notes
Main point summary
Commit yourselves to God with rejoicing and praise because your suffering for Christ is achieving your salvation.
Bracket
NT
1 Peter 4:12-19
esv
Dear friends, do not be surprised
at the painful trial you are suffering,
ideaexplanation
as though something strange were happening to you.
comparison
But rejoice
that you participate in the sufferings of Christ,
so that you may be overjoyed
when his glory is revealed.
temporal
actionpurpose
negativepositive
If you are insulted because of the name of Christ,
you are blessed,
conditional
for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
ground
If you suffer,
it should not be as a murderer
or thief
or any other kind of criminal
or even as a meddler.
alternative
series
However, if you suffer as a Christian,
do not be ashamed,
but praise God
that you bear that name.
For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God;
and if it begins with us,
what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
And , “ If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
So then, those who suffer according to God’s will
should commit themselves to their faithful Creator
and continue to do good.
progression
inference
It is hard to persevere in the face of suffering, but suffering is an essential part of our sanctification. If we run from it, or crumble under the pressure, it may be that we are not being saved at all.
Suffering for being a Christian is not unusual, but rather something to be rejoiced in.
discourse
Notes
When you suffer for the sake of Christ, Do not be surprised or ashamed. But rejoice! Be overjoyed! Praise God! That you bear his Holy Name. Commit yourselves to your faithful God; You are blessed as you share his pain, So rejoice! Be overjoyed! Praise God! That you bear his Holy Name. How often do we even accept suffering as a necessary part of our sanctification, much less rejoice in it? We are encouraged in this passage that the will of our faithful Creator is for us to be sanctified through our suffering, and that we can rejoice for that very reason. When we suffer for following Christ, and we think, 'Why is this happening? I haven't done anything wrong! I don't deserve this!' we can look at this passage, and indeed the whole book of 1 Peter, and rejoice that it's meant to be this way, for our good, and for God's glory!