Suffering for Christ’s Sake (Continued)
Consider the following questions when it comes to our suffering for Christ’s sake.
(1) How does Peter describe the suffering of his readers? (v. 12)
(2) Why does he say that we shouldn’t be surprised? (Col. 1:24; Phil. 3:10)
(3) Not to be surprised is one thing, but how can we rejoice in our suffering? (v. 13)
(4) How and when will Jesus’ glory be revealed?
(5) Why does Peter also say that we are blessed if we are insulted for Christ’s sake? (v. 14)
(6) Peter knows that there are times our sufferings are
self-inflicted (v. 15).
a. Have you ever suffered not for Christ’s sake? What was the reason?
b. Have you ever suffered for Christ’s sake? How different did you (or should you) feel?
c. Why? (v. 16)
(7) God will judge (vv. 17-18)
a. Judgment will begin with God’s household (v. 17a).
- The timing: Does Peter refer to the future final judgement or judgment that has already begun?
- What do you see historically as the judgment (which echoes the judgment that began within the sanctuary according to Ezek. 9) that has befallen on the apostate church?
b. Judgment of the non-believers (vv. 17b-18)
- Peter is quoting from Proverbs 11:31: How will the righteous be saved? (3:18; Tit. 3:5)
- What is the judgment that will come upon all who do not believe the gospel?
(8) There are those who “suffer according to God’s will” (v. 19).
a. What should they do?
b. Why does Peter urge us to “continue to do good” while in suffering?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
“For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Pet. 4:17)
Although most commentators (and early church fathers) consider that Peter wrote his first epistle before Nero began his reign of terror against Christians, Peter describes the sufferings already experienced by the believers in Asia Minor and includes words like “all kinds of trials" (1:6), and “fiery ordeal” (4:12). In other words, Christians were already experiencing increasingly severe persecution at the time “because of the name of Christ” (4:14).
In encouraging the believers to endure such sufferings, Peter points out that God’s judgment is about to begin with God’s household [which Peter quickly explains as “us”] (4:17). How much more severe will be the judgment to those who do not “obey the gospel of God”, meaning the non-believers?
While the judgment of the non-believers appears to be clear from Peter’s quotation from Proverbs 11:31 which points to the future, final judgment of God (Rev. 20:11-15), the judgment for God’s household is less clear.
However, most commentators in general agree that Peter is using the language of Ezekiel 9 in which God commands His judgment-angel to “begin at my sanctuary” (Ezek. 9:6). It is important to note that in that judgment:
- While it begins within God’s sanctuary, it is applies only to those who do detestable things (i.e. idol worship);- It begins with the elders (whom Peter immediately addressed in 5:1); and
- Those who are marked (because of their grief over the detestable sins in God’s household) are spared.
As a result, the judgment cannot refer to the sufferings of the believers who suffer for the sake of Christ, but rather points to the judgment that will be faced by those apostate within God’s household, His church; and it does not refer to future judgment upon the return of Christ, but rather judgment that will begin in Peter’s time (4:17). Historically, we have seen the apostasy of church in Europe, the former bastion of the gospel and how it had suffered immensely in the hands of the Muslims, just as Israel in her apostasy suffered in the hands of the Assyrians and the Babylonians.
I believe it is still a grave warning to the church today in that if we continue to follow the footsteps of the apostate church of Europe, we will join them in facing the judgment of the Lord even before His return.
5:1-4—Instructions to the Elders
(1) Peter prefaces his instructions to the elders of the churches with three things (v. 1)
a. What are the three points?
b. What is the significance of each?
(2) His instructions to the elders are basically framed in pairs of contrast (vv. 2-3):
a. The flock and the shepherd: (v. 2a)
- Whose flock is the church?
- Since the flock is God’s and not theirs, what are their role and their duties?
b. Proper attitude: (v. 2b)
- What should their attitude be as caretakers?
- What should their attitude not be?
c. Motive of serving: (v. 2c)
- What shouldn’t they pursue?
- What should they pursue?
d. Approach: (v. 3)
- How should they treat those entrusted to them?
- What shouldn’t they do to them?
(3) What should one of the motivations to persevere serving as faithful elders be? (v. 4)
5:5-9—Instructions to the Rest
(4) Peter has a special instruction to the younger ones in church (v. 5a).
a. What is meant by “in the same way”?
b. Why do the younger ones need to be reminded to submit to the elders?
- Are the younger ones by nature not submissive to authority figures?
- Or because elders are not perfect?
(5) Instructions to all include:
a. To humble ourselves (vv. 5b-6)
- What analogy does Peter use to urge us to be humble? (v. 5b) How meaningful is it?
- What reason does he give? (Prov. 3:34)
- How does God show favor to the humble and when? (v. 6)
b. Cast all anxiety aside (v. 7)
- Is it easy to do?
- What reason does Peter give to encourage us?
c. Be alert and of sober-mind (v. 8)
- When Peter urged us to be alert and of sober mind in 1:13, what was the context of his instructions?
- What is the reason Peter gives us in 5:8?
d. Dealing with our enemy, the devil (vv. 8-9)
- What is meant by “to resist him”? (v. 9a)
- How effective will this strategy be according to James 4:7?
e. How might the awareness that believers around the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings help us in times of sufferings? (v. 9b)
5:10-14—Benediction and Greetings
(6) How meaningful is this benediction to those who are suffering? (v. 10)
(7) How meaningful is it to you?
(8) What part does Silas (the close companion of Paul) play in this letter? (v. 12)
(9) Babylon was already an uninhabited ruin (TNTC, 33), why does Peter use it to refer to where he is (Rome)?
(10) As we come to the end of the letter, take a bit of time to reflect on your notes or scan through the letter once again, and see what might the key messages be to you and how you may apply them to your life.
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Pet. 5:8)
I can see that the devil is using different tactics at different times and in different generations to lead the world astray. In more ancient times, he used people’s superstition to mislead them into believing and worshiping all kinds of idols and evil spirits; and in more modern times, he uses men’s pride in their intellect to mislead them into not believing in anything supernatural. But just the same, his purpose is to look for “someone to devour”, so that they would not believe in the One True God.
Peter paints a very vivid picture of how the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking even for believers of Christ to devour and his tactics are also various and subtle. I have found that his most effective tactic, perhaps, is not necessarily using persecution these days, but luring believers into believing that there is no spiritual warfare being waged around them daily. This is the reason why the Apostle Peter urges us to be alert and to be of sober mind (5:8), lest we are not aware of the devil’s scheme. Once we are aware of his scheme, then we can resist him, and the Apostle James adds that this is the most effective strategy, because, if we “Resist the devil, and he will flee” (Jas. 4:7). But the key question is how?
Peter explains that to resist is to “stand firm in the faith” (5:9) and this is exactly what our Lord did as He faced the temptation of the devil three times. Each time, our Lord stood firm on the very word of God in the Scriptures, countering each temptation by saying, “As it is written” (Matt. 4:4, 7 and 10). And we read that at this, his uncompromising commitment, trust and obedience to the Word of God, “the devil left Him” (Matt. 4:11).