPPY because we are SUFFERING…
  - Hebrews 12:11 – “No [suffering] seems to be joyful for the present…”
  - But we can have JOY because we KNOW what comes from SUFFERING!
  - PARTAKE [κοινωνέω] – meaning to have something in COMMON…
  - Just as Jesus SUFFERED on the cross – but will one day come as KING…
  - REVEALED [ἀποκάλυψις] – the SECOND coming of Christ – Revelation 19:11
  - Through SUFFERING – we JOIN [have something in common] with Christ…
  - Not ONLY in His SUFFERING – but also in His GLORY – I Corinthians 6:2
  - We will RULE with Jesus – which should give us EXCEEDING [to leap] joy!
  - You can buy IRON for around FIVE pesos per KILO – it has little value…
  - But that same KILO forged into a KATANA – is worth P500k!
  - Our JOY is not in going through the FIRE – but knowing the RESULT…
  - God takes something ORDINARY – and makes us EXTRAORDINARY!
  - II Corinthians 4:10 – “Through suffering – [we] continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in [us].” [NLT]
- 3^rd – Glory from SUFFERING… vs. 14
  - [Since] you are reproached for the name of Christ!
  - Since we represent Jesus – we WILL [passive] be MOCKED by the WORLD…
  - Which can make it TEMPTING to want to BLEND in…
  - Because if we do the things the WORLD does – they will NOT hate us…
  - By joining in with them – we JUSTIFY them – rather than CONVICT them!
  - It is far easier to BLEND into the world – than to STAND for Jesus…
  - But if we seek to please the world – follow the crowd – go with the flow…
  - We are choosing this world rather than Jesus – it means we reject Jesus!
  - James 4:4 – “Whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
  - Blessed are you – for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you!
  - BLESSED [μακάριος] – we will HAPPY when we SUFFER that wrath of this world…
  - Because THE Spirit – THE Glory [Jesus] – and THE God [Father] – are with us!
  - Adolph Hitler ruled Germany ruthlessly until his death at the end of World War II…
  - He is hated and despised for his cruelty and murderous rampage across Europe…
  - If you met the man who cleaned his house – you would not like him either…
  - Not because of anything he had done – but because he worked for Hitler!
  - John 15:20 – “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me – they will also persecute you…”
  - We work for Jesus – so because the world HATES Jesus – they also HATE us…
  - They do NOT have a problem with us – they do NOT like WHO we stand for…
  - It should make us HAPPY when we SUFFER – because if PROVES Jesus is in us!
  - If we are NOT making the world uncomfortable – if they do not HATE us…
  - Then we might want to examine ourselves – make sure we are living for Christ…
  - The mark of a SPIRIT filled believer – is someone who the world openly despises!
  - Luke 6:22-23 – “Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you – and [reproach] you – and cast out your name as evil – for the Son of Mans sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven…”
  - On their part [Jesus] is blasphemed – but on your part He is glorified!
  - The final part of verse 14 is not found in the Alexandrian texts of the NT…
  - Therefore – you will ONLY find them in the KJV and NKJV of the Bible…
  - But it seems to be GENUINE – as the thought concludes the point Peter is making!
  - Although our SPIRIT filled lives causes [passive] the world to blaspheme the Lord…
  - Because the example of our lives bring conviction – causing them to hate us…
  - It ultimately brings [passive] GLORY to the Lord – because it shows we are living for Him!
2^nd – What we SUFFER for… vs. 15-16
- 1^st – Not for Sin… vs. 15
  - But let none of you suffer…
  - We are NOT [imperative] to SUFFER for living a SINFUL life…
  - We are given FOUR examples of the sin that we should NOT get into…
  - It is NOT an exhaustive list by any means – but an effective sample to make a point!
  - MURDERER – someone who kills another person…
  - A violent and open CRIME – that causes irreparable harm to others…
  - Those who commit murder rightfully deserve to be punished!
  - The penalty for taking the life of someone – is the death penalty – Genesis 9:6
  - Because ONLY the Lord has the right to determine the number of our days!
  - THIEF [κλέπτης] – someone who steals from others…
  - A more subtle CRIME – one that is done in secret…
  - But none the less one the does damage to others – and shows a rejection of God!
  - God promises to provide us with all we NEED – Matthew 6:33
  - The thief is someone who does not believe God is faithful to His Word!
  - EVILDOER [κακοποιός] – a compound word that means to create EVIL…
  - A very broad and general term that seems to cover everything else!
  - From telling a little white lie – to living a sexually immoral lifestyle…
  - We are NOT to do anything that would create EVIL in our lives…
  - We are NOT to SUFFER just because we have made foolish choices to live for this world!
  - BUSYBODY – only here NT – a compound word that means to rule over others…
  - [ἀλλότριος] – can be translated as a stranger – not from your family…
  - [ἐπίσκοπος] – an overseer – often translated as pastor [bishop]
  - The idea is a person who APPOINTS themselves as the PASTOR over someone else!
