Suffering For The Gospel

Introduction

Oh, that’s just a thing of the past. You heard that phrase recently? Maybe you said that phrase recently. Oh, that’s just a thing of the past. That’s usually something that is said derisively, dismissing something that’s no longer relevant or doesn’t happen now in our modern day in society. And that is certainly true. Things come and things go, and some things just go away because that’s the way it was done back then, and we have different, maybe better ways of doing it. I want to tell you, very few things are more depressing than going to a museum or an antique store and seeing something that you used in your lifetime. Maybe the only thing more depressing than that is to go to a museum, an antique store, and see something you used as an adult.

That’s now just a thing of the past. This morning I want to talk to you about a subject that at first glance you might make that same statement about.

In a lesson that we’ve entitled Suffering for the Gospel. Would you turn with me to 1 Peter chapter 1? That’d be the text for our lesson this morning. We’ll be looking at a couple passages of Scripture, but for the most part, we’ll spend our time together in the book of 1 Peter. Christian persecution. What comes to mind when you think about Christians being persecuted? I venture to say that maybe two things come to our mind. Number one is the expression that we started the lesson with. Oh, that’s a thing of the past. We read about in the first century of those Christians being brutally beaten, stoned, beheaded, even, thrown to the lions or thrown into prison, and we think about that’s something that happened in Bible days.

Or if you’re in tune to world events, you might think, well, it’s a thing of the past for us, but it’s also a thing that happens somewhere else. Maybe in some oppressive communist country or someone under a dictatorship, that there, those Christians even today are suffering persecution, but it’s not a thing that we deal with. I want to dissuade you of that mistaken notion. Persecution of Christians is neither a thing of the past nor of a thing exclusive to distant land. The apostle Paul told his young apprentice Timothy that, yea, all that live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Everybody who lives godly will suffer persecution. A couple questions. Do you believe that statement? Do you think that statement was a thing of the past?

That Paul was saying, Timothy, now all that live godly will suffer persecution. There’ll come a time in a country far away where those Christians won’t suffer persecution. I want you to know that if you’re a Christian today, and if you’re living that Christianity openly as you should, you will suffer persecution. In 1 Peter chapter 1, Peter is talking to us about persecution. Notice what he says in verse 6 of chapter 1. He has been talking about that inheritance that we have of God. And he says about that in verse 6 in this now you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials. In your mind at least, underline that word, various. Various trials. That word various means different kinds or different varieties of trials.

Even in the first century, where our mind attaches the idea of Christian persecution to that of physical abuse, the apostle said, you are being grieved by different kinds of trials. So there are different types of persecution, and they’re not all physical. Notice what he says in this book. Chapter 2, let’s survey just quickly some of the various or different types of trials they were undergoing. Chapter 2, verse 11, I besbeg you, as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from the fleshly lust which war against the soul. One of the trials, we might not call it persecution, but one of the trials they were undergoing were the lust that was warring against the soul. Chapter 3 and in verse 16, he says, having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ Jesus may be ashamed.

He uses two words, defame, that literally means to speak against, and to revile, that means to accuse falsely. There he is talking about verbal persecution, verbal abuse. Now, we would add an asterisk to that verbal abuse. It may very well have been in the first century and in other times, that that verbal abuse, those accusations led to physical abuse. There’s one of those no good Christians that are causing all of this trouble, and you turn them into the government, the government then ends up beating or imprisoning or killing that person. But he doesn’t mention that in that verse. He says, defame and revile. Look in chapter 4, verse 4. In regard to these, that is the sinful practices of the world, in regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.

I’ll tell you, one of the things that you notice if you’re a keen observer in the book of 1 Peter, which is an epistle about Christian persecution, is that how many times he mentions verbal abuse. They think it’s strange, and they speak evil of you. Lastly, in chapter 5 and in verse 8, he says, be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Again, I want you to notice that throughout this book, the absence in that various trials of any of it being physical. Now, I’m not minimizing what that was for those first century Christians or for what believers throughout the world are suffering today. But what I am emphasizing, that we too are being persecuted.

Maybe not physical, not through threats of violence and imprisonment or even death. That, I’m no prophet, that may be coming for our country. But that does not mean that we are not currently facing persecution. Hold your finger here and go with me to the gospel of Matthew. Jesus on the Sermon on the Mount in the Beatitudes, the last Beatitude, talks about blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. But notice what he says when he talks about being persecuted. Verse 11 now, Matthew 5, verse 11, our Lord says, Blessed are you, blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake. Again, absent from Jesus’ statement there, maybe implied, but absent from it is the idea of physical abuse.

