Your Choice: Suffer, Or ... - 1 Peter 4:17-19 Series

1 Peter 4:12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice to the degree that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or evildoer or as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God as those named in that name.

17 For it is time for judgment to begin from the household of God; and if it begins from us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" 19 So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Introduction: Can God Be Trusted?

Behnam Irani is a 41-year-old pastor in Iran. Two years ago Iranian police raided his house, assaulted him, and took him into custody. For the first few months he was held in solitary confinement in a very small cell. Afterward, he was moved to another small cell with other prisoners. The room was so full, the prisoners were not able to lie down to sleep, so they had to sit all day and night. He is suffering from a bleeding ulcer, and the authorities have asked for him to be beaten regularly. All his hair has turned white, and his friends fear he may lose the use of his foot, due to a severe foot injury. Why doesn't God do something? If that were you in there, and you had God's power, what would you do? Whether it be the extremes of torture at the hands of Shiite Muslim governments, or just insults and gossip about you at school or at work because of your commitment to Christ - why does God allow it to go on? Peter's answer to that question is a shock to the ears of many Christians. We have been studying verse by verse through the book of 1 Peter, and ever since chapter 2 he has been teaching us how to respond to mistreatment by the world. But now, in 4:17, he is going to explain to us why God allows all this mistreatment to happen in the first place, and for many people this is the absolute last thing they would have expected to hear.

God Judges His House

1 Peter 4:16 if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God in connection with that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God

The reason we are to glorify God as Christians rather than being ashamed and shying away from that name is because it is time for judgment to begin. Why are God’s people suffering for the name of Christ right now? Why is there persecution? Why do you sometimes obey God and the result is that people mistreat you? It is all because Judgment Day is already underway, and judgment begins in the household of God - the Church.

We know that Judgment Day is an end-times event - right? It will take place when Jesus returns. But Peter is saying the reason we are suffering mistreatment at the hands of the world is because there is an initial stage of the judgment that is taking place here and now, in this age. The beginnings of Judgment Day are happening right now. It has started, and since God begins with His own house on Judgment Day, we are the ones currently suffering.

"But aren’t God’s children exempt from judgment? If not, what value is there in being one of His children? And what kind of judgment is this? Is it judgment in the sense of punishment for sin? Are we suffering now for Christ because God is punishing us or disciplining us for our sins?"

What Kind of Judgment?

No, it’s not that kind of judgment. We know that for sure, because Peter made it very clear he is not talking here about suffering that comes as a result of sin. That is verse 15. He is not talking about suffering that comes from being a murderer or thief or criminal or even an annoying busybody. This is suffering for righteousness sake. Suffering for righteousness sake cannot be punishment or discipline for wrongdoing.

So if it is not judgment in the sense of punishment, what kind of judgment is it? Peter says it’s time for judgment to begin. How does Judgment Day begin?