  - This seems a little out of place in light of the first THREE sins on the list…
  - MURDER – THEFT – and those who create EVIL are extreme sins…
  - Someone who thinks they NEED to HELP others – does NOT seem as BAD!
  - People tend to think they have life figured out – and need to HELP those who do not…
  - Rather than ASSUME we are more holy than the person next to us…
  - We need to realize the standard of God is PERFECTION – Matthew 5:48
  - And compared to His standard – ALL of us are in desperate need of Jesus…
  - God takes it VERY seriously when we try to replace Him as the solution!
- 2^nd– As a Christian… vs. 16
  - Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian – let him not be ashamed!
  - CHRISTIAN [Χριστιανός] – 3x in NT – the word means a LITTLE Christ…
  - It was first given by unbelievers to MOCK those who followed Christ…
  - It eventually became the TITLE used to describe those who BELIEVE in Jesus…
  - But over time has been WATERED down – to just refer to a RELIGION…
  - The MARK of the true CHRISTIAN – is one who is NOT [imperative] ASHAMED!
  - Luke 9:26 – “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words – of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory…”
  - Many people today are CHRISTIAN only in Church…
  - On Sundays – they look and sound like CHRISTIANS…
  - But when they leave church – at work – in their homes – they do NOT stand for Jesus…
  - Being a CHRISTIAN is not about SUNDAYS – it is who we are EVERY day!
  - Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…”
  - But let him glorify God in this matter!
  - We MUST [imperative] glorify [δοξάζω] God in our SUFFERING [this matter]
  - There are no coincidences with God – He uses all thing in our lives – Romans 8:28
  - Our SUFFERING might be a CONSEQUENCE – the result of SIN in our life…
  - Our SUFFERING might be a fiery TRIALS – God has brought into our life!
  - It does not matter the reason for the SUFFERING – how do we RESPOND…
  - We try to label things in life – we call them either GOOD or BAD…
  - We might think that NOT being punished is GOOD – but then we might never learn…
  - We might think going through a trial is BAD – but that is how we are FORGED…
  - The truth is – it is all about drawing us closer and closer to Jesus!
3^rd – The Contrast… vs. 17-19
- 1^st – Judgement begins… vs. 17-18
  - For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God!
  - Each word has THE [definite article] before it – emphasizing them…
  - THE time – is NOW – we are NOT talking about a future event…
  - THE house – is the CHURCH – we are the HOUSE of God – I Peter 2:5
  - THE God – is Jesus – He is the one who will JUDGE – John 5:22
  - THE judgment – BEGINS with the CHURCH – TWO thoughts:
  - FIRST – reference to the Bema Seat of Christ – II Corinthians 5:10 – I Peter 4:5
  - Which comes BEFORE the Great White Throne judgment – Revelation 20:11
  - SECOND – reference to the judgment that began in – Genesis 3
  - The SUFFERING of this life that comes as a consequence of the fall of man…
  - THE judgement even THE church [those who are saved] have been subject to!
  - [Since] it begins with us – what will be THE end of those who [reject] THE gospel of God!
  - Either way – the BEMA seat – or the FALL of man – the point is the same…
  - If we – who are SAVED – are not SPARED from THE judgment…
  - How much worse a fate will befall those who have rejected THE Gospel!
  - [Since] the righteous one is scarcely saved – where will the ungodly and the sinner appear!
  - SCARCELY [μόλις] – to be difficult – it is NOT easy for the righteous to be saved…
  - No doubt a reference to the SUFFERING we MUST endure in this life…
  - If those who are SAVED will SUFFER – what will happen to the UNGODLY…
  - Quoted from the book of Proverbs – reading the wording there the point becomes clearer…
  - Proverbs 11:31 – “If the righteous receive their due on earth – how much more the ungodly and the sinner!” [NIV]
  - It seems to present a contrast – we will SUFFER here on earth…
  - But how much MORE will the unbeliever SUFFER in eternity because they reject Jesus!
  - It is interesting that SUFFERING is NOT really an option…
  - We are either going to SUFFER for sin – or we are going to SUFFER for Christ…
  - The difference is one only has a temporary consequence – the other an eternal!
- 2^nd – Faithful creator… vs. 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!
  - THEREFORE – in light of the fact it is BETTER to SUFFER now than later…
  - And SINCE – it is the WILL of God to SUFFER for doing GOOD – I Peter 3:17
  - COMMIT [παρατίθημι] – to PLACE something next to…
  - We MUST [imperative] put our SOULS in the LORD who is GOOD [ἀγαθοποιΐα]
  - How do we KNOW God is GOOD – He is our faithful CREATOR…
  - CREATOR [κτίστης] – only here NT – the one who MADE us!
  - We should NOT be surprised by the FIERY TRIALS of life…
  - As we live for Jesus – we have no reason to be ASHAMED of SUFFERING for Christ…
  - Because we understand that SUFFERING now – means we will have GLORY later…
  - THEREFORE let us COMMIT – place our TRUST in the LORD who is GOOD…
  - Knowing that the same God CREATED us – will be FAITHFUL to finish what He started!
  - Philippians 1:6 – “Being confident of this very thing – that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”