Prepare for Suffering - I Peter 3:13 - 4:6

Before starting to write this lesson, I read the verses listed from the New International Version, Nelson’s English Version, The New King James Version and three different commentaries. The writers assigned sub-topics to introduce this scripture that were so varied that it caught my eye and I feel it is worth noting as we begin the study. You can see that the writer of the commentary on Peter who works for Life Way Publishing chose the topic for the lesson to be Prepare for Suffering. Other writers chose the following titles for the study of the same verses in First Peter. 1. Relationships with People outside the Church 2. The Christian’s security in a Threatening World 3. Talking about my faith 4. Suffering for Doing Good 5. Suffering for Right and Wrong and 6. Christ’s Suffering and Ours.

The thirteenth verse is the beginning of the last major section covered by Peter in his first letter. Although he did not ask the famous question, he is surely addressing it as a problem in the life of many Christians. The question that arises in our every day lives is: Why do the righteous have to suffer when it appears that the unrighteous are happily doing well with no apparent problems? A quick and easy answer to this question is that everybody will have a payday someday.

Verse thirteen is a question—read it now. It would appear that under normal circumstances when we are doing what is right and good, we should not expect pain or harm to be our reward. However, we know that circumstances are not always normal. We must remember that the matter of human rights, even as we know them today in America, were unheard of in Peter’s day. It is difficult for us to imagine the difficulty that Christians have today while trying to serve God in a Moslem country. It must have been even worse during the days of the Apostles. Today, we have a few countries that help to influence others to at least be tolerant toward Christians. If America is able to claim any awards in heaven, no doubt, the best chance we have will be because of our adamant and compelling stand against tyranny and fight for religious freedom for every person.

Christ was baptized by John The Baptist and started his three years of earthly ministry in a world where there was absolutely no support group for anyone that would choose to follow Christ. There were actually only two groups of worshippers in that day. The Jews, believed in God, but did not know him and did not recognize him when he appeared in person as the New Messiah—and the Jewish leadership demanded that he be crucified as an impersonator. All other nations were classified as heathen nations, all worshipped idols of many natures and kind.

My point is that when Christ and the Apostles preached and souls were saved, they had no other outside help in their new battle against sin. Christians today have North America and a few other countries as allies who promote freedom of religion. These Christians in Peter’s book had two major enemies; first was the Jewish leadership that rejected Christ and was still looking for their Messiah—and the second enemy was the Roman Empire who was afraid that Christians might grow in strength and number and overthrow the Roman Emperor. The only support they had was from the Apostles and their followers who had formed small churches that in most cases were still meeting in the homes of the members. There were no organized religious groups or churches that could support each other.

You must remember that the Jewish nation was having no huge problems with the Romans when Christ started his preaching. Christ had no problems with the Roman guards…it was only the Jewish leaders that were constantly trying to prove him an imposter. Remember, even at his trial, Herod said he could find no fault in him, and he washed his hands taking no blame for his crucifixion. The Roman government would not touch Christ as long as the charges were religiously oriented—and the Jews had to finally lie and say that Christ had threatened to tear down the temple and set himself up as the new ruler—only then did Herod have anything to do with the complaints.

You must also remember that The Roman Empire was in the process of conquering many nations at this time. Each new nation practiced a different religion—many had their own gods. At first, the Roman powers found that it was easier to get along with these newly conquered nations if they were permitted to keep their own religion. Christ upset the apple cart when he came along and declared that there was only one God and that no Christian should ever bow down to a Roman as if he were God.

One of the most amazing things about the writings and teachings of the New Testament is how well informed NT authors were regarding the Old Testament…and not just about the old covenant and law, but about life, people, and especially prophesies. Just stop and think: there were no mass communication systems as we have today—there were no printing presses—every communication was by word of mouth or on hand written scrolls…one copy at the time…and delivered by horse back as the fastest source available. But never the less…

There seems to be no doubt that Peter is basing his writings in verses thirteen and following on the writings of Isaiah. [Note: The OT is quoted many times in the NT by most, if not all, of the writers. This is a miracle in itself. Given the poor communication process in that day…how were the disciples so well founded in the history of human life, and the teachings of God, before the birth of Christ?] Peter must have been very knowledgeable about the writing of Isaiah.

In Isaiah 50: 9, we read, “Behold, the Lord God helps me; who is he that will condemn me? Then Peter continues in the same verse comforting new believers from fear of others and he quotes Isaiah 8: 13. “The Lord God is the one you should regard as holy he is the only one you should fear or dread…He will be your trap or snare, the stumbling block to your enemies.”

We have given you all this background material in order to let you see the people as Peter did the day he wrote this message to his followers. Being a Christian meant ever-thing and therefore was worth suffering for. And since the new Christian movement had no allies, they could expect opposition from all other outside sources, and they should PREPARE FOR THE SUFFERING THAT WAS EMINANT.

Now let us go back to the big question about good people having to undergo suffering. In verse 17, Peter tells us that it is better for us to suffer for something that God wills than for anything that is evil. Look carefully—when we suffer for doing good, it is for something that God wills best for us. But when we break the law and suffer for that we had the punishment coming…we deserved it. Let me remind you again…any suffering you have from doing anything good [God’s will] will be at the hands of evil people in this world and at the most can only be for one life-time. But…suffering that comes from doing anything bad, sinful, [against God’s will] will be dealt with at judgment and throughout eternity and that consequence is left up to God. It may be hard for you to see, and harder for you to believe but I believe that—suffering for doing good may be God’s will for believers.

Peter gave us the greatest example of one who suffered for doing good. Our sinless Savior died for sins of others—he did not deserve the smallest amount of punishment and he suffered most of all—not for him—but to bring us to God, without penalty. The righteous died for the unrighteous. All have sinned. The price for sin is death. However, you and I do not have to pay our bill for sin by dying, because he has already paid the debt. However, there is a mandatory requirement that we must meet; we must
be born again and obey the Master and this may bring about some suffering while we are serving, doing our best. A strong faith will carry you through these rough times. Now the rest of verse 18 on through 22 is very difficult for me, I need help.
On the cross, Christ died a physical death and was made alive by the Holy Spirit [capitol S] and then he went and preached to the spirits [small s] in prison. These spirits were all of the people killed in the flood who are now in prison [hell ?]. Eight people were saved from the watery grave. [But surely there must have been a few others who were true believers and followers of God.]

You can find differences of opinion about what Peter meant about Christ preaching to the spirits in prison. There were many people who had lived and served God faithfully and had already been dead for years before the flood came, and then there was an entire population on earth the day it rained. Matthew records that when Jesus died, “the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people” [Matt. 27: 52].

Some thinkers believe that Christ visited hell to proclaim his victory over sin and death…the defeat of the Devil.

I think we can say for sure that what ever happened this passage shows that salvation and final victory is not limited…it has been taught in the past on to the present, it has been preached on earth to the living and in some way [that I don’t fully understand] to every person that has ever lived and are now dead. I believe that every person that ever lives will at some time have the opportunity to accept Christ. However, I do not believe that this passage implies that some who failed to accept Christ and died in their sin will have a second chance to accept him.

Peter says that Noah’s salvation through water symbolized baptism. I see some connection since water is involved in both cases; however the bible plainly teaches in other places that we are saved by grace through faith, repentance and acceptance of Jesus Christ and not of works. It was Noah’s faith in God that led him to build the Ark and so by faith he was saved.