1 Peter 4:12-19--Suffering as a Christian

​1 Peter 4:12-19 English Standard Version (ESV)
Listen:  https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/esv/1Pet.4.12-1Pet.4.19
Suffering as a Christian
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And
“If the righteous is scarcely saved,
    what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

---

Again we come back to suffering for the sake of Christ which is definitely another key theme in this book.  Those who are genuine and look like Christ will be treated like Christ.  We can actually rejoice in the fact that we get to share in Christ's sufferings as we will also get to share in His victory and will be glad when He is revealed to everyone, and everything as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

The next time someone makes fun of you and tries to shame you for being a Christian, realize they are just seeing the Spirit of God living in and through you and you should have great joy because of this.  Peter again reminds us though that this blessing does not extend to punishment we rightly receive for crimes we have committed.  It is only our sufferings that happen because we are being faithful and obedient to Christ that we should rejoice and be glad about, and we should be convicted and ashamed when we tarnish the name of Christ and all Christians by breaking both God's law and man's law and having our misdeeds put on display for the entire world to see.

Peter then says it is time to clean house and for those who claim to be born again to be put to the test.  What should happen to those who claim to be of Christ--maybe even those who fill the pulpit and aren't true believers--and do not obey the gospel of God?  Shouldn't God deal with them first since His great name and reputation are at stake?  Then we should not be surprised that judgement will come to ungodly and the sinners, but that the righteous will be "scarcely saved"--by this I think that we will go through a trial whereby only what is done for Christ will last.  Paul will talk about this judgement of our deeds later in his epistles, but it is not the same kind of judgement that the lost people of the world will face.

We must therefore entrust our eternal security to the one who was powerful enough to create us, redeem us, and keep us, and we should continue to do what is good and be obedient to our King of Kings and Lord of Lords--Jesus Christ.