He says that when they say all manner of evil against you, when they revile you, verbal persecution, it’s still persecution. And know this Satan doesn’t care what it takes to get you to diminish and lose your faith. Whether it takes the threat of physical violence, or whether it takes the threat of being ostracized or demeaned and reviled and spoken against, either tactic can cause you to lose your faith. And either way, Satan wins. One illustration about that. How many of you grew up like I did in a household that believed in physical punishment? In other words, you got spankings as a child. You may or may not agree with me, but I think a good majority of you will. If you can remember being spanked by mom or dad, you know what was worse than a spanking?

A lecture. Wasn’t it? When dad, rather than inflate inflicting a temporary physical pain upon your body, when dad would stand before you and give you one of those long dad lectures, I’m so disappointed in you, son. You let me down. You made your mama cry. And I was thinking, I never said it, but I was thinking, just hit me, Dad. Just spank me. That would be better than this. Your verbal abuse is worse than the physical. Do you see that? That is a form of changing your behavior that’s just as powerful, maybe more powerful than the threat of physical violence. Is that verbal of what’s being said? You might say physical Christian persecution is a thing of the past. Or is a thing for a foreign land.

1. Remember That This Suffering Is Temporary

But you cannot say that saying all manner of evil against you falsely, reviling, defaming you is a thing of the past. Or of another land. And so we’re going to face, we who live godly in Christ Jesus, will face persecution today. What does Peter say about that? He doesn’t just tell these first and 21st century Christians that you’re going to face various trials, you’re going to be persecuted for your faith. He gives us weapons to deal with that. And so that’s what we really want to talk about this morning. The first thing that he says, sorry, I got ahead of myself there, is to remember that this suffering is temporary. Look, that’s the thread that runs throughout 1 Peter. Notice this, chapter 1, the very first verse, Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the pilgrims, my translation says.

Your translation may say, strangers or sojourners. Whatever word is used to translate that Greek word in the original means that you have a temporary living status here. You’re a pilgrim. This isn’t your home. You sailed across the sea on some ancient ship to get to a land that’s not your home. You’re a pilgrim. You’re a sojourner. Notice what he says in chapter one, skip down to verse six, where we started. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you’ve been grieved by these various trials. Chapter 1, verse 17 if you call on the Father who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your sojourning here in fear. And we could repeat that over and over again.

Aliens, strangers, pilgrims for a little while, the time of your sojourning. The idea is that yes, you’re undergoing various trials, but remember this.

It’s just temporary. And as we’ve talked before, that concept, that idea should be comforting to anybody who’s undergoing trial. It not only tells me that this will end, yes, I’m undergoing this ridicule, this persecution, this hardship, this suffering, whatever it is, that it’s not going to last forever. And that’s good to know. But also, I think highly infused in that idea of temporary is not just will this hardship end, but it’ll be replaced with something. And it’s not going to be replaced with just an absence of hardship, it’s going to be replaced with glory. In fact, and as strange as it might seem, I believe the revelation letter teaches us this, that it should give us who are being reviled and persecuted some comfort that not only will our suffering end, not only will our suffering be replaced with glory, but there’s going to be a reversal of fortunes.

2. You’re Sharing With Christ Jesus

The bully is going to be bullied. The persecutor is going to be judged. God said, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. Now, Peter will tell us, we also need to remember that when you are persecuted, whatever form it might take, you’re sharing with Christ Jesus. You’re in good company. Didn’t Jesus tell his disciples that?

The servant’s not greater than the master. Notice what he says here in 1 Peter chapter 2, begin in verse 20. For what credit is it if when you’re beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? In other words, you get a beating that you deserve. And you take it patiently.

But when you do good, when you do good and suffer for it, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that you should follow in his steps, who committed no sin and no guile was found in his mouth, who, when he was reviled, did not revile again. When he suffered, he did not threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously. There’s nothing commendable about being thrown into prison if you committed the crime. But there’s something commendable about being thrown into prison or being ridiculed and mocked if you were just doing God’s will. Because you’re following in the footsteps of Jesus. You remember in the book of Acts when those apostles were suffering their form of persecution.

