1 Peter 4:12-19: Time for Judgment

I. Base Text: 1 Peter 4:12-19

II. Understanding the Text
   A. Background
      1. 1 Peter 1: great encouragement based in rebirth through 
         resurrection and hope of salvation; value of salvation; 
         imperatives to holiness, love
      2. 1 Peter 2: sustained by God's message; Christians as Temple,
         spiritual Israel; honorable conduct before all people; call
         to suffer for doing right, as Christ has set forth as an 
         example
      3. 1 Peter 3: appropriate conduct of husbands and wives; 
         Christians as living representatives of Christ, doing good 
         and suffering for it if necessary; defending the faith with
         gentleness and respect; saved through baptism
      4. 1 Peter 4:1-6: as Christ suffered, so we are to suffer and
         cease from sin; not to walk as Gentiles do; judgment, end of
         time at hand; love one another; use God's gifts to serve
   B. The Fiery Trial (v. 12)
      1. Peter returns to his general theme-- standing firm in the 
         midst of persecution (cf. 1 Peter 1:6, 2:17-20, 3:14, 4:1-2)
      2. Believers should not be surprised by the "fiery trial"
      3. Metaphorical-- in context, persecution, not actual flame 
         (most of the time)
      4. Peter says that it should be expected!
      5. Matthew 10:24-25, Acts 14:23, 1 Peter 4:4
      6. These days too many believers are surprised when "fiery 
         trials" come upon them!
      7. May be persecution-- more likely some other challenge
      8. Failure, illness, loss, or something of the sort
      9. If we are believers, we should expect that difficulties will
         come!
   C. Rejoice (v. 13)
      1. Instead of being surprised, we should rejoice
      2. Sounds rather odd-- why should we rejoice when we experience
         trial?
      3. Joy not in the pain but in the opportunity to experience 
         what Christ experienced
      4. Acts 5:41, James 1:2-4
      5. If one suffers as Christ did, expectation of joy at the 
         revelation of His glory
      6. Romans 8:17-18, Philippians 2:5-11
      7. If life is ideal as a Christian, what is there to which we 
         can look forward?
   D. Insulted for the Name (v. 14)
      1. Peter attempts to encourage Christians when they are 
         maligned for affirming Christ
      2. The insult they receive is rather proof that the Spirit of
         glory rests on them
      3. Should not be taken either absolutely or for the negative to
         be inferred
      4. One can be sanctimonious and insulted for it without having
         the Spirit on them (cf. Matthew 7:21-23)
      5. Furthermore, one may not be insulted, and yet have the 
         Spirit upon them (cf. 1 John 4:7-21, etc.)
      6. Spirit on believers (Romans 8:8-11, 17-18)
      7. Strong encouragement in the face of distress
   E. Wrong and Right Ways of Suffering (vv. 15-16)
      1. Peter then establishes how one should and should not suffer
      2. Should not suffer for committing wrongs-- wrongs should not
         be committed!
      3. cf. 1 Peter 2:20
      4. Specific things mentioned: murderer, thief, evildoer, 
         meddler
      5. Most find the first three much easier to avoid than the 
         fourth, and yet they are all listed together!
      6. Instead, it is better to suffer as a Christian-- no reason 
         for shame, should glorify God by the name
      7. Disciples first called Christians in Antioch (Acts 11:26)
      8. Term otherwise only used by Agrippa in Acts 26:28
      9. "one of Christ" or "little Christ"-- believed to have begun
         as pejorative term
      10. Nevertheless, no shame in being identified with Christ, to 
          suffer for being of Christ (Matthew 10:32-33)!
      11. We can wear the name Christian with honor, even if it is 
          despised in the world!
   F. Time for Judgment (vv. 17-19)
      1. Reasoning for accepting suffering for doing good: time for 
         judgment is near
      2. Same as in 1 Peter 4:10
      3. Judgment to begin at the "house of God"-- Christians 
         (cf. 1 Peter 2:4-11)
      4. If such is the case, what will happen with the disobedient?
      5. A rhetorical question-- the reasoning made more evident by 
         the quote from Proverbs 11:31 LXX
      6. The righteous here seen as barely saved-- not through power
         of man, but power of God (cf. Matthew 19:25-26)
      7. Indeed, from human standpoint, seen as true-- the call to 
         life a life of service, persecution, challenge exceedingly 
         difficult (cf. Matthew 7:13-14, Romans 12:1, 
         1 Peter 4:12-16)
      8. Yet the point is less about the righteous and more about the
         unfaithful-- if it is such a challenge for obedient 
         believers to be saved, what hope have unbelievers and the 
         disobedient?
      9. Clearly none (cf. 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9)!
      10. What, then, shall we do?
      11. Those suffering should entrust themselves to their faithful
          Creator while doing good (v. 19)
      12. Peter appeals to God as Creator, provider of blessings of 
          life
      13. He has proven faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9, Hebrews 10:23)--
          His promises have not failed!
      14. Thus, we have every reason to trust His promises of glory 
          for those who remain faithful despite difficulty 
          (cf. 1 Peter 1:3-9, 4:13)
      15. We must also seek to do good, even if we suffer for it 
          (cf. Titus 3:8, 1 Peter 2:19-20)!

III. Conclusion
   A. Thus we have seen 1 Peter 4:12-19
      1. Should not be surprised at trial, but should rejoice
      2. If we are insulted for Christ, so be it; better to suffer as
         a Christian than to suffer as evildoer
      3. Judgment will come, and there is no hope for unbelievers or
         disobedient
   B. Let us trust our faithful Creator and do good!
   C. Invitation/songbook