Suffering presents us with theological problems. One proposed solution: open theism.

Greg Boyd’s God of the Possible, pp. 103-106. The “open view” appears to get God off the hook for evil and suffering. But at what cost? At the cost of destroying our ability to trust him.

What we believe about God’s sovereignty profoundly affects our approach to suffering and its results in the process of discipleship. What does Scripture teach?

1 Peter 4:12-19

Peter ties suffering together with God’s design, which gives us the theological basis on which we can fulfill the commands he gives about how to respond to suffering. So how do we respond?

I. Suffer with joy, because you will share in glory, vv. 12-14.

- Negative command (12): don’t be surprised when you suffer, as though suffering is not normal.

- Much of our ability to cope in the world depends on our expectations.

- Example: the “Health and Wealth” gospel cannot help but produce disappointment and disillusionment with the Christian faith; we need a biblical theology of suffering.

- Peter refers to our suffering as “the fiery trial” that tests us; See 1:6-7; fire that consumes impurities.

- The image of a “fiery ordeal” that tests us indicates that suffering in our lives has a purpose. This is what God does; don’t be surprised at it.

- Positive command (13): not all suffering is a share in Christ’s suffering (v. 15), but what is?

- Obviously, persecution for the faith. As it increases, we need to cultivate the ability to rejoice in it instead of always complaining (which goes along with having false expectations).

- But what about other kinds of suffering? I think they are included. Peter addresses slaves who suffer in 2:18-19; Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” in 2 Cor. 12:1-10.

- 2 Cor. 4:16-17: “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” Even suffering that is not caused by our obedience to Christ still presents us with an opportunity to respond in obedience.

- I think any suffering that comes to us in the path of obedience to Christ is in view here.

- Why rejoice? Because you can’t halfway participate with Christ. You can’t share in his sufferings and not share in his glory!

- Parent to child who hates to take piano: “You’ll thank me for this one day.” The parent can rejoice now in anticipation of rejoicing more later.

- The world condemns those whom God justifies, and God condemns those whom the world justifies. We see this in v. 14.

- “Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you”: allusion to Isa. 11:2?Messiah; Peter inserts “glory,” alluding to the glory that rested over the tabernacle. God is with you.

- We have to be okay with the fact that people will hate us because we follow Christ. Rejoice!

II. Suffer in obedience, because the disobedient will be condemned, 15-18.

- Not all suffering is a sharing in Christ’s sufferings; we can bring suffering on ourselves.

- Peter warns us not to: 15; sidenote: how do I respond to this kind of suffering? Repentance.

- But v. 16: “Christian” = “Christ-follower.” Do not be ashamed. Why not?

- 17-18: What “judgment” is this? See Malachi 2:17-3:5: Judgment begins at the temple (the “house of God”), where the Levites are purified, and then it moves outward to consume the sinners of the land.

- The refining sweeps over everyone, purifying those of faith and destroying the rest.

- That is why we shouldn’t be ashamed to suffer as Christians: the destiny of those who mock us and persecute us is far worse than what they are doing to us now.

- I have said before: when the moment comes that you must decide whether you will obey Christ and suffer serious consequences or disobey him and spare yourself, that decision should have already been made.

III. Suffer in faith, because God has planned your suffering, 19.

- Concluding comment: “according to God’s will”; what does that mean?

- Relate it to vv. 17-18: the end-time judgment that is purifying the “house of God” is God’s work. God is sovereign over our sufferings (even our sufferings that come at the hands of those who revile us for our faith!). God’s will = God’s plan.

- Peter has no interest in getting God off the hook.

- Our response: faith; “entrust their souls” (cf. Matt. 10:28); obedience “while doing good.”

- The response to God’s sovereignty in suffering that Peter commands is the exact opposite of what open theists tell us it should be.

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Suffering is not an optional part of the Christian life. It is essential in God’s plan for us. The cross bears witness to that.

Suffering

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