You remember in Acts chapter 5, famously Peter would say, the reason we’re doing this is because we ought to obey God rather than men. But notice what else it says about their suffering. Acts chapter 5, they had been arrested, mistreated, and it says then they were finally released from prison. And Acts 5, verse 41 says this about those who suffered persecution. So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing. Rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. In the midst of this ridicule, persecution, this mocking, demeaning of Christians.

Find the fortitude and the courage that that mental attitude will give you. Mock me if you will.

Spit on me. They spat on him as well. It’s a badge of honor. We might liken it. Have you’ve ever seen a veteran with a pen that the purple cross? That’s a pen of honor. Not that they got shot or was injured. That’s nothing necessarily commendable about those actions. But what’s commendable is that they did that for a noble cause. They didn’t just get shot. They didn’t get shot because they were robbing a bank or they were cleaning a gun poorly, or they got shot because they were defending their country. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. There’s some honor in that. When you’re ridiculed and mocked and demeaned and belittled, see it as a badge of honor. For so they persecuted Jesus Christ before you.

3. This Might Actually Be Helping You

He says, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you. No, persecution is not fun. But it’s going to be worth it. Keep your eyes on the goal. Keep your eyes on the reward that God will reverse your fortunes. And it’s going to be worth it. And so persevere. Next, he tells us, strangely enough, that when we’re in the midst of persecution, we need to remember this. That this might actually, in a way, be helping you. Look again in chapter one. 1 Peter chapter 1, and look at verse 6 now.

In this you greatly rejoice, though for a little while, if need be, you’ve been grieved by various trials, that, verse 7 says, that the genuineness of your faith being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to the praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. This persecution is revealing your faith. The genuineness of your faith. Anybody can say, I believe in God. But how do you know you really have that faith? That enduring, strong faith. It’s got to be tested. I’ve used this illustration before, and it’s an easy one, that’s why I use it. Is how do you know a boat is going to float? Put it in the water. You can hold it up to the light to make sure there’s no cracks, no seams in there.

4. God’s Protection Is There

But the best test, and really the only true test, is it’s got to get out into the water to see if it’s really going to flow. How do you know your faith is real, that it’s genuine, that it will endure? It’s got to get out there and be exposed to examination. It’s got to be exposed to ridicule, to persecution. And if I’m willing to endure that, then I can pillow my head at night knowing my faith is real. It stood the test. And may even be strengthened by those tests. Lastly, Peter is going to tell us that in the midst of suffering, you need to remember that God’s protection is there. I’m still in chapter one. Look at verses four and five. To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.

Let’s pause there. We have a reward reserved. If we can visualize that, your reward in heaven has your name on it. God has set that aside and reserved that reward for you. Verse 5, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. Notice closely the language there, the pronouns. He doesn’t say you have a reward inheritance in heaven. That is being kept by God. He says, who are being kept by God. Yes, our reserved inheritance is being protected by God, but that’s not what he says in verse 5. He says, we, we are being protected by God. Now, that deserves a little bit of explanation, doesn’t it? How were they protected if Peter says you’re going to suffer various trials?

God didn’t protect them from the trials. They were going to be reviled and defamed, and people were going to say all manner of evil against them. They were going to be thrown into prison and beaten, stoned, maybe even put to death. So what does he mean when he says you are being protected by God? Notice what he says is being protected again. Verse 5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation? The protection has nothing to do with stopping the persecution, stopping the mocking, the ridicule, the defaming. The protection has everything to do with protecting not our physical bodies, not even our feelings from being hurt when someone mocks us. The protection has to do with our reward in heaven, our salvation.

That God is with you. As much as he was with those three Hebrew boys who were thrown into that fiery furnace, God protected them from the physical harm that would come to them. God is just as much with you in your fiery trial, not maybe to protect you from the fire itself, but to protect your soul and your salvation.

Conclusion

But to be afraid of him who can destroy body and soul in hell. God is with you, and he is championing you. And he will protect your faith if you’ll lean upon him. That whatever man may throw against you will not cause you to lose your reward. It’s not a thing of the past. Unfortunately, persecution against Christians is alive and well today, and Satan is using whatever he can to cause you to diminish or lose your faith. But it’s temporary. God’s help is always there. God’s protection is there. It’ll be worthwhile if you’ll endure this persecution, knowing that you’re doing it following in the noble footsteps of your Lord. Can we help you as you withstand the fiery darts of Satan this morning? Can we help you to encourage you to live this life of faith?

You need to obey the gospel this morning, or you just need the prayers and encouragement of your brethren to make it through this struggle today. You can do it. Can we help you? Let it be known as together we stand and as we sing.