“FAITH IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING”

1 Peter 4:1-6

PURPOSE:

To encourage the hearers to stand firm in their faith in the midst of suffering.

INTRODUCTION:

Nowadays, it is very common that as we do something good, we also expect good things from our neighbors.Early Christians experienced the opposite, in spite of the good things they do, and the godly life they live, they face severe persecutions and suffering. From the time of Apostle Peter, Christians were accused by pagans of doing wrong for they do not do any longer what they did before, like the pagan’s life style. Early Christians suffered severe persecution from the hands of unbelievers. From the book of 1 Peter 4:1-6, Apostle Peter encourages the early Christians to stand firm in their faith. Let us study and discover how the early Christians must conduct their life in the midst of suffering.

TEXT: 1 PETER 4:1 – 6

“Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do – living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.”

How can we stand firm in our faith in the midst of suffering?

• FACE SUFFERING WITH THE ATTITUDE OF CHRIST
• DO NOT LIVE THE PAGAN’S WAY
• PREACH THE GOSPEL

FACE THE SUFFERING WITH THE ATTITUDE OF CHRIST

Early Christians were minorities; they live in a society that has a pagan lifestyle. Since they are not the same anymore with the gentiles and unbelievers, they become subject of persecutions.

Apostle Peter exhorts the early Christians to live godly (1 Peter 1:16 – “Be Holy, because I am Holy”) and continuously do good for they were called for it to inherit blessings. (1 Peter 3:9)

1 Peter 3:17-18 – “For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the spirit. ”

He told the early Christians that it is better to suffer for doing good, than for doing evil, for Christ also suffered for it. The righteous suffered for the unrighteous.

1 Peter 4:1-2 – “Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.”

Since, Christ suffered for the unrighteous, early Christians must possess the same attitude of Christ, they must not continue to sin. They must endure the suffering brought by persecutions of the pagan society.

Christians must not live the rest of their earthly lives to the evil human desires and they must turn to the will of God. It is a journey from evil human desire to the will of God.

Genuine Christians cannot live a double standard, they must choose from evil human desire or the will of God.

Today, Christians are still suffering persecutions. Remember we are still living in this fallen world. As we choose to live the will of God, unbelievers will not give us comfort to live a holy life in an easy way. There is no other weapon and armor against suffering and persecutions, only the “Attitude of Christ”.

DO NOT LIVE THE PAGAN’S WAY

1 Peter 4:3-4 – “For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do – living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.”

Apostle Peter talked about the former situation of the early Christians before they became believers. They were living for themselves, they followed what the world did.

They were dead spiritually, and under the influence of the prince of darkness. Although they were unaware of their spiritual status, still they deserved God’s wrath since they were disobedient to God.

Pagans were living outside the authority of God. They thought that they are the authorities of themselves, but in reality, they were just followers of the ways of the world. They choose to do the evil desire of the flesh – living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. Their desires and thoughts were against the will of God. (Ephesians 2:1-3)




When the unbelievers became Christians, pagans were surprised because they will not join anymore in the pagan’s way of life. Since they have attitude like Christ, they pursue the Christ-likeness because this is the thing they are called for.

Christians were predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29), not to be conformed to the patterns of this world.

They were called for godly living, but the pagans cannot understand it, and they keep on persecuting them. It is the reality written from the Bible; Christians who will pursue godly living will face persecutions from the hands of unbelievers. But Apostle Peter encourages the early Christians to leave the pagan’s way of life and pursue holiness set before them.

Today, Christians still will suffer persecution, but Apostle Peter encourages us that we must not live the pagan’s way of life. Instead we must pursue the will of God.

PREACH THE GOSPEL

In the life of the early Christians, preaching the gospel is a vital part of Christian living. This is the reason why Apostle Peter exhorts the Christians to preach the gospel.

1 Peter 4:5-6 –“But they will have to give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God In regard to the spirit.”

It does not mean that the gospel is possible to be preached to the dead so that they can be saved even when they are already dead.

From the book of Hebrews 9:27 – the writer said, that it is not possible for the dead to find salvation after death, because after death is judgment. Therefore the gospel was preached before their death.

Why we must preach the gospel?

• Because the living and the dead will be judged
• So we can live according to God

Because the living and the dead will be judged

There is judgment in this life; pagans will condemn the Christians according to their standard. Human laws will be used to judge the people morally and legally in this life, yet if they will believe in the gospel and accept the Lord Jesus, they will be saved spiritually.

All people will submit to the judgment either in this life or in the days to come. The living and the dead is subject to Christ in the second coming.

So we can live according to God

The gospel must be preached so that all those who believe in Lord Jesus Christ must live according to God.
1 Peter 4:6 – “…but live according to God in regard to the spirit.”

To live according to God, is live by the spirit. (Galatians 5:25)

Since they live by the Spirit, they must possess the fruit of the Holy Spirit; love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ”

These are the virtues that must be developed in the life of a Christian.

CONCLUSION:

Apostle Peter recommends to the Christians the three steps to stand firm in faith in the midst of suffering:
1. In the midst of suffering we have to arm ourselves with the same attitude of Christ – ready to face suffering for doing good.
2. While we are living in the fallen world, we must turn away from pagan lifestyle and pursue the God’s will.
3. We are not only called to be saved, we are also called to preach the gospel, by our words and actions.

How’s our faith in the midst of suffering? Today, let us start to arm ourselves with Christ attitude, and turn away from pagan lifestyle and preach the gospel.