Hope In Exile | Proper Suffering – 1 Peter 4:12-19
We can endure unjust punishment knowing that Jesus is greater and better than any suffering we may face and experience.
The life of an exile is not one that avoids any kind of suffering. With a world that stood in stark contradiction to the values and morality established by the hand of God, refusal to do so would only result in persecution from the surrounding culture. By standing against the culture, the churches throughout Asia Minor would ostracize themselves, choosing to follow a greater standard. Persecution would not be escapable for those faithfully following God, in fact, it would be a promised reality. The people of God had been exiled to a world different and less insulated than the world they came from. Now they must live faithfully as resident strangers, knowing that follow God, while it may cost them everything is worth even more.
The Christian should view suffering in light of their promised inheritance in Jesus Christ. Peter, asks the hearer of the letter to consider the cost and relationship with Jesus Christ. If we fit in with the world, we will cease to be in right relationship with God. If, however, we pursue our relationship with Jesus Christ, then our lives will be lived as elect exiles and as strangers and sojourners in a land that is no our home. We suffer for the sake of the Gospel while simultaneously refusing to cave in to the standards of this world. All this rooted on the promise of eternity secured by Jesus Christ. We can endure unjust punishment knowing that Jesus is greater and better than any suffering we may face and experience.
Righteous Suffering
The follower of Jesus should expect that suffering would occurs for the sake of the Gospel. At its core, the Gospel is deeply offensive to the flesh which seeks to advance only itself and its temporary pleasures. Proclaiming our need of a Savior will stir up the anger of the flesh, revealing its inadequacy before a perfect and holy God. The result for the follower of Christ is that we will be persecuted, insulted, injured, and many other painful experiences. Yet, this persecution is a sure sign that the spirit of God is at work within us. The persecution of the world cannot usurp the gift of grace that comes from the sovereignty of God. We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing full well that they stem from a live in pursuit of Jesus Christ.
We cannot be surprised when suffering comes. Scripture has made it abundantly clear that suffering for Christ is a staple of following Christ. When those who do not bow to Jesus as Lord and Savior behave as a people who do not know God, we cannot retreat to complaining. Lost people act lost. Save people act saved. That the world decays into the madness of sin should not come as any surprise to us. By anticipating the persecution, we can remain steadfast, having built our faith on the foundation of Jesus Christ, and continually bear witness to the grace of God. Just as God is unchanging against the moving winds of the world, we can stand by the power of God within us to similarly remain steadfast and full of grace in the process.
Unjust persecution comes as a display of faithful obedience to Jesus Christ. With a world that does not grasp the importance of following Jesus, their response to those that do is to persecute and exile. Thus, when we receive unjust persecution, we can rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that the Gospel has been proclaimed and our actions bear witness to our faith. Furthermore, suffering for the sake of the Gospel signifies that our inheritance has been secured in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The gift of the presence of God is greater than pain we may face in our faithful pursuit of Jesus Christ.
- Why does Peter say we can rejoice in our sufferings?
Unrighteous Suffering
In contrast, Peter also discusses the notion of unrighteous suffering. Peter never says that the church will not suffer on account of their faith but simply exhorts them to suffer for the proper reasons. The follower of Christ should not engage in the ills of society because of whatever pain they might be feeling. Should a Christian suffer as a thief or murderer, the suffering they would experience would be a just punishment for their actions. Likely, during that day, the activities of the culture would have looked starkly different than the behavior and value of those who follow Christ. Yet, we know that following the fleshly desires of a world that is counter cultural to the ways of God does not produce anything but suffering. Therefore, following the world will only produce suffering and this suffering is just.
Too often, those who follow Jesus Christ have sought to depict any minor inconvenience as potential persecution for the faith. In reality, though, Christians who fail to allow the Spirit of God to move in and through them do not experience persecution for their faith but rather persecution for their lack of faith. Suffering, while looking like the rest of the world, does not mean that persecution is occurring. Persecution occurs when the foundation of the persecution is faithful obedience to Christ. Acting according to the flesh and then hiding behind our faith, rather than building our hope upon it, roots itself in fleshly pride that does not take responsibility for our failed witness to the goodness of God. Unjusting suffering is simply just punishment. As Christians, the witness of our actions should only reflect a dedication to follow Christ despite the influence of the world.
There will come a day when people will experience a final judgment. The world may cause or allow someone to suffer on account for their actions, yet the ultimate judgment will come at the final days. The true suffering will come for those who have rejected the Gospel and rejected the gift of grace that comes from Jesus Christ. Those in Christian only escape this suffering on account of Christ’s imputed righteousness. Those not in Christ will experience an eternal torment of the wrath of God. The just suffering for our sins is the wrath of an eternal and holy God poured out on us. The grace of God in Jesus Christ pays the cost of our punishment on the cross, dying in our place, so that we might experience the presence of God’s love for all eternity.
- What is the basis for just and unjust suffering in Jesus Christ?
Discussion Questions
- Why does Peter tell the church that they should not be surprised by the persecution of those willingly following Jesus Christ? What is the reason for the persecution?
- Why should the Christian be willing to endure persecution from those outside of the church?
- How does the world tempt us to return to our former way of living when we are persecuted?
- Where have you seen improper responses to persecution in the church? How does it compare with what our reaction should be?
- How do the promises of the world compare with the promises of God?
- What can we do to encourage one another in the face of persecution? What role does the church play in working together for the good of the body of Christ?
About The Author
Daniel Burton is the founder of The Gospel Outpost. He is passionate about discipleship and seeing people grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. To find out more about him, check out his Author Page.
