You should not be surprised by fiery trials, because this is the means that God has chosen to bring his final judgment upon his Church. The trials that you face are your vindication before God. This is why Peter says in verse 13, "Rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed." By partaking of the sufferings of Christ, you have the promise of the Father that you will also partake of his glory. So if you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed! Don't you love to be insulted! The blessings of God do not come only in comfortable packages. Sometimes they come in the form of trial and testing. So if you are cursed by men or demons for the name of Christ, God declares his blessing-because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

We have looked at these matters before in chapters 2 and 3, but Peter thinks it worthwhile to remind us of these things. And like usual, when Peter repeats himself, he invariably does so in order to bring out a new idea.

In 1:6 he said that you rejoice through various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Peter started by showing that the path to glory leads through suffering and trial, and demonstrated in 1:10-12 that this was the path that our Savior walked first. After giving us a vision of the relationship between Christ and his church in 1:13-2:10, Peter explained how we should conduct ourselves through suffering in the civic, economic, and domestic realms (2:11-3:7). In 2:21-25 he showed that Christ is the model for how we ought to conduct ourselves when others sin against us. And in 3:8-4:11 he emphasized the way in which suffering is connected to our salvation. We suffer unjustly with patient endurance because Christ suffered for us. We endure the trial by ordeal, because Christ has triumphed over our enemies through his resurrection from the dead. "Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin."

4:12-16 serves a summary of what Peter has already said. We should expect trials to come upon us. We should rejoice in the midst of suffering not because we are happy for the suffering itself, but because in the suffering we have the presence of the Spirit of glory now, and the promise of sharing in the glory of Christ at his revelation. Peter also reminds us of what he said earlier that not all suffering qualifies as Christian suffering! If you suffer as a murderer, a thief, or an evildoer or meddler, that is no credit to you! If you suffer for your own sin and folly, you should be ashamed of yourself! Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. Here is where Peter's repetition begins to bring in a new idea. Why should you glorify God in the midst of suffering? Why should you rejoice in the midst of trial?

To put it bluntly: because this is the worst thing you will ever face. The worst thing you will ever face is cancer. The most terrible suffering you will ever endure is the betrayal of a loved one. The most horrific trial that will ever come your way is your economic ruin because you were honorable in your business, and the cheater got away with sabotaging your company. You can rejoice in the midst of these trials, because in them you partake of the sufferings of Christ. In them, the judgment of God comes upon you, and at the end of the day, when the trial is over, you are still standing before the living God, beholding the glory of the risen Savior, and hearing those precious words, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into your rest!"

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? You are children of obedience. No, you are not perfect, but you cling to Jesus Christ, you repent of your sins, and you believe his promises! For you, who are in Christ, the judgment of God comes back with the resounding cry "NOT GUILTY! This one is MINE!"

For 2,000 years the judgment of God has been coming upon the Household of God. The church has endured trials and tribulations. The household of God has suffered at the hands of wicked men. Sometimes those wicked men have even come to power in the church of God! Indeed, Peter's citation from Proverbs 11:31 has proven true: "The righteous is scarcely saved"! The church has so often been so corrupt and so ensnared by the lures and temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil, that it is a marvel that any are saved. We are as brands plucked from the fire, and the soot and smoke still cling to us more than we would like to imagine.

But if judgment begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?

Peter doesn't answer these questions. His hearers know the answer all too well. They remember the Flood (mentioned in 3:18-22), where God destroyed the unrighteous in a picture of his final judgment. They remember the plagues of Egypt which came upon the Pharaoh who oppressed the people of God. They remember the warnings of the prophets against those nations who mistreat God's holy ones. And they remember the teaching of Jesus who spoke vividly of the destruction of the wicked in the fires of hell.

You either suffer with Christ, enduring the judgment of God with the Spirit of glory resting upon you; or you suffer without Christ, and prepare to face the judgment of God alone.

The destructive power of the flood, the horrific torments of the plagues of Egypt, the terrifying judgments of the book of Revelation--these were all given by God to show what the final judgment will look like. Peter later speaks of these things in 2 Peter 3:8-10 [Read]. God is mercifully holding back the final outpouring of his wrath, patiently waiting until the gospel shall have worked its glorious purpose. But then the "day of the Lord will come like a thief," and heaven and earth will be destroyed with fire (like they were destroyed with water in the Flood).

Note how Peter addresses his hearers (v11-13). What sort of people ought you to be? God is bringing the new creation. How can you live as though this creation is all that matters? We look for the new heavens and the new earth in which righteousness dwells. And we must live according to that new creation holiness.

This is why Peter concludes his admonition in 1 Peter 4:19, "Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good." You may trust God that these strange trials that you endure are in fact a part of his creative work. Your sufferings, insofar as they share in Christ's sufferings, are part of how God is bringing the New Creation. Therefore, in the midst of suffering, be diligent to do good.

You may be tired. You may not feel like doing kind and thoughtful things for your wife. That is precisely the moment of trial. Will you entrust yourself to a faithful Creator while doing good? You may be frustrated with that coworker for his laziness or his snide comments. But will you encourage him anyway? You may be in pain. But do not let that be an excuse for failing to do good. In the midst of suffering, In the midst of pain and trial, remember that this is the worst thing that you will ever experience. It really can't get any worse! Because your future is a glorious one. And in this suffering, this judgment that you endure, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you! Therefore, in the midst of suffering walk in humility and holiness, giving thanks to God for his great mercy.
 

Copyright © 2002 Peter J. Wallace