The following is reprinted with permission of The
Timely Messenger
AN INFORMAL SURVEY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
A Dispensational
Approach
By R. B. Shiflet
I PETER
XIII. A REVIEW OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF SUFFERING 4:15-19
A.Suffering as an Evildoer 4:15
B. Suffering as a Christian 4:16-19
“Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but
let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment
must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall
the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous
scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore
let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of
their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” (I
Pet. 4:16-19)
1. The Reality
As we have seen, Christians are not immune to suffering. The implication
in this passage is that it refers to suffering for their Christian witness,
or for suffering under the chastening hand of God. Some believers are taught
that any suffering in the life of a saint is proof of some sin in the individual’s
life. Romans 8:22-23 makes it clear that such teaching is false. Others
teach that a truly saved person never sins. Again, I John 1:8-10 denies
that teaching completely. The fact remains that even Christians must suffer.
The issue is how we handle the suffering.
2. The Reaction
a. Let him not be ashamed.
Paul said he was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16). He spoke
of Onesiphorus who was not ashamed of Paul’s chain. (II Timothy 1:16).
He warned Timothy not to be ashamed of Paul or his message. (II Timothy
1:8). He gave his own testimony concerning suffering: “for the which
cause I also suffer these things, nevertheless, I am not ashamed, for I
know Whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that
which I have committed unto Him against that day” (II Timothy 1:12).
He told young Timothy that in order to become workmen who need not to be
ashamed we must “rightly divide the Word of truth” (II Timothy
2:15).
b. Let us glorify God
How do we glorify God? That would make an interesting study. The word
means to honor or celebrate. It is used many times in the Gospel of John.
Our Lord spoke of God’s being glorified when Judas left the Passover
Supper to betray Him. He spoke of it in connection with His victory over
death. It is mentioned as the primary ministry of the Holy Spirit. In
His teaching on the mount, Jesus said the good works of believers cause
God to be glorified. He mentions it about four times in His prayer in
John 17. Whatever the deeper meaning, the message here is that believers
must glorify God, even when they are suffering as Christians. The old
sin nature tends to blame God, to question God’s goodness. How many
times have we heard believers ask, “Why did this have to happen to
me?”
Perhaps we have not voiced it, but in moments
of self-pity we may have wondered. During such times the new nature often
prompts us to stop and ask the more sensible question, “Why should
it not happen to me?” God has blest all of us so abundantly, and
we do not deserve one of those blessings. Can we not glorify Him when
difficult times occur? May we take a lesson from the Apostle Paul and
say, “God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord
Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world”
(Gal. 6:14).
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