MasterTruth

Final Thoughts in 1 Peter

Among the unique things about 1 Peter is the prominence of the word suffering. It is used 15 times. But I don’t see that as the theme of the book. Peter was not inspired by the Holy Spirit to write a book to be so “poor me” centered. Yes, the scattered Christians he wrote to suffered persecution, and addressing it was necessary. If you look at it prophetically, future believers during the tribulation will also suffer greatly, and this book will come back to comfort them too. But as we close out our study through 1 Peter, it’s equally noteable that some form of the word glory is also used 15 times. As we saw in an earlier post, suffering and glory are related. Christ suffered and was glorified; we suffer and will participate in glory.

The last 1 Peter verses we will look at seal the idea: 1Pe 5:10-11  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.  (11)  To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Suffering shines a spotlight on obedience and glorifies God. Remember, what I believe is the theme verse of 1 Peter is “Be ye holy, for I am holy.” (1 Pet 1:14-16) Whatever Christ did/was is what we are to do/be. (Heb. 5:8) Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. (Isa 50:5-6)  The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.  (6)  I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.  (John 6:38)  For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

• Christ suffered and was glorifed; we will suffer and be glorified.
• Christ was a living stone (2:4); we are living stones (2:5)
• Christ submitted to suffering (2:21-23); we are to submit to suffering (2:18-22)
• Christ died for us, a result of his suffering (3:18); we are to die to ourselves through suffering (4:1-2)
• Christ fed and led his sheep; church leaders are to feed and lead the sheep (5:2-4)

Christ was humble; we are to be humble. Again, Christ was holy, we are to be holy. It seems that the path to all this leads through suffering and ends with glory. Christ is the first-fruits of this concept. We follow. Buckle up!

Clothes to Wear Today

What should I wear today? It’s the worst on Sunday. I want to look respectable but not ridiculous, and sometimes there’s a fine line between the two (I like to accessorize to a fault). But that’s just the outside. How to clothe myself on the inside is not such a mystery because the Bible is clear about those clothes, and some of them I’m wearing automatically. I’m clothed with salvation and righteousness, and I’m to accessorize with the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. (Let’s see, where did I leave that?)

But now, as we near the end of 1 Peter, where the theme is “Be ye holy for I am holy,” I get another piece of clothing to wear. And it’s a piece Jesus wore. Here’s a key to 1 Peter. Nearly all the instructions given in this book are natural expectations with Jesus as the model.

1Pe 5:5-9  Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.  (6)  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:	I’m to be clothed with humility, and if I do, God will give me grace and exalt me in due time. Today, I need to strip off pride and wanting to be right and respected. Rather, surrender my self-will and let God do what God will do. Look how Jesus modeled this whole concept of humbling himself with the result of being exalted. Php 2:8-9  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  (9)  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: It’s a cause and effect that is as sure as Jesus.
(7)  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.	If I don’t stand up for myself, won’t I be walked on? The advice is to cast my cares on him. And wouldn’t you know, that’s what Jesus did when he was submitting himself unto death: 1Pe 2:23  Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: He cast himself on God.
(8)  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:  (9)  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.	The opposite of humility is pride. Pride is a more natural way to conduct myself, but it is not godly. It is satanly. Isn’t Satan the model of pride? He wants me to walk in pride, standing up for myself. That alone should be a good enough reason to do the opposite and walk in humility. Remember that Jesus stood up to Satan’s temptations of pride in Matt. 4. Rather than give in to Satan’s prideful suggestions, Jesus referred back to what the Bible says. That’s how I clothe myself with humility. I defer to what God says, not what I feel or want.

Peter's Passionate Perspective

When I think back over Peter’s life, I certainly have some vivid impressions. During his time with Christ, he was the impulsive, flashy one of the 12. He jumped out of the boat to walk to Jesus; wanted to make a tabernacle for Christ right there on the spot during the transfiguration; cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest when Jesus was arrested; and denied Christ three times after promising not to.

Peter also was the first to confess to Jesus that Jesus was the Christ, the son of the living God. There, providence met Peter. That moment of confession was the spot in time in which Jesus inserted Thou art Peter (which means rock) and upon this rock (his confession of Christ) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

My memories of Peter change after Christ’s death. While he was afraid to identify with Christ during Christ’s trial, after he was filled with the Holy Spirit, it says, Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13) He preached boldly, confronted people boldly, and boldly declared that he ought to obey God rather than men. In the power of God, he raised Tabitha from the dead and was ordained by God to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. He was thrown in prison for his faith, but an angel from God released him to continue preaching.

So when Peter writes his inspired words in 1 Peter, he’s not just writing theory. In 1 Peter 5, he addresses other elders, or church leaders. What word does he have for them?

 

1Pe 5:1-4  The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:	He speaks as one of them. He refers back to the mystery of the connection between suffering for Christ and partaking in His glory. There is a glory related to suffering for Christ that we do and will know nothing of until we see Christ. There must be a suffering celebration to come that some people will only watch.
(2)  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;  (3)  Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.	What is a pastor’s primary purpose? Is it to develop new programs? Get everyone to evangelize? Develop an awesome mission’s program? Take it from Peter. “Feed the flock of God which is among you.” Just feed them, and feed them well, in preaching and counseling. Peter developed that focus from the lips of Jesus who told him three times “feed my sheep” in John 21.
(4)  And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.	If a pastor will just focus on that, he will receive a crown of glory. In these last times, the sheep may want Oreos and Doritos, but it’s the pastor’s mission to feed milk, bread and meat—all are types of the word. As the congregation, let’s crave those things.

An Intriguing Correlation Explained

There’s a piece of the Christian life I’m not sure I understand, but I’m sure it’s real, because the Bible says it over and over. That is, there is glory in suffering/dying for Christ. There’s honor, magnificence, excellence and dignity. How could something so personally painful as persecution be all that?

Could it be because Christ’s suffering and death brought glory to God? (That brings us back to our 1 Peter theme, “be ye holy, for I am holy.”) Whatever Christ was, we are to be. If He suffered for his holiness and brought glory to God, we will too.

Some form of the words suffer and glory are used together in 11 verses in the Bible, and six of them are in 1 Peter. Here are some clues about Christ’s suffering and its relation to glory:

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.  For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (Heb 2:9-10)

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Rom 8:17-18)

So, there will be glory later for suffering for Christ, but is there glory right now when we suffer persecution as Christians?  Yes, now and later. Here’s our 1 Peter passage for today, which is all about suffering and the resulting glory. You’ll see the distinct connection, which I think is so intriguing. I’ll highlight the glory/glorified verses, but on your own, notice its connection to suffering, trials and hardship for Christ’s sake.

1Pe 4:12-19  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:  (13)  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.  (14)  If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.  (15)  But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.  (16)  Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.  (17)  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?  (18)  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?  (19)  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

In our culture and time, we see trials and suffering for Christ as danger to be avoided or protected from. We pray suffering away. But Peter tells us to rejoice in suffering for Christ. Be happy.  Glorify God for it. Peter actually had some unusual insight into this from the lips of Jesus. After Christ rose again and before He ascended to heaven, He had a cryptic message just for Peter, and Peter got it. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.  This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. (John 21:18-19)

Jesus’ words obviously had an impact on Peter, and he passed that on to us by inspiration of God.  It’s something to keep in mind when suffering for Christ arises.